Moving abroad sounds pretty romantic at first. But when it actually comes time to take the leap, there’s just so much to do! Worry not, because this post has the COMPLETE list of what to do before moving abroad!
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What To DO Before Moving Abroad
This post is for people who are SERIOUS about moving abroad!! In this post, you’ll find information about:
- Sorting out your visa;
- Verifying your work/study opportunity;
- Documents to bring or leave at home;
- Medical preparedness;
- Power of Attorney Tips;
- Online banking while abroad;
- What to do with your phone number;
…and more!
There is SO much information in here about what to do before moving abroad, with details and advice from my own experiences.
So I recommend you pin it, save the link, or find another way to keep this post nearby. This is the list I wish I’d had before moving abroad, so it’s filled to the brim with practical and important advice.
Let’s jump right in!
1. Ensure You Have the Right Visa for the Country You’re Moving To
The LAST thing you want is to be denied entry at your destination, or to bump into legal issues. If you’re studying abroad, your university should help you get your visa situated.
If you’re moving abroad for work, you’ll likely be required to obtain specific working visas. Your workplace may help you through this, but sometimes, it’s up to you to get it all done!
Visa applications can be long and difficult. You may want to hire a visa agent to make sure everything is done correctly. Just make sure that you work with a real agency, as there are many fake agents out there!
2. MAke Sure Your Work or Study Situation Is Legitimate and Fair
If you’re studying abroad, it’s usually more cut-and-dry, as the university will help you to arrange your living and study situation.
If you’re moving for work, make sure your contract is legitimate and fair! Check that the company who hired you really exists, and try to find their website online or on LinkedIn. Some “work abroad” opportunities are scams!
Make sure any contract that you’re given has FAIR conditions and is clear and legitimate! If your contract is in a foreign language, request an official translation to make sure you understand everything.
Bonus Tip: Common Issues With Contracts when Working Abroad
A few workplaces I heard of in China would give a translation which did not match the Chinese original document. When contract issues arose, the contract in the native language usually prevailed.
Some expats I know had experiences where they were given contracts with some statements that were wrong and illegal. But how could they know? Not many people are acquainted with labor laws in foreign countries.
One example of this was that someone I knew got a contract which said that she must give a half-year notice of resignation if she wished to quit. If she gave a shorter notice, she’d have to pay thousands of USD in fees.
But this was totally not legal in her expat country! That specific country only required workers to give a one-month notice of resignation. But she, like most expats, wasn’t aware of foreign labor laws!
Screenshot conversations of promises or “amendments” to your contract between you and HR/your boss. If a problem arises, evidence of conversations helps!
Always be careful when signing a contract. If something doesn’t look right to you, bring it up with your employer. Even better, do some research on labor laws in your new country to make sure all is well!
3. Determine Which Documents You’ll Need To BRing Or Leave
You will definitely need your passport. Some workplaces also want to see your diploma. In some situations, you may even need to present your birth certificate.
I’ve NEVER needed my social security card while living abroad (though I needed the number to open foreign bank accounts!). Having it memorized is enough; they only needed the number, not to physically see the card.
I left of my most important documents with a friend who has a home and a firesafe box. They don’t plan to move anytime soon, and even if something happens to their home, my left-behind documents are safe with them!
When working abroad, sometimes you may need to give your passport to your workplace or to an agent temporarily. Maybe they’ll need to make a photocopy of it, or present it to workplace authorities.
Whenever possible, try to avoid giving your original documents to a workplace. Give them copies!
A few times, my workplace has needed to present my passport to local authorities who come to ensure that all foreigners are legally employed. But they always give it back immediately after the inspection.
ALWAYS make sure you keep your passport safe while abroad! If your workplace or visa agent needs to take your passport for something, be sure to establish how and when they will give your passport back!
4. Get a Medical Check and Update Your Vaccines
Before moving to a new country, get a medical checkup, and take care of any issues! Get your cavities filled, get that suspicious mole removed…do everything while you have a doctor you trust!
