Why You Need a Real Checklist Before You Move Abroad
Moving abroad is one of the best decisions I ever made. I have been living overseas for over a decade now, running my ecommerce businesses from places like Chiang Mai, Bali, and Lisbon, and the lifestyle is incredible. But here is the thing that nobody tells you: the move itself can be a total disaster if you do not plan it right.
I have seen so many people rush into it. They book a one way ticket, close their US bank accounts, let their mail pile up at their old address, and then spend the next six months scrambling to fix problems that could have been avoided with a simple checklist. Tax filing deadlines get missed. Business accounts get frozen because the bank sees logins from a foreign IP address. Health insurance lapses. Important documents end up at an address nobody is checking.
That is exactly why I put this checklist together. Whether you are a digital nomad, an ecommerce operator, a remote worker, or someone retiring overseas, this guide covers every single step you need to take before, during, and after your move. I have organized it into clear phases so you can work through it methodically instead of scrambling at the last minute. If you are building an online business to fund your move, start with my complete guide to high-ticket dropshipping to understand the business model that gives you true location independence.
And if you want to see everything E-Commerce Paradise offers to help you build a location independent business, check out the homepage for the full rundown.
Phase 1: Financial and Banking Setup (3 to 6 Months Before)
Getting your financial infrastructure right is the single most important part of moving abroad. If you mess this up, everything else falls apart. You cannot pay suppliers, receive payments, or even access your own money. Start this phase early because some of these steps take weeks to complete.
Open an Expat Friendly Bank Account
Most US banks will freeze or close your account if they detect you are living overseas permanently. The two banks that consistently work well for expats are Charles Schwab and a handful of online-first banks. Schwab is my top recommendation because they reimburse all ATM fees worldwide, have no foreign transaction fees, and they do not care where you live. I have used Charles Schwab for years while living abroad and never had a single issue withdrawing cash in any country.
Open this account while you still have a US address. It is significantly harder to open a new US bank account from overseas, so get this done 3 to 6 months before your move.
Set Up International Money Transfers
You are going to need a reliable way to move money between your US accounts and your local bank account overseas. Wire transfers through traditional banks cost $25 to $50 each way and give you terrible exchange rates. Instead, use a dedicated transfer service that specializes in international payments. Remitly is great for sending money to specific countries quickly, especially in Southeast Asia and Latin America where a lot of digital nomads end up.
Get Your Business Banking Sorted
If you run an ecommerce store or any online business, your business banking needs to be rock solid before you leave. Make sure your business checking account is with a bank that supports international access. Update your business address to a US-based virtual mailbox (more on that below) so the bank always has a valid domestic address on file. Set up online bill pay, wire transfers, and ACH payments so you never need to walk into a branch.
For ecommerce operators specifically, make sure your payment processors like Stripe and PayPal are configured to deposit into a US bank account. If you need help setting up the complete financial foundation for your business, my business formation checklist walks through every step.
Review Your Tax Situation
As the IRS outlines on their international taxpayers page, US citizens and permanent residents are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live. That does not change just because you moved to Thailand. Before you leave, schedule a consultation with a tax professional who specializes in expat taxes. They can help you understand the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, the Foreign Tax Credit, FBAR filing requirements, and any tax treaties between the US and your destination country.
Get your accountant set up before you move so there is no scrambling when April rolls around. If you run an ecommerce business, you want an accountant who understands both expat tax law and online business accounting. Greenback Expat Tax Services specializes in exactly this and works entirely online, which is perfect for people who are not going to be sitting in a CPA’s office.
Phase 2: Legal and Business Structure (2 to 4 Months Before)
Your legal structure needs to survive your move. If your LLC is registered in a state that requires a physical presence, or if your registered agent is your home address, you have some work to do.
