Free planning tool
Plan your move abroad, step by step.
Last reviewed .
Create a free moving abroad timeline from your move date. See 12 practical steps, understand each suggested date, then print or add the plan to your calendar.
Planning aid. Not a legal, tax, or visa determination.
Use the tool
Modes include Moving plan, Moving countdown, First thirty days planner, Address-change checklist, Country-to-country moving timeline.
| Step or field | Result |
|---|---|
| tool Id | moving-abroad-timeline |
| tool Version | 2 |
| inputs from Country | US |
| inputs destination Country | ES |
| inputs move Date | March 15, 2027 |
| inputs adults | 1 |
| inputs housing Handover | Yes |
| inputs priorities 1 | records |
| inputs priorities 2 | continuity |
| from Name | United States |
| destination Name | Spain |
| tasks 1 id | scope |
| tasks 1 label | Define your move scope and household priorities |
| tasks 1 offset Days | -270 |
| tasks 1 owner | Shared |
| tasks 1 reason | A clear scope helps the household decide what to research, keep, move, or hand over. |
| tasks 1 date | June 18, 2026 |
| tasks 1 date Label | Jun 18, 2026 |
| tasks 1 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 1 window id | start |
| tasks 1 window label | Nine to six months before |
| tasks 2 id | documents |
| tasks 2 label | Review passports, records, and important dates |
| tasks 2 offset Days | -240 |
| tasks 2 owner | Adult 1 |
| tasks 2 reason | Early review leaves time to open original sources and handle any separate process yourself. |
| tasks 2 date | July 18, 2026 |
| tasks 2 date Label | Jul 18, 2026 |
| tasks 2 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 2 window id | start |
| tasks 2 window label | Nine to six months before |
| tasks 3 id | housing-research |
| tasks 3 label | Research housing areas and realistic arrival options |
| tasks 3 offset Days | -210 |
| tasks 3 owner | Adult 2 |
| tasks 3 reason | Housing choices can affect later transport, handover, and first week planning. |
| tasks 3 date | August 17, 2026 |
| tasks 3 date Label | Aug 17, 2026 |
| tasks 3 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 3 window id | start |
| tasks 3 window label | Nine to six months before |
| tasks 4 id | inventory |
| tasks 4 label | Create a household inventory and decide what to keep |
| tasks 4 offset Days | -180 |
| tasks 4 owner | Shared |
| tasks 4 reason | An inventory supports packing, disposal, storage, and shipping decisions without storing original documents. |
| tasks 4 date | September 16, 2026 |
| tasks 4 date Label | Sep 16, 2026 |
| tasks 4 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 4 window id | prepare |
| tasks 4 window label | Six to two months before |
| tasks 5 id | budget |
| tasks 5 label | Outline expected moving costs and personal buffers |
| tasks 5 offset Days | -150 |
| tasks 5 owner | Adult 1 |
| tasks 5 reason | This is a personal planning checkpoint, not financial advice or a cost forecast. |
| tasks 5 date | October 16, 2026 |
| tasks 5 date Label | Oct 16, 2026 |
| tasks 5 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 5 window id | prepare |
| tasks 5 window label | Six to two months before |
| tasks 6 id | handover |
| tasks 6 label | Plan your home handover and service changes |
| tasks 6 offset Days | -120 |
| tasks 6 owner | Adult 2 |
| tasks 6 reason | Housing and service changes often involve separate notices chosen and verified by you. |
| tasks 6 requires Handover | Yes |
| tasks 6 date | November 15, 2026 |
| tasks 6 date Label | Nov 15, 2026 |
| tasks 6 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 6 window id | prepare |
| tasks 6 window label | Six to two months before |
| tasks 7 id | continuity |
| tasks 7 label | Plan mail, communications, and account continuity |
| tasks 7 offset Days | -90 |
| tasks 7 owner | Shared |
| tasks 7 reason | A continuity check reduces missed messages while your household changes locations. |
| tasks 7 date | December 15, 2026 |
| tasks 7 date Label | Dec 15, 2026 |
| tasks 7 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 7 window id | prepare |
| tasks 7 window label | Six to two months before |
| tasks 8 id | providers |
| tasks 8 label | Confirm movers, shipping, storage, or luggage plans |
| tasks 8 offset Days | -60 |
| tasks 8 owner | Adult 1 |
| tasks 8 reason | A two month checkpoint leaves time to compare providers and confirm what each service includes. |
| tasks 8 depends On | inventory |
| tasks 8 date | January 14, 2027 |
| tasks 8 date Label | Jan 14, 2027 |
| tasks 8 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 8 window id | final |
| tasks 8 window label | Final two months |
| tasks 9 id | services |
| tasks 9 label | Review home services and address changes |
| tasks 9 offset Days | -30 |
| tasks 9 owner | Adult 2 |
| tasks 9 reason | This keeps household actions visible without claiming when a provider requires notice. |
| tasks 9 date | February 13, 2027 |
| tasks 9 date Label | Feb 13, 2027 |
| tasks 9 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 9 window id | final |
| tasks 9 window label | Final two months |
| tasks 10 id | essentials |
