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Moving Countries

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I have done my fair share of country and apartment movings in the last decade. So I decided to do a quick list of things to consider when moving from one country to another. 

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Things you can research before moving to your new country

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  • If you cannot or prefer not to sign a lease before moving there, book the sighting tours with leasing offices and property owners before you travel there. Schedule them for the week of your arrival.

  • Save the relevant emergency numbers including suicide- prevention hotline (e.g. 911 for the US, 112 for Europe, 140 for Lebanon’s Red Cross, etc)

  • Familiarize yourself with the layout of the city through Google Maps, this will make it easier for you to get an idea of where you want to live. Make a note of your hospital/university, supermarkets, train/bus stops, pharmacies, coffee shops, etc.

  • Look into banks and what is needed to open a bank account.

  • Look into phone and internet providers and what you need to sign up (you might need to book an installation appointment ahead of time, which you can do if you already have an house/apartment address).

  • Download any relevant apps: taxis, food & grocery delivery, bank apps, cell-phone provider,

  • If you are arriving without any phone data, you can download offline maps like “Avenza Maps” or “CityMaps2Go” that will give you access to offline maps if you download them ahead of time.

  • Follow social media accounts relevant to your new country & city: news outlets, journalists, government officials, weather warning accounts, etc.

  • Look into touristic & fun things to do!

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Things to get & do in your country of origin

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  • Get your medical records including medication & glasses prescriptions. Make sure to have enough of your necessary medications to last you until you can settle in and find a physician to continue your care.

  • Ensure you have some cash in the currency of your destination or any long layovers you might have.

  • Ensure your national ID/driver’s license are not expiring soon, you might need them to re-enter the country in the future.

  • Get a criminal background check (you might need it for some things e.g. visa applications, leasing an apartment, opening a bank account, etc).

  • Buy electrical outlets that match that of your destination country.

  • If you’ll be changing phone numbers, make sure you can log in into your social media accounts without having to receive a code to your phone until you can change your phone number there.

  • Notify your bank of your change of address to not receive confidential mail (e.g. statements, card renewals, etc) to your old address.

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Travel Tips

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  • Take pictures of each of your suitcase. Will come in handy if any of them are lost by the airline.

  • Look into shipping your suitcases ahead of your flight with cargo companies; it might be cheaper than paying for extra luggage with the airline.

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