Moving Abroad
Understanding a country's laws and customs can help you adjust to a new home abroad. Daily life may be unsettling at first, so any preparation you do could help you adjust more quickly. Appreciating cultural and legal differences could also help you avoid potentially embarrassing or difficult situations.
A Few Tips
- Ideally, learn the local language, or at least take a phrase book.
- Get a good guidebook and find out about local laws, customs, and culture.
- Respect local customs and dress codes.
- Be discreet about your views on cultural differences. Behave and dress appropriately, particularly when visiting religious sites, markets, and rural communities.
- Always ask an individual's permission before you take a photograph, and respect their wishes—in some cultures, taking a person's photograph can cause great offense.
Upon Arrival
When you arrive in the country, there are several steps you can take to help things go smoothly:
- Register with the local authorities.
- Register with the U.S. Consulate; this will help the consulate keep in touch with you if you get into difficulties.
- Ensure your passport is valid, and fill in the next-of-kin details on the back page.
- Open a foreign bank account; if you are retiring, in many countries your pension can be paid directly into your bank account there.
- If you haven't got one already, make a will.
- Check local traffic regulations.
- Get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you leave the U.S. Once there, you can look into getting a local driver's license if needed.
- Make sure you are fully insured to drive and that your car complies with the regulations of that country.
- To help you settle in, find out about American associations, clubs, publications, and charity organizations for the expatriate English-speaking community—you can get contact lists from your local U.S. Consulate.
- Stay in touch—remember to give your family and friends in the U.S. your address abroad.
- Remember to fill out your annual tax return for the U.S.; all U.S. citizens are required to do this, even if they live overseas.
- Keep your vote by registering in the U.S. as an overseas voter.
Workplace Options. (Reviewed 2024). Moving abroad. Raleigh, NC: Author.