Moving abroad involves more than just getting the right visa. Here are the essential tools and services we recommend to make your international move smoother, safer, and more affordable.
💰 International Money Transfers
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
The gold standard for sending money internationally. Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with transparent, low fees — typically 3-7x cheaper than traditional banks. Essential for expats who need to transfer savings, receive salary payments, or send money home.
- Best for: Regular international transfers, multi-currency accounts
- Key feature: Hold 50+ currencies in one account with local bank details
- Cost: Free to open; small fees per transfer (usually 0.3-0.6%)
🛡️ Travel & Expat Insurance
SafetyWing — Nomad Insurance
Purpose-built for digital nomads and remote workers. SafetyWing provides affordable travel medical insurance that works like a subscription — you can start and stop anytime, and it covers you in 180+ countries.
- Best for: Digital nomads, remote workers, long-term travelers
- Key feature: Monthly subscription model, no long-term commitment
- Cost: From $45/month (ages 18-39)
World Nomads
Comprehensive travel insurance designed for adventurous travelers. World Nomads covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation, gear loss, and adventure activities that most policies exclude.
- Best for: Short-term travelers, adventure seekers, visa application requirements
- Key feature: Buy and extend while already abroad
International Citizens Insurance
For expats who need comprehensive international health insurance. They offer plans from top global insurers and specialize in coverage for people living and working abroad long-term.
- Best for: Long-term expats, families relocating abroad
- Key feature: Compare plans from multiple global insurers in one place
Compare Expat Insurance Plans →
🔒 VPN for Expats
NordVPN
A VPN is essential for expats to access banking, streaming services, and websites from home. NordVPN offers fast speeds, strong security, and servers in 60+ countries — perfect for staying connected abroad.
- Best for: Accessing home-country banking, streaming, and secure browsing
- Key feature: 60+ country servers, no-log policy, up to 10 devices
- Cost: From $3.09/month (2-year plan)
✈️ Flight Booking
Skyscanner
The best flight comparison tool for finding cheap one-way flights — which is what most emigrants book. Skyscanner searches hundreds of airlines and booking sites to find the lowest prices.
- Best for: Finding the cheapest flights to your new country
- Key feature: “Everywhere” search to find cheapest destinations, price alerts
Search Flights on Skyscanner →
🏠 Accommodation
Booking.com
Perfect for booking your first few weeks of accommodation in a new country while you search for long-term housing. Free cancellation on most properties gives you flexibility.
- Best for: Short-term stays while apartment hunting
- Key feature: Free cancellation, pay-at-property options
📋 Visa & Immigration Services
iVisa
Simplifies the visa application process for tourist visas, eVisas, and travel authorizations. Great for when you need to handle transit visas or short-term entry permits.
- Best for: Tourist visas, eVisas, ETAs, and travel authorizations
- Key feature: Simple online applications with processing time guarantees
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. This helps us keep Safe Life Hacks free and up to date. We only recommend tools and services we genuinely believe will help your immigration journey.
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