Update or Form Your LLC
According to the US Small Business Administration’s guide to business structures, choosing the right entity type is one of the most important early decisions for any business owner. Wyoming and South Dakota are the two best states for expat entrepreneurs to register an LLC. They have no state income tax, strong privacy protections, minimal annual reporting requirements, and they do not care if you live in the state or not. If your LLC is currently registered in a state like California or New York, seriously consider dissolving it and reforming in Wyoming or South Dakota before you move.
For forming a new LLC, I recommend LegalZoom for people who want a trusted name with a full suite of legal services beyond just LLC formation. They handle operating agreements, EIN applications, and annual report filing so you do not have to think about it once you are overseas.
Set Up a Registered Agent
Every LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in the state of registration. When you live abroad, you obviously cannot be your own registered agent. Most LLC formation services offer registered agent services, but you can also use a standalone provider. The key is choosing someone reliable who will forward legal documents to you promptly, because if you miss a service of process or a state compliance notice, the consequences can be serious.
Update Business Licenses and Permits
If you have any business licenses tied to your current state or city, figure out whether they transfer. Most sellers permits and resale certificates are state specific, so if you are changing your business domicile to Wyoming, you will need to apply for new ones. Do this before your move because some applications require a US phone number and address verification that are easier to handle while you are still stateside.
Review Your Insurance Coverage
Your US health insurance almost certainly does not cover you overseas, and your existing life insurance and business insurance policies may have geographic restrictions. Review every policy you carry and determine what stays active, what needs to be replaced, and what can be canceled.
For health coverage abroad, SafetyWing is the gold standard for digital nomads and remote workers. Their Nomad Insurance plan starts at around $45 per month, covers you in 175+ countries, and you can sign up even if you have already left the US. It is not a replacement for comprehensive health insurance, but it covers emergencies, doctor visits, and prescriptions while you are on the move.
Phase 3: Mail, Address, and Communications (2 to 3 Months Before)
Once you leave the US, you still need a way to receive mail, maintain a physical address for business purposes, and stay reachable by phone. This phase is about setting up the infrastructure that keeps your US presence alive even when you are 8,000 miles away.
Get a Virtual Mailbox
A virtual mailbox gives you a real US street address where all your mail gets delivered. The service scans your mail and uploads it to a dashboard where you can view it from anywhere in the world. You can then choose to have items forwarded, shredded, or stored. This is essential for receiving bank statements, tax documents, legal correspondence, and anything else that cannot go to a foreign address.
I have used Virtual Post Mail and it works great for expats who need a reliable, established service with multiple address options. They have been around for years and their scanning quality is excellent.
Set Up Mail Forwarding With USPS
Before you leave, submit a change of address form with USPS to forward all mail from your current address to your new virtual mailbox address. This catches anything that was still being sent to your old address. USPS forwarding only lasts 12 months for First Class mail, so make sure you update your address directly with every bank, credit card company, insurance provider, and government agency as well.
Get an International Phone Solution
You need to keep a US phone number active for two factor authentication, business calls, and verifying accounts. Losing access to your US number while abroad can lock you out of bank accounts, email, and critical services. There are a few ways to handle this.
For a dedicated business phone line that works anywhere in the world, Grasshopper gives you a professional US number with voicemail, call forwarding, and extensions without needing a physical SIM card. It works entirely through their app and is perfect for ecommerce operators who take customer calls.
For your personal phone, consider switching to a carrier with strong international coverage before you leave. Google Fi works in over 200 countries with no roaming charges for data, making it one of the easiest solutions for digital nomads who move between countries frequently.
Update Your Address Everywhere
This is the tedious but critical step. Go through every account, subscription, and service that has your current address and update it to your virtual mailbox address. This includes banks, credit cards, investment accounts, insurance policies, the IRS, your state tax authority, your LLC registered agent, Amazon, and anywhere else that might send you physical mail. Missing even one can cause problems months down the road when an important document gets returned as undeliverable.
Phase 4: Business Operations and Remote Work Setup (1 to 2 Months Before)
If you run an online business, this phase is about making sure your operations run smoothly from anywhere. The goal is to eliminate any dependency on your physical location so that it does not matter whether you are in Denver or Da Nang.
