Moving abroad feels like one big decision. It is eight, and they depend on each other:

1. Why you are moving, and what has to be true for it to work
2. What you can afford, and which country fits
3. How you will earn a living there
4. How you will qualify to live there legally
5. How the move will be taxed, and how you will be insured
6. How you will test the move before you commit
7. What you will ship, sell or store, and how your money will move
8. How you will set up your first 90 days, and what your plan B is

Most people start with the country and a shipping quote. Then they find that the visa does not let them work, the local salary does not cover local costs, or the tax bill changes the whole plan. This guide runs in the order that avoids those surprises: goal and money first, then country, work and visa, then tax, then the practical steps in the order you will meet them.

Rules depend on your passport, and we say so where they differ. The US case gets the most space because the US taxes its citizens wherever they live. Readers from the UK, Canada, Australia and the EU face a different set of problems, flagged where they apply.

Who this guide is for

Most readers fit one of four situations, and each starts in a different place.

You have a job offer or a transfer.

Start with the visa and tax sections. Your employer may help with the visa, but rarely with everything else.

You want to move but have no job lined up.

Start with your goal and what you can afford. Then look at how you will earn a living and which visa allows it.

You are moving with a partner or family.

Add work rights for your partner, schools and healthcare for everyone, and how each person will qualify to stay.

You plan to move within the year.

Go to the timeline, shipping and money sections. Then read why people move back, so you leave with a plan B.

This is probably not the right page if you plan to retire abroad (see our retire abroad guide) or you want to keep a remote job while you travel (see our digital nomad guide).

Why are you moving?

The best-prepared movers can say in one sentence why they are going and what would make them stop. That sentence decides which country, which visa and how much risk is reasonable.

Common reasons include a better job or career, a lower cost of living, a partner or family, climate and lifestyle, safety, schooling for children, and a wish for a change. They point to different routes. A career move points to work visas in high-wage countries. A cost move points to places where your income stretches further. A family move points to where your partner or relatives are.

Write down your non-negotiables. Before you compare countries, list five things that must be true. For example: a minimum monthly take-home pay, access to healthcare, a maximum flight time to family, a language you can live in, and work rights for your partner. Rank them. A country that fails a non-negotiable is out, however good it looks.

Can I afford it?

Moving changes both sides of your budget: what you earn and what you spend. Enter the monthly take-home pay you expect in the new country, not what you earn now, and see what is left after living costs.

See which countries fit your priorities

Answer a few questions and get a shortlist matched to what you care about.

Before you trust any figure

1. Use take-home pay after local tax and social contributions, which can be higher or lower than at home.
2. Count only income you have: an offer letter, a contract or a transferred salary. If you plan to look for a local job, check what that job pays in the new country first.
3. Add the first-year costs: deposits, furnishing, flights and visa fees.
4. Keep a reserve of several months of living costs for the gap between arriving and your first paycheck.

This tool is a quick filter. To see how much you could save by moving, or to compare your take-home pay across countries, use our geo-arbitrage savings calculator and our cost of living calculator.

What it costs

A move has three kinds of cost, and people usually budget only for the second.

• Before you leave. Visa and application fees, document translation and apostilles, medical or police checks, flights, and shipping or storage.
• On arrival. Temporary housing, a rental deposit (often more than one month's rent, so confirm the local norm), furnishing, registration and ID fees, a phone and internet connection.
• Every month. Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare cover and schooling.
• The overlap. You may pay rent in two countries for a month or two, plus storage, a lease exit or the cost of selling a home.

The number that matters is not the national average. It is what you will pay in the city you choose, so use the country figure to shortlist and the city figure to decide. To compare places, use Compare Cities. If you already live somewhere you could report on, share what you spend and help other readers.

Start with the country

Filter countries by what you can afford and which visa routes your passport can use. Then rank what is left on the things that matter when you are building a life, not visiting.

• Work and wages. How the job market looks in your field, what it pays against local costs, and what language you would need at work.
• Right to stay. Which route you qualify for, how long it lasts and whether it leads to permanent residency.
• Housing. How hard it is to rent as a newcomer, and what landlords ask for.
• Healthcare. Access for you and your family, and when you become eligible.
• Schools and family. Schools in a language your children can use, childcare costs and work rights for a partner.
• Language and community. How far you get with the language you have now, and whether there is a community of people who moved before you.
• Distance. Flights home and time zone overlap with family.

To start from a ranked list, see the best countries to move to, take the country quiz, or browse the country directory.

How will you earn a living?

Money is the reason most moves fail, so decide how you will earn before you decide where you will live. There are five common paths.

• A transfer from your employer. The simplest path. Ask what the company covers: visa, tax advice, housing, shipping and a return option.
• A job offer from a company abroad. Many work visas need a sponsoring employer. Some countries use points-based systems for skilled workers, including Canada, Australia and the UK, where age, language, experience and qualifications earn points.
• A job search from abroad. Some countries offer job-seeker visas. Check how long you may stay, whether you may work meanwhile, and what happens if you do not find a job.
• Self-employment or a business. Needs the right visa, local registration and a plan for local taxes and clients.
• Remote work for a foreign employer. Different rules apply. See our digital nomad guide.

