Moving

Moving in any sense can be a life-changing and memorable experience for you and everyone involved. Having the opportunity to move to another country presents itself is a whole range of different excitement and possibility for you. Though moving to another country does superficially have tons of appeal, it is definitely not an easy process. But, luckily for you, there are plenty of tips and tricks to make the process go by with much less difficulty. So, whether you are moving for a new job, school, or romance, here are some of the most important things you should do once you arrive in your new home (and country)!

(image from: ohmygodd.com)

Where to Live

One of the first things you should do is ensure that you have somewhere to stay. Maybe your job has sent you abroad to work and has already taken care of your hotel or apartment accommodations. Or maybe your new school has provided you with dorm access and you do not need to worry about where to sleep. However, this generally is not the case for most people. You’ll have to head out and search for a room, apartment, or house to live in. There are several websites that offer classified listings like Craigslist. There are also groups on Facebook for foreigners living in a new city where people can ask around about places to stay and other important information about the city/country they will be living in. If you are only in the need for something short-term, consider looking into hotels, hostels, or websites like Airbnb.

Figure out Transportation

You have moved to a new country, but how do you plan on getting around once you are there? If you do not plan to get a car, there are two ways that this problem can be dealt with. One option is to get a transportation card/pass. Almost all of the large cities across the world today have some sort of transportation system integrated within their functioning that works with a transportation card. Once you get a card and figure out how to use it, you can take advantage of its discounts and make your life much easier. If you move to a place that follows a more simple transportation system, try to figure out the bus schedule near your house and most frequent destinations. If all else fails, and you do not want (or need) to purchase a car, another really great option is to get a bicycle. Many cities around the world have begun implementing incentive programs and adapting their roads and sidewalks for those who choose to get around on bikes. It is also a great way to save on transportation costs and keep in good physical shape.

 

Do you have a job?

Not everyone relocates to a new country because their job told them to, some people just need a change of pace or are attending school abroad. If this is the case for you, it is important to figure out how you are going to support yourself as soon as possible. Classified sites like Craigslist are, once again, a good place to look for postings, along with Facebook. If you don’t already, make sure your LinkedIn profile is also updated and looking appealing for those attempting to contact you. Another option is to send a lot of emails and visit places in person to find out if they are currently offering any positions. Besides, you can apply to recruitment companies, who will help in getting a job offered to foreigners.  In some countries such as Canada, a number of companies are hiring foreign employees in Canada (emcaucher un employee stranger au Canada,) as they haven't been successful in finding workers from the local workforce. Try not to let this part hold you down too much, you can always take a job you do not necessarily want temporarily while you look for the perfect opportunity.

Communication

No matter where you have chosen to live, you likely need to get ahold of a phone as soon as possible and get a number set up so people can communicate with you. Friends, family, students, and job contacts are just a few of the important numbers that you will need to keep up with, and you will need a phone to do so. And, any place where you may have to “register” yourself generally requires that you provide them with a phone number to reach you (work, school, gym, etc.). So long as you have money and a passport (or some form of ID), you can get your hands on a phone and number pretty easily.

 

Know where to order from

It is possible that the place you are relocating to is very different from where you are coming from, and they may not have the types of foods or products that you have grown used to using. Or maybe they do have them, but they cost way more money. In this case, consider looking for a website to order things that you have not been able to find where you are. Websites and apps like Ebay and Amazon are great options for this if you are already comfortable with the software. There are also likely some local options for this as well, it just requires a bit of research to get things started.

 

Register with immigration

This may not always be necessary, but in many countries, even if you already have some sort of student or work visa, you will need to register with the local authorities if you want to be able to spend a bit of time living there. Normally, they will give you a civil registry number that you will need to work legally and sometimes do things like open a bank account or set up a cell phone plan. The last thing you will want is to spend more unnecessary time trying to figure out why you cannot seem to get anything done. This should be a number one priority when you move to a new country to avoid any potential hassles or pitfalls.

 

Health/Travel Insurance

The last thing you will want when you live in a foreign country is to be without health insurance. If anything should happen to you, and you need immediate medical attention, the bills can be painfully expensive to deal with. If you are moving for work, in most cases, your employer will have taken care of this and provided you with the necessary insurance coverage. This is generally the same for students as well, as they are provided with some sort of student coverage that costs little to nothing extra for them. But, if you have moved for any other reason, you should consider signing up for temporary travel insurance. You can purchase some travel insurance plans for up to one year, and even be given the option to extend the policy after that. But, if you plan on staying as a long-time resident, you will need to get international health insurance for expatriates and immigrants. This is usually required to live legally in a lot of countries. Do not hold off on this to save a few bucks, if something were to happen, you do not want to be stuck trying to pay off that debt.

Socialize

You do not want to spend all of your time in a new country alone inside your residence. It is important to take the time to get out and meet people. One way to do this is to find a gym. Look around for a gym that offers the things you are interested in, and sign up. This may not always lead to friendship right away, but it gives you another place to go and interact with the country that you have moved to.

 Another great way to meet people is by going out. Find a cheap bar or cafe that gives you access to the drinks and foods you like. This will not only help you meet people, but it also gives you a place to hang out and begins to feel more acclimated in your new environment. This is more about finding places to socialize and hang out at, but make sure you actually like the place first. It is also important in a new country to take some time to learn the local language and some of the history of the place. Even if the country you have ventured to speaks the same language, chances are they will have different “slang” terms, and learning them will help you relate to people more quickly and easily.

 
So, whether you are going temporarily or for a long time, there is a lot to do and learn before and after you move to a new country. Hopefully, some of these tips have taken some of the fear away from this move, and have helped you figure out what you need to do.