The big decision is behind you. You've arrived. The bags are unpacked, the kids are jet-lagged, and you're standing in your new kitchen thinking "now what?"
The first 90 days in a new country are mostly admin. Boring, repetitive, sometimes maddening admin. But getting it right early means you're free to actually enjoy the new life you've built. Getting it wrong means months of catching up.
This checklist comes from our own moves across multiple countries, and from the families we've coached through theirs. Order matters. Do these roughly in sequence.
Week 1: Survival mode
Buy a local SIM card on day one. You need a working local number for almost every registration that follows. In most European countries you can get a pay-as-you-go SIM or e-SIM from a supermarket or phone shop or online for under 10 euros. Make sure it includes data.
If you haven't opened a local bank account yet (many countries require a local address first), make sure your existing bank cards work internationally. Notify your bank you've moved. Wise is useful as a bridge, giving you local bank details in multiple currencies.
Find the nearest pharmacy, supermarket, and hospital. Sounds basic. Do it before you need any of them urgently. Walk or drive there so you know the route. Save the addresses in your phone.
Find your closest GP or medical centre too. Don't register yet if you haven't got your paperwork sorted, but know where to go in an emergency. Ask for a recommendation from your landlord, a neighbour, or an international Facebook group.
Weeks 2-3: Paperwork blitz
Your tax identification number comes first. In Portugal this is the NIF, in Spain the NIE, in France it's the numéro fiscal. You need it for nearly everything: opening a bank account, signing a lease, enrolling kids in school, getting utilities connected.
Once you have your tax ID and proof of address (a rental contract usually works), open a local bank account. Some banks are faster than others. Ask international communities which banks are most foreigner-friendly in your area. In Portugal, ActivoBank and Millennium BCP are commonly recommended. In Spain, Santander.
Register with your local municipality. Many countries require you to register your address within a set timeframe (in Spain it's the empadronamiento, in Portugal it's the Junta de Freguesia). This registration unlocks access to public services including healthcare and schools.
If you're on a visa that requires in-country registration (like Portugal's D7), book your SEF/AIMA appointment as early as possible. Wait times can be months.
Weeks 3-6: Getting settled
Enrol the kids in school. Public schools usually require proof of residency, vaccination records, and the child's passport. International schools have their own application process, often with entrance assessments. Apply early because popular schools have waiting lists.
If you're homeschooling, register with the local education authority. Requirements vary by country but typically involve submitting an educational plan.
Register for healthcare. Once your residency registration is processed, sign up for the public healthcare system. In Portugal this means registering at your local Centro de Saúde. In Spain, at your Centro de Salud. Bring your residency documents, tax number, and passport.
While you wait for public registration, make sure your international health insurance is active and you know how to use it.
Sort out utilities: electricity, water, gas, internet. Some may already be included in your rental. For anything that isn't, you'll need your tax ID and bank account. Internet installation can take one to three weeks depending on the provider and area, so order it early.
If you have a non-EU driving licence, it typically needs to be exchanged within six months to a year. EU licences work across Europe. Start this process early because it involves paperwork, possibly a medical exam, and waiting times.
Weeks 6-12: Building a life
Join local international groups on Facebook/Meetup/Instagram. Attend meetups. If your kids are in school, go to the school events. If you're homeschooling, find local co-ops or learning groups. This is the phase where isolation hits hardest if you don't actively build connections.
Now that your local bank account is working, set up regular transfers from your home country. Look at the most cost-effective way to move money. Wise, Revolut, and OFX are all commonly used. Set up standing orders for rent and utilities.
Find a regular cafe, a park the kids like, a supermarket that stocks what you need, a barber. This sounds minor but it matters. Routine creates a sense of belonging faster than anything else.
And check in with each other. Seriously. Around the six to eight week mark, most families hit a wall. The excitement fades, the admin is still unfinished, and the reality of starting over sets in. Have an honest conversation about how everyone is doing. The kids, your partner, yourself.
The things people forget
- Mail forwarding from your old address. Set this up before you leave or important documents will go to an empty house.
- Power of attorney for anything you've left behind (property sales, bank accounts, legal matters).
- Updating your address with banks, insurers, pension providers, and tax authorities back home.
- Travel insurance for trips back. Once you're a resident elsewhere, your old travel insurance may not cover you for visits home.
The real timeline
Ninety days sounds like a lot. It isn't. The bureaucratic wheels turn slowly in most countries and you'll spend more time waiting for appointments than you expect. Start everything as early as possible, run tasks in parallel, and don't expect it all to be finished neatly in three months.
By week twelve, you should have a functioning household: bank account, healthcare, school or homeschool setup, utilities, and the beginnings of a social life. That's the foundation. Everything else builds on top of it.
If you want help mapping this out before you arrive, that's what our Roadmap Sessions are designed for. We can build a personalised checklist with timelines specific to your destination.
