Expat Family Relocation Checklist: Schools, Healthcare and Housing Abroad
A family relocation to another country is one of the most logistically demanding things a household will ever undertake. The professional transition — new role, new employer, new context — takes enormous energy. Running alongside it are dozens of decisions and deadlines that directly affect your children's welfare and your family's security abroad: school places, healthcare continuity, housing close to the right schools, financial account access, legal registration in the new country, and the emotional preparation of children who may not have chosen to move.
This guide is structured as a phased checklist — not because families always get a neat twelve-month runway, but because knowing what needs to happen and when reveals the dependencies. A school place is the anchor decision. Housing should be within reach of that school. Healthcare registration follows on arrival. Get the sequence right and the rest becomes manageable.
See also our guide on choosing an international school abroad and our international school budget planner for detailed cost planning.
Phase 1: 12+ Months Before Departure
The longer the runway, the better — particularly for school places. If you know a move is coming, even if the date is not confirmed, begin these actions immediately.
Schools
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Research school options in the destination city | Use school-specific location guides (e.g. /guides/international-schools-dubai, /guides/international-schools-bangkok) |
| Identify 3–5 schools that match your children's curriculum, age, and level | Consider British, IB, American, and bilingual options — see /guides/british-curriculum-vs-ib-vs-american |
| Get on waiting lists for all priority schools | Most schools allow waiting list registration without a confirmed move date; this costs nothing |
| Contact school admissions offices directly | Ask about current waiting times, intake processes, and assessment requirements |
| Obtain current school reports, teacher references, and assessment results | Schools in your destination will request these; have them formally prepared and certified |
| Check whether your children will need an entry assessment | Many selective international schools conduct in-person or online assessments before offering a place |
Visa and Legal
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Check visa requirements for the whole family | Confirm whether children require separate visa applications or are included on parent visa |
| Confirm whether your profession requires local licensing or recognition | Medical, legal, teaching, and financial professions may need qualification recognition |
| Begin any passport renewals needed | Passports should have at least 6 months' validity beyond the planned stay; many countries require longer |
| Research residency-by-investment options if relevant | See /residency-citizenship for programme details in UAE, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and others |
Property
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Begin high-level research on housing costs and neighbourhoods | Identify areas with good access to your shortlisted schools |
| Assess buy vs rent decision for year one | Renting first is usually advisable; buying can be considered in year two once you know the city |
| Speak to a property adviser about buying timelines if considering purchase | Some markets (UAE, Cyprus) allow fast purchases; others (Thailand) have ownership restrictions for foreigners |
Phase 2: 6–12 Months Before Departure
This phase is about converting research into confirmed decisions.
Schools
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Confirm a school place (or places) | Target a confirmed offer from your primary school before finalising your move date |
| Pay enrolment registration fee and/or seat deposit | These are typically non-refundable; pay only once you are confident in the move |
| Understand the school's start date and uniform/equipment requirements | Many international schools start in August; ensure your move date aligns |
| Arrange official school transfer letter / leaving certificate from current school | Required by most international schools on arrival |
| Begin language tuition if children will be in a bilingual or local-language environment | Even basic proficiency reduces anxiety significantly; see /guides/international-schools-languages-bilingual-education |
Healthcare
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Research healthcare system in destination country | Understand whether expats can access public healthcare or whether private insurance is mandatory |
| Obtain comprehensive health insurance covering the whole family from day of arrival | Do not allow a gap between home-country cover ending and destination cover beginning |
| Request GP summary records and vaccination history for all family members | International schools often require vaccination records; hospitals and GPs need medical history |
| Check whether any vaccinations are required or recommended for the destination | Yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A/B, meningitis, rabies — requirements vary by region |
| Identify any prescription medications and check their legal status in the destination | Some medications legal in the UK are controlled substances elsewhere; carry a GP letter |
Finance
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Notify HMRC (or relevant home-country tax authority) of impending departure | UK: complete form P85; seek cross-border tax advice |
| Retain a UK (or home-country) bank account | Essential for pension contributions, mortgage payments, UK-based income, and return |
| Research banking options in the destination country | Some countries require residency visa before opening a bank account; others allow it on arrival |
| Consider foreign currency planning for school fees and housing costs | If fees are in local currency, explore forward contracts |
| Brief a financial adviser on the full picture | Income, property, pension, and tax residency all interact |
Phase 3: 1–6 Months Before Departure
Detail and logistics become the priority.
Schools and Children
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Confirm school start date and any orientation sessions | Many international schools run a pre-term orientation for new pupils |
| Order school uniforms in advance where possible | Some schools have long lead times; order as soon as sizes are confirmed |
| Obtain required technology (laptop, tablet) per school specification | Check the school's device policy before purchasing |
| Brief children age-appropriately about the move | What the school will look like; who they might meet; what language they will encounter |
| If children are anxious, seek early contact with the school's pastoral or counselling team | Most international schools have experienced pastoral staff and are accustomed to new arrivals |
Property
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Confirm rental property in destination city | Prioritise location relative to the confirmed school above all other factors |
| Arrange a short-term rental (serviced apartment) for the first 2–4 weeks if needed | Gives you time to view long-term rental options in person |
| Arrange shipping or storage of household belongings | Get multiple quotes; ensure all-risks insurance on goods in transit |
| Confirm utilities arrangements (electricity, gas, water, internet) at new property | Some countries require the tenant to set these up; others are managed by the landlord |
Legal and Administrative
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Make or update wills in both home country and destination country | Cross-border estate planning is complex; seek specialist legal advice |
| Confirm power of attorney arrangements for home-country matters if needed | Useful if you have UK property, investments, or business interests |
| Research Lasting Power of Attorney / equivalent in destination country |
Phase 4: First Month on Arrival
The first month is intensive. Prioritise in this order: school registration, healthcare, local government registration, utilities, everything else.
