Becoming an expat and expat relocation can be incredibly exciting… and daunting! But let’s be real – it’s no holiday. There are plenty of not-so-glamorous challenges that come with it. Once you or your partner land a job or choose to move to a new place, the excitement wears off when reality hits. You need to set up your life again… from scratch.
Here are some of the trickier aspects of settling in that are important to consider before you make the move, from opening bank accounts to sorting transport and finding a good internet provider (because we all need Wi-Fi!).
1. Dipping Into Your Savings
If you’re moving overseas for work as an international teacher, there’s usually a gap of at least a month before your first pay comes in. This means you’ll need to pay for housing deposits, groceries, transport, and whatever else you need from your savings back home.
Many international schools will include a one-off payment as part of your employment package, often paid in cash or put into your local bank account when you first arrive. While this is usually enough for a single person to pay their accommodation deposit (often two months rent in advance in our experience), if you’ve got a family and need a larger place, it usually doesn’t cover it.
If you use your cash from home, it can come with fees! Depending on your location, withdrawing money from an Aussie account can rack up hefty transaction charges. And some cards may not always work.
Constantly converting currencies and losing chunks to fees can be frustrating, even if you have a solid financial buffer. A Travel Money card (usually available from your bank) is often your best bet, but they’re generally only valid for 12 months. If you’re not travelling home to arrange a new card between posts, you may need to rely on family/friends to post them to you. And you can usually only get one if your home address registered to the bank is still local.
2. Bank Account Set Up
Every country has its own rules when it comes to banking, and some make it a lot harder than others. Sometimes, you can’t even open an account without a residency permit, which might not come through for weeks. Even if you do get your account quickly, figuring out online banking can be another challenge.
Some apps are seamless (thank you CIMB Malaysia!), while others are only available in the local language or require multiple trips to the bank to set up. Until you have local banking sorted, it can be trickier to set up alternative ways to pay (like e-wallets which are widely accepted in many local stores across Asia) or make payments when online shopping.
3. Work Permit Stress
If your employer has already set up your work permit before you arrive (which hopefully they have), consider yourself lucky. In some places (especially in South America), the visa process is a little backwards. It’s done on arrival, which means you typically enter the country on a tourist visa and get everything sorted when you turn up.
While this is usually hassle-free, it definitely feels a bit dodgy. In some countries, you also need to have ‘recent’ documentation. This means you need to get birth certificates and marriage certificates ‘re-issued’ no more than 3 months before you arrive in the country, or you won’t be able to get your visa sorted. That was our experience in Peru.
Things like renting an apartment, setting up a phone plan, or even getting a bank account can be harder without a proper visa. And it’s not just the person employed who needs the visa, as your partner and kids also require spousal visas to remain in the country.
4. Buying a Car (Or Figuring Out Local Transport)
Unless you’re moving to a city with great public transport or cheap Ubers/Grabs, you might want to consider buying or leasing a car. Which can be hard work in a foreign country! Not only do you want to find someone who won’t rip you off, but you also need to consider car insurance and whether you can use an international license or need a local one. In many countries, like Korea, if you’re in an accident while driving a car, it doesn’t matter who is at fault if you have an accident. You’re liable for 50% of the damage! So, getting the right level of coverage is essential! Especially if you’re driving on the other side of the road than you’re used to in your home country.
You also need to consider how you’ll get around before you get a car, as you’ll need your work permit or visa to purchase and usually lease a car. Most countries in Asia have cheap taxis or ride-sharing services, while others have great bus services. But they’re not always super reliable.
Taxis and rideshares aren’t always the safest either. I’ve experienced some very scary moments in South America watching droopy eyelids on our taxi drivers due to working too many hours….
Transport is even more of a concern with kids, as you need to factor in school runs, weekend activities and safety! Car seats are definitely not the norm in all countries! So bring one with you if you can or double check they’re available in the country you’re moving to.
5. Finding the Right Shops (And Filling Lunch Boxes)
Figuring out the best supermarket options takes time. Depending on where you’re based, you might be lucky to get access to imported goods that make you feel like you’re still at home (I nearly lost my mind with excitement walking into Jaya Grocer and seeing Coles-branded food!), or you could be very limited. In some places it can be hard work to access affordable fruit and veg (hello Jeju Island, where a watermelon could set you back around US$30).