| tasks 10 label | Pack arrival essentials and keep key details accessible |
| tasks 10 offset Days | -14 |
| tasks 10 owner | Shared |
| tasks 10 reason | A separate essentials plan helps if checked luggage, shipping, or housing changes. |
| tasks 10 date | March 1, 2027 |
| tasks 10 date Label | Mar 1, 2027 |
| tasks 10 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 10 window id | final |
| tasks 10 window label | Final two months |
| tasks 11 id | move-day |
| tasks 11 label | Complete your chosen move day handover |
| tasks 11 offset Days | 0 |
| tasks 11 owner | Shared |
| tasks 11 reason | The date comes directly from the move date you entered. |
| tasks 11 date | March 15, 2027 |
| tasks 11 date Label | Mar 15, 2027 |
| tasks 11 date Origin | Fixed by you |
| tasks 11 window id | arrival |
| tasks 11 window label | Move week and first week |
| tasks 12 id | first-week |
| tasks 12 label | Review your first week plan and unresolved tasks |
| tasks 12 offset Days | 7 |
| tasks 12 owner | Shared |
| tasks 12 reason | A short follow up keeps unfinished work visible after the move. |
| tasks 12 date | March 22, 2027 |
| tasks 12 date Label | Mar 22, 2027 |
| tasks 12 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| tasks 12 window id | arrival |
| tasks 12 window label | Move week and first week |
| groups 1 id | start |
| groups 1 label | Nine to six months before |
| groups 1 tasks 1 id | scope |
| groups 1 tasks 1 label | Define your move scope and household priorities |
| groups 1 tasks 1 offset Days | -270 |
| groups 1 tasks 1 owner | Shared |
| groups 1 tasks 1 reason | A clear scope helps the household decide what to research, keep, move, or hand over. |
| groups 1 tasks 1 date | June 18, 2026 |
| groups 1 tasks 1 date Label | Jun 18, 2026 |
| groups 1 tasks 1 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 1 tasks 1 window id | start |
| groups 1 tasks 1 window label | Nine to six months before |
| groups 1 tasks 2 id | documents |
| groups 1 tasks 2 label | Review passports, records, and important dates |
| groups 1 tasks 2 offset Days | -240 |
| groups 1 tasks 2 owner | Adult 1 |
| groups 1 tasks 2 reason | Early review leaves time to open original sources and handle any separate process yourself. |
| groups 1 tasks 2 date | July 18, 2026 |
| groups 1 tasks 2 date Label | Jul 18, 2026 |
| groups 1 tasks 2 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 1 tasks 2 window id | start |
| groups 1 tasks 2 window label | Nine to six months before |
| groups 1 tasks 3 id | housing-research |
| groups 1 tasks 3 label | Research housing areas and realistic arrival options |
| groups 1 tasks 3 offset Days | -210 |
| groups 1 tasks 3 owner | Adult 2 |
| groups 1 tasks 3 reason | Housing choices can affect later transport, handover, and first week planning. |
| groups 1 tasks 3 date | August 17, 2026 |
| groups 1 tasks 3 date Label | Aug 17, 2026 |
| groups 1 tasks 3 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 1 tasks 3 window id | start |
| groups 1 tasks 3 window label | Nine to six months before |
| groups 2 id | prepare |
| groups 2 label | Six to two months before |
| groups 2 tasks 1 id | inventory |
| groups 2 tasks 1 label | Create a household inventory and decide what to keep |
| groups 2 tasks 1 offset Days | -180 |
| groups 2 tasks 1 owner | Shared |
| groups 2 tasks 1 reason | An inventory supports packing, disposal, storage, and shipping decisions without storing original documents. |
| groups 2 tasks 1 date | September 16, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 1 date Label | Sep 16, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 1 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 2 tasks 1 window id | prepare |
| groups 2 tasks 1 window label | Six to two months before |
| groups 2 tasks 2 id | budget |
| groups 2 tasks 2 label | Outline expected moving costs and personal buffers |
| groups 2 tasks 2 offset Days | -150 |
| groups 2 tasks 2 owner | Adult 1 |
| groups 2 tasks 2 reason | This is a personal planning checkpoint, not financial advice or a cost forecast. |
| groups 2 tasks 2 date | October 16, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 2 date Label | Oct 16, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 2 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 2 tasks 2 window id | prepare |
| groups 2 tasks 2 window label | Six to two months before |
| groups 2 tasks 3 id | handover |
| groups 2 tasks 3 label | Plan your home handover and service changes |
| groups 2 tasks 3 offset Days | -120 |
| groups 2 tasks 3 owner | Adult 2 |
| groups 2 tasks 3 reason | Housing and service changes often involve separate notices chosen and verified by you. |
| groups 2 tasks 3 requires Handover | Yes |
| groups 2 tasks 3 date | November 15, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 3 date Label | Nov 15, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 3 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 2 tasks 3 window id | prepare |
| groups 2 tasks 3 window label | Six to two months before |
| groups 2 tasks 4 id | continuity |
| groups 2 tasks 4 label | Plan mail, communications, and account continuity |
