Banking
Certain financial apps make handling finances abroad easier. Wise, Revolut, and OFX make international transfers cheap and offer accounts for different currencies. Apps like XE Currency Converter, Currency Converter Plus, and Easy Currency Converter help check real-time currency rates. Additionally, services like PayPal (or Xoom), Wise, Revolut, and Western Union are secure for sending money internationally, paying bills, and managing finances in various currencies.
Safety
It's essential to keep up with safety conditions in your new country. Apps like Smarttraveler give you important updates and advice on local laws to help keep you safe. A VPN is also critical for protecting your online activity and letting you access services from back home. Use Surfshark or NordVPN for robust encryption and to bypass geo-restrictions. Also, use password managers like NordPass, LastPass, or Dashlane for online security. They make managing and securing passwords easier by generating and keeping them safe. These tools can help you safely navigate the physical and online aspects of living overseas.
Navigation
Navigating in a new city can be tricky, but there are apps to help. Google Maps and Citymapper are great for finding your way around with information on bus and train times, walking paths, and places to rent bikes and scooters. If you need maps offline, CityMaps2Go has downloadable city maps showing public transport, walking trails, and bike paths, which help you explore without worrying about data or battery. For real-time updates (for example, about gas prices) and alerts (for example, road closures to traffic accidents), you'll want to bring Waze along. The only con is that it's mainly designed for car travel.
Healthcare
For expats, getting healthcare coverage is crucial. Companies like Cigna Global, IMG Insurance, and Allianz provide international health insurance plans, including emergency care. Platforms like Doctor on Demand or Teladoc offer online doctor visits. To book doctor appointments, check services like Zocdoc, which features reviews and real-time doctors' availability. Apps like Headspace and Calm are great for promoting mental health with mindfulness and meditation. Moreover, BetterHealth offers a network of licensed therapists you can contact via messages, live chat, phone, or video calls.
Communication
Adjusting to living abroad is more manageable with good communication, even with language barriers. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Drops help by making language learning fun and interactive. They offer daily lessons, vocabulary, and pronunciation practice tailored to different speeds and skill levels. Apps like Google Translate, iTranslate, Microsoft Translator, and DeepL are essential for immediate text, voice, and image translation. They help you understand locals and read signs, menus, and documents, making everyday life smoother and assisting expats to settle into their new surroundings better.
Adaptation
Integrating into a new culture can be easier with the right services. Sites like Meetup and Expat.com are great for finding local events, joining expat groups, or finding relocation guides. They help you learn about the local culture and make new friends. For day-to-day needs, apps like Yelp and Foursquare are essential for finding nearby restaurants, shops, and banks. These apps provide user reviews, helping you choose where to go based on others' experiences. For a local's perspective, Spotted by Locals offers city guides that suggest lesser-known spots to explore, making your experience more unique. These guides can be used offline, too.
Employment
For many expats, securing employment is a concern. However, various online platforms can help. LinkedIn is a key site for connecting with global professionals and finding international jobs in your field. Glassdoor lets you look into companies' cultures, salaries, and interview steps. CareerBuilder is a vast global job site listing employment opportunities in 60 countries and many languages. It lets employers write targeted job posts, and job seekers can search for postings and share their resumes online. Indeed collects job listings from news sites, job boards, and company websites. It's available in over 50 locations and languages, making it a broad resource for finding jobs not just in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia but also in many parts of Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Connectivity
eSIM technology gives expats a handy, temporary way to stay connected when moving abroad. The app Airalo provides eSIM coverage in over 190 countries, allowing users to buy and switch eSIM profiles for their travel needs efficiently from the app. Saily, another eSIM service, offers reasonable prices, flexibility, customer support, and easy package switching, making it an excellent choice for expats. eSIM services help easily manage mobile connectivity while living in a new country.
Final thoughts
Tools like language apps, banking services, VPNs, communication platforms, and others are crucial for adapting to a new country. They make moving abroad easier, help you stay in touch, and navigate life in a new place. Using these resources, expats can overcome some common challenges and fully embrace the adventure of living abroad.