Check these before you rely on a job

1. Regulated professions. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, engineers and others often need local licensing or recognition of their qualifications, which can take months or years.
2. Language. Many workplaces expect the local language even when the job ad is in English.
3. Your partner's work rights. Many visas let a partner join but not work.
4. Salary against costs. Compare the salary after local tax with the monthly cost of living above.
5. Scams. Never pay a recruiter or employer for a job offer or a visa. Verify the company, and be wary of offers that arrive unasked or move to messaging apps.

Can you legally move?

A right to visit is not a right to live and work. Most countries offer a few routes, and which are open to you depends on your passport, age, skills and family.

• Work visas. Employer-sponsored or points-based. They usually tie you to a job or a sector at first.
• Family routes. Joining a spouse, partner, parent or child who is a citizen or resident.
• Study routes. A student visa, sometimes followed by a work permit after you graduate.
• Working holiday visas. Short work stays for young adults, with age limits that vary by country and passport.
• Investment and self-employment routes. Higher capital or a business plan, with tightening rules in several countries.
• Ancestry and citizenship by descent. If a parent or grandparent was a citizen somewhere, this route can be faster and more secure than any visa.

What to check on every route

1. Whether your passport qualifies, and any age, language or exam requirement.
2. Whether you need a sponsor, a job offer or a minimum income.
3. Who can come with you, and whether a partner may work.
4. How long it lasts, how it renews and whether it leads to permanent residency.
5. Fees, processing time and where you must apply.
6. Which documents need police checks, medical checks, apostilles or translations.
7. Whether an adviser must be licensed to give immigration advice in that country. Use official sources first, and be careful with agents who guarantee approval.

We track changes on our visa changes page. To match your situation to routes, answer the questions below or browse all visas.

REWIRE ABROAD VISA QUIZ

Find Your Ideal Expat Visa

11 quick questions to match you with the right visa.

Step 1 of 119%

Where do you hold a passport?

Determines which visas are open to you. If you hold multiple passports, pick the one you would apply with.

United StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermany

How the move gets taxed

A move creates tax questions in two countries at once, and the year you move is the messiest one. Two things decide your bill: when you become tax resident in the new country, and whether your old country still taxes you.

Leaving.

Most countries stop taxing your worldwide income once you cut residency, but some charge a departure tax on certain assets. Canada and Australia are examples. Selling a home or investments as you leave can have its own tax consequences, so check before you sell.

Arriving.

Many countries treat you as resident from the day you settle, or after about 183 days, and tax worldwide income from then. You will usually need a tax ID, and your employer or you may need to register for social security. Some countries have agreements that stop you paying into two systems.

The year of the move.

You may file part-year returns in both countries. Keep records of the date you left, the date you arrived and where each payment was earned.

Your retirement accounts.

Some countries tax foreign retirement accounts differently from how your home country does. Check before you move or withdraw anything.

If you are American, you stay in the US tax system wherever you live

• You still file a US return each year, even if you owe nothing.
• For earned income, you can use the foreign tax credit or the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. The better choice depends on the tax rates in your new country, so compare both each year.
• Foreign bank and investment accounts must be reported once they exceed $10,000 together at any point in the year.
• Leaving a state does not end that state's tax unless you actually change your domicile.

The best next step is to model your income in your likely country with a cross-border tax professional who covers your passport.

To compare tax rules across countries, see our tax comparison.

General information, not tax advice. Rules change and depend on your situation.

Healthcare and insurance

Your current coverage usually ends when you leave your job or your country. The new country's system takes time to start, so plan for the gap.

• The local system. Many countries enroll residents through employment contributions or registration, sometimes with a waiting period. Ask exactly when you become eligible.
• Employer cover. If you move for a job, ask whether insurance starts on day one and whether it covers your family.
• A bridge policy. Short-term international or travel insurance can cover the first weeks or months until local cover starts. Check exclusions and any limit on how long you can stay on it.
• Your family. Check pediatric care, vaccinations and pregnancy cover, which some plans exclude or delay.

Before you leave

1. Get copies of medical records and prescriptions, and confirm your medicines are available and legal in the new country.
2. Book dental, vision and any routine care you can do at home.
3. Ask whether the visa has an insurance requirement, and what it must cover.
4. Find out how pre-existing conditions are treated by the local system and by any policy you buy.

Scout the country before you commit

Reading about a place and living there are different things. A scouting trip is the cheapest way to find out whether your plan survives daily life. Treat it as a test, not a holiday.

How long and when.

Plan for two to four weeks if you can, ideally in the hardest season for the place.

Where to stay.

Rent in the kind of neighborhood you would actually choose, not a hotel in the tourist district.

What to test

• Housing. Visit real rentals, ask landlords what they require from newcomers, and compare the rent with the listings you saw online.
• Work. Meet employers or recruiters, visit workplaces, and ask what people in your field actually earn.
• Schools and childcare. Visit them and check waiting lists.
• Healthcare. Find a doctor and a pharmacy, and ask how newcomers enroll.
• Daily life. Shop where locals shop, use public transport, and walk the neighborhood at different times of day.
• People. Meet others who moved there, and ask what they wish they had known.
• Paperwork. Visit the immigration office or a local adviser to confirm the process matches what you read.

