Moving to another country is a big deal. Maybe you’re heading to Barcelona for work, retiring on Portugal’s coast, or becoming a digital nomad in Southeast Asia.
Whatever your reason, good planning separates smooth moves from expensive headaches.
Most international moves take 3-6 months to plan properly. This checklist walks you through everything you need to do – from renewing your passport to handling taxes.
| Timeframe | Essential tasks | Priority level |
| 6-3 months before | Renew passport, research visa requirements, understand US tax obligations, and research health insurance | Critical |
| 3 months before | Set up international banking, notify financial institutions, purchase health insurance, and get immunizations | High |
| 2-1 months before | Sort belongings, arrange first-night housing, handle property/vehicle, set up mail forwarding | High |
| Final month | Cancel services, purchase local currency, learn basic phrases, and copy documents | Medium |
| After arrival | Activate phone, find housing, locate hospital, set up utilities, maintain tax compliance | Ongoing |
6-3 months before moving: Documentation and legal preparation
Update your passport and research visa requirements
Check your passport right now. Many countries won’t let you in unless your passport is valid for at least 6 months after you arrive.
Need to renew? Do it today. Processing takes 8-11 weeks.
Visas take even longer – sometimes 6 months or more. Start researching your destination’s visa rules early because they’re different for every country. If you’re going to Europe, you’ll need an ETIAS authorization starting May 2025 for short stays in Schengen countries.
Understand your US tax obligations abroad
Here’s something most Americans don’t know: you still owe US taxes even after moving overseas.
The IRS doesn’t care where you live. If you’re a US citizen, you report all your income—no matter which country it comes from.
The good news? You won’t pay double taxes if you do it right. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) excludes up to $130,000 of foreign wages from US taxes in 2025. Foreign Tax Credits offset US taxes with foreign taxes you already paid.
Research the tax treaty between the US and your new country. This tells you exactly how your income, retirement accounts, and investments get taxed.
Important: If you’ve already moved abroad and haven’t been filing US taxes, don’t panic. The streamlined domestic offshore procedures let you catch up on missed returns with reduced penalties. But you need to get compliant before the IRS finds you.
Break state tax ties properly
Moving abroad doesn’t automatically stop state taxes.
California, Virginia, and South Carolina are notorious for claiming you still owe them money – even from overseas – if you keep any ties there.
To prove you’re really gone, cancel your driver’s license and get an international permit instead. Change your voter registration. Close local bank accounts or switch to international ones. Sell your property or officially convert it to a rental. Update your address everywhere.
Keep records of everything. You might need proof later.
3 months before: Financial and banking setup
Set up international banking before departure
You’ll need a local bank account in your new country for rent, utilities, and everyday spending.
But here’s the catch: opening foreign accounts creates immediate US reporting requirements that catch most Americans off guard.
Research which banks accept American customers. Some international banks (like HSBC) let you open accounts before you move, which makes life easier. Schwab Bank reimburses all international ATM fees – that means free withdrawals anywhere in the world.
Understand FBAR and FATCA requirements
Pay attention to this part. It trips up thousands of expats every year.
FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report) requires filing if your foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any point during the year. This includes checking and savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts overseas, and even accounts where you just have signing authority (like for your employer).
FATCA (Form 8938) is required if your foreign assets exceed $200,000-$600,000, depending on your filing status.
The penalty for missing these $10,000 per account, per year – even if you didn’t know about the rule.
Notify your current financial institutions
Call your banks and credit card companies. Tell them you’re moving and where you’ll be traveling.
Check if your cards charge foreign transaction fees. These add up fast – 3% on every purchase means $30 extra for every $1,000 you spend.
If all your cards have these fees, get a travel card with no foreign transaction fees before you leave.
2-3 months before: Healthcare and insurance planning
Purchase international health insurance
Your US health insurance won’t work overseas. Medicare doesn’t cover you outside America except in rare cases.
You need international health insurance that covers your destination country, includes medical evacuation, and works if you travel between countries. Many countries won’t approve your visa without proof of health insurance.
Get required immunizations and medical checkups
See your doctor for a full checkup. Ask which vaccines your destination country requires. Some regions need protection against malaria, typhoid, or yellow fever.
1-2 months before: Housing and logistics
Decide what to bring, store, or sell
Think about your living situation abroad. Will you stay in one place or move around? How much space will you have? Can you afford extra luggage fees?
Paying for an extra checked bag usually costs less than international shipping. Sell stuff on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay. Donate what doesn’t sell.
Arrange housing and handle US property
Book at least your first night’s accommodation before you arrive. Trust me – you don’t want to search for a place while jetlagged in an unfamiliar city.
If you own a home, decide now: sell it or rent it out? This process takes 1 month to over a year, so start early.
For your car, shipping from the US to Europe costs $750-$2,000, depending on the size. Compare that to selling it here and buying one there.
Set up mail forwarding
Forward your mail to your new address or a trusted contact in the US. Some services scan your mail and email it to you.
Final month: Essential tasks before departure
Cancel recurring services and memberships
Cancel gym memberships (many require in-person cancellation – do this early), streaming services, magazine subscriptions, and any service tied to your US address. Turn off utilities if you’re not renting out your place.
Purchase local currency and set budget expectations
Get some local cash from your bank before you leave. Airport exchange rates are terrible.
Research your destination’s cost of living. Prices for housing, food, and entertainment vary wildly by country.
Take language lessons and copy documents
Learn basic phrases like “hello,” “thank you,” “please,” and “do you speak English?” Use Duolingo or Pimsleur to practice.
Make copies of your passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, medical records, marriage certificates, and insurance documents. Laminate physical copies. Store digital copies in the cloud.
After arrival: Settling into your new country
Activate your international phone plan
Research local phone carriers and pick a plan based on how much you’ll use your phone. Many require 2-year contracts.
Need a phone mostly for emergencies? Use WhatsApp, Skype, or Viber over wifi instead.
Find permanent housing and set up services
Check Craigslist, local Facebook groups, and ask locals where to find apartments. Airbnb and hostels work great while you search – plus you’ll meet people.
Once you’re settled, find the nearest hospital that accepts your insurance. Set up utilities and internet (ask your landlord for recommendations). Update your address with family, banks, and government agencies.
Critical tax compliance: Don’t make these mistakes
The biggest mistake expats make? Stopping their US tax filings after moving abroad.
Many people think paying taxes in their new country means they’re done. Wrong.
The IRS doesn’t have a time limit on unfiled returns. Your tax problems never go away. They just get worse. This causes passport renewal problems, issues if you return to the US, and big penalties if the IRS finds unreported foreign accounts.
Already behind on filings? There’s a fix
The streamlined domestic offshore procedures let you file missed returns with reduced penalties – as long as you didn’t hide income on purpose.
Living abroad already? The streamlined foreign offshore procedures might eliminate penalties completely.
Making your international move successful
Moving overseas will change your life. You’ll have experiences you can’t get at home.
Good planning makes sure those changes are positive ones.
Yes, the preparation feels overwhelming. But this checklist breaks everything into manageable steps. Each task you complete gets you closer to your new adventure – with the confidence that you didn’t forget anything important.
