Plan and execute an international move covering visa requirements, shipping belongings, closing accounts, setting up in your new country, and managing the cultural transition.
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Estimated time: 3-6 months preparation
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Handle Visa and Legal Requirements
Determine the correct visa type and apply well in advance of your move date
Visa processing times range from 2 weeks to 6 months depending on the country and visa type. Common categories: work visa (requires employer sponsorship or a job offer), freelancer or digital nomad visa (available in 50+ countries, typically requires proof of income of 2,000-5,000 USD per month), retirement visa (age and income requirements vary by country), student visa, and family reunification visa. Apply as early as the embassy allows. Missing documents cause delays of 2-8 weeks. Some countries require apostilled documents (certified by the Secretary of State), which adds 2-4 weeks of processing. Check your destination country's embassy website for current requirements and processing times.
Get your passport renewed if it expires within 12 months of your planned move
Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. Passport renewal takes 6-8 weeks by mail or 2-3 weeks with expedited processing (additional 60 USD fee). If you need it faster, schedule an appointment at a passport agency for same-day or next-day service (limited availability). You will need your passport for: visa applications, opening foreign bank accounts, signing leases, registering with local authorities, and setting up utilities. If your passport is damaged, has fewer than 4 blank pages, or was issued more than 10 years ago (for adults), renew it before starting any other process.
Research tax obligations in both your home country and destination country
US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live (one of only 2 countries with this policy). The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) lets you exclude up to 126,500 USD (2024 amount, adjusted annually) of foreign earned income if you meet the physical presence test (330 days outside the US in a 12-month period) or bona fide residence test. You still must file a US tax return every year. Additional requirements: FBAR reporting for foreign bank accounts exceeding 10,000 USD and FATCA Form 8938 for foreign financial assets exceeding 50,000 USD (200,000 USD if filing from abroad). Consult an expat tax specialist (200-500 USD for a return) to avoid costly mistakes.
Organize Your Belongings and Housing
Decide what to ship, sell, donate, and store based on cost and practicality
International shipping costs 2,000-8,000 USD for a partial container and 8,000-20,000 USD for a full 20-foot container (door to door, including customs clearance). Transit time: 4-12 weeks by sea, 1-2 weeks by air (5-10 times more expensive). Ship only items that cost more to replace than to ship. Sell or donate: large furniture (cheaper to buy locally), electronics with incompatible voltages (US uses 110V; most of the world uses 220V), books (heavy and cheap to replace), and anything you have not used in 12 months. Keep a detailed inventory with photos and estimated values for customs and insurance purposes. Many countries charge import duty of 5-20% on household goods.
Arrange temporary housing for your first 1-3 months to avoid signing a long-term lease remotely
Never sign a long-term lease in a country you have not lived in yet. Neighborhoods, commute times, and apartment conditions look different in person than online. Book temporary housing for 1-3 months: furnished apartments on platforms like Spotahome, HousingAnywhere, or local equivalents (800-2,500 USD per month depending on city), extended-stay hotels or serviced apartments, or short-term sublets through local expat Facebook groups. Use this time to explore neighborhoods, understand local rental markets, and find permanent housing with in-person visits. Leases abroad often require 1-3 months deposit plus 1 month advance rent, so budget 3,000-10,000 USD for move-in costs.
Handle your current housing: sell, rent, or terminate your lease with proper notice
If you own your home: decide whether to sell (simpler, provides capital for your move) or rent it out (ongoing income but requires a property manager at 8-12% of monthly rent). If you rent: review your lease for early termination clauses (penalty is typically 1-2 months rent), give required notice (30-60 days in most states), and document the apartment's condition for security deposit return. If you have a mortgage and plan to rent your home, notify your lender (some mortgages have owner-occupancy requirements). Time your housing transition to overlap: have your current housing available until 1-2 weeks after you arrive at your destination.
Close, Transfer, and Set Up Financial Accounts
Open an account with a bank that supports international access and low foreign transaction fees
Most domestic banks charge 1-3% foreign transaction fees on every purchase and 3-5 USD per ATM withdrawal abroad. Before moving, open an account with: Charles Schwab (no foreign ATM fees worldwide, reimburses other banks' ATM fees), a credit union with international ATM network access, or a digital bank like Wise (holds and converts 50+ currencies at the mid-market rate). Keep your primary domestic bank account open for at least 12 months after moving for recurring payments, tax refunds, and as an emergency backup. Set up online access and ensure your contact information is updated to your new address.
Set up a local bank account in your destination country within the first month
Most countries require a local bank account for rent payments, utility bills, and salary deposits. Requirements vary: some countries let you open an account with just a passport (UK, Germany with restrictions), while others require a residence permit, proof of address, and a tax identification number. Bring these documents to the bank: passport, visa or residence permit, proof of address (even your temporary housing works in some countries), employment contract or proof of income, and tax identification number from your home country. Some countries require an in-person visit; others allow online applications for digital banks (N26, Revolut, local equivalents). Open this account within your first 2-4 weeks.