Keep score.

At the end of each week, rate work, housing, healthcare, schools, cost and social life from 1 to 5. A written scorecard makes the decision less emotional.

Watch for sales pressure.

Be wary of anyone who urges you to buy property, pay a deposit or join a paid program on your first visit. Rent first and decide after you are home.

Moving your money

Money logistics are mostly about three things: keeping access at home, opening accounts in the new country and not losing a slice to fees and exchange rates.

• Keep a home bank account. Some banks restrict or close accounts when you give a foreign address. Ask yours before you leave, and keep a home card for travel and emergencies. Use your real address with banks and tax authorities.
• Expect delay opening a local account. Many banks want a residence permit, proof of address and sometimes a local tax ID first. Plan to rely on your home accounts for the first weeks.
• Credit history usually does not transfer. Expect a thin file at first, which can affect renting, loans and phone contracts. Ask landlords whether a reference letter from your home bank or employer helps.
• Move large sums on the exchange rate, not just the fee. Banks often add a margin that does not show as a fee. Compare what arrives against the mid-market rate.
• Plan for currency risk. If your savings are in one currency and your costs are in another, a swing hits your reserve directly.

To compare ways of moving money, try our Currency Transfer Planner.

What to ship, sell or store

The cheapest item to move is the one you do not take. For each item, compare the cost of shipping it with the cost of replacing it, and keep what you will miss or cannot replace.

• Furniture and appliances. Usually cheaper to sell and replace. Check voltage and plug types for anything electrical.
• Vehicles. Often not worth shipping because of import taxes and local standards. Check the rules before you decide.
• Sentimental items and documents. Take them in your luggage or ship them insured.
• Storage. A short-term option if you are unsure the move will last.

Shipping options.

A few bags are cheapest and fastest. A shared container suits a smaller load and takes longer. A full container suits a whole household and usually means weeks at sea. Get at least three quotes, compare what is included (door to door or port to port, insurance, customs help), and be careful with very low quotes or large upfront deposits.

Customs and pets.

Some countries waive import duties on personal belongings for new residents, with conditions such as proof of residence or prior ownership. Check the customs authority. Pet rules vary and can include a microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificates, blood tests and waiting periods, so start months ahead.

Your move in order

A move is easier when you do things in the order they depend on each other.

Six to twelve months before

• Confirm your visa route and start collecting documents. Some take months to obtain.
• Tell your employer and check what they will support.
• Scout the country and shortlist neighborhoods.
• Start insurance, tax and money research.

Three months before

• Submit or follow up on your visa application.
• Book movers and get quotes confirmed in writing.
• Arrange temporary housing for the first weeks.
• Handle medical, dental and prescription needs.

One month before

• Sell or donate what you are not taking. Give notice on your lease and utilities.
• Tell banks, tax authorities and benefit agencies your new address and date.
• Carry certified copies of passports, visas, marriage and birth certificates, and school records.

First week

• Register with local authorities if required. Many countries ask you to register your address within days or weeks.
• Get a local SIM, and confirm your temporary home is safe and as described.

First 90 days

• Get a tax ID and open a local bank account.
• Enroll in the local healthcare system or confirm your insurance works.
• Exchange or retake your driving license. Rules vary and some countries require a test.
• Enroll children in school and find a doctor.
• Find permanent housing, and avoid paying a deposit before you have seen the place and checked the landlord.
• Join a class, club or community group.

Why people move back

Some people move abroad and stay for good. Others return within a few years. These are not statistics. They are the risks this guide is designed around, because planning for them is what lets you commit with confidence.

• The job does not work out. A visa tied to one employer can leave you stuck if the job ends.
• Costs and income do not match. Rent and daily costs rise, or a local salary does not stretch as far as expected.
• Work rights for a partner. One partner who cannot work, or is unhappy, can end the plan.
• Language and belonging. Daily life in a second language is tiring, and making friends takes longer than expected.
• Family pulls you back. A parent's illness or a new grandchild changes the picture.
• Healthcare or school problems. A condition or a child's needs are harder to meet than you expected.
• The rules change. Visa programs tighten and tax rules shift. Track changes on our visa changes page.

How to plan for it

1. Keep a return fund, enough to relocate and rent back home for a few months.
2. Keep a home bank account, a mailing address and your key documents current.
3. Keep professional contacts and licenses alive, so a return does not mean starting over.
4. Set a review date at 6 and 18 months, and write down in advance what would make you leave.
5. Keep your lease short in the first year.

Keeping the option to return is not pessimism. It is what makes the move a decision you can reverse, which makes it easier to make.

Where to go next

Pick the next step that matches where you are.

• Still choosing a country: compare countries, compare cities or take the country quiz.
• Checking visas: take the visa quiz, browse all visas or follow visa changes.
• Working out the money: the geo-arbitrage savings calculator, the cost of living calculator and the Currency Transfer Planner.
• Ready to move: the Move Cost Estimator and the Move Checklist.
• Moving to retire, or to work remotely: our retire abroad guide and digital nomad guide.