Moving abroad: first 30 days checklist for bank, tax ID, health cover and driving licence in 8 countries
A visa gets you in. The first month decides how smoothly the rest goes. Most countries have a few time-limited tasks: registering where you live, getting a tax or social number, opening a bank account, sorting health cover and checking how long you can drive on your home licence. This guide covers eight popular destinations. Several details come from one source, so confirm deadlines with the official pages.
A sensible order
- Prove your status (share code, pass card or Emirates ID).
- Register your address and get your ID numbers (these unlock everything else).
- Open a bank account.
- Sort health insurance or registration.
- Check your driving licence deadline and book any test early.
- Set up tax records, and keep your arrival date for the residency tests.
Country by country
| Country | Address and ID number | Deadline or note |
|---|---|---|
| UK | eVisa and a share code from your UKVI account (valid 90 days); National Insurance number if you will work | You can start work if you can prove the right to work, with no fixed deadline to supply an NI number |
| Canada | Social Insurance Number from Service Canada, which is free | Apply with your permit or PR documents; a temporary SIN begins with 9 |
| Australia | Tax File Number from the ATO, which is free | You must already be in Australia; processing is up to 28 days |
| USA | Social Security Number, which is free and for work-authorised migrants | Wait about 10 days after arrival so records verify, then visit SSA within 45 days of starting online |
| Germany | Anmeldung (address registration) | Within 14 days; fines up to EUR 1,000; the tax ID arrives by post in 2 to 3 weeks |
| UAE | Emirates ID, applied for with your residence visa | Mandatory for residents |
| Netherlands | Register with the municipality to get a BSN | Within 5 days of arrival in one government source |
| Singapore | Register your work pass details | Fingerprints and photo within 2 weeks if required; card within about 5 working days after registration |
Opening a bank account
- Usual documents: passport or national ID, proof of status and proof of address. In the UK, "in most cases" a proof of address under three months old is needed. In Canada a SIN is not needed for a basic account.
- Australia uses a 100-point ID system. One guide says online opening takes 5 to 10 minutes and a card can take a few days.
- UAE: passport and Emirates ID, and sometimes a salary certificate or contract (a 2021 article, so check).
- Singapore: an employment pass is accepted by the big banks, with minimum deposits of about SGD 1,000 reported at some.
- Netherlands: at least one bank has offered accounts with a foreign tax ID before you have a BSN, but you add the BSN later.
- Timing varies, so apply early and keep your first-month rent and deposit in an account you can access.
Tax basics
- UK: the tax year runs 6 April to 5 April. Residency follows the Statutory Residence Test, and you are automatically resident with 183 or more days in the UK in the tax year, unless an automatic overseas test applies.
- Canada: there is no 183-day rule on the newcomer page. You become resident when you establish significant residential ties, usually the day you arrive. The return is due 30 April.
- Australia: four residency tests, including a 183-day test. The income year is 1 July to 30 June.
- USA: the Substantial Presence Test needs at least 31 days this year and a weighted 183 days over three years. Form 1040 is due 15 April.
- Germany: you are resident if you have a dwelling available or are habitually present. PwC says more than six months is presumed habitual. Filing is due 31 July of the following year, later with an adviser.
- UAE: residency tests cover your principal residence, 90 days with other ties, or 183 days in 12 months. We could not confirm personal tax details from a primary source here.
- Netherlands: filing options depend on whether you lived there all year. A cited 30% ruling must be applied for within four months of starting work.
- Double taxation: India has agreements with many countries including the US, UK, Singapore and UAE. You normally need a tax residency certificate from the other country to claim treaty benefits. Ask an adviser about your own case.
Health cover
- UK: GP registration is free and does not need proof of address, ID or immigration status. The immigration health surcharge covers NHS access for most visa holders.
- Canada: provincial rules vary. One university page says Ontario has no waiting period, but older sources cite three months, so check your province.
- Australia: Medicare is for permanent residents and some temporary visa holders. We could not confirm whether Indian citizens on temporary visas qualify.
- Germany: health insurance is mandatory. Statutory cover starts when employment starts, so use travel insurance for any gap.
- Netherlands: basic insurance is compulsory within four months of arrival, with the premium due from your registration date.
- UAE: employer-paid cover was being extended nationwide. Check your employer's plan.
Driving licences
| Country | How long you can use your foreign licence | Note for Indian licence holders |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 12 months from becoming resident | The exchange rules were not readable for India, so check GOV.UK |
| Ontario, Canada | 60 days after moving to Ontario | A secondary source says India is not on the exchange list; other provinces differ |
| NSW, Australia | 3 months for permanent residents; temporary visa rules differ | India status not confirmed |
| Germany | 6 months | India's exchange status was not confirmed |
| Netherlands | 185 days from registration | A guide says India is not on the exchange list |
| Singapore | Conversion needed within 6 months for work-pass holders who drive for work | Indian licences need an embassy endorsement letter |
| UAE | Not confirmed | An older article says India is not exempt from testing |
| USA | State rules vary widely (for example 10 days in California) | Check your state DMV |
Book driving tests early because waiting lists are long, and bring an international driving permit if your licence is not in English.
India-specific points
- OCI is for people of Indian origin with a foreign passport; see our OCI guide.
- PAN: NRIs need a PAN to file Indian returns or for some financial transactions.
- Indian tax status: a secondary summary of the new Income-tax Act says the 182-day residency rule applies, with an extra rule for people with Indian income over INR 15 lakh. We could not verify it against the enacted law.
Related guides
Permanent residence routes from India, family and spouse visas and how to prove funds.
Sources
- London.gov.uk: eVisas
- LITRG: National Insurance number for migrants
- LITRG: Statutory Residence Test
- GOV.UK: driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence
- Canada.ca: apply for a SIN
- Canada.ca: newcomers to Canada (CRA)
- Queen's University: driving licence and registration
- ATO: apply for a TFN
- ATO: your tax residency
- Service NSW: transfer an overseas driver licence
- SSA: Social Security numbers for noncitizens
- IamExpat: Anmeldung in Germany
- PwC: Germany residence
- Gulf News: Emirates ID for the first time
- EY: UAE tax residency guidance
- Government.nl: registering with the municipality
- IamExpat: driving licence in the Netherlands
- MOM Singapore: apply for a pass
- Singapore Police Force: foreign driving licence conversion
- PwC: India, foreign tax relief and tax treaties
Figures were gathered in October 2026 from government, university, law-firm and education-site pages. Several official pages could not be read directly, many figures come from a single secondary source, and where sources disagreed we say so. Fees, thresholds and processing times change often, so confirm everything on the official site before you apply. Visa Ray is a rule-based reference tool, not a law firm. You can run a free assessment on Visa Ray for your own profile.
