First 90 days abroad · 101 country checklists
Your first 90 days abroad: what actually has to happen
Getting the visa is half the move. Once you land, a clock starts: registering as a resident, getting the local tax number, opening a bank account, enrolling in healthcare, and sorting your driver's license — each with its own deadline and its own catch. Pick your country for the real checklist, with the official source next to each step.
The shape of it, almost everywhere
Week 1–2
Register your presence
Most countries require new residents to register an address or validate their permit within days of arriving — it's the step every later step depends on, so it comes first.
Month 1
Get the number, then the account
The local tax or ID number unlocks nearly everything — leases, banking, utilities. With it, open a local account (many arrivals bridge with a multi-currency account until then).
By month 3
Healthcare and the license clock
Enrol in the health system you're entitled to (or confirm your private cover), and check the driver's-license window — in many countries the right to drive or exchange a foreign license expires around the 90-day mark.
Deadlines and requirements change and vary by nationality, visa type, and region — this is directional information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Africa
🇨🇻Cape VerdeBefore your visa-free or visa stay expires — many nationalities get 30 days visa-free and must apply for residence inside that window🇰🇪KenyaForeign nationals resident for more than 90 days must register as aliens; permit applications are lodged before your entry authorisation expires🇲🇺MauritiusThe permit is normally approved before arrival; the Premium Visa is a 1-year renewable remote-work authorisation applied for online🇲🇦MoroccoWithin 15 days of the decision to reside — practically, before your 90-day visa-free stay expires🇳🇦NamibiaBefore your entry stamp expires — visitors are commonly admitted for up to 90 days per year, and permits are applied for through the MHAISS e-services portal🇳🇬NigeriaWithin 90 days of arriving on a Subject To Regularisation (STR) visa — the STR is obtained abroad and converted after entry🇷🇼RwandaBefore your entry stamp expires — most nationalities get 30 days on arrival, and permit applications are lodged online during that window🇸🇨SeychellesSeychelles issues a visitor's permit on arrival for up to 3 months, extendable — any work or residence needs a permit granted before the activity starts🇿🇦South AfricaMost temporary residence visas must be applied for and issued BEFORE travel; changing status inside South Africa is restricted and frequently refused🇹🇳TunisiaBefore your permitted stay expires — most nationalities get 90 days visa-free, and the residence file should be lodged well inside it🇺🇬UgandaBefore your entry stamp expires — visitors are typically admitted for up to 90 days, and permit applications are lodged online during that window🇿🇲ZambiaBefore your entry stamp expires — visitors are typically admitted for up to 90 days per year, and permit applications go through the immigration e-services portal
Asia
🇦🇲ArmeniaBefore your 180-day visa-free stay expires — most nationalities get 180 days in a year, which is unusually generous and removes the usual time pressure🇰🇭CambodiaBefore the 30-day E-visa expires — the extension is applied for inside Cambodia and is what actually lets you stay long-term🇮🇩IndonesiaSKTT commonly within 14 days of ITAS issuance; hosts report foreign guests to immigration on arrival🇯🇵JapanWithin 14 days of settling at an address🇰🇿KazakhstanRegistration within 3 working days of arrival — hotels and hosts normally file it electronically, but the duty is yours to confirm it happened🇲🇾MalaysiaEntry within the approval letter's validity; pass endorsement completed within 30 days of entry🇲🇻MaldivesWithin 15 days of arrival for the medical examination; the work permit must be approved before you travel🇲🇳MongoliaRegistration within 7 days of arrival for stays over 30 days — this is separate from the visa and is enforced with fines🇳🇵NepalBefore your tourist visa expires; tourist visas total a maximum of 150 days in a calendar year and cannot be converted in-country to most long-stay categories🇵🇭PhilippinesRequired once a stay passes 59 days; long-stay visa holders register as part of visa implementation🇸🇬SingaporeWithin the in-principle approval's validity — typically you must enter and complete registration within 6 months, and the medical and card issuance follow within weeks🇰🇷South KoreaWithin 90 days of entry (visit slot booked via HiKorea)🇱🇰Sri LankaBefore your ETA or visa expires — the electronic travel authorisation gives 30 days, extendable to 6 months, and residence must be applied for inside that🇹🇼TaiwanWithin 30 days of entry on a resident visa (extended from 15 days in 2024)🇹🇭ThailandTM30 within 24 hours of taking up residence; 90-day report after each 90 days of continuous stay🇺🇿UzbekistanRegistration within 3 calendar days of arrival, excluding weekends and holidays — this is separate from the visa and is strictly enforced🇻🇳VietnamWithin 12 hours of arrival at the accommodation (24 hours in remote areas)
