Whether you dream of retiring to the sun, moving overseas to take up an exciting new job or just packing up and leaving your old life behind there are no two ways about it – making a move abroad is a challenging undertaking!
This article contains our top ten moving abroad advice tips for a successful relocation overseas…
1) Passports and Permissions
Make sure that your passport and that of any accompanying family members is fully valid and up to date and that you all have visas and permissions in place to enter the country that you are planning on moving to. For European citizens moving within the EU there are no visa and passport concerns because free movement within the EU is a fundamental right - but someone relocating from the UK to the US or to Australia for example will require permission to live in the new country and may need to have a passport that is valid for at least twelve months.
2) Changing Residence Status
When moving abroad and leaving an old life behind one has many bureaucratic hurdles to cross and one of the most important ones is giving up residency in the old home country and establishing residency in the new country. Some work can and should be done before leaving – such as informing tax offices of departure and arrival, some can only be done upon arrival in a new country. Make yourself aware of the formalities involved in changing residency or you could face fines or additional stresses.
3) Stay Healthy
Depending on where in the world you’re planning on moving to certain inoculations may be required before departure. Furthermore find out about expatriate health insurance plans and the health system available overseas. It may be necessary to take out private health care cover, it may also be necessary to keep some money aside incase of future health requirements. Health care can be expensive overseas therefore being prepared for costs and charges makes sense.
4) Stay Wealthy
The realities of moving abroad are – it’s stressful and it’s EXPENSIVE! What with removal costs, the costs associated with traveling abroad and finding accommodation etc., etc., it is imperative to keep on top of costs being charged and to establish a removal budget to stop expenses spiraling out of control. Also, open a bank account abroad and take credit references from credit card and banks back home to help establish a credit rating overseas. If you are legally entitled to ALWAYS retain a bank account back home in case you ever want to repatriate – it makes the whole business that much more simple!
5) Pets
Some countries accept the PETS travel scheme, some don’t. Find out about requirements, inoculations, quarantine and the cost associated with moving a beloved pet abroad at least 8 months before departure to allow you and your pet time to get everything in order so that as little time as possible is spent apart.
6) Travel
If you want to take your car abroad with you find out whether you can, investigate import requirements, local taxation charges and also about driving licence requirements in your new country. It may be that you have to apply for a local driving licence for example.
7) Get Dis/Connected
Arrange in advance to have utilities disconnected in your old home when you depart and to have them connected in your new home for when you arrive. Give utilities companies plenty of advance warning!
8) Packing Advice
Remember that generally speaking the more you take with you the more it will cost to transport so you need to be as unfeeling as possible when it comes to packing personal possessions. Also, if moving a long way overseas personal effects can take a long time to arrive…take any essential items with you personally and remember that they probably have shops where you’re moving to where you can buy most things you’ll need anyway! Use the fact that you’re moving abroad as a chance to get rid of old, unwanted and impractical items.
9) Keep Cool
Being as prepared as possible with ‘to do’ lists written well in advance and actioned in good time will allow you to take the move abroad in your stride. Keep calm and focused and remember what they say – Rome wasn’t built in a day – and if you keep chipping away at the huge task of making the move, eventually all the hard work will be done and you’ll have done it!
10) Smile
Try and remember why you decided to move abroad in the first place – chances are it was to achieve a better standard of living and to have a better quality of life – focus on this fact, smile and you’ll find that quite quickly all the hard work will pay off and you’ll be living your dream new life overseas.