Audit Your Tech Stack
Go through every tool and platform you use for your business and verify it works from overseas. Some platforms have geographic restrictions or may flag your account for logging in from a new country. Test your ecommerce platform, email marketing tool, payment processors, accounting software, and any other critical tools from a VPN connection to simulate an overseas login.
Speaking of VPNs, you absolutely need one before you move abroad. A VPN protects your data on public wifi (which you will use a lot), lets you access US-only services, and prevents your business accounts from getting flagged for suspicious login activity. PureVPN offers strong coverage with servers in 78+ countries and supports up to 10 simultaneous connections, which is great if you are running multiple devices.
Document Your Standard Operating Procedures
Before you move is the perfect time to document every process in your business. When you are adjusting to a new timezone, dealing with jet lag, and figuring out where to buy groceries, the last thing you want is to be the bottleneck on routine tasks. Write SOPs for order processing, customer service responses, supplier communications, returns handling, and anything else that happens regularly.
If you do not have a virtual assistant yet, now is the time to hire one. Getting a VA trained on your SOPs before you move means your business keeps running even during the transition period when you are distracted. OnlineJobs.ph is where I find all my Filipino VAs, and the quality of talent on that platform is consistently excellent for ecommerce operations.
Set Up Time Tracking for Remote Teams
If you have VAs or remote employees, you need a way to monitor productivity across timezones. This becomes even more important when you are living abroad and might be asleep during your team’s working hours. Hubstaff handles time tracking, screenshots, activity monitoring, and even automated payments, which is really useful when you are managing a team from the other side of the world.
Build Your Online Presence Before You Go
If you are starting a new business or expanding your existing one, get your website and SEO foundation set up while you still have fast, reliable internet and a stable routine. Register your domain through Namecheap if you have not already, and start building out your content strategy. Once you are on the road, consistent content creation becomes harder, so having a backlog of blog posts and product pages ready to publish gives you a huge advantage.
For keyword research and SEO tracking, SE Ranking is a powerful all-in-one platform that costs less than the bigger tools but still gives you keyword tracking, site audits, backlink analysis, and competitor research. It is a great value play for ecommerce operators who want SEO data without paying $200+ per month for it.
Phase 5: Logistics and Personal Preparation (2 to 4 Weeks Before)
With the financial, legal, and business foundations in place, the final phase is about the practical logistics of the move itself. This is where a lot of people procrastinate, and then they are scrambling at the last minute trying to figure out what to do with all their stuff.
Handle Your Housing Situation
If you own a home, decide whether you are selling, renting it out, or keeping it vacant. Each option has tax implications, so talk to your accountant. If you are renting, give proper notice and schedule your move-out date. For digital nomads who do not plan to have a permanent base, getting rid of your lease is one of the most liberating things you can do. Your housing costs drop dramatically when you are living in places like Chiang Mai or Medellin.
Declutter and Store or Sell Your Belongings
You cannot take everything with you, and you should not try. Be ruthless about what you keep. Most digital nomads end up with one or two suitcases and a backpack. Sell furniture and large items on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Ship sentimental items to a family member or put them in a small storage unit. The less stuff you have, the more mobile and flexible you are.
Prepare Your Travel Documents
Check the US Department of State passport services page to verify your passport status and renewal options. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 12 months beyond your departure date. Some countries require 6 months of validity just to enter, and if your passport expires while you are abroad, renewing it at a US embassy can take weeks. If you need a visa for your destination, apply well in advance. Popular digital nomad visa programs in places like Portugal, Thailand, and Costa Rica can take 4 to 8 weeks to process.
Make digital copies of every important document: passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, Social Security card, insurance cards, vaccination records, and your LLC formation documents. Store them in a secure cloud folder that you can access from anywhere.
