The first weeks abroad, one plain guide at a time.
Registration, renting and health insurance in twelve countries. Each guide opens with the short answer, names the source and date of every figure, and says what we could not source.
Updated Oct 2026 · Free to read, no sign-up
Germany
8 guides on moving to Germany.
How to choose a relocation agency in Germany
Agency versus mover, the types of provider in Germany, what GARP and EuRA show, licences, questions to ask and red flags before you sign.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in Germany: with or without an agency
The apartment search in Germany step by step, portals, the application file, what a home-search agency does in Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt, and when it pays off.
Read MovingMoving to Germany: your first 90 days
Registration, permits by passport, rents in Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt, health insurance and where a relocation agency helps in the first 90 days in Germany.
Read RegistrationRegistering your address in Germany (Anmeldung)
The two-week deadline, the landlord's confirmation, the documents and the fines for registering late or with an address you do not live at.
Read CostsWhat a relocation agency costs in Germany (2026)
Published German agency prices for home search, settling-in, school search and permits, with VAT status, what changes a quote, and who pays.
Read RentingRenting a flat in Germany as a newcomer
Asking rents in six cities, how the rent brake and the three-month deposit cap work, and who pays a broker or a home-search agency.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in Germany: what is included
The admin steps in Germany with their deadlines, what settling-in packages include, which steps an agency can do for you and which need you in person.
Read InsuranceHealth insurance in Germany: what newcomers must have
The legal duty, the 2026 earnings limit of EUR 77,400, the 14.6% statutory contribution and the surcharge for taking out cover late.
ReadNetherlands
8 guides on moving to the Netherlands.
How to choose a relocation agency in the Netherlands
The types of Dutch agency, what EuRA and ARPN membership mean, how an agency differs from a rental agent, and the questions and red flags before you sign.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in the Netherlands as an expat
How to search for a Dutch rental home, what a home-finding service does, the sites we could read, what landlords must tell you and when an agency is worth it.
Read MovingMoving to the Netherlands: the first 90 days
The order of the first 90 days, who needs a permit, the five-day registration deadline, what housing looks like now and where a relocation agency can take work off you.
Read CostsWhat a relocation agency costs in the Netherlands
Published Dutch agency prices for home search, packages, BSN help and school search, excluding 21% VAT, plus what changes a quote and who pays.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in the Netherlands: what is included
The first-weeks admin steps in the Netherlands, with their deadlines and timelines, which an agency can do for you, which need you in person and what each costs.
Read InsuranceHealth insurance in the Netherlands: the four-month rule
Who must insure, the four-month deadline, what the standard package is, the healthcare allowance and what the CAK does if you do not.
Read RegistrationRegistering in the Netherlands: BRP and BSN
The five-day deadline, the documents, why a tenancy agreement matters and how the BSN follows the registration.
Read RentingRenting a home in the Netherlands: deposit, fees and limits
The two-month deposit cap, who pays an agency, the 2026 social and mid-price rent limits, and where to turn when a landlord breaks the rules.
ReadUnited Kingdom
8 guides on moving to the United Kingdom.
How to choose a relocation agent in London
Four types of provider, six checks you can do yourself, eight questions to ask before you pay, the red flags and how relofinder.com lists agencies.
Read Home searchHow to find a flat in London as a newcomer
The steps of a London rental search, the portals people use, the rental file, the limits on bidding and deposits in England, and when to pay for help.
Read MovingMoving to the UK: your first weeks, in order
Visa routes by group, what you pay the government, rent levels in 2026, then the share code, NI number, GP, bank and driving licence in order, and where an agent helps.
Read CostsWhat a relocation agent costs in the UK
Published price points for home search, school search and settling-in in London, how VAT and payment terms work, who pays, and what changes the price.
Read Settling inRelocation support in the UK: what settling-in includes
The settling-in steps in the UK, what an agent can do and what needs you, typical timelines from gov.uk and the NHS, and the published price points.
Read VisasImmigration advice in the UK: who may give it
The law on who may give immigration advice, the Immigration Advice Authority, how to check an adviser and what an agency may do instead.
Read RentingRenting in London without a UK credit history
The 2026 caps on holding deposit, deposit and rent in advance, the right to rent share code, guarantors and the ban on bidding above the advertised rent.
Read HealthcareThe NHS for newcomers: the surcharge and your GP
The two surcharge rates, how the length of your visa sets the bill, what is still charged and how to register with a GP.
ReadSpain
8 guides on moving to Spain.
How to choose a relocation agency in Madrid
The kinds of relocation provider in Madrid, what to check before hiring, who may file a permit for you, red flags and questions for the first call.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in Madrid as a newcomer
Madrid rents per m2, the portals, what landlords ask for, the legal limits at signing, and what a home-search agent does and charges.
