Most moving checklists are written for movers and banks. Remote workers have different problems: an employer who must agree, a visa that allows remote work, and tax obligations that follow you. This checklist is ordered by time so you can work through it, with the first 90 days after arrival at the end.
General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Last reviewed 12 October 2026. Rules vary by country, so confirm with the official source for each.
First, decide what kind of move this is
The checklist changes depending on your plan. Three common cases:
- Trial stay (1 to 3 months): you keep your home address and most possessions, and treat the trip as a test.
- Long stay (6 to 12 months): you need a visa route that allows it, local housing and a health plan for the full period.
- Relocation: you plan to live there long-term, which brings residency, local tax and possibly shipping your belongings.
If you are unsure, start with a trial stay. It is the cheapest way to find out whether the place works. The first 90 days section below applies to all three.
3 to 6 months before
- Employer: get written approval to work from the destination. Working abroad for an employer can create tax and legal issues for them; see our guide to working remotely abroad for your employer.
- Visa: check whether tourist entry allows remote work (often it does not) or whether you need a nomad or residence route. Start with how digital nomad visas work and the best countries for digital nomads.
- Budget: use a full-time travel budget and add a buffer for deposits.
- Time zones: check how many of your working hours overlap with your team, using our time zone guide as a starting point.
1 to 3 months before
- Tax: US citizens are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live. The IRS (page reviewed 28 September 2026) says filing is required to claim the foreign earned income exclusion or foreign tax credit, that taxpayers abroad get an automatic extension to June 15 (to October 15 with Form 4868), and that the FBAR is generally due April 15. See IRS, U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad and our tax residency guide.
- Address: keep a domicile; read domicile and mail forwarding.
- Health cover: buy insurance that covers where you will live. See choosing a plan and healthcare abroad.
- Medicines: get a doctor’s letter and prescription copies.
- Housing: book a short first stay, then find a longer place on arrival. Beware rental scams (see the FTC’s warnings in our coliving guide).
- Money: plan how you will get paid and how you will move money. Our guides to savings accounts and travel cards explain what to check without recommending products.
Documents folder
Make one digital folder, backed up in two places, and keep paper copies of the essentials in a separate bag. A sensible set:
- Passport photo page and any visa or residence approvals.
- Employer approval letter and your work contract.
- Insurance policy and emergency numbers.
- Vaccination and medical records, plus your doctor’s letter.
- Tax records and a copy of your last return.
- Bank and card details, kept separately from the card itself.
- Rental agreement and landlord contact once you have one.
Last two weeks
- Tell your bank and card providers; carry two cards from different networks.
- Set up a phone plan; compare eSIM and local SIM.
- Back up documents digitally and keep paper copies separate.
- Confirm voting arrangements if you are a US citizen overseas (the Federal Voting Assistance Program explains the process).
- Pack with our packing list and set up your workspace using ergonomic travel gear.
Your first 90 days
| When | Do |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Register with your embassy if offered, find a clinic, test internet, set a work routine |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | Check visa conditions and deadlines, find a longer lease or extend, open a local bank account if allowed |
| Month 2 | Review costs against budget, join a community, check time-zone fit |
| Month 3 | Decide whether to stay, extend the visa or move on; track days for tax residency |
The early months also decide how settled you feel. Plan connection, not only logistics; see digital nomad loneliness. If you want a ready-made community while you settle, our coliving guide explains what to check.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a tourist stamp allows remote work. Many countries do not treat it that way; check the rules.
- Signing a long lease before seeing the place or the neighbourhood at different hours.
- Forgetting the home-country filing deadlines, since the IRS page notes filing is still required abroad.
- Buying insurance that excludes your own conditions, or your home country, without reading the wording.
- Burning through the budget in the first month on deposits and set-up costs. Plan for a higher first month than later ones.
These are our judgments from common planning errors, not research findings.
If the move does not work out
Keep an exit plan: money for a flight home, a place you can return to, and a clear idea of how many days of notice you owe your landlord. Some people find that moving abroad is harder than expected for reasons that have little to do with logistics. Our guides to stopping being a digital nomad and reverse culture shock cover the return side.
FAQ
Can I move abroad without telling my employer?
It is risky. Working from another country can create tax and legal obligations for your employer, so get approval in writing.
How much should I save first?
We have no reliable general figure. Add up deposits, first-month costs, insurance and a buffer for a flight home, then adjust to your destination.
Do I still file taxes at home if I live abroad?
For US citizens, the IRS says yes: they are taxed on worldwide income. Other countries have different rules, so check your own.
When should I start the checklist?
Three to six months ahead if you need employer approval or a visa. A trial stay under a tourist entry can be arranged faster, but check whether you may work.
Should I ship my belongings?
For a trial or long stay, most people travel with a suitcase and store the rest. Shipping is a relocation question, and we found no reliable general cost data, so get quotes from several movers.
Sources
- IRS, U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad (reviewed 28 September 2026).
- FTC, Rental Listing Scams (June 2026).
