🏡 Settling In — Your First 90 Days Abroad

You've landed. The hard part is over — but the real journey begins now.
Here's how to survive and thrive in your first 3 months.

The first 90 days abroad are a rollercoaster — excitement, anxiety, loneliness, discovery, and growth, sometimes all in one day. This guide walks you through everything you need to do, week by week, to build a stable foundation for your new life.

🛬 1. Arrival — The First 24 Hours

At the Airport

🧳 Collect your luggage immediately — don't leave the carousel unattended
🛂 Have your passport, visa, and admission/offer letter ready for immigration
📱 Buy a local SIM card at the airport or nearby store (research which network is best beforehand)
💱 Exchange a small amount of cash if needed (but don't exchange large sums at airport rates)
🚕 Use official taxis, Uber, or pre-arranged pickup — avoid unlicensed "helpful" strangers
📞 Call or message family immediately — let them know you've landed safely

First Night Essentials

🛏️ Confirm your accommodation is as expected — take photos of any damage
🍞 Buy basic groceries: bread, eggs, milk, noodles, fruits, water
🔌 Set up your electronics with the right adapters
🌐 Connect to Wi-Fi or use your new mobile data
🗺️ Familiarize yourself with your immediate neighborhood
😴 Rest. Jet lag is real. Give yourself grace.

📅 2. Week 1 — Get Your Foundations Right

🏦 Admin & Registration

Register with the local authorities (if required by your visa)
Open a local bank account (research which banks are immigrant-friendly)
Register with the Nigerian embassy/consulate in your country
Get a local ID card if applicable
Register for healthcare/insurance
Update your address with your school or employer

🏠 Settling Your Space

Buy essential household items (bedding, toiletries, kitchen basics)
Locate the nearest grocery store, pharmacy, and hospital
Find your nearest African/Caribbean food shop
Set up heating/utilities in your name
Learn your local transport system (bus, train, tram)
Get a transport card/pass if available

📅 3. Weeks 2-4 — Build Your Routine

📚 Students: Attend orientation, register for classes, get your student ID, explore campus
💼 Workers: Complete onboarding, understand your role, observe workplace culture
🍲 Food: Learn to cook Naija meals with local ingredients. Find African stores and markets
👥 Community: Join Nigerian/West African WhatsApp groups, Facebook communities, and church/mosque congregations
🏋️ Health: Find a gym or exercise routine. The winter weight gain is real!
📖 Language: If not in an English-speaking country, start or continue language classes
💻 Side Hustle: If your visa allows, explore part-time work or freelance opportunities

😵 4. Culture Shock — It's Normal, It Passes

Culture shock typically comes in stages. Knowing them helps you navigate without panic.

🌟 Stage 1: Honeymoon (Weeks 1-2)

Everything is exciting and new. You're running on adrenaline.

😤 Stage 2: Frustration (Weeks 3-8)

Small things irritate you. You miss home. "Why do they do things this way?!"

🔄 Stage 3: Adjustment (Weeks 8-12)

You start to figure things out. Routines form. The new culture makes more sense.

🏡 Stage 4: Acceptance (Month 3+)

You feel at home. You've found your balance between two cultures.

🩹 How to Cope

Stay connected to home — but not ALL the time. Balance is key
Find your Naija community — they understand what you're going through
Explore your new city like a tourist — fall in love with where you are
Exercise and eat well — your body and mind are connected
Don't compare your journey to others on social media
If you're really struggling, seek counseling — many universities and employers offer free services

👥 5. Finding Your People

Isolation is one of the biggest challenges for new immigrants. Be intentional about building your community.

🇳🇬 Nigerian student/professional associations — Almost every major city has one. Find them on Facebook or Instagram.
⛪🕌 Church or mosque — Nigerian congregations exist in most countries. They're not just for worship; they're your first support network.
📱 WhatsApp & Telegram groups — Search "[City] Nigerians" or "[Country] Naija Community"
🍛 African restaurants & grocery stores — Not just for food; they're natural gathering points
🎉 Nigerian events & parties — Independence Day celebrations, owambe, cultural nights. Show up.
🤝 Volunteer or join hobby groups — Expand beyond just the Nigerian circle. Integration matters too.

💷 6. Money in Your First 3 Months

✅ Smart Money Moves

Stick to a strict budget for the first 3 months
Cook at home — eating out drains money fast
Use student discounts everywhere (if applicable)
Shop at discount supermarkets (Aldi, Lidl, Walmart, etc.)
Track every expense for the first month to understand your spending
Build credit history — get a basic credit card and pay it off fully each month

❌ Money Mistakes to Avoid

Sending too much money home too soon — stabilize yourself first
Buying a car immediately (unless absolutely necessary)
Lifestyle inflation — just because you earn in dollars/pounds doesn't mean you should spend everything
Ignoring taxes — understand your tax obligations from day one
Not having an emergency fund — aim for at least 1-2 months of living expenses

💼 7. Work & Career — The First Steps

📄 Survival job vs career job: It's okay to take a survival job (retail, care work, cleaning) while hunting for your career role. No shame in honest work.
🔍 Learn the local job market: CV formats, interview styles, and expectations vary by country. Your Nigerian CV may need significant changes.
🌐 LinkedIn is powerful: Update your profile to your new location immediately. Connect with recruiters and industry professionals.
📚 Upskill: Take advantage of free or subsidized courses available to new immigrants
🤝 Network intentionally: Attend industry events, career fairs, and Nigerian professional meetups
⏳ Be patient: It can take 3-6 months (or longer) to land a job in your field. This is normal.

❤️ 8. Physical & Mental Health

🏃 Physical Health

Register with a GP/doctor — don't wait until you're sick
Understand your health insurance coverage
Get vitamin D supplements — especially in cold, dark countries
Stay active — gym, walking, sports clubs
Get enough sleep — your body is adjusting to a new environment

🧠 Mental Health

It's okay to not be okay — homesickness is real and valid
Talk to someone — friends, family, or a professional counselor
Avoid excessive social media — comparing your journey to others can be toxic
Celebrate small wins — first bank account, first local meal cooked, first new friend
Create a routine — structure reduces anxiety

✅ 9. Your 90-Day Milestone Checklist

By the end of your first 3 months, you should aim to have these things in place:

✅ Legal registration completed (visa, ID, embassy registration)
✅ Local bank account active and functional
✅ Healthcare/insurance set up and GP registered
✅ Stable accommodation with all utilities working
✅ Local SIM card and regular communication with home
✅ Basic understanding of local transport system
✅ At least 2-3 local contacts/friends (Nigerian and non-Nigerian)
✅ Monthly budget created and being followed
✅ Nigerian food sources identified and stocked
✅ School/work routine established
✅ CV adapted to local format and job applications started (if applicable)
✅ First signs of culture shock identified and managed

📋 Free First 90 Days Checklist

Download our printable week-by-week checklist to track your settling-in progress. Don't miss any crucial steps.

📥 Download Free Checklist

📘 Want Country-Specific Settling-In Guides?

Each country has unique systems, challenges, and opportunities. Our ebooks include detailed settling-in blueprints tailored to your destination — so you're never left guessing.

📙 Country Settling-In Guides

Tailored advice for UK, Canada, USA, Germany, and more

📦 Full Japa Bundle

All country guides + departure checklists + first 90 days blueprints

🛒 Browse E-Books on Selar

🌟 A Final Word

The fact that you made it here — that you took the risk, did the paperwork, got on that flight, and landed in a new country — is already a massive achievement. The first 90 days are hard, but they don't last forever. One day soon, you'll look around and realize you're no longer "settling in." You're home.

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