How to Make Your Safety a Priority When Moving Abroad
Whether you’re moving abroad to work, retire, or attend school, creating a new life in a foreign country requires you to do quite a bit of planning. And one of the most important things to plan for is your own health and safety.
From learning how to access healthcare to researching which neighborhoods are safe to live in to learning local laws and customs, here’s how to make safety a priority when moving abroad.
Research Your Destination Country Before You Go
Political instability, gun violence, climate challenges, terrorism, and gang activity — countries around the world are plagued with all sorts of safety issues. Long before you move abroad you should research your destination to understand what safety issues you may face.
If you’re moving to a country that’s considered safe, be sure to conduct research on the specific area you intend to move to. Even some of the safest places to live in the world have pockets of crime and certain neighborhoods that may or may not be safe to live, work, or travel to.
Buy Health Insurance
No matter how young or healthy you may be, it’s important to get private health insurance to protect you in your new country. Depending on where you’re moving, you may not be able to access a public healthcare system, and private healthcare can be quite costly.
Familiarize yourself with the local healthcare system. If you have existing medical conditions, make sure you can access the type of care, medications, and treatments you may need in your new town.
If you’re not fluent in the language of your new country, it’s also a good idea to have any important medical documents, such as your medical history and list of current medications, translated into that language.
Get Vaccinations
Depending on where you’re headed, you may be required to provide proof of vaccinations before you’re allowed entry into the country. Cholera, measles, typhoid, and yellow fever vaccines are just a few of the many vaccinations a country may require. Visit the CDC website to look up your destination and learn exactly what vaccines you’ll need.
Choose Safe Travel Methods
Before you hop on a subway or hail a taxi in your new country, make sure it’s safe to do so. In some cities, taking public transportation at night, hailing an unauthorized taxicab on the street, and even driving down public roads can be dangerous endeavors.
For example, in Mexico, it is best to use toll roads over public roads, as the presence of drug cartels on public roads puts you at risk for carjackings and kidnappings. In some European and South American cities, taxi scams are common, so it’s better to grab a cab at a taxi stand rather than hailing one off the street.
Learn the Local Laws and Customs
Familiarize yourself with local laws before you arrive in your new country. In some parts of the world, mundane, everyday things that you do in your home country may be illegal. For example, it’s unlawful to chew gum in Singapore, feed the pigeons in Venice, or wear high heels to ancient sites in Greece.
Be aware of local customs as well, as simple gestures and behaviors may be incredibly offensive to your new neighbors. For example, in Malaysia and Indonesia, it’s considered very rude to point at someone. In many parts of India and the Middle East, it’s insulting to eat with your left hand. In Japan, it’s rude to leave a tip.
Create an Emergency Plan
When you arrive in your new country, one of the first things you should do is create an emergency plan. That means keeping a list of emergency phone numbers, knowing how to contact 911 for emergency services, and knowing how to recognize national alerts for climate disasters like tornadoes, tsunamis, and hurricanes.
If you move to a region that’s prone to natural disasters, secure emergency supplies as recommended by the local government and learn about local evacuation routes and shelter locations.
In Conclusion
To stay safe abroad, do your research ahead of time and be aware of the unique safety threats and risks that exist in your new country.
Before you go, get the necessary vaccinations, enroll in a health insurance plan, and learn about the local laws and customs. When you arrive, create an emergency plan, travel using safe methods, and avoid high crime areas. Take these common sense measures to protect yourself and your move abroad can be a healthy, safe adventure of a lifetime!
