10 Things to Know When Planning an International Move
1. Research, research, research (laws, restrictions, taxes, limitations)
Learn as much as you possibly can about your new country of residence.
What are local taxes like?
Are you budgeting enough for a home in the neighborhood you think you’ll move to? Browsing real estate websites can help you get to know what apartments are like and what amenities might be available for what prices.
Are there restrictions or guidances you need to follow with your pets? Will your pet be allowed to travel with you or do you need to use a pet travel service?
What are income taxes like and how do taxes work?
What’s the current cost of living and how will that affect your annual salary expectations?
How far in advance will you need to apply for your visa and how soon after receiving the visa will you need to enter the country?
Are their any actions you need to take legally after entering the country? When I got to the UK I had a week to pick up my biometric residence permit, which is an ID card that proves I have right to live and work in the UK.
When will you need to renew your visa or how long can you remain in the country?
2. Start as early as possible!
As soon as you establish your predicted moving date, work backwards to predict deadlines for important moving events including visa deadlines or expected visa decisions to arrive, giving notice at work or potential start dates for new jobs, when to send away your shipping container, how soon you can book train or airline tickets,
3. Pay for extra help
If you've considered using immigration lawyers to help finalize visas or you've seen the price for expedited visa processing, these things may seem expensive and unnecessary. But moving to a new country is one of the biggest things you'll do this decade, and this isn't the time to take risks with timing and legality. You won't regret the peace-of-mind that comes with using professional help.
4. Pick a designated space in your home for boxes
Even in a small home, you can afford a corner designated for packing boxes or packing supplies. Prioritize this space and keep it as organized as possible.
5. Organization is your best friend
Make a spread sheet for moving. I recommend a tab for each room in your house. Record every item in each room, and note if this item can be sold, it's purchase value in the new country, it's resale value, and if and how it could be given away. As your packing progresses take an honest look at what you can sell or give away and how and when you would replace it. You'd be surprised how much you can live without!
As you start to pack, create an inventoried list of every item in every box. With a sharpie pen, label each box (we used S, M, L sizes and numbers, e.g. "M1, M2, M3").
Create a packing list for every person or pet, with all possessions that are making the physical journey with you in the car, train, or airplane.
Confirm what you’ll need to carry with you for legal purposes. Passports, visa paperwork, pet vaccinations, proof of relationship, new home addresses, etc. We carried a folder in a backpack containing all critical paperwork.
6. Sell as much as possible
As expensive as it may seem to build a household from scratch, the stress of moving your furniture and belongings internationally is much worse. Have you considered the average home size of the country you’ll be moving to? Many times someone's furniture won't fit in the standard sized rooms of a different country's homes. Appliances, beds, desks, sofas (you get the picture) may not be the right size for your new home.
Additionally, many times your new country of residence will have different electrical plugs than your current electronics! Some of these are easily swapped with new cords (cell phones, computers, and other handheld electronics) but appliances such as blenders, printers, lamps, TVs, may be much more trouble than they are worth to take with you. If your new country of residence has higher voltage than you are used to, a power adapter will only be safe with short term usage, not long term. So while an electric toothbrush charger could use an international power adapter, a desktop computer probably shouldn’t.
7. Create a plan for what's leftover
If you can’t sell your items, will you give them to a friend? Will a donation company come pick them up? I posted a lot in my local Facebook “buy nothing” group when I had items that needed to go to a good home.
8. Establish a landing pad
Very similar to traveling internationally, you’ll need an address to call home when entering the country. Unless you have the luxury of staying with friends or family when you first arrive, I recommend booking a long term AirBNB for your first month+. You’ll need the address of this residence for your entrance forms at customs.
While you get to know your new city, keep transportation in mind. Is your landing pad near a train station? How will you get here from the airport?
9. Schedule fun time (before and after!)
After you’ve decided to move, take advantage of all the things you’ll miss in your current town! Despite the stressors of moving, schedule time to eat at your favorite restaurants or check out the pop-up event happening nearby. Who knows the next time you’ll be in town to experience what your current city has to offer?
Similarly, have some plans in place for your first few weeks in the new city. Can you find a list of recommended restaurants near your new home? Is there a local cinema to see a new movie? What grocery stores are nearby to check out? (Is it just me or is grocery shopping in a new country a form of entertainment?!)
10. Expect setbacks
Much like planning a wedding, a vacation, or any large(er than) life event, there will be setbacks! What matters is that you eventually arrive to your final destination safely. Flight delays, bad weather, food poisoning, lost luggage are all unpredictable. By expecting the unexpected you’ll maintain a more flexible attitude when things don’t go as planned.
Keep remembering why you are making this move and what matters to you most. By the time you arrive this will all be a wild story to tell about how you moved internationally!