Read MovingMoving to Spain: the step-by-step guide for newcomers
The first 90 days in Spain: EU registration, visa routes for non-EU citizens, the padrón, the TIE deadline, health cover, rents and where a relocation agency helps.
Read RentingRenting in Spain as a newcomer: deposit, fees, contract
The one-month deposit, the one-month limit on rent in advance, who pays the agency, the five-year contract rule and rents in three cities in 2026.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in Spain: what is included
The admin steps after arrival in Spain, with their deadlines, what settling-in services usually cover, and what needs you in person.
Read CostsWhat it costs to relocate to Spain: the figures we could source
One guide site's rough ranges for Spanish relocation services, the legal limits on deposits and agency fees, official costs and who pays.
Read InsuranceHealth insurance for a Spanish visa: what counts
The legal requirement, the consulate wording for the non-lucrative visa, the remote-work permit and the EUR 60 and EUR 157 special agreement after a year.
Read PermitsNIE and TIE in Spain: what they are and when
What the NIE and the TIE are, when each is required, the one-month deadline for the card and how both differ from the municipal padrón.
ReadUAE
8 guides on moving to the United Arab Emirates.
How to choose a relocation company in Dubai
Movers, consultants, brokers and corporate providers explained, how to check a licence in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the questions to ask, red flags and when to skip an agent.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in Dubai as a newcomer
Where to search, what the lease needs, how to check a broker in Dubai, the commission and fees, how Abu Dhabi differs and when a consultant is worth paying.
Read MovingMoving to Dubai: your first weeks, in order
The first weeks in order for Dubai and the UAE, with Abu Dhabi where the rules differ: visa, Emirates ID, insurance, lease, utilities, bank, licence and schools.
Read CostsWhat a relocation company costs in Dubai and the UAE
Published fee models for relocation consultants in the UAE, why every figure is a marketing estimate, the broker commission, the official fees around it and who pays.
Read Settling inSettling in the UAE: what relocation services include
The settling-in steps for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, what the official pages say, which steps a typing centre or consultant can prepare and which need you in person.
Read InsuranceHealth insurance in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: the rules
Who pays for cover in each emirate, what Dubai's minimum plan is, the Abu Dhabi fine and what Dubai says about policies bought abroad.
Read RentingRenting in Dubai: Ejari, the deposit and the cheques
How Ejari registration works, the documents and cheques a tenant provides, the 5% housing fee, rent increases and the deposit that the law leaves to the contract.
Read VisasResidence visa and Emirates ID in the UAE: the basics
Visa validity, who sponsors, the medical test, the Emirates ID, the 180-day rule and the daily fines for overstaying and late card renewal.
ReadFrance
5 guides on moving to France.
How to choose a relocation agency in Paris
The kinds of relocation provider in Paris, what to check before hiring, why a written quote matters, red flags and questions for the first call.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in Paris as a newcomer
Paris rents, the legal list of rental file documents, rent control, Visale, the three lease types and what a home-search service does.
Read MovingMoving to France: the step-by-step guide for newcomers
The first 90 days in France: EU rights, the long-stay visa and residence card, health cover, the rental file, Paris rents and where an agency helps.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in France: what is included
The admin steps after arrival in France, with their deadlines, what settling-in services usually cover, and what you must do yourself.
Read CostsWhat it costs to relocate to France: the figures that are public
What we could source on moving costs in France: capped tenant agency fees, deposits, Visale, permit stamps and Paris rents, and how to ask for a quote.
ReadIreland
5 guides on moving to Ireland.
How to choose a relocation agent in Dublin
Kinds of provider in Dublin, the PSRA licence and how to check it, associations, the questions to ask, the scams to avoid and when an agent does not pay off.
Read Home searchHow to find a flat in Dublin as a newcomer
The 2026 Dublin rental market, the steps of a search, what the law caps and requires, the March 2026 rules, scams, and when an agent is worth paying.
Read MovingMoving to Ireland: your first weeks, in order
Who needs a permit, the 90-day IRP registration, the PPS number, bank, licence and health care in order, the 2026 rent picture and where an agent helps.
Read CostsWhat a relocation agency costs in Ireland
Why Irish agency prices are not public, how the time-based packages work, the official costs that are not agency fees and the questions that make quotes comparable.
Read Settling inSettling in Ireland: IRP, PPS number and agent help
How to register for the IRP and apply for a PPS number, the documents, fees and timelines from official pages, then bank, licence and schools, and what an agent can do.
ReadBelgium
5 guides on moving to Belgium.
