Planning · The full sequence

The 12-Month Moving Abroad Checklist for Americans

Moving abroad from the US is not a single project. It is half a dozen projects stacked on top of each other, each with its own timeline, dependencies, and failure modes. The visa is the one everyone thinks about. The pet import is the one that ambushes people. The FBI apostille is the one that quietly costs you two months because it isn't on most generic checklists. The brokerage account that locks down when you change your address is the one that ruins someone's weekend the day they arrive.

This guide is the version of the checklist we'd actually use ourselves — sequenced by month, with the real bottlenecks called out. It assumes you've chosen a country and have a target departure date. (If you haven't, start in the GTFO planner — pick a country first, then come back here.)

The sequence below works for most American moves to most countries. Country-specific details belong on the country guide — for Portugal see our guide, for Italy here, for Mexico here. This is the universal sequence underneath those.

Months 12–9: Decisions and documents

The first three months are about getting paper in motion. You can't apply for a visa without documents, and most of the documents have multi-week or multi-month lead times.

Visa pathway decision — Done first. Each pathway has different income thresholds, documentation, and timelines. For most Americans this is a passive-income visa (Portugal D7, Spain NLV, Italy ERV, Costa Rica Pensionado), a digital-nomad visa (Spain DNV, Portugal D8, Italy DNV), a skilled-worker visa (Germany, Netherlands, Canada), or a citizenship-by-descent route (Italy jure sanguinis, Ireland Foreign Births Register, Germany Article 116, Spain Democratic Memory Law).

Passport check — Verify validity through at least 6 months past your visa expiration. Most consulates prefer 12+ months. Renewal via the State Department is running 6–8 weeks routine, 2–3 weeks expedited (for an extra fee). Don't wait.

FBI Identity History Summary Check — This is the federal-level background check most visas require. Order it via a channeler service (private FBI-authorized companies — Sterling, FBI Channeler Network, or one of the others) rather than directly through the FBI. Channelers deliver in 3–7 days for $30–$50. FBI direct is 4–6 weeks.

State Department apostille of the FBI check — This is the single most common time sink. The State Department's Office of Authentications apostilles federal documents like the FBI check. Direct processing time has been highly variable in 2024–2025 — quoted at 8–13 weeks in many windows. Private apostille services (US Authentication Services, Apostille Pros) charge $150–$400 and turn around in 1–3 weeks. Start this in month 12, not month 6. Re-order the FBI check if it ages past 90 days before submission.

State birth certificate — Order a recent original from the issuing state's vital records office. Apostille it through the issuing state's secretary of state (NOT the US State Department — birth certificates are state documents). State-level apostille is typically 2–4 weeks, same-day in some states if you appear in person.

Marriage certificate (if applicable) — Same process as birth certificate. Apostilled by the state where it was issued.

Other apostilled documents your visa needs — University diploma (many DNVs require this), divorce decree (if applicable), military records (if relevant to your case). All apostilled at the state level by the issuing authority.

Insurance research — Most residency visas require health insurance valid in the destination country. Don't buy yet — but identify candidate providers. For European visas: SafetyWing Global, Cigna Global, IMG Global, or destination-country private providers (Sanitas in Spain, Médis in Portugal). The policy must explicitly include repatriation coverage and (for most EU countries) be co-pay-free.

Months 9–6: Visa, finances, housing

By month 9 the apostilles are in motion. Now the visa application begins and your finances reorganize.

Destination-country tax ID — Most residency visas require a local tax ID before the visa application is filed. Portugal: NIF (via fiscal representative). Spain: NIE (via consulate appointment, or via lawyer with power of attorney). Mexico: not required pre-visa. Italy: codice fiscale (via consulate). Get this in motion early — it's a precondition for opening a local bank account, which is a precondition for some visa applications.

Destination-country bank account — Some visas (Portugal D7, Italy ERV) require an existing local bank account with a "settling-in" deposit. Setting one up from the US typically requires either an in-person visit or hiring a service. Plan for 1–2 months.

Accommodation proof — Most visas require a 12-month lease or property deed in the destination country. Don't sign a long-term lease for a city you haven't visited unless you're confident. Use visa-compliant flexible-term operators (Spotahome, Flatio in Europe; local equivalents elsewhere) that produce 12-month contracts you can break when you arrive.

