I travel the world full time, and these are the things I did before I started. You may find this checklist helpful too.
1. Test This Lifestyle Before Committing
Before you make the decision to travel full time, I strongly recommend testing this lifestyle first. One of the best ways to do that is by taking a sabbatical from your job for at least one year.
A full year gives you a much better sense of what long-term travel actually feels like. A few months abroad usually feels like an extended vacation, which is very different from living this way long term. After about a year, the excitement settles and you start to see the normal rhythm of this lifestyle.
If possible, try to take a sabbatical instead of quitting your job right away. I also would not tell your employer that you are planning to travel full time in the future. Just treat it as a break or extended leave. That way, if you realize this lifestyle is not for you, you still have the option to go back to your job.
In my opinion, anything shorter than a year is usually not enough time to properly test whether this lifestyle truly fits you.
After testing this lifestyle for a year and deciding it is right for you, continue with the steps below.
2. Ask Your Employer About Remote Part-Time or Contract Work
If you still have a full-time job, it might be worth asking your employer if you can switch to part-time, contract, or consulting work that you can do remotely from anywhere, even overseas.
You really have nothing to lose by asking, since you are already planning to leave your job anyway. Sometimes employers are open to keeping you in a smaller role if they know your work and trust you.
This can also give you something to do while traveling and bring in some income, even if you do not really need the money. Some people realize they actually enjoy having a little work just to stay busy.
3. Sell Your Possessions & Establish Residency in a State That Doesn’t Have Income Tax
While you are in the process of selling many of your possessions (car, furniture, home, etc.) before starting full-time travel, consider establishing residency in a state with no state income tax. State income tax can be a significant expense, and doing this beforehand can help minimize it. States like Texas and South Dakota are popular choices. Establishing residency may include things like living there, setting up a permanent address, getting a driver’s license, registering to vote, and finding a new primary doctor and dentist in that state for your routine care. Check with a tax or domicile lawyer for more details.
4. Arrange Mail Management
The USA PATRIOT Act, passed in 2001, requires that you have a physical US address. If you have sold your house or no longer rent a place to live in the US, this means you still need a trustworthy family member who is willing to let you use their physical address. Managing your mail while traveling can be challenging. While mail service companies can help by scanning and forwarding your mail, they are only part of the solution and do not replace the need for a real physical address. I wrote an article that covers this topic in full detail because it is one of the most important things every US citizen should understand when retiring overseas or living and traveling abroad full time. Click here for more details.
5. Maintain Your Auto Insurance History with a Non-Owner Policy
If you plan to own no car at all after selling your car and starting full time travel, it is still important to keep your auto insurance history active. The easiest way to do that is with a non owner insurance policy. It provides liability coverage when you rent a car in the US or drive a friend’s or family member’s car. It is also an affordable way to avoid a lapse in your insurance history while you are overseas. Keeping that history intact can help you get better rates if you ever return to the US and buy a car again. Non owner insurance is a simple, low cost way to protect your record for the future.
6. Renew Your Passport and Get the 50 Page Book with a Passport Card
Running out of blank pages in your passport can disrupt your travel plans. Before you start your journey, renew your passport and request the large 50 page book. This gives you plenty of space for visa stamps and reduces the chances of needing a renewal while you are abroad. It is also a good idea to get a passport card along with your passport book as a backup. The passport card cannot be used for international air travel, but it can serve as an additional government issued ID. It also acts as proof of US citizenship at any US embassy or consulate if your passport book is lost or stolen, which makes it much easier to request a replacement while overseas.
7. Get a Phone That Supports eSIM and Switch to an Ultra Mobile or Tello Plan
Keeping your US phone number is important because many banks in the US send their two factor authentication codes by text. Use a phone that supports eSIM so you can add local data plans without swapping SIM cards. This lets you stay connected, use local internet, and still keep your US number for banking and other important texts while you travel. Make sure to turn on WiFi Calling feature and test it before you leave, since you will rely on it a lot overseas.
I recommend buying your phone directly from the official store, like an iPhone from Apple or a Samsung phone from the Samsung Store. Phones bought this way are unlocked by default. When you purchase the phone, do not sign up for any contract or payment plan. Pay the full price so your phone stays fully carrier unlocked. Click here for more details.
8. Get a Few Credit Cards That Work Well for International Travel
Get a few credit cards from reputable US banks that are known for being reliable for international travel such as Chase, American Express, Citi, and Bank of America. I wrote a separate post that covers my favorite cards for full time travel. Click here for more details.
When you build your setup, aim for a mix of networks so you never get stuck. A good starting point is to have a few Visa cards, a couple of Mastercards, and a couple of American Express cards. Make sure they have no foreign transaction fees because you will use them everywhere. Also try to have at least two cards that support chip and PIN since some train ticket machines and gas pumps require a PIN even if your card normally uses tap or chip and signature. It is also a good idea to have these cards issued by different banks so you have backups if a bank system goes down or if one card is lost or stolen.
