Preparing for your move to Cairo

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Preparing to go abroad includes securing important documents, making copies, and a lot of planning. Ideally, you should make 3 copies of your passport, visas, and other important paperwork. Keep one with you, one in an accessible, but safe place (ie safe deposit box), and one that is with a trusted relative of friend that can give you the information if something were to happen to you or the other copies.

    A checklist of other things to consider:
  1. Passports: check expiration- must not expire within 6 months of your arrival. Make at least 2 copies and keep one in a safe place separate from your original passport.
  2. Secure medical insurance and possibly travel insurance to prevent unmanageable medical bills and enable entry into other countries.
  3. Research and apply for a Visa. This can take several months to obtain before you leave.
  4. Save enough money to support your cost of living and lifestyle plus travel costs with enough of a buffer to be prepared for the unexpected.
  5. Bring things to facilitate transition like a universal electric plug adaptor, any medications you take, or anything else to make you comfortable during the transition.

Financial

On the home front, make sure all bills are paid or have a means of being paid. If you are retaining a residence while abroad, make sure the rent/mortgage is taken care of and that utilities are being paid while you are away. Insure that important institutions like your bank are able to reach you.

If you are retaining a bank in your home country, ask about fees for overseas transactions. If you have a credit card, find out if there are additional fees or any changes you need to make with your account. Inform banking industries that you will abroad so as to not arouse suspicious activity on your account as anti-theft systems can see this activity and put a most inconvenient hold on your account.

Tax

It is best to inform tax offices of any change in residency. Some countries have reciprocal tax agreements, and others may require you to pay some form of taxes both in your home country and aboard. Most National Tax Administrations are an excellent resource for exactly what steps to take when moving away. For more information, refer to our section on taxes.

For example, UK nationals should refer to the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for details of managing their taxation payments and National Insurance contributions in the UK if they are living and working in Egypt.

Health

There are some infectious diseases (such as measles, chicken pox, typhoid and hepatitis) that occur in Egypt for which vaccinations are available. Vaccination can prevent specific diseases that cause temporary incapacitation, chronic illness, disability, and death. Unlike countries where most people are vaccinated as children, in Egypt the protection provided by the immunity of the majority of people is absent.

Routine Vaccines for Adults

It is important to maintain routine vaccinations in Egypt. Many diseases are much more serious when contracted as an adult.

    Recommended Vaccines:
  • diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (Td/Tdap)
  • measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • polio (OPV/IPV)
  • chickenpox (varicella)
  • influenza

Routine Vaccines for Children

Be sure your children's routine vaccinations are up to date.

    Recommended Vaccines:
  • hepatitis B
  • diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DTaP)
  • polio (IPV)
  • Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib),
  • rotavirus
  • pneumococcal (PPSV)
  • meningococcal (MCV)
  • influenza
  • measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • chickenpox (or varicella)
  • hepatitis A
  • HPV

Vaccines for Living in Egypt

Vaccination against the following diseases is recommended for adults and children who are living in Egypt:

  • Hepatitis B: Recommended for all non-immune persons living in Egypt where 2-7 percent of people carry Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B is transmitted via blood or body fluids and medical or dental treatment (e.g. emergency treatment or dental work). Appropriate for all ages.
  • Hepatitis A: Recommended for all non-immune people living in Egypt where exposure can occur through food or water. Appropriate for those over 1 year of age.
  • Rabies: Recommended for people living in Egypt where there is a significant risk of exposure from domestic and stray dogs and cats. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites. Those who run, camp, hike, cycle or own/interact with domestic or stray animals are also at a higher risk. Rabies is a fatal illness which cannot be treated once contracted. The vaccine is available at a reasonable price locally in Cairo.
  • Typhoid: Recommended for all unvaccinated people living in Egypt where exposure can occur through food or water. Injection appropriate for those over 2 years of age.

Check with your employer and school for any additional vaccinations required. If you have previously been vaccinated for these diseases, check with your health care provider in case boosters are necessary.

For concerns about your health when abroad, the World Health Organization (WHO) publishes International Travel and Health which is revised annually and is available free online. Another excellent resource is MD Travel Health. It provides free, complete travel-health recommendations for every country and is updated daily.

Update 4/12/2011


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