Moving to a new city: settle in faster, find work and meet people

Moving city is exciting and exhausting in equal measure. Here is a checklist that works whether you are moving across the country or across the world.

Before you go

• Get quotes from two or three movers or a man-and-van; compare what is included
• Book end-of-tenancy cleaning if you are renting
• Sell or give away what you do not want to move, through local classifieds
• Check the paperwork your new country or region needs: visas, right to work, registrations, tax numbers

The first two weeks

• Register with local services as required (residence, tax, health)
• Find the essentials near your new home: a GP or clinic, pharmacy, supermarket and public transport
• Hire help for the jobs that slow you down: furniture assembly, cleaning, small repairs

Finding work

Update your getlocal profile with your new area. Local employers searching nearby will see you, and casual or part-time work can tide you over while you look for something longer-term.

Meeting people

• Follow neighbours and local groups in your getlocal feed
• Say yes to invitations, even small ones
• Join something regular, such as a sports team, class or volunteer roster, so you see the same faces
• Be patient: friendships take repeated contact, not one great conversation

Stay safe

Meet new contacts in public first, keep your exact address private until you trust someone, and save local emergency numbers (your country page lists them).