9. Add Your Travel Credit Cards to Your Digital Wallet
Before you start full time travel, add all your travel credit cards to your digital wallet like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. It makes payments easier and a lot safer since your card details stay encrypted. Using your phone or watch to pay is also more reliable overseas because many stores support contactless payments.
Another big benefit is what happens if your physical card gets lost or stolen. Most card issuers push the new card details to your digital wallet right away when they replace the card, so you can keep using it without waiting for the physical card to arrive. This can save you a lot of stress when you are outside the US.
10. Get ATM Debit Cards with No ATM Fees Worldwide
Access to cash is very important when traveling internationally. Obtain at least 2 debit cards from 2 different banks that allow you to withdraw cash from any ATM worldwide without charging foreign transaction fees. Also look for checking accounts that reimburse any ATM fees. Make sure these debit cards are issued by different banks to diversify your financial security and ensure access to funds if one account is compromised or if one debit card is lost or expired. (I recommend Schwab and Fidelity). Click here for more details.
11. Set Up Multi Factor Authentication for All Your Banks and Test It Before You Leave
Set up multi factor authentication for all your bank accounts, credit cards, and financial apps before you leave. Make sure the codes work on your new phone plan, and test everything while you are still in the US. Some banks send verification codes by text, while others use app based authentication. You do not want to find out something is broken after you are overseas. Taking a few minutes to test every login will save you a lot of trouble later.
12. Arrange Healthcare Coverage
Healthcare coverage is vital, both internationally and domestically. Purchase an international health insurance plan that covers you while traveling abroad. Also, find an affordable US healthcare plan through the marketplace to cover any visits to the US. This dual coverage ensures you’re protected no matter where you are. Click here for more details.
13. Set Up Your Social Security Online Account Before Leaving the US
Before you head overseas long term, create an online account with the Social Security Administration. This lets you view your earnings history, check benefit estimates, and manage certain requests online.
The initial setup can sometimes require you to be physically in the US, and in some cases you may need to visit a local office for identity verification. Doing this ahead of time can save you a lot of hassle later, especially if you suddenly need access while you are abroad.
Even if you think you will not need it anytime soon, I still recommend setting it up. It is one of those small tasks that is much easier to handle before starting full-time travel.
14. Create an IRS Online Account and Set Up an Identity Protection PIN
Before leaving the US long term, I also recommend creating an online account with the IRS and enrolling in the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps prevent someone else from filing a tax return in your name if your personal information is ever compromised.
The initial setup might require you to be physically in the US or could trigger a visit to a local office for identity verification, especially if additional documentation is needed. Setting this up while you are in the US is much easier than trying to handle it from abroad.
15. Freeze Your Credit With All Major Credit Bureaus
Before leaving the US long term, I strongly recommend placing a security freeze on your credit reports with all major credit bureaus. This helps prevent criminals from opening new accounts in your name if your personal information is ever compromised.
You can do this directly through each bureau’s website for free. Once the freeze is in place, no new credit should be issued unless you temporarily lift or remove it yourself.
Make sure you create accounts with each bureau, confirm the freeze is active, and test that you can unfreeze and refreeze your credit easily before you leave the country. Doing a quick trial run while you are still in the US can save you a lot of frustration later if you ever need to apply for credit or deal with fraud while traveling full time.
16. Get an International Driving Permit
If you plan to drive while traveling, obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP) is essential. Some countries such as South Korea and Japan do require it. You can get an IDP from the American Automobile Association (AAA). This permit, along with your US driver’s license, will allow you to legally drive in many countries around the world.
17. Get a VPN for Accessing Location-Restricted Content
Another essential step is securing a reliable VPN from a trusted company. A VPN not only ensures a secure internet connection while using public WiFi but also allows you to choose a virtual location. This is especially important for accessing US-based websites and services that may require a US IP address to work properly. Also, a VPN enables you to stream your favorite US TV shows and content on devices like Amazon FireStick or Apple TV while abroad. I recommend NordVPN for its ease of use and robust security features.
18. Buy Your Electronics in the US Before You Start Traveling
It is usually cheaper to buy your electronics in the US before you leave. Devices like iPhones, laptops, tablets, and cameras often cost more overseas because of local taxes, import duties, and tariffs. Prices in the US tend to be lower, and you also get US warranty coverage.
Most electronics need to be refreshed every two or three years, so if your current devices are already old, it is a good idea to upgrade before you start full time travel. Then, when they reach the end of their lifespan again, you can upgrade during one of your future visits back to the US This approach keeps your devices up to date while avoiding the extra costs you would pay abroad.