Your Checklist for Relocating Abroad
Posted on Tue, Oct 27, 2009 @ 01:26 PM
Relocating to a new country requires a lot of time and effort to ensure a smooth transition to your new lifestyle. Being able to identify tasks, as well as a timeline for them to be accomplished, will help you tremendously in your relocation.
Here are some ideas to help you get started on your relocation:
□ Contact the embassy of the new country and obtain information on visa requirements and vaccinations. A valid passport is essential, prior to filling in an application for a visa. Also, many countries require a letter of recommendation, which can be obtained from an individual's bank manager or employer.
□ Calculate your expenses in advance. Moving abroad can be very expensive, so by determining a budget before hand you will have a better understanding of where the most money needs to be filtered. If you are relocating for work, your company may assist with the costs for your move so it is necessary to verify if they do. Do not forget to include the cost of living in your new country. Use an online currency converter to help you establish knowledge on these costs (i.e. food, shopping, transportation, etc).
□ Find a shipping service for your belongings. If relocating through your company, they may have a vendor ready to assist in this task. Again, you will need to determine if your company will pay these costs. If you are finding a shipping service on your own, take the time to figure out if this company is professional, reliable, and has experience. Also, you may want to explore an international moving insurance company. This is your only way to protect your belongings in case of damage, missing items or any other disaster that may occur.
□ Are you relocating with a pet? After determining if you can bring your pet with you, you can either move your pet by yourself or hire a pet shipping service to assist you. In any case, before deciding to travel with your pet, think if it is in the animal's best interest? Will the move cause your pet to have health issues that might affect its adaptation to the life abroad? The answer depends a lot on where you will be living.
□ Find out what the tax obligation is in your own country - Will you have to file for expatriate tax returns each year on your worldwide income? If yes, it is essential that you search for an expat tax advisor.
□ Learn as much as you can about your target country - If the language is different from your own, it is recommended you learn the language of your new home. Collecting as much information as you can about the culture of the new country, work ethics, and customary nonverbal communication, etc., will also help your transition and help reduce culture shock.
□ Packing and preparing a home inventory list. Start looking around the house, decide what items you want to pack in boxes and ship to your new country, and what items will be packed in your suitcases and carry on luggage. Whatever you do not need, you should either donate to a charity, or consider having a moving sale.
□ What stays and what goes? You might find out that some of your belongings have to stay because they can't be used in your destination country (electrical appliances, winter clothing, etc.) but you don't want to sell or donate them. Put these items in a storage unit that accommodates your needs and timeline.
Don't waste time! Getting an early start on your relocation will only help you in the long run. Keep everything organized and have all the proper information or documents you need for the move. In some cases, getting the required documents may take months so it is wise to get these tasks done sooner than later.