Simplify Your Move Abroad with ExpatDen

Planning to move abroad but don’t know where to start your expat journey?

Here at ExpatDen, we created this comprehensive resource to help you navigate the confusing process of moving abroad. You’ll find everything you need to know about the most important things to remember when moving abroad, including the essential documents you need to bring with you and managing your finances across borders.

Throughout this guide, you’ll also find additional practical tips and insights to help make your international move as smooth as possible. At the end of this page, you’ll find a list of country-specific guides for moving to some of the more popular expat destinations.

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Contents

Phase 1: Decision and Initial Research
Phase 2: Legal Requirements and Documents
Phase 3: Financial Planning and Preparation
Phase 4: Employment and Income
Phase 5: Language and Cultural Preparation
1. Why You Need to Learn the Language and Culture Before Moving
Phase 6: Healthcare and Insurance
Phase 7: Preparing for Departure
Phase 8: Moving Abroad
1. What to Consider When You Move Abroad
Phase 9: Arrival and Initial Setup
Phase 10: Long-term Integration and Establishment
1. Build a Permanent Life in Your New Country
Ten Tips to Follow When Moving Abroad

Phase 1: Decision and Initial Research

Making the DecisionBefore leaving, you’ll need to think about how long you’ll be staying abroad. This entails deciding whether to sell your home, car, and/or other belongings, or keep them and maintain a foothold in your home country. It may not be easy to decide, especially considering that there are good arguments to be made for either choice. On one hand, it’s nice to have the security of having a property in your home country. On the other hand, starting a new life could mean leaving everything behind.

Destination ResearchAfter you’ve decided to move to a new country, you’ll then have to figure out where you want to live. Culture is an enormous topic, and it’s essential that you get to know the culture of the country you’re moving to as quickly as possible. Cultural taboos can have a serious impact when you live and work in a country, as they could mean losing your job, isolating yourself from friends and colleagues, and even facing legal troubles.

Phase 2: Legal Requirements and Documents

Once you’ve decided where you’re going to live abroad, you need to focus on two areas to prepare.

Passport and IDs: Your passport is the most important document you’ll need because you won’t be able to get on the plane without it. Getting a new passport abroad is time consuming and stressful. Have at least two years’ validity remaining before setting off. Keep digital and hard copies of academic records, medical records, marriage certificates, and birth certificates in a safe place. Check current passport requirements at travel.state.gov for US citizens or gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports for UK citizens.
Visa and immigration: Check your chosen country’s entry requirements before you set out. While your passport may let you enter many countries, some countries have stricter rules for visitors entering to work or stay long term. Unless you’re moving to a country with freedom of movement agreements, you’ll likely need to apply for a long term visa. Find official visa information at usembassy.gov or your destination country’s immigration website.

Getting your legal documents and visa requirements sorted early will save you significant stress and potential challenges later.

Phase 3: Financial Planning and Preparation

How Much Will it Cost to Move Abroad?

In addition to the costs of flights and transportation, you have to consider shipping costs. Unless you’re moving to a neighboring country, it’s likely that the cost of shipping over personal items will increase your expenses.

How Do You Manage My Money Across Countries?

As a general rule, we recommend not closing your bank account in your home country before leaving. It’ll make dealing with finances in your home country much easier. You can also keep your home bank account to make international bank transfers into your new account abroad.

Will You Have to Pay Taxes in Both Countries?

As the saying goes, the only things inevitable in life are death and taxes. In addition to taxes you’ll have to pay in your adopted country, you may still have to pay taxes in your home country too.

The good news is that you probably won’t have to. For many countries like the UK, citizens who work abroad full time are exempt from paying taxes on anything they earn in their new country. However, US citizens must file annual returns regardless of where they live. Check irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers for details.

Below is a list of guides that will show you the cost of living for your future destination.

Phase 4: Employment and Income

If you know what jobs you’re allowed to work and the legal requirements for employment ahead of time, you’ll find it easier to land a job in your new country.

