The First Month After Relocation: A Checklist of Things You Might Have Forgotten

So, the plane has landed. The suitcases have been collected. You are standing in an airport in a foreign country, and inside you feel a mixture of euphoria, fatigue, and mild dread. What now?

The first month after relocation is the most chaotic. You do not know where the nearest shop is, how to call a taxi, or whom to call if you fall ill. Your head spins from new faces, sounds, and smells. It is precisely during this period that you can easily miss something important, which will later come back to cause problems.

We have gathered for you a checklist of things to do in the first month. Do not be intimidated by the volume — this does not mean you have to complete everything in the first week. Simply keep the list at hand and tick off items as you go.

Week One: Basic Survival

Local SIM Card

As soon as you leave the arrivals area, your first task is to find mobile connectivity. There are almost always operator kiosks at the airport. Take the trouble to buy a local SIM card immediately. You will need internet access to use maps, call taxis, and search for information.

Tip: Do not choose the cheapest plan. You will need a lot of data in the first month — maps, messengers, video calls with family, searching for housing and services. It is better to overpay €5–10 than to find yourself without communication at a critical moment.

Offline Map and Transport App

Download an offline map of the area where you are staying. Google Maps allows you to save maps for offline use — do this immediately. Find the nearest supermarkets, pharmacies, and ATMs.

Also install the local transport app. Each country has its own: somewhere it is Citymapper, somewhere it is the national railway service, somewhere it is the local metro app. Spend an hour studying the routes from your accommodation to key locations.

Nearest Supermarket and Pharmacy

This may seem obvious, but in the chaos of relocation, people often forget basic things. Find the nearest supermarket and pharmacy on a map. Go there on the very first day, even if you are not hungry. Just see what they have, how they operate, and what the prices are.

At the same time, buy the essentials: water, bread, cheese, yoghurt, biscuits. Believe me, in the middle of the night when your stomach reminds you of its existence, you will not want to search for a 24‑hour shop in an unfamiliar neighbourhood.

Week Two: Documents and Formalities

Registration of Residence

In most European countries, you are required to register with the municipality within a few days or weeks of entry. The procedure has different names: in Portugal — Junta de Freguesia, in Germany — Anmeldung, in France — Déclaration de domicile.

Check the deadlines in advance. If you are late, fines may apply. For registration, you typically need: a passport, a lease agreement or proof of ownership, and sometimes photographs.

Tax Identification Number

Without a tax number, you will not be able to work, open a bank account, sign a lease agreement, or get internet access. This is one of the most important documents.

In each country, it has its own name and application process: in Spain — NIE, in Italy — Codice Fiscale, in Portugal — NIF. The procedure is usually straightforward but may require an in‑person visit. Do this as a priority.

Bank Account

It is better to open an account in the first month, even if you are not yet working or planning large expenses. Many services (rent, internet, insurance) require a local IBAN.

Compare offers from different banks. In some countries, there are banks with free account maintenance under certain conditions. Do not take the first one you come across — study the reviews of other expats.

Health Insurance

If you have not yet arranged insurance before relocating — do so immediately. Without it, any visit to a doctor can cost hundreds of euros, and emergency hospitalisation — thousands.

Find out how the local healthcare system works. In some countries, you need to register with a state clinic; in others, you need to take out private insurance; in still others, both. Do not put this matter off.

Week Three: Daily Life and Comfort

Home Internet

Without home internet, you will quickly go crazy. Each country has several providers. Compare plans, paying attention to the minimum contract term (sometimes it is 12–24 months, which is inconvenient if you are renting on a short‑term basis).

Some providers offer contracts with no minimum term or with the possibility of transfer when you move. Look for such options.

Home Contents Insurance

Tenants often forget about home insurance, and this is a big mistake. If you accidentally flood your neighbours or there is a fire in the flat, the liability will fall on you. Tenant insurance is inexpensive (typically €50–150 per year) but can save you from huge expenses.

Nearest Market and Farm Shop

Supermarkets are convenient, but often expensive. Find a local market or farm shop. There, products are cheaper and fresher. Moreover, it is an excellent way to get to know the local culture and even make new acquaintances.

Dry Cleaner and Shoe Repair Shop

This seems like a small thing, but when you urgently need to fix a zip on your jacket or have a coat dry‑cleaned, you will be grateful to yourself for having found these places in advance. Search online for the nearest points and save them on your map.

Week Four: Social Life and Plans

Finding a Russian‑Speaking Community

You may think that you want only local communication and complete language immersion. But believe me, after a couple of months you will want simply to chat with someone in your native language without straining.

Find expat groups in your city on social networks. They share useful information, help with paperwork, and arrange meetups. You do not need to live exclusively in this bubble, but having it as a support is helpful.

Language Courses

If you have not yet enrolled in courses, do so now. Even if you think you know the language fairly well, the local dialect and spoken speech may prove to be unexpected obstacles.

Many countries offer free or low‑cost courses for immigrants. Ask about this at the municipality or the immigration service.

Nearest Gym or Park

Health and physical activity are an important part of adaptation. Find a place where you can exercise. This could be a fitness club, a swimming pool, a yoga studio, or simply a beautiful park for jogging. Regular exercise helps to cope with stress and get accustomed to a new place faster.

Plan for the Coming Months

Sit down and write out your plans for the next 2–3 months. What needs to be done? When does your insurance expire? When do you need to renew your temporary residence permit? Which documents are about to expire?

Enter all important dates into your calendar with reminders. In the chaos, it is easy to forget a deadline, and the consequences can be serious.

What NOT to Do in the First Month

Buy Expensive Furniture and Appliances

You do not yet know whether you will stay in this flat for long. Perhaps in a couple of months you will move to another neighbourhood, city, or even country. Do not acquire heavy belongings until you feel you have put down roots.

Sign Long‑Term Contracts

A two‑year mobile phone contract? A one‑year gym membership? A 24‑month minimum internet contract? Do not rush. Choose flexible tariffs, even if they are more expensive. Freedom of movement in the first year is more important than saving money.

Constantly Compare Everything to "How It Was Back Home"

This is useless and harmful. Yes, in the new country everything is different. The milk is not the same, the bread is not the same, the people are not the same. You will constantly be irritated if you look for negatives. Accept as a fact: here everything is different. Not better and not worse — just different.

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong

The first month is chaos. You will inevitably miss something, be late somewhere, confuse something. This is normal.

If you forgot to register on time — do not panic. Go to the municipality and explain the situation. In most cases, you will simply receive a warning, or at most a small fine.

If you cannot find the information you need — ask in expat groups. There is always someone there who has already been through this.

If you feel that you cannot cope — remember that almost everyone feels this way in the first month. It will pass.

Conclusion

Break down tasks into small steps. Today — buy a SIM card and find the supermarket. Tomorrow — submit the application for a tax number. The day after — open a bank account. Take these steps gradually, without succumbing to panic over the large number of tasks.

And do not forget to rest. You have taken a big step, changed countries, started a new life. Give yourself time to adjust.

In a month, you will look back and be surprised at how much you have done, and in six months, these worries will seem amusing.

If you're planning to obtain a residence permit, invest in a country's economy, or purchase foreign real estate, we invite you to a consultation with our company. During a personal online meeting, we'll discuss your questions in detail and create a step-by-step action plan for you.