The following checklist is straight straightforward list of “to do” items for your upcoming move. It is a good idea to review every item to ensure that the transition to your new life is as easy as possible. Aim to address each item well before departure. For items that may not apply, confirm they are not necessary to do before your big move to keep peace of mind through the chaos.

If you find this checklist useful, be sure to download the free PDF of this checklist at the end of the post.

Moving Abroad Checklist

1. Start learning about your destination country, city, and neighborhood so that you’re one step closer to feeling at home in your new place.
2. Start becoming familiar with the local language, learning survival phrases and greetings to get by easily and get along with your new neighbors.
3. Start researching the culture and food of your new country to avoid culture shock. Additionally, read and research stories and posts from other foreigners that highlight the best way to integrate into your new home country.
4. Research the Visa, Residency, and Citizenship Options in your new country, along with work visa criteria and restrictions, if you are looking for a new job.
5. Gather and renew important documents. Daily Life and Travel Documents: Passport, driver’s license, IDP, debit card, credit cardsDocuments for Visa and Residency Applications: Apostilled criminal background check, birth certificate, and bank statements. Check visa and residency requirements for additional required documentsAdditional records to scan and back up to the cloud: Medical records, education transcripts, business and employment documents.
6. Daily Life and Travel Documents: Passport, driver’s license, IDP, debit card, credit cards
7. Documents for Visa and Residency Applications: Apostilled criminal background check, birth certificate, and bank statements. Check visa and residency requirements for additional required documents.
8. Additional records to scan and back up to the cloud: Medical records, education transcripts, business and employment documents
9. Start travel hacking, and set up credit cards and accounts for travel awards.
10. Personal Finance Preparation: Assess your budget, spending, and cost of living, where you’re going to gain awareness of your financial situation
11. Set up your bank accounts and personal finance situation for a life abroadRecommended Bank Accounts: Chase, SchwabNote: Be sure to maintain at least 2 checking accounts.
12. Recommended Bank Accounts: Chase, Schwab
13. Note:Be sure to maintain at least 2 checking accounts.
14. Set up 2 Travel-Friendly Credit Cards
15. Set up the essential cross-border “financial products”: Wise, Revolut, PayPal, with ATM cards.
16. Set up 2FA (two-factor authentication) with your home country SIM cards that will receive texts abroad, and your virtual address mailbox for all of your accounts.
17. A side note: Long stays in a new country will require a local bank account
18. Arrange a permanent residential address: The best option is usually through a family member.
19. Set up a virtual mailbox and mail forwarding.
20. Get the proper insurance for your travels (travel insurance, expat healthcare, etc.) and understand the insurance included on your credit cards.
21. Prepare your smartphone as a digital lifeline, with a phone number activated for international travel.
22. Set up communications for international travel (e-SIM for international texts)
23. Buy essential, travel-friendly tech for the road, and upgrade outdated tech.
24. Set up digital backups and your personal digital infrastructure (cloud storage)
25. Catch up on medical and dental needs and get pertinent vaccinations during your health check.
26. Review your financial planning details to include private insurance, tax requirements in your home country, and banking.
27. Research work permits and work visas if you plan to work in your destination country
28. Test pack for your trip
29. Set up a storage unit and store your belongings (if you’ll move out of your current home). While some aim for international moving companies to move everything going light for the first trip, and returning to ship household goods after receiving residency is a much better route.
30. Break home or apartment leases, or consider subletting
31. If you will apply for temporary residency, permanent residency, or citizenship, gather basic documents that would be required for residency, but are difficult to get abroad
32. Sell or Properly Store Your Vehicle
33. Book your flights
34. Book temporary accommodation, and make a plan for permanent accommodation
35. Say your goodbyes and close off relationships properly
36. Have one quiet night before departure.
37. Exhale one last sigh of relief, board the plane, and enjoy the adventure
38. How will you access cash in your new home? Do you need to bring cash to exchange currency?
39. Can you open a local bank account?
40. Should you ship your belongings from your home country
41. [PDF Printable Checklist of Things to Do Before Moving Abroad]

Click here for the full guide “Things to Do Before Moving to Another Country”

 

Departure Timeline Checklist for Moving Abroad

120 Days to 90 Days Before Departure

• Review visa and residency options and criteria, application requirements, and guidelines
• Gather essential documents and identification for daily life and visa/residency applications
• Set up a virtual mailbox, mail forwarding, and a permanent address
• Get medical exams, vaccinations, and dental check-ups, as well as medicine prescription refills
• Set up international travel-friendly bank accounts, apply for travel credit cards for travel hacking, and open cross-border banking products with Revolut, Wise, and PayPal with ATM cards + activate and test all cards

60 Days Before Departure

• Start your chosen visa or residency application process
• Book the initial 1 to 3 months of housing via Airbnb or through a home found on Facebook marketplace or in housing groups for your destination city.
• Reserve a storage unit for household items staying behind, and storage of your car
• Give notice to the landlord of your intent to vacate or sublease your apartment or house
• If you will sublet or lease out your apartment or home, begin looking for a person to sublet your home or apartment to
• Set up a suitable smartphone for international travel, with apps, access, essential documents, and communication options
• Set up a digital cloud vault with digital copies of essential documents
• Set up a 2FA (Two Factor Authentication) SIM card number in your home country with all bank accounts and accounts
• Purchase the tech essentials and travel essentials that will make long-term travel easier
• Purchase either travel insurance or expat medical insurance
• Join Facebook and WhatsApp groups for expats and nomads in your target city
• Test pack your prospective luggage, and eliminate or add accordingly

14 Days Before Departure

• Print flight itineraries, boarding passes, and booking reservations, as well as emailing all documents to yourself
• Make high-quality color copies of the passport and driver’s license

7 Days Before Departure

• Freeze all subscriptions
• Say your last goodbyes

1 Day Before Departure

• Arrange packed items, ready to go for travel
• Email or WhatsApp yourself all tickets, itineraries, addresses, and visas for easy access during your trip
• Take 3 to 7 days’ worth of cash.

Things to Do the First Week After Arriving

• On landing – Check that you have the essentials: Passport, debit cards, credit cards, cash, 2FA SIM card.
• Connectivity: Activate local eSIM/SIM; confirm 2FA works; get an actual local SIM
• Money: Test ATM; withdraw a small amount of cash; note fee-free ATMs
• Safety: Find safe emergency numbers; pin nearest ER/clinic; update your “emergency card”
• Admin: Locate embassy information; for Americans, register with embassy STEP (if U.S.)
• Everyday life: Find one reliable café, one breakfast place, one dinner place, a close mini mart, and a grocery store; Later, find one gym, one coworking space, and two more cafes
• Community: Check local conversation groups (WhatsApp, FB groups, Reddit); Look for meetup opportunities on Meetup, Nomeo, and Facebook
• If seeking residency: book translator/notary slots; start local police check process
• Try out public transport: Most countries have much more accessible and comfortable public transport than in the US, so be sure to test it out before renting or buying a car.

With this checklist, you’re guaranteed to hit all of the logistical and personal tasks necessary for a smooth transition, and be assured of a good time during the early days of your move. So, diligently take care of these tasks as early as you can to set yourself up for a good start in your new life.

Good luck!

Don’t forget to download this checklist as a PDF and

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More resources for your move

• Things to do before moving to another country
• Guides to moving to individual countries (Thailand, Argentina, Bali, etc.)