Job search strategy: When it comes to finding work abroad, you’ve got a few choices. If you work for a multinational company with offices in your new country, you could ask to relocate there. Also, many companies are more open to hiring remote workers nowadays, making that another choice. Or you could find a job with a local company in your new destination.
Work permits: Make sure to check your chosen country’s entry requirements before you set out. Most countries have strict rules for visitors entering to work or stay long term. But some of these countries offer long-term visas for remote workers.

Securing both a job you love and proper permit will help you work abroad legally.

Below is a list of guides that will help you find work in your future destination.

Phase 5: Language and Cultural Preparation

Why You Need to Learn the Language and Culture Before Moving

If you’re moving to a country where you don’t speak the language, it’s a good idea to at least get the basics down before you go. Cultural preparation is equally essential because cultural taboos can have serious consequences when you live and work in a country. Learning the language and culture helps you:

Handle emergencies effectively because speaking only English won’t cut it when you really need help.
Avoid serious mistakes that could mean losing your job, isolating yourself from friends and colleagues, or even potential legal trouble.
Experience the real culture instead of limiting your exposure by staying only in your expat bubble.
Navigate life easier since the demands of expat life put you in situations where English alone isn’t enough.
Build genuine relationships with locals rather than remaining an outsider.

It’s possible to get by with just English as a tourist, but you should speak the local language and understand the culture of your new country to really enjoy life as a long-term expat.

Below is a list of guides that will help you learn the local language of your new country.

Phase 6: Healthcare and Insurance

Part of preparing for your move abroad means buying the right health insurance. To do that, you need to know how the healthcare system works in your destination country.

Health Preparation
If you choose to get international expat health insurance, you’ll need to bring with you all relevant documents such as your global healthcare card. Keep both digital and hard copies of documents like medical records, including a record of immunizations, which your doctor can provide, in a safe, easy to find place because you never know when you might need them.

Insurance Coverage
Every expat needs to work out where they stand with healthcare in the country they live in. This is especially important as most insurance companies don’t usually cover medical expenses from abroad. One of the first things to do when moving abroad is buy health insurance, which provides coverage for any medical emergencies you might face. You could even start with basic travel insurance. Then use ExpatDen’s health insurance comparison page to find the right plan.

If you plan ahead of time, you’ll have access to medical care and financial protection when health issues arise abroad.

Below is a list of guides that will help you choose the right health insurance for your next destination.

Phase 7: Preparing for Departure

What Should You Do With Your House and Belongings?

If you own property in your home country, you’ll have to decide if you want to sell it before moving. On one hand, this will give you a financial cushion, which will be handy for getting set up in your new country.

On the other hand, having a permanent address in your home country is always useful, and you could make some passive income renting it out.

How Do You Handle Your Bank Accounts When Moving?

Before leaving, make sure that you inform your bank of your plans to move, as your account may be frozen if they detect any unusual activities when you first try to use them abroad.

If you plan on selling your property at home and won’t have a dedicated address, make sure you change your address to someone you trust. This way you can still receive statements and other important paperwork. But most banks nowadays offer paperless statements, which will make it convenient for you while living abroad.

What Do You Need to Pack and What Should You Leave Behind?

The general rule is that the lighter you pack, the easier your move will be. But sometimes it makes sense to pack or ship things that you can’t replace abroad. Some of these items may be family heirlooms, quality furniture, or large electronics.

When it comes to cars, we recommend selling your car unless you’re moving to a nearby country. This is because shipping vehicles overseas means you have to pay import taxes. This can quickly become very expensive.

Phase 8: Moving Abroad

What to Consider When You Move Abroad

Moving your belongings requires careful planning. And moving abroad with your pet takes even more know-how. The actual moving process involves several steps that you need to consider, whether you’re doing it alone or with your furry friend.