Income/savings documentation — Pull 12 months of bank statements. Get letters from pension administrators, employers, contractors. Compile dividend statements, rental leases and rent-receipt records, retirement-account statements. Organize chronologically. Some consulates want printed and stamped statements (not screenshots).

Book the consulate appointment — VFS Global (Portugal, India), BLS International (Spain in some jurisdictions), or direct consulate booking (most other countries). Availability is the bottleneck. Some consulates publish slots 90 days out; some are booked 2-3 months ahead. Book the moment the window opens.

US brokerage account positioning — Many US brokerages (Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab) restrict accounts when they detect a foreign address. Some require account closure; some lock down to liquidate-only. The fix: before you move, switch your statement address to a US address (a family member's, or a mail forwarding service like Earth Class Mail or Traveling Mailbox). For accounts you actively trade, talk to your brokerage about their expat policy in advance. Interactive Brokers is the most expat-friendly major US broker.

US bank account positioning — Keep at least one US checking and one savings. Switch to e-statements. Move your statement address to a US mail forwarding service. Notify your bank you'll have international transactions (some flag them as fraud otherwise).

Wise / Revolut / multi-currency account — Open one. These are the standard tools for moving money between the US and your destination at near-spot rates with very low fees. A traditional wire transfer can cost $50 and take 3 business days; a Wise transfer is $10 and arrives same-day.

Months 6–3: Logistics, pets, schools

The middle stretch is about everything that isn't visa paperwork.

Pet import — Easily the most surprising timeline. The general flow:

1. ISO 11784/11785 microchip — Many countries require the microchip to be implanted before the rabies vaccine. If your pet has an old (AVID/HomeAgain) microchip, you may need a new ISO chip too, or to bring your own scanner. Confirm with the destination country's import authority.
2. Rabies vaccination — Current within destination-country windows. Many require the vaccine to have been administered at least 21 days before travel (some 30, some 12 months max).
3. Rabies titer test (FAVN/RNATT) — Only for some destinations (Japan, Australia, UK from third countries, certain EU rules). When required, the post-titer waiting period is 90 days minimum, sometimes 180. This alone can extend your timeline by 6+ months.
4. Health certificate — USDA APHIS-endorsed, typically within 10 days of departure. Specific to destination.
5. Approved airline / route — Some countries restrict pet import to specific airports or routes. Some airlines have stopped flying pets in cargo entirely. Pet travel companies (PetRelocation, Starwood) cost $2,000–$6,000+ but handle logistics.

Breed restrictions — Multiple EU countries (Germany, France, UK, Portugal, Italy) restrict or require permits for "dangerous" breeds: typically pit bull types, certain mastiffs, sometimes Rottweilers. Some countries ban specific breeds outright (UK's XL Bully, Australia's many bans). Verify before you commit.

School enrollment for kids — If you're moving with school-age children, this is often the next-most-surprising timeline. International school waitlists in popular expat cities (Lisbon, Barcelona, Singapore, Dubai) can be 6–18 months. Public schools usually accept enrollment after arrival but processes vary by country.

Household shipping decision — Three options:

1. Sell most, fly with two suitcases, replace on arrival. Cheapest, fastest, least stress. Best for furnished apartments and renters.
2. Container ship (20' or 40' container). $4,000–$15,000+ to Europe; less to Latin America; more to Asia. 6–10 weeks transit. Works if you have furniture or art you can't replace.
3. Air freight a few key items. Faster (1–3 weeks), much more expensive per pound ($5–$15/lb). Useful for instruments, sentimental items.

US house decision — Sell, rent, or hold? Tax implications matter (the §121 exclusion on capital gains requires 2-of-5-years primary residence — moving abroad starts the clock). Talk to a tax advisor. Most expats keep the house and rent it — that rental income often counts toward visa income requirements.

Vehicle decision — Selling, exporting, or storing? Most expats sell. Exporting to most EU countries is expensive and the car has to be modified for European specs; not usually worth it. Exporting to Latin America is more common (especially Mexico) but has its own paperwork.

Address change of operations — Driver's license: many states let you keep it; some require an in-state address. Voter registration: keep your last US state of residence (federal absentee voting is universally available). IRS: file a Form 8822 change of address with your last US address or a mail forwarding service.

Months 3–0: Final 90 days

The home stretch.

