Moving Abroad Checklist: What to Research Before Choosing a New Country

Moving abroad can sound simple when you reduce it to packing your belongings and booking a flight. In reality, there are dozens of practical details that can affect whether a destination will work for your everyday life.

Some factors may be easy to overlook while you are imagining beaches, better weather, or a lower cost of living. Visa restrictions, healthcare access, taxes, transportation, internet quality, and even the time difference from home can have a major impact on your experience.

This moving abroad checklist covers some of the most important things to research before committing to a new country.

Prefer to work through this list on your own? Download the free printable Moving Abroad Checklist.

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1. Visas and Residency Requirements

Before becoming emotionally attached to a destination, find out whether you can legally live there.

Research:

• Which visas are available to you?

• How long can you remain in the country?

• Can the visa be renewed or extended?

• Is there a minimum income or savings requirement?

• Do you need a background check, health examination, or proof of insurance?

• Can your spouse and children join you as dependents?

• Is there a path to permanent residency?

• How frequently will you need to leave the country or report to immigration?

  
  

Visa rules can change, so always confirm the requirements through an official government or embassy website.

2. Employment and Remote-Work Rules

Being allowed to live in a country does not automatically mean you are allowed to work there.

Consider:

• Will you work for a local employer or remotely for a foreign company?

• Does your visa permit remote work?

• Does your employer allow you to work outside your home country?

• Will your work create tax or legal obligations for your employer?

• Are there restrictions on freelance work or owning a business?

• Is your income stable enough to meet the visa requirements?

  
  

3. Cost of Living

A country may be described as affordable, but the cost of living can vary considerably between cities, neighborhoods, and lifestyles.

Research the average cost of:

• Rent and deposits

• Electricity and water

• Internet and mobile service

• Groceries

• Restaurants

• Transportation

• Healthcare

• Visas and immigration fees

• Pet care

• Entertainment

• Flights home

  
  

It is also important to consider whether costs are rising and how exchange-rate changes could affect your monthly budget.

4. Healthcare and Health Insurance

Healthcare quality and accessibility can vary widely, even within the same country.

Ask:

• Is public healthcare available to foreign residents?

• Will you need private health insurance?

• Are there hospitals and specialists near the area where you want to live?

• How much do routine appointments and emergency services cost?

• Is dental and vision care affordable?

• Will your insurance cover preexisting conditions?

• Does the country require specific insurance coverage for your visa?

  
  

5. Advance Directives and a Living Will

A medical emergency can happen at any age, and moving abroad can make an already difficult situation more complicated. Before leaving the United States, consider creating or updating your advance directives so your wishes are documented and someone you trust is legally authorized to speak for you if you cannot communicate.

A living will is not the same as a last will and testament. Instead of explaining what should happen to your belongings after you die, a living will records your preferences for medical care if you become seriously ill, permanently unconscious, or otherwise unable to make your wishes known. It may address treatments such as resuscitation, feeding tubes, breathing machines, dialysis, and organ donation.

You should also consider completing a durable power of attorney for healthcare. This document allows you to name a healthcare proxy who can make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make them yourself. A living will records your general wishes, while a healthcare proxy can respond to circumstances that your written instructions may not have anticipated.

Advance-directive requirements vary by state. Depending on where you live, your documents may need to be signed by witnesses or notarized. Read your state’s instructions carefully, provide copies to your healthcare proxy and close family members, and keep both printed and digital copies somewhere they can be accessed during an emergency.

Because medical and legal systems differ between countries, do not assume that documents completed in the United States will automatically be followed abroad.

Before moving, ask an attorney or healthcare provider whether you should also prepare an equivalent document that meets the requirements of your destination country. The U.S. Department of State cautions that medical systems abroad operate differently from those in the United States.

Research:

• Does your state provide an official advance-directive form?

• Does the form require witnesses or notarization?

• Who will serve as your healthcare proxy?

• Does your proxy understand your medical preferences?

• Where will you store printed and digital copies?

• Should your primary doctor keep a copy?

• Will the document be recognized in your destination country?

• Do you need a translated or locally prepared version after moving?

• How will your healthcare proxy be contacted during an emergency abroad?

  
  

6. Medications

Do not assume that a medication prescribed in your home country is legal or available everywhere.

Research:

• Is the medication legal in your chosen country?

