6 Things You Need To Know Before Moving Abroad (2026)

Moving abroad is one of the toughest decisions you will ever make. Working and living abroad is a huge step which can be scary yet exciting at the same time.

Whether you’ve found a new job, taking a few months of vacation, or volunteering abroad, there’s more to just tickets and passport when deciding to move abroad. Moving from one country to another requires a lot of decisions. You need to take a step back from your excitement and consider all the other things you need to prioritize when you’re there.

Below are a complete guide and some tips before moving abroad.

Table of Contents

• Find an apartment first
• Network with other people
• Keep close ties back home
• Figure out transportation and way of life
• Learn different culture’s etiquette
• Consider Joining a Program

1. Find an apartment first

Consider yourself homeless in a new country, unless you have friends or family willing to host your stay. You can’t stay in a hotel forever. The first thing you need to do is find an apartment early o which fits your budget.

You can check local classifieds or check AirBnB spots for rent. If you’re staying longer than 9 months, you can get a flat through real estate agents and providers.

Tips When Looking for an Apartment Abroad

• First two months of rent and security deposit will be required. Make sure you have enough in your bank to cover these upfront costs.
• You also need to know how to figure out water, electricity, and other essentials such as wifi and TV
• Ask for a local’s help to figure out renting or buying your own flat.
• You can try expat forums when searching for an apartment to get some real advice.

2. Network with other people

After you’ve settled a place to stay, next thing you should do is make new friends and valuable contacts. You will find that these friends will be your family away from home.

Here are some networking tips:

• Try finding friends online. You can search for online communities which host regular meetups for expats.
• Another way to find new friends is to join a club depending on your hobbies. If you love to bike, you can join a cycling club.
• Try enrolling for local classes that you’re also passionate about. A language class is best to learn with a local partner and an easy way to make friends.

3. Keep close ties back home

With new friends and your new way of life, you might find it difficult to keep in touch back home. This is definitely not healthy. You should still keep strong ties with your family back home and develop a close relationship with them despite the distance.

Thanks to technology, you can still keep in touch with your loved ones regularly.

Tips to Strengthen Ties Back Home:

• Understand your family’s situation. It’s not always about your experiences.
• Do not boast about your experiences abroad, they might think you’ve become arrogant.
• Schedule a specific time to talk to them. They will appreciate your effort to always call them and text them to check how they’re doing.

4. Figure out transportation and way of life

Next step is to learn how to live in a new country. This includes learning the basic modes of public transportation, or getting your own car, and where to eat or do things that you want.

Here are some tips to figure out your new life abroad:

• Your visa should always be in order. Try to find where the government offices are and check how long the process will take
• Learn how to go to work via bus, train, or other public transport systems
• Do not break the rules.

5. Learn different culture’s etiquette

Before you even go to the country, you need to read on some basic rules and etiquette you need to observe in the new country. Remember, it’s a different culture from your own, you need to learn how to behave properly when outside.

Tips for learning good etiquette:

• What are the things that might offend the locals? Avoid these things.
• Learn basic local phrases (greeting them)
• What are the local holidays? Try to learn when you’re off so you can also take some me-time
• If you’re given a gift or offered a meal, try your best not to complain and accept it.

6. Consider Joining a Program

If you want to spend a long time abroad, you can always opt to join programs for a gap year, study abroad, and volunteer programs. These companies who organize these programs will also help you adjust to a new culture.

Popular Programs Abroad
Reach to Teach
Frontier – Volunteer in Fiji
Kalu Yala Volunteer
GVI Costa Rica Conservation

Moving abroad is the best time to explore the world and create a change. With the right planning, the transition to move abroad can be a breeze.