Visa interview / consulate appointment — Show up early. Bring every document, original + photocopy, in the order the consulate's checklist specifies. Answer questions directly. Don't volunteer information. Most appointments are 20–40 minutes and procedural.

Wait for visa decision — 30–120 days depending on country and consulate. You can leave the US during this wait but your passport will be at the consulate; some consulates allow passport-return for emergency travel, some don't.

Final medical visits — Renew any maintenance prescriptions you'll continue. Get a copy of your medical records (your destination doctor will want them). Schedule any procedures you've been putting off (US healthcare may be more accessible than what you're moving to for elective work, even given the cost differential). Establish a relationship with a US-based GP who handles international patients (telehealth options like Galileo Health or expat-focused services for routine follow-ups).

Final dental work — Done in the US for many people. Dental care abroad is often cheaper but the language and trust barrier slows down decisions, so handling crowns or extractions before departure simplifies the first year.

Vision — Order multiple pairs of glasses and a year's worth of contacts before you leave; replenish via US mail forwarding or local optometrists abroad later. Most countries don't require new prescriptions for buying glasses online from US providers.

Mail forwarding — Sign up with a US virtual mail service (Earth Class Mail, Traveling Mailbox, US Global Mail) and start forwarding 60+ days before departure. Forward to a real US address, not directly to your destination — your IRS and brokerage relationships work better that way.

Cell phone — Switch your US line to a low-cost prepaid plan (Tello, US Mobile, Mint Mobile) that you can keep alive for $5–$15/month. You'll want a US number for two-factor authentication, banking, and US-side relationships. Get an unlocked phone if yours isn't. Buy a local SIM (or eSIM) on arrival.

Travel insurance — For the first 30–60 days after arrival before your residency-required insurance kicks in. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is the standard low-cost option.

After arrival: First 90 days

The first three months on the ground are arguably more important than the prior twelve.

Within 3 days of arrival — Register your address with the local authority (junta de freguesia in Portugal, padrón in Spain, etc.). This triggers everything downstream. Don't skip it.

Within 30 days — Most countries require some form of post-arrival visa-conversion appointment. Mexico's canjeo is the clearest example — 30-day hard deadline. Spain's TIE appointment, Portugal's AIMA appointment, Italy's permesso di soggiorno application. Mark these on your calendar before you arrive.

Within 60 days — Local bank account. Local utilities. Local cell phone (long-term plan, not a prepaid tourist SIM). Local healthcare registration. School enrollment (if delayed from pre-arrival).

Within 90 days — Test that everything actually works. Try to receive an international wire. Try to fill a prescription. Try to schedule a specialist appointment. Try to renew your US documents from abroad. The point is to find the failures while you still have travel insurance and US backups.

The bottlenecks, ranked

If you have to compress this timeline, these are the things that will not compress, in rough order of severity:

1. Pet titer tests (when required) — 90–180 day hard wait, immovable.
2. State Department apostille of FBI check — variable, often 8–13 weeks via direct processing.
3. Destination-country residence card — AIMA in Portugal has been 6–18 months historically; Spain's TIE is faster; Mexico's canjeo is fastest of the three.
4. Consulate appointment availability — 1 week to 3 months depending on city.
5. Visa decision — typically 30–120 days.
6. School enrollment — 6–18 months at popular international schools.
7. Local bank account — 1–4 weeks once you arrive.

A 12-month timeline lets you start each of these with comfortable buffer. A 6-month timeline means several of them happen in parallel and you tolerate more risk. A 3-month timeline is possible only if you skip pets, have no kids, can pay for expedited apostille processing, and pick a country with fast consular processing (Mexico is the friendliest among major destinations on this axis).

The version of this checklist that knows your destination

The version above is universal. The version inside the GTFO planner adds country-specific tasks, visa-specific document requirements, and a real calendar that anchors to your target departure date. It surfaces the consulate appointment lead time for your specific city, the pet import details for your specific destination, and the local tax-ID process for your specific country.

Open the planner to load the country-specific overlay onto this 12-month checklist. No paid placements; no upsells; built by someone who actually moved.

Last verified: May 2026 · Numbers change. We re-check thresholds and timelines every quarter. Always confirm with the consulate or official government source before you act.

GTFO is built and maintained by Natasha — making the same move you're planning.