Thinking of Moving Abroad? Here Are Five Things to Know Before You Go

Understand the health insurance requirements in your destination country and your status in your country of origin.

• Permanent residency in a country may let you qualify for national coverage.
• For those eligible for Medicare in the U.S., coverage may be affected if you live outside the country.

If you are relocating with children, explore options for local public schools and private international schools.

• The International Schools Database is a directory with more than 2,000 schools in 71 countries.
• Families in Global Transition and the Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN) are resources that could be useful for families to transition across cultures.

Banking:

• Set up online banking for domestic fixed costs such as mortgages or other repayment loans.
• Set up local bank accounts for paying utilities and cash on hand in your new home.

Taxes:

• You'll have to file taxes in the U.S. for as long as you retain citizenship.
• If you plan to work in the new country, take note of the local tax requirements.
• Online services like TransferWise provide borderless transfer services.

• Stay connected with family, friends and business back home by checking with your phone carrier for international plans, or buy SIM cards in your inbound countries for local calling.
• For the long term, consider using a separate foreign phone.
• Apps such as FaceTime and WhatsApp are cost-effective ways to connect with people.
• Cloud services are often used for health records and other personal data you may need.