As soon as you arrive at the mission abroad in your city of posting, you should compile relevant local information. This could include lists of telephone numbers (emergency numbers, the embassy’s telephone directory including colleagues’ home and mobile numbers), a list of doctors and information about hospitals and pharmacies. It is also important to know how to get to the nearest hospital or emergency clinic in case of an accident. Depending on your city of posting, at the start of your stay abroad it may also be important to familiarise yourself with the security regulations and possible risks.
The mission abroad will provide you with a personal Medical Insurance Certificate. The certificate is to help medical facilities immediately ascertain that the insured party has a valid insurance policy (i.e. UVA/URA or UVA Plus) that covers the costs, and so ensure quick access to medical care.
For EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, special rules for medical care apply. Read more here.
Language skills are important for getting to know your new city of residence. Keep in mind that language lessons granted to accompanying partners by UD P UTV must be used within six months of arriving in the city of posting. After that, language training for officials and accompanying partners (not children) is financed by the mission’s delegated funds, subject to the financial situation and by decision of the head of mission.