The first 30 days after you move abroad: a checklist

Week 2: numbers and cover

• Tax or social security number: SIN in Canada, TFN in Australia, National Insurance number in the UK, Steuer-ID in Germany, BSN in the Netherlands, My Number in Japan, NIE in Spain. Many are issued automatically after registration. Others you must apply for.
• Healthcare: Register with a family doctor or GP, join the public health insurance scheme, or activate your private policy. Find the nearest pharmacy and out-of-hours clinic.
• Transport: Buy a monthly pass or travel card. Learn how commuting works before you start work.
• Driving: Check how long your foreign licence is valid for. Some countries allow a year, others require an exchange within six months.

Week 3: making it home

• Start searching for long term housing if you are in temporary accommodation. Have your documents ready: ID, employment contract, recent pay slips, bank statements.
• Set up utilities and internet. Internet installation can take one to three weeks in many countries, so order early.
• Get contents or tenant insurance where it is common.
• Register children for school or childcare. Places can be limited, so do this as early as possible.

Week 4: money and plans

• Set up a way to send money home at a fair exchange rate
• Decide what to do with accounts, subscriptions and pensions in your home country
• Understand how tax residence works in your new country and whether you still owe tax at home
• Start a simple budget for your first six months, including one-off costs such as deposits, furniture and permits

Beyond paperwork

The admin eventually ends. Loneliness can last much longer if you do not deal with it early. In your first month:

• Join at least one group based on something you enjoy: a running club, choir, climbing gym, church, mosque or temple, coding meetup
• Sign up for a language course, even if you work in English
• Say yes to invitations from colleagues and neighbours
• Keep a regular call with family, but try not to spend every evening online with home

Keep a moving log

Write down every appointment, every number and every person you spoke to, with dates. When something goes wrong in month four, you will be very glad to know exactly which office gave you which document.

This guide is general information for planning. Rules and prices change, so always confirm with the official source before you apply or sign anything.