

How it works: You sign up for a new virtual local or international phone number. Here are a few of our top favorite phone options laid out for you. Next, you need to ask yourself how important keeping your current phone number is to you? Are you willing to part ways with the number you’ve had for years and get a new one or is this number your “ride or die” and parting ways is not an option?Įither way, moving abroad means making some changes. The first thing you need to ask yourself is how long will you be overseas for? Will it be for less than a year, greater than one year, or temporarily permanent, a word we like to use meaning permanent but we have no idea where life will take us?

Many people get attached to their mobile numbers because they have had it for so long or rely on it so deeply. If you are moving to the Americas, make sure your phone has the 1900 and 850 MHz bands. For those of us trying to keep our USA phone number when moving abroad though, it’s a time of frustration and lots of research. If you live anywhere in Europe and are planning on moving elsewhere in Europe, Africa or Asia (with the exceptions of Japan and Korea), your phone will work.

For individuals moving within the EU, the dilemma of keeping a phone number when moving to a new country is not as great and sometimes not present at all. *Originally published on Septembut has since been updated to reflect new information.Ī decision many expats must make is how to stay connected with family and friends back home after they move overseas.
