# I just moved abroad — what do I do first? > The first-month checklist, in the order it has to happen. URL: https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/en/moving-to-a-new-country/ Language: English (en) ## The problem The first thirty days in a new country decide whether the next years work, in an order that matters. Who it hits: Every migrant and expat. ### The shapes it takes - Address registration deadlines (Germany 2 weeks, Japan 14 days, Netherlands 5 days) - Activating a visa or permit after arrival (France, Italy, Spain, Philippines, Korea, Mexico) - Tax and ID numbers - Bank, SIM and health cover in the right order - Schools, pets and licence exchange - EU citizens moving inside the EU - Newcomer scams ### What this page gives you The complete first-month checklist, in the order it has to happen. ## Your first month, in order Your arrival date and ticked steps stay on this device. 1. **Secure an address you can register** — Most registrations need a proof of address: a lease, a landlord's letter or a utility bill. A short-term place is fine if it allows registration — ask before signing. 2. **Register your address** — Tell the town hall (or the local registry) where you live — many next steps ask for this proof. 3. **Sort out your residence permit** — Follow the steps your visa or permit requires after arrival — some visas must be activated or exchanged for a card. 4. **Get your tax or ID number** — Employers, banks and phone contracts ask for it. 5. **Get a local SIM** — A prepaid SIM on day one; a contract once you have an address and an ID number. 6. **Open a bank account** — For salary, rent and bills — with your address and ID number. 7. **Get health cover** — Join the public system where you can, or keep private insurance until you're in. 8. **Register with a doctor** — Before you need one — waiting lists can be long. 9. **Enrol your children in school** — Schools ask for address proof, vaccination records and past school reports. 10. **Register your pet with a local vet** — Keep its vaccination records; some countries require a local registration. 11. **Exchange your driving licence** — Your foreign licence works only for a limited time as a resident. 12. **Check where you pay tax now** — Moving can make you a tax resident — tell your old and new tax offices. 13. **Put your renewals in one place** — Permit, passport and licence renewals — before they catch you out. 14. **Watch for newcomer scams** — Fake landlords asking for deposits before a viewing, “visa agents”, and calls pretending to be immigration. As an EU citizen moving inside the EU you need no visa or permit — if you stay over 3 months, some countries ask you to register as a resident at the town hall. ## Every country's first-month steps on this page ### Germany - **Register your address (Anmeldung)** — within 14 days of arrival. Within 2 weeks of moving in, at the citizens' office (Bürgeramt), with your passport and the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). Your tax ID then arrives by post. (https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120686/) ### Austria - **Register your address (Meldezettel)** — within 3 days of arrival. Within 3 days of moving in, at the registration office. (https://www.oesterreich.gv.at) ### Netherlands - **Register with the municipality** — within 5 days of arrival. Within 5 days of arrival if you'll stay more than 4 months — you get your citizen service number (BSN) there. (https://www.government.nl) ### Japan - **Register your address at the city office** — within 14 days of arrival. Within 14 days of settling in, with your residence card (or passport). Health insurance and pension enrolment are usually done at the same visit. Late: a fine of up to ¥200,000; no address for 90 days can cost your status. (https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001450969.pdf) ### France - **Validate your long-stay visa (VLS-TS) online** — within 90 days of arrival. Within 3 months of arrival on the ANEF website — with your visa, arrival date, French address and a bank card for the tax stamp. Without it, your visa stops counting as a residence permit. Fee: 300 EUR / 100 EUR. (https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr) ### Italy - **Apply for your permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno)** — within 8 working days of arrival. Within 8 working days of arrival: take the kit from a post office, send it there, and keep the receipt — it's your proof of legal stay until the card is ready. (https://www.unibocconi.it/sites/default/files/media/attachments/permesso_di_soggiorno_2023.pdf) ### Spain - **Apply for your foreigner card (TIE)** — within 30 days of arrival. Within a month of arrival if you entered on a long-stay visa — book the appointment early. Register at the town hall (empadronamiento) too. (https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es) ### United Kingdom - **Set up your eVisa (UKVI account)** — within 7 days of arrival. Your immigration status is online: create the account and link your passport so you can prove your right to work and rent. (https://www.gov.uk/evisa) - **Apply for a National Insurance number** — within 14 days of arrival. Needed to work and pay tax correctly — apply online. (https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number) - **Register with a GP** — within 30 days of arrival. Registration is free and you don't need proof of address or immigration status. (https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/) ### United