• Is it classified as a controlled substance?

• Can you bring it through customs?

• How much can you bring at one time?

• Will you need a letter from your doctor?

• Is the medication available locally?

• Will a local doctor prescribe it?

• Is there an approved alternative if it is unavailable?

7. Taxes and Financial Obligations

Moving abroad does not necessarily end your tax obligations in your home country.

U.S. citizens generally still need to file a U.S. tax return while living abroad, even when they earn money in another country. Depending on your circumstances, you may also owe taxes or need to file reports in your new country.

Research:

• Your U.S. federal and state tax obligations

• Foreign income-reporting requirements

• Tax-residency rules in the destination country

• The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

• Foreign tax credits

• Reporting requirements for foreign bank accounts

• Whether the two countries have a tax treaty

• Whether self-employment changes your responsibilities

International taxes can become complicated, so speaking with a qualified tax professional may be worthwhile.

8. Banking and Access to Money

You will need a reliable way to access money, pay bills, and receive income.

Consider:

• Can foreigners open a local bank account?

• What documents will the bank require?

• Will your current bank allow you to keep your account after moving abroad?

• Does your bank charge foreign-transaction or ATM fees?

• How will you transfer money between countries?

• Are services such as Wise or similar transfer platforms available?

• Will your credit cards work consistently?

• How will you receive replacement cards overseas?

• Will you need to maintain a U.S. billing address?

9. Keeping a U.S. Address and Phone Number

A U.S. address may still be needed for banking, taxes, voting, insurance, identification, and receiving important documents.

You may need to decide whether to:

• Use the address of a trusted family member

• Use a virtual mailbox

• Maintain residency in a particular state

• Forward or scan your mail

• Keep a U.S. phone number for verification codes

• Transfer your number to a low-cost mobile or internet-based service

Make sure your chosen phone service can receive calls and verification texts while you are abroad.

10. Housing and Infrastructure

A beautiful location may not be comfortable for daily life if the infrastructure does not meet your needs.

Research:

• Reliability of electricity

• Water quality and availability

• Plumbing and sewage systems

• Road conditions

• Flooding and drainage

• Waste collection

• Air quality

• Access to hospitals and emergency services

• Building safety

• Availability of air conditioning

• Backup-power options

Looking at vacation photos will not reveal all of these realities. Local groups, resident experiences, neighborhood visits, and long-term rentals can provide a clearer picture.

11. Internet Quality

Reliable internet may be essential if you work remotely, manage an online business, or regularly communicate with family.

Check:

• Average internet speeds

• Fiber availability

• Reliability during storms or power outages

• Mobile-data coverage

• Installation requirements

• Cost of internet plans

• Availability of coworking spaces

• Backup-internet options

Do not rely only on nationwide averages. Internet quality can vary between neighborhoods and individual buildings.

12. Transportation

Think about how you will get around during ordinary daily life—not only while sightseeing.

Consider:

• Is the area walkable?

• Is public transportation reliable?

• Are taxis or rideshare services available?

• Will you need a car, scooter, or motorbike?

• Can foreigners obtain a local driver’s license?

• Is an International Driving Permit required?

• What are the road-safety conditions?

• How much does vehicle ownership cost?

• Is transportation accessible during the rainy season or severe weather?

13. Weather and Climate

Warm weather may sound appealing, but it is important to understand the full climate—not only the best travel season.

Research:

• Average temperatures throughout the year

• Humidity

• Rainy and dry seasons

• Air quality and smoke seasons

• Extreme heat

• Seasonal flooding

• Storm frequency

• How the climate may affect your health, pets, belongings, or transportation

Consider visiting during the least desirable season before deciding to move permanently.

14. Natural Disasters

Every destination has risks, but those risks vary by location.

Possible concerns include:

• Hurricanes or typhoons

• Flooding

• Earthquakes

• Tsunamis

• Wildfires

• Volcanic activity

• Landslides

• Extreme heat

• Drought

Find out how often these events occur, which neighborhoods are most vulnerable, how buildings are constructed, and what emergency resources are available.

15. Local Politics, Laws, and Personal Rights

Political stability and local laws can directly affect your safety and quality of life.

