Your First 30 Days Abroad

The first month sets the pattern for the whole contract. Most problems are easier to fix if you spot them early. This checklist is general, because every country and employer is different, but it covers what most workers need.

On the day you arrive

• Tell your family you have arrived safely, and share your address and phone number.
• Keep your passport and documents with you, and do not hand them to anyone who is not an official.
• Take photos of your housing on arrival, with the date.
• Save these numbers in your phone: the local emergency number, your employer's contact, your embassy and your EMIGRATLY specialist.
• Check that the contract and terms you are given match the ones you accepted at home.

Week 1

• Start your own record of work: date, start time, finish time, tasks.
• Find out how and when you will be paid, and into what account.
• Ask about safety rules, protective equipment and who to tell if you are hurt.
• Learn the route from your housing to work and to a place where you can buy food.
• Buy a local SIM card or arrange a phone plan, using an official shop.
• Make copies of your documents if you have not already. See our guide on keeping safe copies.

Week 2

• Check that your visa, work permit or residence process is moving. Ask your employer what steps are left and by when, and keep a record.
• Open a bank account in your own name if you are going to be paid into one and it is not set up yet.
• Find the nearest clinic or hospital and ask how medical care and insurance work for you.
• Meet other workers from your country, if there is a community group. Be careful about anyone who asks for money.

Week 3

• Check your first payslip against your contract. See our guide on payslips and deductions.
• Make a simple budget: pay, costs, and what you can send home. See our guide on building a budget.
• Compare ways to send money home, and look at the amount that arrives, not only the fee.
• Learn the basic rules and customs that matter at work and in public. Ask your employer for any orientation that is offered.

Week 4

• Review your records: hours, pay and any problems.
• Check that housing and food are as promised.
• Write down anything that is different from the offer, with dates.
• Tell your specialist how it is going. If something is wrong, tell them early.

Warning signs in the first month

• You are asked to sign a different contract.
• Your passport is taken from you.
• You are not paid on the agreed date and no one will explain.
• You are told that you owe money you did not expect.
• You are not allowed to leave your housing or to contact your family.
• If any of these happen, write down what happened, keep your records and contact your embassy or the labour authority. Their details are on our before-you-fly pages.

Take care of yourself

Settling into a new place is tiring. Eat, sleep and keep in touch with home. Small routines help. If you feel unsafe or very low, talk to someone you trust.

This guide gives general information and is not legal advice.