Relocation Costs for Moving Abroad: A Realistic Budget

You've got the job offer or the university place, and now you need to know what the move will really cost. Many people budget for the plane ticket and the visa fee, then get caught out by health charges, deposits and weeks without a paycheck.

This guide helps you plan realistic relocation costs for moving abroad to Canada, the UK, the US, Germany or Australia. Figures are as of September 2026, and fees change often, so check each official page before you pay.

The main relocation costs for moving abroad

Think of your budget in three layers:

• Costs to get the visa: application fees, health charges, tests and documents
• Money you must show but not spend: proof of funds
• Costs to actually move and settle: flights, shipping, housing and your first weeks of living

Here's a checklist you can copy into a spreadsheet.

Visa and government fees

Every country publishes its official fees online. Use those pages, not agent price lists.

For example, as of September 2026, GOV.UK lists the UK Skilled Worker visa at £819 for up to 3 years or £1,618 for more than 3 years when you apply from outside the UK. The fee is per person, so a family pays it for each member.

For Canada, Australia, the US and Germany, check the official immigration or embassy fee pages for your exact visa. Some countries also charge for biometrics, meaning fingerprints and a photo, and some add separate fees for permanent residence.

Health insurance and health charges

Health costs are easy to miss, and they can be larger than the visa fee.

UK. Most visa applicants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives access to the National Health Service (NHS). As of September 2026, it's £1,035 per year for most people, and £776 per year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and children under 18. You pay it upfront for the whole visa.

Other countries. Rules vary. Some visas require private health insurance, and some public health systems have waiting periods for newcomers. If you're moving to the US, our guide to housing and insurance when moving to the USA explains what to expect.

Proof of funds: money you must show

Proof of funds is money you must prove you have when you apply. It's there to show you can support yourself, so don't plan to spend it on the move itself.

Canada Express Entry. For the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs, canada.ca lists the amounts below. It also says you can't borrow this money from another person.

Canada study permit. For applications from 1 September 2026, a single student must show CAD 23,448 for living costs, plus tuition and travel.

UK Skilled Worker. Unless you're exempt or your employer certifies your costs, you need at least £1,270 in your account for 28 days in a row.

Germany. Students often use a blocked account, a special bank account that releases a fixed amount each month. The German Foreign Office lists €11,904 a year, or €992 a month, for students. Check your local German mission for the current figure before you pay in.

Flights, shipping and first-month housing

Flights. Price one-way tickets for everyone, plus extra bags. Prices change a lot by season, so check several dates.

Shipping. Shipping furniture is often more expensive than buying second-hand items when you arrive. Many people take only suitcases and a few boxes.

Housing. Budget for a short-term stay while you look for a home, then a rental deposit and your first month's rent. Landlords may ask newcomers for extra deposits if you have no local credit history. Our guide to renting in Canada as a newcomer explains how this works.

Emergency fund and money transfers

An emergency fund is money set aside for things that go wrong, such as a delayed start date, a medical bill or a lost job. Set your own target based on your rent and family size.

When you move money abroad, look at the total cost. That includes the transfer fee and the exchange rate. The CFPB says US providers must show you the fees, the exchange rate and how much will arrive before you pay. You also generally have 30 minutes to cancel a transfer for free, unless the money has already been picked up or deposited.

A transfer advertised as "free" can still cost you through a poor exchange rate.

Is borrowing for a move a good idea?

Sometimes a small, well-understood loan from a trusted bank can help. But borrowing for a move carries real risks.

First, borrowed money often can't count as proof of funds, as Canada's Express Entry rules show. Second, you'll start your new life with repayments before you've earned anything.

If you need credit after you arrive, read our guide to loans for immigrants without credit history first.

Build your budget, step by step

1. List everyone moving and the visa each person needs.
2. Copy official fees from government pages into your budget.
3. Add health charges or insurance for the full visa length.
4. Note proof of funds as a separate line you won't spend.
5. Get quotes for flights, bags and any shipping.
6. Research rent and deposits in the city you're moving to.
7. Add living costs for the first one to two months.
8. Add an emergency fund and total everything.

A simple example

Imagine Chidi, a single software developer, is moving to the UK on a five-year Skilled Worker visa. His government costs alone are £1,618 for the visa plus £5,175 for five years of health surcharge, which is £6,793.

He also needs £1,270 in savings for 28 days unless his employer certifies his costs. On top of that, he budgets for flights, a deposit, two months of living costs and an emergency fund. This is a made-up example, so check current figures for your own case.

Common mistakes

• Budgeting only for the visa fee. Health charges can cost more.
• Spending proof-of-funds money. It's meant to support you after you arrive.
• Forgetting family members. Most fees and charges are per person.
• Ignoring exchange rates. They change what your savings are worth.
• Shipping everything. It's often cheaper to buy basics locally.
• Taking a recruiter loan. It can trap you in debt.

What to do next

Open the official fee and proof-of-funds pages for your destination and fill in the checklist above. Then add a buffer for living costs and emergencies.

If you're moving to study, compare funding options in our guide to student loans for international students.