Research:

• Political stability

• Freedom of speech

• Women’s rights

• LGBTQ+ rights

• Religious influence

• Local attitudes toward foreigners

• Laws that differ significantly from those at home

• Rules concerning protests, social media, alcohol, prescription drugs, or public behavior

• How laws are enforced in practice

• Whether long-term visa policies are stable

A country does not need to share all of your personal beliefs, but you should understand how its laws and political environment may affect your daily life.

16. Local Language

It may be possible to live in some areas using only English, but learning the local language can make daily life easier and help you feel more connected.

Consider:

• How widely is English spoken?

• Can you manage healthcare, banking, housing, and immigration appointments in English?

• Are important documents available in English?

• Will you need a translator?

• Are language classes available?

• How much of the local language are you willing to learn?

17. Food and Dietary Needs

Food can be one of the most exciting parts of moving abroad, but it can also create challenges.

Research:

• Grocery availability

• Food prices

• Drinking-water safety

• Food-allergy awareness

• Availability of familiar ingredients

• Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or other dietary options

• Food-labeling standards

• Restaurant hygiene

• Access to imported foods

• Whether the local diet works with your health needs

Think about how you actually eat every week rather than how you eat during a vacation.

18. Pets

Moving internationally with pets requires additional planning, paperwork, and expense.

Research:

• Import permits

• Required vaccines

• Microchip requirements

• Health certificates

• Quarantine rules

• Airline policies

• Breed restrictions

• Cargo versus in-cabin travel

• Pet-friendly housing

• Local veterinarians

• Availability of medications and preferred food

• Climate and wildlife risks

Begin researching pet-import requirements well before your intended moving date.

19. Schools and Children

Families moving with children will have additional considerations.

Research:

• Public-school eligibility

• International-school tuition

• Curriculum and language

• Class sizes

• Transportation

• Special-education resources

• Homeschooling laws

• Childcare availability

• University options

• Social opportunities for children

School tuition can significantly change the cost of living, particularly if international education is necessary.

20. Shipping, Storage, or Selling Your Belongings

Deciding what to take can become one of the most emotional and expensive parts of moving abroad.

Compare the cost of:

• International shipping

• Additional airline baggage

• Storage in your home country

• Replacing furniture after arrival

• Selling or donating your belongings

• Customs duties and import taxes

• Shipping insurance

• Delays or damage

Ask yourself whether each item is difficult to replace, emotionally meaningful, or worth more than the cost of shipping it.

21. Time-Zone Differences

The time difference may affect your work schedule and your relationships with people at home.

Consider:

• Will you need to work U.S. business hours?

• Would that mean working overnight?

• When will you be able to call family?

• Will the time difference make meetings difficult?

• How will it affect your sleep and social life?

• Can your employer accommodate an international time zone?

A location can be perfect in many ways and still become exhausting if you must work through the night.

22. Traveling Back Home

Even when you plan to build a life abroad, you may want or need to return home.

Research:

• Distance to the nearest international airport

• Number of flight connections

• Average ticket prices

• Seasonal price changes

• Total travel time

• Visa reentry requirements

• Emergency-travel options

• Pet-care arrangements while you are away

Think about how often you realistically expect to return and whether the cost and travel time fit your priorities.

Questions to Ask Before Making the Move

After completing your research, ask yourself:

• Can we legally live and work there?

• Can we afford the lifestyle we want?

• Can we access the healthcare and medications we need?

• Does the daily infrastructure meet our expectations?

• Can we manage the climate and natural-disaster risks?

• Will the time difference work with our jobs and relationships?

• Can our pets or children adapt safely?

• Are we comfortable with the laws and political environment?

• Are we choosing a place that works for daily life, not only for vacation?

  
  

Final Thoughts

There may never be a destination that meets every preference perfectly. The purpose of this checklist is not to eliminate every possible risk or uncertainty. It is to identify which compromises you are willing to make and which factors are essential to your quality of life.

Moving abroad is about much more than finding a beautiful or affordable place. It is about understanding what your ordinary days will look like once the excitement of the move settles.

The right destination is not necessarily the place with the fewest disadvantages. It is the place where the advantages matter enough to make the challenges feel worthwhile.

Downloadable Moving Abroad Checklist

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Disclaimer: This post is based on our personal research and experience and is provided for general informational purposes only. Visa, tax, legal, healthcare, and medication requirements can change and vary by individual circumstances and destination. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and qualified professionals before making decisions.