| groups 2 tasks 4 offset Days | -90 |
| groups 2 tasks 4 owner | Shared |
| groups 2 tasks 4 reason | A continuity check reduces missed messages while your household changes locations. |
| groups 2 tasks 4 date | December 15, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 4 date Label | Dec 15, 2026 |
| groups 2 tasks 4 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 2 tasks 4 window id | prepare |
| groups 2 tasks 4 window label | Six to two months before |
| groups 3 id | final |
| groups 3 label | Final two months |
| groups 3 tasks 1 id | providers |
| groups 3 tasks 1 label | Confirm movers, shipping, storage, or luggage plans |
| groups 3 tasks 1 offset Days | -60 |
| groups 3 tasks 1 owner | Adult 1 |
| groups 3 tasks 1 reason | A two month checkpoint leaves time to compare providers and confirm what each service includes. |
| groups 3 tasks 1 depends On | inventory |
| groups 3 tasks 1 date | January 14, 2027 |
| groups 3 tasks 1 date Label | Jan 14, 2027 |
| groups 3 tasks 1 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 3 tasks 1 window id | final |
| groups 3 tasks 1 window label | Final two months |
| groups 3 tasks 2 id | services |
| groups 3 tasks 2 label | Review home services and address changes |
| groups 3 tasks 2 offset Days | -30 |
| groups 3 tasks 2 owner | Adult 2 |
| groups 3 tasks 2 reason | This keeps household actions visible without claiming when a provider requires notice. |
| groups 3 tasks 2 date | February 13, 2027 |
| groups 3 tasks 2 date Label | Feb 13, 2027 |
| groups 3 tasks 2 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 3 tasks 2 window id | final |
| groups 3 tasks 2 window label | Final two months |
| groups 3 tasks 3 id | essentials |
| groups 3 tasks 3 label | Pack arrival essentials and keep key details accessible |
| groups 3 tasks 3 offset Days | -14 |
| groups 3 tasks 3 owner | Shared |
| groups 3 tasks 3 reason | A separate essentials plan helps if checked luggage, shipping, or housing changes. |
| groups 3 tasks 3 date | March 1, 2027 |
| groups 3 tasks 3 date Label | Mar 1, 2027 |
| groups 3 tasks 3 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 3 tasks 3 window id | final |
| groups 3 tasks 3 window label | Final two months |
| groups 4 id | arrival |
| groups 4 label | Move week and first week |
| groups 4 tasks 1 id | move-day |
| groups 4 tasks 1 label | Complete your chosen move day handover |
| groups 4 tasks 1 offset Days | 0 |
| groups 4 tasks 1 owner | Shared |
| groups 4 tasks 1 reason | The date comes directly from the move date you entered. |
| groups 4 tasks 1 date | March 15, 2027 |
| groups 4 tasks 1 date Label | Mar 15, 2027 |
| groups 4 tasks 1 date Origin | Fixed by you |
| groups 4 tasks 1 window id | arrival |
| groups 4 tasks 1 window label | Move week and first week |
| groups 4 tasks 2 id | first-week |
| groups 4 tasks 2 label | Review your first week plan and unresolved tasks |
| groups 4 tasks 2 offset Days | 7 |
| groups 4 tasks 2 owner | Shared |
| groups 4 tasks 2 reason | A short follow up keeps unfinished work visible after the move. |
| groups 4 tasks 2 date | March 22, 2027 |
| groups 4 tasks 2 date Label | Mar 22, 2027 |
| groups 4 tasks 2 date Origin | Based on your move date |
| groups 4 tasks 2 window id | arrival |
| groups 4 tasks 2 window label | Move week and first week |
| assumptions 1 | Every date is a planning suggestion anchored to the move date you entered. |
| assumptions 2 | The timeline uses calendar dates and does not convert them through local midnight. |
| assumptions 3 | No suggested date is an official deadline or a finding about what applies to you. |
| assumptions 4 | Provider times, local processes, and household needs can differ. Confirm them independently. |
How is the result worked out?
A moving abroad timeline puts practical tasks in order before and after your move. Enter where you are going and your move date to get 12 suggested steps for records, housing, household handover, services, packing, arrival, and your first week. Each date uses a visible offset from your move date, so you can see how the schedule works. The result is free. You can change it, print it, add it to your calendar, or export a copy without creating an account. It is a planning guide, not an official deadline.
Values stay in this browser. Permalinks store state only in the URL fragment.
Merged tools
- Moving countdown. The result subtracts the two date-only values at noon UTC, then places checkpoints at fixed planning offsets before the move.
- First thirty days planner. The plan uses stable offsets from the customer-entered arrival date. Country labels organize the plan but never establish a local obligation.
- Address-change checklist. The checklist groups customer-controlled contacts before and after the move date. It does not submit a change to any provider.
- Country-to-country moving timeline. The result applies visible offsets to the move date and labels each stage with the selected origin and destination.
US document preparation
Use the official FBI request route first.
FBI background check with apostille. USD 217 standard case.