So you've got your visa approved, your flights booked, and you're about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Brilliant! But here's a question that might keep you up at night: how exactly are you supposed to pay for things when you land?

Welcome to one of relocation's most frustrating catch-22s: you need a bank account to get sorted in your new country, but you need proof of address to open a bank account. And you need a bank account to rent a flat. See the problem?

Why sorting your banking early is an absolute must

You've just touched down in your new city, jet-lagged and excited. You need to pay a deposit on a flat, set up utilities, maybe grab a phone contract. But your home bank is charging you astronomical fees for every transaction, and good luck trying to receive your salary into an account that doesn't accept the local currency properly.

The reality is that traditional banks make international banking unnecessarily complicated. They want you physically present, drowning in paperwork, with about seventeen forms of ID you don't have yet.

Also read: Moving abroad checklist: 6 Essential considerations for a smooth transition

The modern way to bank internationally

This is where modern fintech has genuinely changed the game. Grey has cracked the code on international banking by letting you open a multi-currency account before you've even packed your suitcase.

Here’s what makes it properly useful: you can hold money in multiple currencies (we’re talking dollars, euros, pounds), you get local account details for different countries, and the whole thing can be sorted from your sofa. No branch visits, no waiting weeks for approval, no explaining to a bank manager why you want to move abroad.

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What you'll actually need

The beauty of platforms like Grey is that they've stripped away all the unnecessary hassle. You'll typically need:

Your passport or ID, proof of address from your current location (which you actually have, unlike in your new country), and about ten minutes of your time. That's genuinely it. No employer letters, no utility bills from an address you don't live at yet, none of that bureaucratic nightmare.

You may also like: Expat banking 101: Opening an account before relocation

Getting ahead of the game

Open your account a few weeks before you move. This gives you time to transfer some funds, get familiar with the platform, and have everything ready to go. When you land, you can hit the ground running, paying deposits, booking temporary accommodation, sorting your initial expenses without that sinking feeling of watching currency conversion fees eat your savings.

The smart move is having your account ready so your new employer can pay you directly without any faff, and you can actually access your money without paying through the nose for the privilege.

Also read: Your financial toolkit for moving and working abroad

Your money, simplified

Gone are the days of carrying traveller's cheques or hoping your home bank's international partner won't fleece you. With Grey, you've got a proper multi-currency account that works across borders as easily as you'll (hopefully) be moving across them.

Get started with Grey and give yourself one less thing to worry about when you're starting your new adventure.

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