Also, research which vaccines are recommended for the country you’re moving to. Maybe malaria isn’t a big issue in your home country, but your expat country has issues with it.
Ask your doctor which vaccines they recommend you get or update before moving.
Over the years, I’ve found find dentists, dermatologists, and other doctors that I trust in my expat home. But it took time! So handle any issues before moving, and do your research to find new doctors in your expat country!
5. Consider Appointing A Power Of Attorney For Legal Matters
I am NOT a lawyer (see legal disclaimer at the top of the page!) and this advice that I’m sharing is just from MY experience. Please always be SUPER careful and responsible when giving legal power to other people!
This is one of those things I didn’t do before moving, but did as soon as I got back to the States for a visit! Giving someone Power of Attorney is sort of like giving someone the ability to do things (legally!) on your behalf.
This is bigger than having someone who is an “emergency contact”. It is legally giving someone the right to make decisions and do things for you.
All sorts of things can come up while living abroad, little details like mailing documents, claiming things, etc. Or you can get caught up in some kind of medical or situational emergency while living abroad.
If you get really sick or even die while abroad (hope not!!), your POA is responsible for making decisions for you, your personal welfare and belongings. It’s a big deal, but REALLY important to have!
Again, this should be someone that you trust COMPLETELY, since he or she will be able to make a lot of BIG decisions on your behalf if needed.
Bonus Tip: What I did With My Bank Account
Now what I did WILL NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE, so please take my experience with a grain of salt! I only did this because I can trust my mom with my life (literally!).
Something I did before I moved abroad was I added my mom as a joint holder on my bank account.
Having my mom as a joint holder of my bank account means that both of our names are on my bank account, and even my checks! She has every right to my bank account that I do.
This does mean that she has access to deposit/withdraw money at-will. So, like I said, I DON’T recommend doing this unless you have someone you can COMPLETELY trust. I’m lucky I do!
If you do have a trusted family member, you may want to consider adding someone as a joint holder on your bank account. It will make any banking issues that arise MUCH easier to address.
What I had to do was go to my bank with my mom and both of our ID’s. It took ten minutes, and it’s saved me so much hassle! My mom can write or cash checks from my account, and has the ability to do anything I need.
Also, if something happens to me, my mom can access the money in my bank account just like its hers, so it’s not gridlocked.
Again, I am not necessarily recommending that you do this before moving abroad! I’m just sharing what I did, and how it helped me.
6. Download Banking Apps or Credit Card Apps
The world is moving online, and for expats, this is good news!
Both my bank AND my credit card company have apps, so I can see and manage everything going on with my bank and credit card even while living in China.
HERE IS THE ONLY CATCH: sometimes these apps require a two-step login, where they send you a code to put into the app. Usually these codes are sent via SMS, but you can set it up to send the code to your email instead.
Make sure ALL of your important apps know to send codes or information to your EMAIL if you are not using your phone number while abroad! Otherwise you won’t be able to login.
Again, MAKE SURE your EMAIL is used to receive log-in codes for banking or credit card apps!!
By using these, I’m able to see all of my banking and credit card transactions and statements in real-time. I can also make credit card payments on the months when I use my home credit card to shop online. Huge win!!
7. Manage Your Personal Data While Living Abroad
One of the biggest headaches when living abroad is passwords. We all know that passwords need to be secure, non-repetitive or obvious, and you have to remember them all.
Resetting them can be a PAIN when living abroad because some logins may be associated with phone numbers or contact information that you don’t have access to anymore, and you get locked out.
My recommended solution is to use a password manager, and to update all of your important login information before moving abroad.
One of the BEST things I EVER did was download a desktop program called KeePassXC. (This is NOT a paid promotion, just my genuine advice!)
Basically in this program, you set a REALLY LONG master password that you’ll have to enter every time you open the program. Once inside, you can enter your usernames and passwords for websites into your KeePass.