Set Up International Health Coverage
If you have not already arranged health insurance in Phase 2, this is your last chance. Do not leave the country without coverage. Medical emergencies happen, and a hospital stay in some countries can cost tens of thousands of dollars without insurance. SafetyWing covers you globally and you can sign up in minutes, but also research whether your destination country offers affordable local health insurance plans. Countries like Thailand and Mexico have excellent private healthcare at a fraction of US prices.
Notify Important Contacts
Let your bank, credit card companies, and investment firms know you are moving abroad. If you do not, they may freeze your accounts when they see transactions from a foreign country. Most banks have a travel notification system in their app or website. Set notifications for the longest period possible and then update them periodically.
Phase 6: First 30 Days After Arriving
You made it. You are in your new country and everything feels exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The first 30 days are critical for establishing your routine and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Open a Local Bank Account
Having a local bank account makes daily life much easier. You can receive local currency deposits, pay rent, and avoid ATM fees for everyday purchases. Requirements vary by country, but most will need your passport, proof of address (even a hotel booking works in some places), and sometimes a visa or residence permit. Keep your US accounts as your primary business and savings accounts, and use the local account for daily expenses.
Get a Local SIM Card or eSIM
While Google Fi works internationally, local data plans are almost always cheaper. Pick up a local SIM card at the airport or a phone shop for your daily phone and data usage, and keep your US number active on a secondary device or through a VoIP app. In most Southeast Asian countries, unlimited data plans cost $10 to $20 per month. In Europe, they run $15 to $30 per month.
Find Your Workspace
Unless you are disciplined enough to work from your apartment every day, find a coworking space within your first week. Having a dedicated workspace with reliable internet, a proper desk, and a community of other remote workers makes a huge difference in your productivity and mental health. Most major nomad destinations have excellent coworking options starting at $50 to $150 per month.
Register With the US Embassy
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) through the US Department of State. This is free and ensures the nearest US embassy or consulate can contact you in an emergency, send you important safety information, and help your family reach you if needed. It takes about five minutes and there is no reason not to do it.
Establish Your Tax Residency Timeline
Start tracking the exact dates you enter and leave each country from day one. You need this for the Physical Presence Test if you plan to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion on your US taxes. The test requires 330 full days outside the US in a 12 month period. Missing this by even a few days means you lose the exclusion entirely, so keeping accurate records from the beginning is essential.
Use a simple spreadsheet or a travel tracking app to log every border crossing. Note the country, date of entry, and date of departure. Your future self will thank you when tax season comes around.
The Complete Moving Abroad Checklist (Quick Reference)
Here is the condensed version you can print out or save to your phone. Check off each item as you complete it.
3 to 6 Months Before
Open an expat-friendly US bank account (Schwab recommended). Set up an international money transfer service. Review and update your business banking. Consult an expat tax professional. Research your destination country’s visa requirements and cost of living.
2 to 4 Months Before
Form or transfer your LLC to Wyoming or South Dakota. Set up a registered agent. Review and update all insurance policies. Get international health insurance. Apply for your visa if required. Update or renew your passport if it expires within 12 months.
2 to 3 Months Before
Set up a virtual mailbox service. Submit USPS mail forwarding. Get an international phone solution (Google Fi or Grasshopper). Update your address with all banks, credit cards, IRS, and other institutions. Set up a VPN.
1 to 2 Months Before
Audit your tech stack for international access. Document all business SOPs. Hire and train a virtual assistant. Set up time tracking for remote teams. Build out your website and SEO foundation. Back up all important files to the cloud.
2 to 4 Weeks Before
Handle your housing situation (sell, rent, or vacate). Declutter and sell or store belongings. Make digital copies of all important documents. Notify banks and credit card companies of your move. Get required vaccinations. Cancel US subscriptions you will not need (gym, cable, streaming services with geographic restrictions).
First 30 Days After Arrival
Open a local bank account. Get a local SIM card. Find a coworking space. Register with the US Embassy via STEP. Start tracking your days outside the US for tax purposes. Set up a local routine including workspace, grocery stores, and healthcare providers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad
After helping hundreds of ecommerce operators make this transition, I have seen the same mistakes over and over. Learn from other people’s failures so you do not have to make these mistakes yourself.
