Moving overseas is one of the biggest moves you can make, and success in your new life abroad depends on how well you plan for it. Apart from setting up housing, researching schools if you have kids, and asking the post office to forward your mail, moving abroad requires more for a smooth transition. If you skip the important steps, you may end up right back where you started or get stranded in a foreign country in less-than-ideal circumstances. However, with some good planning, patience and knowledge, you can absolutely make it work.
Here are a few things to address before you get on the plane.
Save
A big move, especially when you are moving to another country, takes a lot of money. Consider the unique costs of moving and living abroad, such as:
· Visas and other legal clearances
· Travel to get there
· Long distance shipping of possessions
· Rents to be paid if you decide to store large items like car or furniture at home
· Return trips home, in case of emergency
· Possible taxing by two different countries.
It is quite a big list and in addition, experts recommend having at least seven months or more of living expenses in hand before making the move.
Paperwork
Moving overseas is not quite simple. You have to:
· Fill out official visa and passport forms for your home country and your intended country of residence.
· Make copies of every important document and policy, like will, power of attorney, etc., that you have in your name.
· Submit new tax information to the authorities.
· Obtain necessary health clearances.
· Arrange documents for family members or pets if you are taking them along.
Shipping vs Storage
In this day and age, it is easy to accumulate a lot of personal possessions during your life. It is strange but true that when you are moving overseas, bringing along the car, furniture and other big-ticket items you own can cost you more than buying new stuff once you arrive. You may end up paying thousands of pounds just to get your car to the new destination, not to mention furniture, clothing, books and other dear objects. You will also have to pay to get those possessions from your current home to the shipper’s starting point and from the arrival point to your new home on the other end. So, many people turn to self-storage units when they are in the process of moving. Self-storage units give you access to store your furniture, car and other items when you are moving, and they save you money in the long run. Shop around for a good self-storage and make sure they have adequate security, are safe from fire and flood, and regularly treat for pests. If you anticipate returning in a year or two, you will probably find it is more affordable to store your belongings at home and buy what you need at your new location. If you are interested in a self storage locker then storageseeker.co.uk could help you find the best deal. Or if you have stuff you don’t wish to store or ship, you can look into Skip hire & throw out everything you no longer want or need in your new life.
Address Any Health Needs
When you travel to a different country, you are faced with variations regarding health and medical regulations. You will save yourself a lot of trouble if you address them before you go. You will need:
· Proof of vaccinations you have already had as a child or as an adult.
· To get boosters or new vaccinations depending on your destination.
· Health insurance
· Back-ups for eyeglasses, contact lenses, medical appliances, etc., which might be difficult to replace early on in your new destination if they get damaged. In any case when you’ll need fast eyeglasses , Overnight glasses will help. Do not forget to update your contact lense account details too and change the address for delivery. You can view here to do this. You really do not want to run out at a crucial time.
· To know whether you can bring refills for any necessary medications.
· To make sure that the prescription medicines you are bringing are not considered illicit drugs in your prospective country of residence.
Plan To Settle In
While preparing to move overseas, it is important to consider how you are going to settle in once you have moved. From setting up utilities to understanding the culture, there is a lot of preparation you can do in advance to make the transition smoother.
Although there is nothing more exciting than packing up your life and moving overseas, it can be incredibly stressful. Whether you are venturing out for a new job, taking a gap year, or going abroad as a volunteer, it will ease out things if you keep all the above points in mind.