Caribbean
🇦🇮AnguillaBefore the entry stamp expires — visitors are typically admitted for up to 3 months and any longer stay needs an extension or permit🇦🇬Antigua and BarbudaBefore the entry stamp expires — visitors are normally admitted for up to 3 months, extendable at the department🇧🇸BahamasBefore the visitor stamp expires — typically up to 8 months at the officer's discretion, but the permit application should be in well before🇧🇧BarbadosThe Welcome Stamp is granted before arrival and runs 12 months; other permits must be applied for before your entry stamp expires🇧🇲BermudaWork from Bermuda certificates are approved before travel and run 12 months; work permits must be held before you start employment, not after🇨🇼CuracaoWithin days of arrival for the civil registry; the residence permit must be applied for before the admitted stay expires🇩🇲DominicaBefore your entry stamp expires — visitors are commonly admitted for 21 days to 6 months at the officer's discretion🇬🇩GrenadaBefore the entry stamp expires — visitors are usually admitted for up to 3 months, extendable on application🇯🇲JamaicaBefore the entry stamp expires — visitors are usually granted up to 90 days, and any extension is applied for at PICA in Kingston or Montego Bay🇰🇳St Kitts and NevisBefore the entry stamp expires — visitors are commonly admitted for up to 90 days, extendable on application🇱🇨St LuciaBefore the entry stamp expires — visitors are commonly admitted for up to 6 weeks and extensions are applied for at Immigration in Castries🇹🇹Trinidad and TobagoBefore the entry stamp expires — visitors are usually admitted for up to 90 days, and work permits must be granted before employment starts
Europe
🇦🇱AlbaniaWithin 30 days of entry if you intend to stay beyond the visa-free period — visa-free stay for many nationalities runs to 90 days in any 180🇦🇩AndorraBefore you take up residence — the authorisation is granted first and the card issued after; passive residents must then be physically present at least 90 days a year🇭🇷CroatiaWithin 30 days of temporary-stay approval (initial entry report within 3 days)🇨🇾CyprusCommonly filed within days of arrival, before the entry visa/90-day window expires🇨🇿Czech RepublicWithin 3 working days of arrival (hotels report for you); MOI within 30 days for D/VR visas🇪🇪EstoniaResidence permit processing runs about 30 days; the address registration with your local municipality is expected within a month of moving in🇫🇮FinlandRegister within one week of moving into your home; the residence permit itself must be granted before you arrive for most non-EU nationals🇫🇷FranceWithin 3 months of arrival🇬🇪GeorgiaNo arrival deadline; permit applications go in at least 40 calendar days before legal stay expires🇩🇪GermanyWithin 14 days of moving in🇬🇷GreeceBefore the type-D national visa expires; nomads file within the 12-month visa window🇭🇺HungaryCommonly within days of arrival; any change of address must be reported within 3 days🇮🇸IcelandThe medical examination must be done within two weeks of arrival, and the permit card is only issued afterwards🇮🇪IrelandWithin 90 days of arrival🇮🇹ItalyWithin 8 working days of arrival🇱🇻LatviaThe declaration of residence is due within one month of settling at the address; the permit card must be collected in person within the period stated in the decision🇱🇹LithuaniaDeclare your residence within one month of arriving at the address; the residence permit decision itself typically takes 2-4 months🇲🇹MaltaAfter arrival, before the 90-day visa/visa-free window ends; most permits are pre-approved from abroad🇲🇩MoldovaForeigners staying beyond 90 days must hold a residence permit; the application is expected before the visa-free or visa period runs out🇲🇪MontenegroAddress registration ('white card') within 24 hours of arriving — landlords and hotels usually do it, but the legal duty is yours🇳🇱NetherlandsWithin 5 days of arrival🇲🇰North MacedoniaRegistration of address within 48 hours of arrival; the temporary residence application before the visa-free period expires🇳🇴NorwayID check within 7 days of arriving for most permit holders; the tax office registration follows and is required before your first salary🇵🇱PolandBy the 4th day after arrival if staying over 30 days (non-EU rule)🇵🇹PortugalBefore the 120-day D-visa expires; the appointment is often pre-assigned with the visa🇷🇴RomaniaAt least 30 days before your current right of stay expires — the long-stay visa holder applies from inside Romania during its validity🇷🇸SerbiaAddress registration ('beli karton') within 24 hours of arrival; the residence application before your visa-free stay ends🇸🇰SlovakiaReport to the Foreign Police within 3 working days of entry; a medical certificate proving you carry no disease threatening public health is due within 30 days of the permit🇸🇮SloveniaRegister your address within 8 days of moving in; non-EU nationals normally hold the permit before entering🇪🇸SpainTIE within 1 month of entry; padrón as soon as a home address exists🇸🇪SwedenAs soon as you arrive if your stay will exceed one year — the personnummer is only issued for stays of 12 months or more🇨🇭SwitzerlandWithin 14 days of arrival, and before you start work — the communal registration is a legal duty with a fine attached🇬🇧United KingdomBefore you travel and before you rent or start work; physical BRP cards expired at the end of 2024 and status is now digital only