Closing All Your US Bank Accounts
This is the number one mistake. You need US bank accounts for your business, tax payments, and as a financial safety net. Close the ones you do not need, but keep at least one personal checking account and your business accounts open and active.
Not Setting Up a VPN Before You Leave
Some US services block foreign IP addresses. If you cannot log into your bank or your Shopify store because your IP is flagged, you are stuck. Install and test your VPN while you still have your US internet connection so you know it works before you need it.
Ignoring Tax Obligations
Moving abroad does not reduce your US tax obligations automatically. You still need to file. You may qualify for exclusions and credits that significantly reduce what you owe, but you have to file to claim them. Missing FBAR deadlines can result in penalties of $10,000 or more per account per year. Get a tax professional involved early.
Not Having a Business Continuity Plan
What happens to your business if your laptop gets stolen? If you get sick for two weeks? If the internet goes down in your building for three days? Have backup plans for everything. This means cloud backups, trained VAs who can handle daily operations, a second device you can work from, and enough financial runway to handle a disruption.
Overpacking
Pack half of what you think you need. You can buy almost everything overseas, often for much less than in the US. Focus on things that are hard to find internationally: specific medications, electronics adapters, and comfort items from home. Everything else can be replaced.
Building a Location Independent Business to Fund Your Move
If you are reading this checklist and thinking that you would love to move abroad but do not have a business that supports it yet, high-ticket dropshipping is the fastest path I know to building a location independent income. The entire model is designed to be run from anywhere with a laptop and an internet connection. You do not handle inventory, you do not ship products, and you can manage everything from a beach in Bali or a cafe in Lisbon.
Start by researching the right niche. My high-ticket niches list has over 1,000 profitable niches organized by category, and it is completely free. Once you have your niche, my supplier sourcing guide walks you through finding and getting approved by US-based manufacturers.
If you want to find products that are already proven to sell, check out some of the supplier directories and automation tools available. SaleHoo is a vetted supplier directory with over 8,000 manufacturers and wholesalers, and they verify every supplier so you do not waste time with unreliable vendors.
How E-Commerce Paradise Can Help You Make the Move
I built E-Commerce Paradise specifically for people who want to build location independent businesses and live life on their own terms. Whether you are just getting started or you already have a store and want to scale it before your move, here is how we can help.
If you want a store built for you from scratch so it is ready to generate revenue before you even leave the country, check out our Turnkey Done-for-You Store Service. We handle the niche research, supplier outreach, website design, product uploads, and everything else so you can focus on planning your move.
If you already have a store but want expert guidance on scaling it and optimizing it for international operations, our 1-on-1 Coaching Program gives you direct access to me for strategy sessions tailored to your specific situation.
For a comprehensive education on the entire high-ticket dropshipping model, the Ecommerce Paradise Masterclass and Community Group Coaching Program includes step-by-step video training, live group coaching calls, and a community of other ecommerce operators who are building location independent businesses just like you.
We also run Google Shopping Ads campaigns for store owners who want professional ad management while they focus on living abroad and enjoying the lifestyle. And for a full list of every tool, service, and resource I personally recommend, visit our Resources page.
I wish you guys the best of luck out there. Moving abroad changed my life in ways I never expected, and I truly believe it can do the same for you. Take the time to plan it right, follow this checklist step by step, and you will be set up for success from day one. Thanks so much, and I will see you in the next one. Take care.
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- Best Bank Accounts for American Expats in 2026
- How to File Taxes as an Expat in 2026
- Best VPN for Expats in 2026
- Every Digital Nomad Visa Available in 2026
- Cost of Living Abroad vs USA in 2026
Trevor Fenner
Email: trevor@ecommerceparadise.com
Phone: (307) 429-0021
5830 E 2nd St, Ste. 7000 #715, Casper, WY 82609
About | Contact | Resources
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