Research shipping costs and customs because you might not be able to ship everything, as some items are restricted.
Plan temporary accommodation since you’ll need somewhere to stay when you first arrive before finding permanent housing.
Handle pet requirements carefully if moving with animals, as the process can be time consuming and stressful.
Get pets microchipped because this contains vaccination and health records and is mandatory in most countries.
Check rabies status requirements in your new country as this affects quarantine and import procedures. Visit aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel for official US pet travel requirements.

While you’re unlikely to want to leave your pet behind, be aware that moving logistics require months of advance planning, not weeks.

Below is a list of guides that will help you plan your move to your new destination.

Phase 9: Arrival and Initial Setup

You should spend your first few weeks abroad handling necessities and setting up essential services to establish your new life.

Immediate necessities: While keeping your home country bank account is always a sensible idea, you’ll need to open an account in your new country, especially if you’re going to work there. Generally speaking, if you’ve already got a salaried full-time job in your new country, they’ll assist you with opening an account with a local bank of their choosing.
Essential services: Aside from opening a bank account, you also want to sign up for a cell phone plan and home Internet service. You may also have to find out how to sign up for other utilities like gas, electric, and water.

Getting these in place quickly will help you transition from visitor to resident in your new country.

Phase 10: Long-term Integration and Establishment

Build a Permanent Life in Your New Country

After getting settled in, you need to focus on building lasting connections and completing legal requirements for long-term residence. Most people will forgive expats who don’t know all the tiny intricacies of a new and different culture, so don’t stress about it too much. Building your permanent life abroad involves several ongoing steps:

Join expat communities because connecting with others who understand your experience provides valuable support and friendship.
Learn local customs by watching how others behave and be polite, receptive, and keen to learn in your new environment.
Complete visa extensions as some countries require you to renew or upgrade your visa status every year.
Build local credit history by maintaining good relationships with banks and establishing financial credibility in your new country.
Explore your surroundings to discover local culture, food, and attractions that will make your new country feel like home.

Adapting to your new culture is just like adapting to a new school or job. It requires patience and genuine effort to integrate into society.

Ten Tips to Follow When Moving Abroad

1. Ensure your passport has sufficient validity. Getting a new passport abroad is time-consuming and stressful. Have at least two years’ validity remaining before setting off. Six months’ validity is the recommended minimum to enter most countries. Check renewal requirements at travel.state.gov if you’re a US passport holder.

2. Research visa requirements thoroughly before you depart. While strong passports allow tourist entry to many countries, most have much stricter rules for visitors entering to work or stay long-term. Don’t assume tourist entry rules apply to your long-term plans.

3. Learn the basics of the local language before you go. English won’t cut it for expat life, particularly in emergencies. You’re severely limiting your exposure to local culture if you only hang around in your expat bubble.

4. Study the local culture to avoid serious mistakes. Cultural taboos can have serious repercussions when you live and work in a country, including losing your job, isolating yourself from colleagues, and even legal consequences.

5. Keep your home country bank account open. Don’t close your bank accounts before leaving. It makes dealing with home country finances much easier. Some countries even require you to maintain an account back home.

6. Pack light and follow the six-month rule. Shipping personal items is prohibitive unless you’re moving to a neighboring country. If you haven’t used something in six months, get rid of it.

7. Notify your bank about your move to prevent account freezing. Inform your bank of your plans to move, as your account may be frozen if they detect unusual activities when you first try to use them abroad.

8. Understand your tax obligations in both countries. You may be required to pay taxes in both your adopted country and home country. Some countries, particularly the US, require annual tax returns even if earning abroad. US citizens should review requirements at irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers.

9. Consider the complexity of moving pets abroad. Moving pets abroad is very time-consuming and stressful. You’ll need microchipping, rabies status checks, and country-specific regulations. Plan for months, not weeks.

10. Don’t underestimate the time needed for proper preparation. You could easily get overwhelmed dealing with housing, bills, health insurance, banking, and legal issues in a different language and culture. Give yourself plenty of time and don’t rush.