How to choose a relocation agency in Belgium
Agency versus mover, the kinds of provider in Belgium, what ABRA's member list and the EuRA seal show, what to check, questions to ask and red flags.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in Brussels
The apartment search in Brussels step by step: portals, lease types, the rental guarantee, who pays the agent, what a home-search agency does, and when it is worth it.
Read MovingMoving to Belgium: what to know before you go
Commune registration, EU and non-EU routes, the single permit, Brussels rents, health insurance and where a relocation agency helps in your first 90 days in Belgium.
Read CostsWhat a relocation agency costs in Belgium
No Belgian agency price list found: what six agency pages show, who pays, how to compare quotes, and the free help from the Brussels Region.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in Belgium: what is included
The commune registration and the other first steps in Belgium, their deadlines, what agencies list, which steps need you in person and where to get free help.
ReadAustria
5 guides on moving to Austria.
How to choose a relocation agency in Austria
Agency versus mover, the kinds of provider in Austria, what EuRA membership shows, who may do the legal part of a permit, questions to ask and red flags.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in Vienna, Austria
Apartment search in Vienna step by step: rent regimes, the broker rule, where people search, what a home-search agency does and costs, and when it is worth it.
Read MovingMoving to Austria: your first 90 days
Registration, permits for EU and non-EU citizens, the Red-White-Red Card, Vienna rents, health insurance and where a relocation agency helps in the first 90 days.
Read CostsWhat a relocation agency costs in Austria
Published Austrian agency prices for home search, registration help, school search and permits, how the broker rule works, and what we could not find.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in Austria: what is included
The Meldezettel and the other first-week steps in Austria, their deadlines, what agencies list and charge, and which steps need you in person.
ReadPortugal
5 guides on moving to Portugal.
How to choose a relocation agency in Lisbon
The kinds of firm that sell relocation in Portugal, what to check before hiring, who files the visa, red flags and questions for the first call.
Read Home searchHow to find an apartment in Lisbon as a newcomer
Lisbon rents per m2, the NIF you need first, the portals, what landlords and AIMA expect, and what home-search agents charge.
Read MovingMoving to Portugal: the step-by-step guide for newcomers
The first 90 days in Portugal: the NIF, EU rights, visa routes for non-EU citizens, AIMA, health registration, driving licence, Lisbon and Porto rents.
Read Settling inSettling in Portugal: NIF, residence and what is included
The admin steps after arrival in Portugal, with their deadlines and fees, what settling-in services cover, and what needs you in person.
Read CostsWhat it costs to relocate to Portugal: agency prices and official fees
A published Portuguese agency price list for housing search and residency, the official visa and licence fees, Lisbon and Porto rents, and who pays.
ReadSingapore
5 guides on moving to Singapore.
How to choose a relocation company in Singapore
The kinds of Singapore relocation firm, how to check a CEA licence and registration, questions to ask and the red flags that CEA itself lists.
Read MovingMoving to Singapore: the first 90 days
Which Singapore pass applies and who applies, what rents did in 2026, how agent licensing works for rentals, and where a relocation company helps in the first 90 days.
Read CostsWhat a relocation company costs in Singapore
Why Singapore agency prices are not public, how CEA says a rental-search commission works, what rents look like and what a quote should say.
Read Home searchRenting in Singapore as an expat: agent or on your own
Agent or on your own, what CEA says about commission, deposits and scams, what non-citizens can rent in an HDB flat, and what private rents did in 2026.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in Singapore: what is included
The first-weeks tasks in Singapore, what firms say a settling-in package covers, which steps need you or your employer, and what stays unsourced.
ReadAustralia
5 guides on moving to Australia.
How to choose a relocation service in Australia
Removalist, relocation service, tenant agent or migration agent, the registrations and licences to check in Australia, what a quote should say and the red flags.
Read MovingMoving to Australia: the first 90 days
The 2026-27 migration program, who may give visa advice, how rents and bonds differ by state, what a relocation service means in Australia and a 90-day plan.
Read CostsWhat relocation services cost in Australia
Published Australian prices for rental packages, a single viewing, schools and home set-up, in AUD and EUR, with GST and payment terms and what changes a quote.
Read Home searchRenting in Australia for foreigners: agent or on your own
What a rental application may include, bond and rent in advance in NSW and Victoria, how rents moved in 2026 and when a tenant agent is worth the fee.
Read Settling inSettling-in services in Australia: what is included
What two Australian firms list as settling-in help, with prices, which first-weeks steps stay with you, and which official steps we could not source.
ReadShort answer first
Each guide starts with the answer in two or three sentences, then the detail, the sources and the questions people ask next.
Sources, with dates
Figures come from official texts and statistics, named in the sentence with their date. What we could not source is left out, and the guide says so.
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