Expat Planning
Your First 30 Days Abroad: What Canadian Expats Actually Do
The departure decision is one thing. The arrival reality is another.
Most guides to leaving Canada are heavy on the departure side: forms, CRA, RRSP, departure tax. They are light on what the first month actually looks like on the ground. This guide is the other half.
The first 30 days in a new country are logistically dense. You are simultaneously setting up basic infrastructure (housing, banking, phone, transportation), dealing with timezone-shifted Canadian obligations (CRA, bank notifications, TFSA freeze), and orienting yourself in an unfamiliar city.
It is manageable. It is finite. And it is significantly less overwhelming if you have a framework for it.
This guide uses Medellin, Colombia as the primary example - the most common first destination for Canadian digital nomads and early retirees. The framework applies to Portugal, Mexico City, Panama, and other destinations with appropriate adjustments.
Before You Land: The Pre-Arrival List
These are done before departure, not in the first 30 days - but failing to do them creates problems in the first 30 days:
- Notify Canadian bank(s) of non-resident status and foreign address
- Freeze TFSA contributions (no contributions as non-resident)
- Set up an international call plan or ensure your phone works in the destination country
- Arrange temporary accommodation for weeks 1-2 (Airbnb, serviced apartment - do not sign a long-term lease before you have been in the city)
- Organize travel insurance that covers medical emergencies from day 1 (provincial health may still be active for a few weeks depending on province, but do not rely on it - coverage for expenses outside Canada is limited)
- Download offline maps (Google Maps, Maps.me) - internet connectivity on arrival is not guaranteed
Week 1: Orientation and Basic Infrastructure
Travel is exhausting. The first 2-3 days are for getting over the flight, orienting yourself in the city, and handling the absolute basics:
- Local SIM card (in Medellin: Claro and Tigo have good coverage, available at the airport and mall kiosks; cost roughly $10-20 CAD/month for data-heavy plans)
- Locate your nearest grocery store, pharmacy, and bank
- Walk the neighborhood you are staying in
Do not try to accomplish everything in week 1. Jet lag and context-switching fatigue are real.
- Understand local transportation: Medellin has a metro (clean, inexpensive), cable cars, and buses. Uber and InDriver work well for everything else. Do not rent a car in week 1 unless you already know local driving norms.
- Set up food: whether that is grocery shopping and cooking, or finding the local restaurants and meal prep options. Identifying 3-5 places you like to eat solves this quickly.
- Local bank account (if your visa type allows it at this stage): in some countries you need to establish residency before opening an account. In Medellin, a tourist visa holder can open a basic account at some banks, but most require a cedula (Colombian ID, issued after residency is granted). Most expats operate on their Canadian card plus Wise for the first 1-3 months until residency is established.
Week 2: The Housing Decision
Week 2 is when you decide whether your current temporary accommodation works as a longer-term situation or whether you need to find something different.
If you are staying short-term (1-6 months initially): serviced apartments and furnished rentals through Airbnb or local platforms (in Medellin: Fincaraiz, Metro Cuadrado) are the standard. Month-by-month furnished apartments in El Poblado: USD 700-1,200 per month.
If you are planning to stay longer (6+ months or indefinitely): start visiting unfurnished apartments to understand the market. Signing a lease immediately is a mistake. The first month of visits is market research, not commitment. Most Medellin expats sign a longer-term lease only after 4-6 weeks in the city, when they have a better sense of which neighborhoods fit them.
- Internet speed (critical for remote workers - test before signing)
- Water pressure and hot water reliability
- Air conditioning (Medellin is "eternal spring" - roughly 22 degrees year-round - but humidity varies and AC preferences vary)
- Security (security guard buildings, door access)
- Proximity to your daily routine (co-working space, gym, favorite grocery store)
Week 2-3: Visa and Residency Application
Most Canadian expats arrive on a tourist visa (90 days in Colombia, 90 days in Portugal Schengen, etc.) and apply for their intended visa from within the country or return to apply from Canada.
Colombia Digital Nomad Visa
- Apply online at cancilleria.gov.co
- Requirements: proof of remote income (employment letter or 3 months of bank statements showing regular income), health insurance, passport photos, application fee (approximately USD 55)
- Processing: 10-30 business days
- Can be applied from within Colombia on tourist entry
Portugal D7 (Passive Income Visa)
- Applied in Canada at a Portuguese consulate (Toronto or Vancouver) before departure, or can be started from Portugal in some cases
- Requirements: proof of passive income (RRIF withdrawals, rental income, dividends), Portuguese bank account or letter from a Portuguese bank, accommodation proof, health insurance
- Processing: varies (3-6 months from a Canadian consulate is standard)
Visa complexity varies significantly by destination. See the full breakdown at Visa Options Compared.
Week 3-4: Building a Functional Life
By week 3, the acute logistical pressure eases and the focus shifts to building a sustainable routine.
Health
- Identify a private clinic near you and a good private hospital. In Medellin: Clinica El Rosario and Clinica Las Vegas are well-regarded, with English-speaking staff available.
- Establish a dentist. Dental care in Colombia and Mexico is excellent quality at 20-30% of Canadian costs.
- Arrange prescription medication: bring 3-6 months supply from Canada where possible. Many medications are available without prescription in Latin America, but establish local sourcing for long-term medications.
Social and Community
- Find the local expat community. In Medellin: Medellin Living (Facebook group, 15,000+ members), Internations events, co-working spaces (Selina, Atomhouse, Eatable). The established expat community has answered every question you are about to have.
- Most Canadians in their first month make the mistake of staying within the expat bubble entirely. This is fine for the first month. After that: push yourself to interact with local people. Language is the main mechanism for this.
Banking and Money Flow
- By week 3-4, you should have a clear picture of your monthly cash flow: what your Canadian accounts hold, what transfer method you are using to move money locally, and what your burn rate is on the ground.
- Set a recurring Wise transfer schedule if your income arrives in CAD. Weekly or biweekly small transfers are more efficient than large infrequent ones.
The Emotional Curve
The first 30 days have a predictable emotional pattern that most expats describe in hindsight:
Excitement, novelty, energy. Everything is new. The city feels like an adventure.
The novelty wears off. Uncertainty peaks. This is the hardest stretch of the first month.
A routine starts to take shape. The city starts to feel navigable. Small wins accumulate.
The city starts to feel like where you live, not where you are visiting. The shift is noticeable.
Knowing the curve helps. The dip in week 2 is normal. It is not a sign you made the wrong decision. It is the gap between excitement and integration - and it closes faster than you expect.
The Metric That Matters
By day 30, the question worth asking is: "Do I want to be here in 90 days?"
Not: is it perfect. Not: is it better than Canada in every way. Just: do I want to keep going?
Most Canadians who answer yes to that question at day 30 are still abroad three years later.