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Register children at school | Bring all required documents: birth certificates, school transfer letter, vaccination records, passport copies |
| Register with local civil authority | Germany: Anmeldung (mandatory within 1–2 weeks); France: Mairie registration; UAE: Emirates ID process |
| Register with GP or paediatrician | Do not wait until someone is unwell; establish the relationship in week one |
| Register with the nearest embassy or consulate | UK: FCDO's "Register to Vote Overseas"; also useful in emergencies |
| Confirm health insurance is active and all family members are registered | Obtain policy documents and digital cards; know the emergency number |
| Set up local bank account (if not done before arrival) | Required for salary, rent payments, and local transactions |
| Obtain local SIM cards for all adults and older children | |
| Locate nearest hospital, urgent care clinic, and paediatric A&E | Know this before you need it |
| Confirm school transport arrangements | Bus route, pick-up time, drop-off point |
| Arrange any childcare needed for before/after school | After-school clubs, childminders, or au pair arrangements |
The School-to-Housing Connection
The single most consequential housing decision an expat family makes is which direction from the school to live. International schools draw from a wide area, but living 45 minutes from the school gates means an hour and a half per day of a child's life spent on a bus — and means you cannot easily attend events, support activities, or respond quickly to a call from the school nurse.
Before signing a rental agreement or making a property purchase, plot the journey time to your confirmed school at school-run times (not Google Maps at midday). In Dubai peak traffic, a notional 15-minute journey can take 40 minutes at 7.30am. In Bangkok, the same is true. Proximity to school is worth paying for.
For families who are considering purchasing property in their destination city, this proximity factor directly influences which neighbourhoods and property types to prioritise. Our city-specific location guides identify the neighbourhoods favoured by expat families for precisely this reason.
The Emotional Side: Supporting Children Through Relocation
Practical planning is necessary but not sufficient. Children — especially adolescents — often experience relocation as a loss: of friends, of routines, of places that felt like home. Research consistently shows that children manage relocation better when:
- They are told clearly and early what is happening and why
- They are given meaningful input into some decisions (bedroom layout, which clubs to join, which languages to learn)
- They maintain connection with friends at home (video calls, messages, planned visits)
- They are helped to build friendships quickly in the new location — and schools are good at this if you ask them for help
Expatriate life, over time, produces resilient, adaptable, often multilingual young people. The first six months are the hardest.
How Global Investments Can Help
For families in the earliest stages of planning an international move, Global Investments offers a starting point that most relocation agents cannot: thinking about property and financial strategy alongside the practical logistics. Whether you are weighing cities, evaluating whether to rent or buy, or exploring residency-by-investment programmes that could give your family long-term security in your destination country, our team works with you across the full picture. The best time to start that conversation is before you commit to a destination — not after the removal van is booked. Contact us to begin.
Visa, tax, and legal requirements vary by country and change regularly. The information in this guide is for general planning purposes only and was accurate at time of writing (June 2026). Always obtain professional legal, tax, and immigration advice specific to your situation and destination. Property investments can fall as well as rise in value.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I apply for an international school place?
For popular schools in competitive cities — Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, London — the answer is as early as possible, and ideally 12–18 months before your intended start date. The most in-demand schools maintain long waiting lists. Getting on a waiting list early, even before you have a confirmed move date, costs nothing and can make an enormous difference. See our city-specific school guides for waiting-list reality by location.
Should I rent or buy property when first arriving in a new country?
For the first year in a new location, renting is usually the right choice. It allows you to understand the city, identify the catchment areas for your chosen schools, and assess which neighbourhoods suit your family before committing capital. Many families then purchase in year two or three once they know the city well. The exception is if you have done thorough research in advance and are confident in your target area — in which case buying on arrival can lock in a price and end rental cost.
What healthcare registrations do I need to complete on arrival abroad?
This varies significantly by country. In the UAE, health insurance is mandatory for all residents and is often employer-provided; ensure cover begins on the day of visa activation. In Thailand, private health insurance is strongly recommended as the public system is not designed for expats. In EU countries (Spain, Greece, Cyprus), EU residents may access public healthcare but expat families typically take out private cover for speed and choice of specialist. In the UK, NHS registration is straightforward for residents. Register with a GP or paediatrician within the first two weeks of arrival.
Do I need to notify HMRC or my home country tax authority when relocating?
If you are a UK taxpayer relocating abroad, you should notify HMRC of your departure using form P85 and file a Self Assessment return for the year of departure. UK non-resident status does not automatically mean you pay no UK tax — rental income from UK property, for example, remains taxable. Tax rules are complex and change; always take professional advice from a cross-border tax specialist before relocating and again when planning to return.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and regulations change frequently; verify current requirements with a qualified adviser before acting.