Local markets can be great for fresh produce but require some haggling knowledge so you don’t get ripped off. If you have kids, finding school-friendly snacks not packed with sugar or artificial ingredients can be surprisingly difficult (homemade options for the win if you can source the right ingredients!). And don’t get me started on individual plastic wrapping on biscuits and snacks…!
6. Online Shopping (Or Lack Thereof)
Sorting out the best sites for online shopping is usually pretty easy if you ask around. I’ve found online shopping FAR better overseas than in Australia and much more streamlined. Most postal services also deliver at least six or sometimes seven days a week.
In Korea, Coupang is the GO-TO site for everything you need. While it can take a while to set up (you need to wait until you have your Alien Registration Card which takes a few weeks to process after arrival) you can get everything delivered within a day or two. It was a total lifesaver.
Malaysia also has plenty of options at Lazada and Shoppee. All our deliveries turn up and get delivered at our front gate, with the driver usually sending a photo of the delivery and sending it via WhatsApp. We’ve (thankfully so far) never had any issues with deliveries going missing.
Some countries can be tricker and you’ll need to rely on Google Translate option. And just be aware that international credit cards may not work so you’ll need to wait until you have a local bank account. I did a huge shop once, which took AGES to find the things I wanted and then went to check out, and it wouldn’t accept my payment. The frustration was real!
7. Arranging a Place to Live (And Buying Furniture)
Even if your employer provides housing as part of your expat relocation package, you may still need to furnish it (or at least add on some extras so you have the basics you need). In some countries, rentals come fully furnished, while in others, you’ll be starting from scratch unless you’re shipping all your own furniture.
The process of finding a place can also vary—some countries have reliable real estate agents, while others require a lot of independent searching. Ask your employer (most schools will have a relationship with a local real estate agent who can help you out, but you can also do it yourself and potentially get a better deal if you’re confident enough to give it a go – just be sure to research local laws about tenancy agreements and know what you’re getting into).
9. Building a Social Network (Especially as an Introvert)
Moving to a new country means building a new social circle from scratch, which can be exhausting – especially if you’re naturally introverted!
Expats often connect through work, kids’ schools, or community groups, but it takes effort to put yourself out there. Some places also just naturally have more of an expat community than others. For example, Malaysia is full of expats, so there are always things to get involved in. While in other countries your only option may be socialising with your work colleagues (which can have its positives and negatives!).
Facebook groups are a great place to start, like Jeju Island Expats. They’re a great resource for asking questions (even before you arrive) and getting your head around what you’ll need to do to get set up.
10. Sorting Out Internet (A Lifeline for Remote Workers)
If you work remotely, getting reliable internet is a top priority—but it’s not always easy. Some countries are definitely easier than others, while some require a week (or more) of waiting, frustrating paperwork, and multiple phone calls (often using translators).
In Malaysia, it was relatively easy with popular Unifi, but it still took a week to get everything sorted. And if you’re relying on mobile data in the meantime, that can get expensive fast.
Local support can be a game-changer. Many expats get help from a real estate agent recommended by their school. These guys usually know which providers offer the best coverage in your area, can help communicate with customer service reps, and sometimes even speed up the installation process.
Tip: If the internet is a big priority (especially for work), ask for recommendations on the best provider on Facebook groups before you arrive and get local help to set it up ASAP.
Expat Relocation Services
Many companies specialise in expat relocation services, and some expats can organise these services to be funded as part of their employment package.
In international education however, this is pretty unlikely! While you do usually get some funding to put towards your expat relocation costs (such as shipping or set up costs), it won’t cover engaging a specialist who will do it all for you, unfortunately!
Final Thoughts on Expat Relocation
Moving abroad and expat relocation are so different from visiting a foreign country on holiday! They involve dealing with all the logistics that come with starting fresh. From banking headaches to setting up utilities, it’s the little things that can be surprisingly stressful.
But being prepared and thinking through what you’ll need to do can help you hit the ground running! Consider creating an expat checklist before you leave that’s relevant and suitable for your family. Hopefully, the relocation tips offered on this page will help!
And just remember, when you’re in the thick of it and thinking that you’re never going to get everything sorted, within a few months, you’ll look back and wonder what you were worried about…. hopefully!
And when the not-so-fun stuff is out of the way? That’s when the real adventure associated with expat relocation begins.