Notify all financial institutions, update billing addresses, and set up mail forwarding
Before leaving: notify your bank and credit card companies of your move (prevents fraud alerts from blocking transactions), update your mailing address for all accounts, set up USPS mail forwarding (1 USD for 6 months or 12 months, only forwards within the US), and consider a virtual mailbox service that scans your mail (US Global Mail, Traveling Mailbox: 15-30 USD per month). Cancel subscriptions and memberships you will not use (gym, streaming services with geo-restrictions, magazine subscriptions). Set up autopay for any bills that continue (student loans, insurance, storage unit) and keep at least 2 US credit cards active to maintain your credit history.
Prepare for Daily Life in Your New Country
Research healthcare coverage and get medical tasks done before you leave
Before moving: get a comprehensive physical exam, update all vaccinations (some countries require specific vaccines for entry or residence permits), fill 90-day prescriptions (and get written prescriptions with generic drug names for refills abroad), get dental and vision checkups, and obtain copies of your complete medical records. For healthcare abroad: research whether your destination has public healthcare (most developed countries do, often accessible to residents after registration), purchase international health insurance (150-500 USD per month depending on age and coverage), or check if your employer provides expat health coverage. Carry your insurance cards, medical records, and a list of your medications with generic names.
Get an international driving permit if you plan to drive, and research local license requirements
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of your license valid in 150+ countries. Get one from AAA (20 USD, valid 1 year) before leaving the US. An IDP is not a standalone license; you must carry both your IDP and your US license. Most countries allow driving on a US license plus IDP for 3-12 months, after which you must obtain a local license. Some countries have reciprocity agreements with the US (your US license converts directly); others require a written and driving test in the local language. Research your destination's rules before moving. If you are shipping a car (which is rarely cost-effective), check import regulations and emission standards.
Set up a local phone plan and ensure your devices will work abroad
Check that your phone supports the frequencies used in your destination country (most modern smartphones are global). Unlock your phone from your carrier before leaving (free if your contract is fulfilled, or 20-50 USD). Options for phone service abroad: buy a local SIM card on arrival (5-20 USD with 5-10 GB data, significantly cheaper than US plans), use an eSIM provider like Airalo or Holafly for immediate connectivity (10-30 USD for 5-10 GB), or use an international plan from your US carrier (expensive at 10-15 USD per day). WhatsApp is the primary messaging platform in most countries outside the US. Download it and set it up before moving.
Register with your embassy and join local expat communities before arrival
Register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at travel.state.gov for US citizens. This ensures the embassy can contact you in emergencies, natural disasters, or political unrest, and makes it easier to get help with lost passports or legal issues. Join expat communities before arriving: Facebook groups (search your city name plus expats), InterNations.org (free membership, events in 420+ cities), Reddit communities (r/expats, r/country-specific subs), and Meetup groups. These communities are invaluable for practical advice about neighborhoods, bureaucracy, healthcare providers, and social connections. The first 3 months are the hardest socially; having a community waiting makes the transition significantly easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money should I save before moving abroad?
Plan for 10,000-25,000 USD in savings beyond your moving costs, depending on your destination's cost of living. Budget for: international shipping (2,000-20,000 USD), temporary housing for 1-3 months (2,400-7,500 USD), security deposit and first month's rent on permanent housing (2,000-8,000 USD), visa and document processing fees (500-2,000 USD), and a 3-month emergency fund at your destination's cost of living. If you have a job lined up with a relocation package, your employer may cover shipping, temporary housing, and visa costs. Without employer support, 15,000-20,000 USD is a comfortable starting point for most mid-cost destinations.
What happens to my US Social Security and retirement accounts?
Your Social Security benefits are not affected by moving abroad. You continue earning credits if you work for a US employer or pay self-employment tax. Benefits can be paid to most countries when you retire. Your 401(k) and IRA accounts remain in the US and continue to grow. You can contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA while living abroad if you have earned income, but the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can reduce your taxable compensation to zero, which may eliminate your ability to contribute. Some countries tax US retirement account withdrawals. The US has tax treaties with about 70 countries that may provide relief. Consult an expat tax advisor before making any changes to your retirement accounts.
Should I keep my US health insurance?
If you are on an employer plan that covers international care, keep it. Otherwise, most US health insurance (including ACA marketplace plans) does not cover care received abroad. Options: purchase international health insurance designed for expats (Cigna Global, Allianz Care, GeoBlue: 150-500 USD per month depending on age and coverage level), enroll in your destination country's public health system if eligible (often available to legal residents, costs vary from free to 200 USD per month), or combine a high-deductible US plan (for visits home) with local coverage abroad. Do not go without coverage. A hospitalization abroad without insurance can cost 10,000-100,000 USD depending on the country.
How do I handle shipping pets internationally?
International pet transport involves: veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, rabies vaccination at least 30 days before travel (some countries require 6 months), microchip implantation (ISO 15-digit chip required by most countries), country-specific import permits (some countries require blood titer tests costing 200-300 USD, with results taking 2-4 weeks), and airline-approved travel crate. Airline pet transport costs 200-500 USD for cabin (small pets under 20 pounds) and 500-2,000 USD for cargo (larger pets). Some countries require quarantine on arrival (Australia: 10 days, UK: none with proper documentation). Hiring a pet relocation specialist costs 1,500-5,000 USD but handles all paperwork and logistics. Start the process 3-6 months before your move date.