So all you have to do is remember your master password, and this app will help you create secure passwords, as well as manage all of them, so you don’t need to sweat about forgetting them!
Cyber security is SUPER important, especially when living abroad and making so many big changes. So get on top of it before you make the leap!
8. Figure Out What To Do with your Phone Number
On the note of resetting passwords and SMS codes, a lot of people aren’t sure what to do with their phone number when moving abroad.
There’s honestly no perfect way to do this. Some of your options are:
- Cancel your US phone plan so that you won’t be paying for it (you’ll lose your number, though)
- Buy a cheap phone plan and continue to pay while abroad
- Buy an INTERNATIONAL phone plan and use that phone in your expat country (can be pricey!)
- Find a family member/friend who will let you add their phone to their package, and pay them monthly to keep your phone number alive/active (possibly cheaper than options 2-3)
For all of the above (except number 3), you won’t be able to use your phone while abroad most likely.
Personally, I did option 4, and my parents kept my phone in their family bundle (and don’t make me pay for it, bless them!).
However, in China, you 1000000% need a Chinese number to live over here in order to use pretty much ANY app, from WeChat to Meituan and others.
So the best solution for me….was to have 2 phones. And yes, that’s a pain. But there are actually a lot of expats who take this route.
My US phone is ALWAYS in airplane mode so that it’s not using data while abroad. If I need internet on that phone while out and about, I just create a hotspot from my China phone that my US phone can join.
9. Buy Important Items from home
One VERY important item to tick on our list of what to do before moving abroad is to STOCK UP.
I actually OVERSTOCKED when I moved here (I still have hair creams from four years ago that I haven’t touched). I brought makeup, hair stuff, and so much other junk that I honestly could have gotten in China…
In other words: I wasted precious luggage space!
Try to RESEARCH what’s available in your new country. Download local shopping apps (like Taobao, in China’s case) and search for items you’ll need using the local language (Google Translate, copy/paste the language).
For me, I have a hard time finding shoes in China. So I always buy a pair or two when I go home!
Bonus Tip: Stock Up On Medicine
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS stock up on medicines or supplements from home!!!
The more expats I meet, the more we agree that your home country’s painkillers and shopping-aisle medicines work the BEST for your body. Sometimes you find a new favorite in your expat country, but it’s very hit or miss.
My sweet fiancé often tries to give me pain meds or cold meds from his home country when I’m sick…and they just don’t work for me. It’s the same with Chinese medicines. I don’t know why, but they just don’t cut it for me.
But my ibuprofen, Immodium, and Pepto Bismol from home work 100% of the time! And it’s pandemonium when I run out!!
So do stock up on your essential medicines and supplements from home, just to be safe!
10. Research Your Living Situation and New Country’s Culture
Last (but certainly not least!), make sure you read up on where you’re going.
Does your new country have super rainy seasons? You may want to pack quality rainboots or jackets.
Do they have a mild winter? Maybe you won’t need to waste space on your Canada Goose.
Do your reading beforehand. Look into everything from what’s culturally appropriate for clothes, gifts, and behavior, all the way to local weather and cultural expectations.
Researching your new country will help you know what to pack, what to prepare for mentally, and what to be on the lookout for.
Bonus Tip: Check for Expat Resources from your Home Country
Check and see if your home country offers some kind of program for residents who live abroad!
For example, the US has a program called STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) for American citizens living abroad.
Basically you can enroll your trip (or expat status) and receive alerts or news about things going on abroad. Also, in the event of an emergency, your home country will know how to contact and hopefully help you.
There are tons of online expat communities, as well, on apps like Facebook (or WeChat in China’s case). So keep your eyes open for those!
Summary
It’s hard to know exactly what to do before moving abroad. There’s so many changes, so much going on, and it’s hard to focus on starting a new life while also wrapping up the old one.
This list contains everything I wish I’d known before moving abroad, so I hope it will be a huge help to you!
Expat friends: is there anything I missed? Do you have any other recommendations for what to do before moving abroad? Let’s talk in the comments!
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