Latin America
🇦🇷ArgentinaNo fixed statutory window — the DNI application generates with the residency grant; commonly done at once🇧🇿BelizeThe entry stamp is typically 30 days and must be renewed month by month at an Immigration office — permanent residence needs 12 months of continuous presence first🇧🇴BoliviaWithin the validity of your entry stamp — the specific-purpose visa is usually obtained abroad and converted to residence within 30 days of arrival🇧🇷BrazilWithin 90 days of entry for temporary-visa holders (Decreto 9.199/2017)🇨🇱ChilePDI registration within 30 days of the visa being stamped; the cédula application follows immediately after🇨🇴ColombiaWithin 15 calendar days of entry (or of visa issuance if approved in-country)🇨🇷Costa RicaCommonly within 3 months of the approval resolution (the notice sets the term)🇩🇴Dominican RepublicWithin 60 days of entering on a residence visa — the residence visa is obtained at a consulate first and must be converted after arrival🇪🇨EcuadorAfter the visa is granted — no fixed statutory window; commonly done immediately🇬🇹GuatemalaBefore your permitted stay expires — the CA-4 visa-free stay is 90 days across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua combined🇭🇳HondurasBefore your CA-4 stay expires — 90 days across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua combined, extendable once at INM🇲🇽MexicoWithin 30 calendar days of entry🇳🇮NicaraguaBefore your CA-4 stay expires — 90 days shared across the CA-4 bloc, with a one-time extension available at Migración🇵🇦PanamaNo fixed post-arrival deadline — issued as SNM approves each stage🇵🇾ParaguayWithin your permitted stay — the residence file is normally lodged in-country and the cédula follows once residence is granted🇵🇪PeruAfter the residence permit is approved — filed online (free); no separate statutory window published🇺🇾UruguayBefore the 90-day tourist entry lapses — the filing itself has no statutory deadline
Middle East
🇪🇬EgyptWithin 7 days of arrival if you intend to reside — practically, before the 30-day tourist visa expires🇮🇱IsraelOn arrival for olim (the teudat oleh is issued at the airport or an Aliyah centre); work visas must be sponsored and approved before employment starts🇴🇲OmanThe medical examination and resident card must be completed within 30 days of arrival on an employment visa🇶🇦QatarWithin 30 days of arrival on a work visa; you cannot open a bank account, rent, or get a SIM contract until the QID is issued🇸🇦Saudi ArabiaWithin 90 days of arrival on a work visa; the employer must convert the entry visa into an iqama within that window🇹🇷TurkeyApply within the visa/visa-free window; address registered within 20 working days of first-permit approval🇦🇪United Arab EmiratesEntry permit is valid 60 days — status change, medical, biometrics, and visa issuance complete inside it
Oceania
🇳🇷NauruVisas must be arranged before arrival; there is no visa on arrival for most nationalities and unannounced arrivals are refused entry🇳🇿New ZealandVisa conditions apply from the day you enter; the IRD number should be obtained before your first payday to avoid the no-declaration tax rate🇻🇺VanuatuBefore your visitor stamp expires — most nationalities get 30 to 120 days on arrival, and residence permits are applied for in-country at Port Vila
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First 90 days abroad: FAQ
What should I do in the first 90 days after moving abroad?
Almost everywhere: register as a resident (often within days), get the local tax/ID number, open a bank account, enrol in healthcare or confirm private cover, and check the driver's-license window. The order matters because each step tends to require the one before it — and several countries put a hard deadline on the first step.
How soon do I have to register after arriving?
It varies from days to months by country — some require address registration within 1–2 weeks of moving in, others tie the deadline to your entry date or permit. Each of the 101 country checklists here states the real deadline with the official source next to it.
Can I open a bank account before I get my residence permit?
Often not for a full local account — most banks want the local tax/ID number and proof of address, which arrive after registration. Many new arrivals bridge the gap with a multi-currency account, then open the local account once the paperwork lands.
Is this the same as the visa process?
No — this is what happens AFTER the visa: the on-the-ground bureaucracy of becoming a functioning resident. If you're still choosing a country or a route, start with the visa finder instead.