States - **Apply for a Social Security number** — within 14 days of arrival. If you're allowed to work — wait a few days after arrival so your entry record is in the system. If you move again, tell USCIS within 10 days. (https://www.ssa.gov/number-card) ### Canada - **Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN)** — within 7 days of arrival. Needed to work and get benefits. (https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html) ### Australia - **Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)** — within 7 days of arrival. Give it to your employer and bank to avoid higher tax withholding. (https://www.ato.gov.au) ### New Zealand - **Apply for an IRD number** — within 7 days of arrival. Needed to be taxed at the right rate. (https://www.ird.govt.nz) ### Philippines - **Get your ACR I-Card before day 59** — within 59 days of arrival. Staying past 59 days means an extension and an ACR I-Card at the Bureau of Immigration — banks and the LTO ask for it too. Every January–March, file the annual report. (https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph) - **Get a TIN if you'll work or run a business** — within 30 days of arrival. From the BIR — banks may ask for it too. (https://www.bir.gov.ph) ### Thailand - **Make sure your landlord files the TM30** — within 1 days of arrival. Within 24 hours of your arrival — immigration asks for the receipt at every 90-day report and extension. Own the condo? File it yourself. Your first 90-day report falls 90 days after arrival. (https://www.forvismazars.com/th/en/insights/doing-business-in-thailand/legal/notification-of-place-of-residence-form-tm30) ### South Korea - **Register for your residence card (ARC)** — within 90 days of arrival. Within 90 days of entry at the immigration office — book through HiKorea. (https://www.hikorea.go.kr) ### Taiwan - **Apply for your resident certificate (ARC)** — within 15 days of arrival. Within 15 days of entry if you came on a resident visa. (https://www.immigration.gov.tw) ### Mexico - **Exchange your visa for a resident card** — within 30 days of arrival. Within 30 days of arrival at the immigration institute (INM). (https://www.gob.mx/inm) ### India - **Register with the FRRO** — within 14 days of arrival. Within 14 days of arrival if your visa is for more than 180 days — online through the e-FRRO portal. (https://indianfrro.gov.in) ### China - **Register your address with the police** — within 1 days of arrival. Within 24 hours of arrival — hotels do it for you; in a private home, go to the local police station. (https://en.nia.gov.cn) - **Apply for your residence permit** — within 30 days of arrival. Within 30 days of entry if you came on a work or long-stay visa. (https://en.nia.gov.cn) ### Brazil - **Register with the Federal Police (CRNM)** — within 90 days of arrival. Within 90 days of arrival — you get your national migration registration card. (https://www.gov.br/pf) ### United Arab Emirates - **Complete your residence visa** — suggested within 30 days of arrival. Medical test, biometrics and the Emirates ID through the ICP — most other steps wait for the Emirates ID. (https://icp.gov.ae) ## Language - [English](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/en/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/en/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [العربية](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ar/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ar/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Deutsch](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/de/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/de/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Español](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/es/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/es/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Français](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/fr/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/fr/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [हिन्दी](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/hi/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/hi/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Bahasa Indonesia](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/id/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/id/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [日本語](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ja/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ja/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [한국어](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ko/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ko/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Português](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/pt-BR/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/pt-BR/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Русский](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ru/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/ru/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Türkçe](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/tr/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/tr/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md) - [Tiếng Việt](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/vi/moving-to-a-new-country/) · [Markdown](https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/vi/moving-to-a-new-country/index.md)