Moving abroad

What's inside

1. Apostille your certificates before you leave

   Birth and marriage certificates — get the apostille done at home, in advance. Doing it from abroad means mailing originals back and forth and losing weeks.

2. Order a criminal record certificate

   It's typically valid for only 3–6 months, so time the request carefully — not so early it expires, not so late it delays your move.

3. Check the translation requirements

   Find out ahead of time whether your destination requires a certified or sworn translator locally — translations done back home are often rejected outright.

4. Prepare your diplomas and transcripts

   For work or study you may need an apostille on your diploma and grade transcript — check what the receiving institution or employer actually requires.

5. Gather your medical records

   Vaccination certificates and key medical history (especially for chronic conditions) — a new doctor abroad has nothing to work from without them.

6. Get prescriptions with the generic drug name

   For ongoing medications, ask for the prescription with the international generic name, not just the brand — brand names differ abroad, and pharmacies can match a generic.

7. Pack a 2–3 month supply of your regular medications

   You'll need the buffer while you figure out the local healthcare system, find a doctor and locate the right pharmacy.

8. Set up health insurance in your new country

   Figure out what covers you in the first weeks — often a temporary travel policy bridges the gap until local public or private insurance kicks in.

9. Bring cash for the first stretch

   Enough for 1–2 months of living, since a local card and account take time to set up. In the local currency or USD/EUR, whichever exchanges more easily there.

10. Make sure a card works abroad

    Check withdrawal limits and foreign transaction fees before you go — sorting out a fraud-flagged card from a new country is a hassle you can avoid.

11. Open a local bank account

    You'll need it for salary, rent and most local payments — requirements vary a lot by country, so research what documents you'll need in advance.

12. Get proof-of-income documents

    Landlords and banks often ask for these — get a recent statement from your employer or tax authority before you leave, while it's easy.

13. Understand your tax residency status

    The 183-day rule in most countries determines where you owe taxes. A quick consultation with a specialist is cheaper than an error you discover later.

14. Book temporary housing

    Cover the first 2–4 weeks — avoid signing a long-term lease before you've actually seen the place and the neighborhood in person.

15. Set up an eSIM and get a local number

    An eSIM covers the first few days, but get a local number quickly — it's often required to sign up for local services, delivery apps and banking.

16. Register your address with local authorities

    Many countries require registering your address within a set number of days after arrival — check the rule for your destination and don't miss the deadline.

17. Set up a power of attorney back home

    A broad one — for documents, banks, property. The most underrated item on this list: without it, any issue at home means flying back in person to handle it.

18. Check the local driver's license rules

    Find out whether your license is recognized, whether you need an international permit, or whether a local test is required — this varies enormously by country.

19. Decide what happens to your belongings

    Sell, give away or put into storage — international shipping is often pricier than the stuff itself. Sort this category by category, not all at once in the final week.

20. Audit subscriptions and recurring payments

    Scroll through last month's bank statement — you'll find forgotten subscriptions that will keep charging you long after you've left the country.

21. Arrange for your mail

    Set up forwarding, or ask someone trusted to collect and pass along anything important — bank letters and official notices keep arriving for a while.

22. Register with your embassy or consulate

    Not mandatory, but useful: they can reach you in an emergency, and it sometimes simplifies certain administrative procedures.

23. Start a separate checklist for your pet

    Traveling with an animal starts at least 2–3 months ahead — vaccinations, microchips and vet paperwork all take time. Check the dedicated pet travel checklist.

24. Find a local expat or community group

    Local chats and groups answer practical questions faster than any forum — where to rent, which doctor to see, how banking actually works in this specific city.

25. Upload copies of every document to the cloud

    Passport, diplomas, medical records, insurance — photograph everything into one folder before you leave. You'll sometimes need an original urgently before you've even unpacked.