Moving is stressful at the best of times, and while moving to a new country is exciting, it also adds a layer of logistical complications, especially when it comes to tech. As someone who’s tackled several international moves — most recently, from my native Australia to the US in mid-2023 — here are some tips for figuring out what to bring and how to bring it, and for making sure that your tech works with you, not against you, in your new home.
With all the paperwork and legwork involved in moving countries, it can be easy to put off more minor matters, like what to do with your electronics. Laptops, tablets, and phones should travel with you, but if you’re planning on taking relatively large, bulky items like monitors, desktop computers, stereo equipment, TVs, and so on, it’ll be cheaper (and easier) to ship them in advance, along with other similarly bulky items like furniture.
If you do decide to do this, you’ll need to decide between air freight and sea freight. The former is faster; the latter can take months but is generally far cheaper. If there are devices you need with you right up until departure and / or as soon as you arrive — a work computer, for instance — then by all means send them by air freight or bring them as carry-on baggage (which may be your only option for devices with lithium-ion batteries). But the more you can get away with sending via sea, the more money you’ll save.
Whatever you decide, before you pack all your gear, look at the voltage specifications on each item’s power supply. The US power grid operates at 110-120V, as does the rest of North and Central America and a good chunk of South America, but with the occasional exception; the rest of the world’s power is transmitted at somewhere between 220V and 240V. If you plug a device designed to receive 110V power into a 240V socket, you’ll be greeted with a big blue flash and left with a dead device.
These days, many devices come with universal power supplies that can handle AC current anywhere between 100V and 240V at 50-60Hz; they’ll work nearly everywhere with a simple plug adapter. Nearly all modern devices with rechargeable batteries, like phones, tablets, and laptops, come with a universal AC adapter or can be used with one, which is the same for most electronic devices — it’s usually cheaper for the factories to build one model that works everywhere. However, there are still a surprisingly large number of devices that don’t, as many a forlorn musician facing a whopping great bill to replace all their amps and synths will attest. This really is one case where it’s better to be safe than sorry. Both the device itself and its AC adapter (if it has one) will have their power requirements listed; check everything you plan to bring with you.
If you do have a device that only accepts low-voltage inputs, you’ll need a step-down converter to sit between the mains and your device. These are widely available and often come in the form of outlet adapters—just be aware that most plug adapters are not voltage converters. The other option, of course, is just to buy new devices when you arrive, which might prove to be less trouble for relatively cheap household devices. A good rule of thumb is that anything that runs on mains power and has either a motor or a heater in it — hair dryers, blenders, coffee makers — is best replaced unless it’s listed to work in your new home or expensive enough that a transformer is cheaper.
The next thing to consider is how you’re going to maintain access to your various accounts. Two-factor authentication can be a real pitfall here. If you have a bunch of accounts trying to send 2FA codes to a phone number you can no longer access, you’re going to have a bad time — especially if that means you can’t access those accounts to change the phone number.
Again, preparation is important. Ensure you have an alternate way of meeting two-factor requirements. SMS is really the authenticator of last resort; if an account allows for the use of an authenticator app, use that—it’s both the safest and most straightforward option. Google and Microsoft both make such apps. Otherwise, make sure you can get a code sent to your email, at least until you have a new local phone number. The advent of eSIMs has made hanging onto your old number far easier than it used to be; instead of having to physically swap between your local SIM and the one from your home country, you can just keep both active until one or the other is no longer necessary. (If you do this, however, be careful of roaming charges on your home country’s plan.)
And finally, tell your bank where you’re going. The last thing you want is for your card to get blocked — or, worse, swallowed by an ATM — the first time you try to use it in your new home. (Sadly, this is one lesson your correspondent learned the hard way.)
While you’re speaking to the bank, also ask about reciprocal ATM arrangements. Using an overseas ATM often carries a whopping transaction fee, and these can add up awfully quickly if you find yourself needing to withdraw cash regularly, unless your bank has a reciprocal arrangement. For example, my bank in Australia charges $5 for most overseas ATM transactions, but lets me use Bank of America ATMs in the US for free.) Opening a local bank account can take a while in some countries; this can help tide you over. And if you need to transfer money between your accounts in different countries, a service like Wise can help avoid otherwise exorbitant transfer fees.
In a similar vein, ask about foreign transaction fees for your credit/debit cards. Again, these can add up quickly, but some cards waive these fees; if your bank offers such an option, it may well be worth signing up for.
If your destination has a power grid that’s less reliable than you’re used to, there are a couple of items you might want to consider getting hold of.
The first is a universal power supply, or UPS. These are essentially batteries that ensure continued power supply for your home if the power goes out, and they’re invaluable in places prone to brown- or black-outs. The battery charges itself from the grid while the power is on and then discharges if the grid supply is interrupted.
The other thing to consider is some form of surge protection, which protects against abrupt increases in mains voltage. One common cause of power surges is the restoration of supply after an interruption, so if a country is prone to blackouts, it’ll also be prone to voltage spikes. (For this reason, UPS devices often come with built-in surge protection.) It’s worth investigating whether surges are common in your new home, because they can spell real trouble for electronic devices.
Once you’re up and running, you may find that some apps simply refuse to work. Some apps just aren’t designed or intended to operate abroad. The latter problem is especially common with finance apps, to avoid fraudulent access.
Sometimes the app in question isn’t available in your new country for licensing or other reasons. Streaming apps are particularly prone to this; for British people, moving abroad means resigning themselves to the loss of the BBC’s excellent iPlayer application, and for this Australian, moving to the USA meant abandoning any hope of watching the cricket. Apps like Netflix likely will work, but the selection will differ from country to country.
It’s also important to be aware that suddenly logging in from a different country might trigger protection for various accounts. Unlike calling your bank in advance of your departure, there’s no real way to guard against this, so the best thing to do is be prepared for it to happen: make sure your recovery options are up-to-date and easy to access.
Ultimately, anything you can do in advance to mitigate the problems you can foresee will give you more time and space to deal with the problems you can’t. And once the initial period of trying to get everything working properly is over, you’ll be settled in a new home — hopefully, without any burned-out devices to replace!
