The decision is made – you are moving abroad. But where do you start from? What do you need to get done before you leave? For the organised amongst us, making a list is probably the best way to make sure everything goes smoothly, and nothing is forgotten. As your departure date gets closer, you will need to operate to a timetable – it will help you not to miss your paperwork's deadlines and will ensure nothing is overlooked.
One year before your move
Assuming at this point that you have selected your destination, you may want to arrange a short holiday there to make sure it is the right place for you and your family. During this first visit, try to put yourself in the shoes of a permanent resident, and not to spend every moment in touristy spots and luxury hotels. Instead, go to the local market, observe the ambience, interact with the locals, and compare prices. At the end of this expedition, ask yourself: What will my everyday life be in this country? Is this a lifestyle I can be happy with?
Don't underestimate the formalities of the destination – check the visa regulations and entry requirements. Every country has it's own visa regulations, permanent residency conditions, and bureaucracy that you will have to be ready to deal with to some extent. In most cases, if you are moving for work, your employer should help you with the paperwork, but the more informed you are, the more comfortable and secure you will feel.
If you are a homeowner, you should decide well in advance whether you want to sell you house or rent it out until you come back. The decision will be mainly based on the time you are planning to stay abroad and your financial situation. However, if you decide to rent it out, you will need to assign the landlord duties to someone you know who is keen and capable of taking on such a responsibility.
Six months before your move
If you haven't already, don't delay it any longer, and begin the process of applying for a visa. If you plan to apply for a work visa, you may need to have a job offer in hand, depending on the country's visa requirements. If you have been hired already, stay in touch with your employer and don't hesitate to follow-up to ensure all the necessary steps have been taken care of. The last thing you want is to land in your destination and encounter delay and issues at the immigration and border control.
Will you travel light and start afresh, or are you planning to ship your belongings to your destination? It might be a good idea to start selling things that aren't coming along for the ride or look into storage, and perhaps make an inventory of your belongings to make the process easier. What about your car? Consider whether you will you sell it, or ship it to your destination – either decision requires time.
You should start considering in detail what area you want to live in in your new destination. Look at the different regions you may want to live in your new country depending on your needs, wants, and income. Do you need to be close to an international school? Do you like the vividness of the city centre? What type of accommodation can you get for your budget? Online forums and blogs will give an insight into other expats' experiences.
Three months before your move
You are so close to your goal but not quite there yet. This is the right time to investigate if you need any vaccines or checkups done to enter the country. Look into whether you need to cancel existing insurance policies and take out new ones – particularly health insurance cover in your new home. If you have any pre-existing conditions, check with your doctor about prescriptions.
Put your financial affairs in order (e.g. close accounts or move assets) and look into whether you can set up a bank account for your destination from your home country. This may be possible for large international banks, however, if this isn't possible, you will need to look into what options are available locally.
Also, at this stage, if you are not moving with just your luggage, you should start searching for a moving company and get some quotes. Similarly, if you have decided to ship your goods, you should find a suitable company to handle this – they may handle moving as well. If you don't have a huge amount of things to ship and don't mind sharing a shipping container, you might want to consider groupage.
For those moving with children, you should inform their schools that you will be leaving, and look into the schools available at your destination. It is important to consider what language classes are taught in, what the school year is (compared to the current term structure), and whether there are any international schools in the area you are considering.
If you're not moving with your current employer, it's good to inform them about your plans well in advance. Also, if you have a good relationship with your company, don't hesitate to ask about any opportunities abroad within the company (even freelance) or to show interest in future opportunities – and who knows? You may become a boomerang employee.
If you are renting your home, you should hand in your notice to your landlord at this point and organise for them to come and see the place and to receive your deposit back. Regarding accommodation at your destination, you will now want to look more closely at finding housing. You will ideally already have decided the area you would like to live in and can start looking online at available options. If you don't want to commit to permanent accommodation without having visited the country first, you can look into the temporary housing options available.
Finally, you can book your flights! Remember to compare prices and arrange for any additional pieces of luggage, if needed, as the charges are usually lower than at the airport.
One month before your move
At this point, you should notify the necessary authorities (national tax authority, local council, etc.) that you will be leaving, cancel home utilities, subscriptions or memberships (gym, swimming pool, etc.), and arrange for the redirection of your mail to a family member or friend's address.
If you haven't already, you ought to begin packing, starting with anything you don't use frequently or perhaps clothes that are out of season in your home country.
You might want to confirm any job offers you have received at this point and double-check with your employer the start-dates, benefits, visa letter to enter the country, etc..
Two weeks before your move
If you are still living in your home, you will want to give it a thorough clean (after you have thrown a big farewell party of course), be it for the new tenants or owners.
Ensure you have enough supplies of anything you may not be able to get abroad – you may choose to buy a couple of bottles of your favourite brand of perfume, for example, if it is not available abroad or is far more expensive.
One day before your move
If you are flying, make sure you have completed the online check-in process, as this can save heaps of time in the airport.
If at this point, you are still in your home, you will want to give it a once over, whether you are renting it out or selling, to ensure you have packed everything and your home is in good condition.
Day of your move
That's it! Hopefully, you haven't forgotten anything, and you have recovered from last night's farewell party! So all there is to do is to grab everything (especially your passport) and everyone for your flight, and relax as you head to your new life abroad.
