So you’re relocating abroad? You must be ecstatic! Scared? Perhaps a little of both? I don’t blame you. Put that all out of your mind — you have a lot of things to consider when moving to another country!
But don’t worry, you’ll be fine. It truly is as simple as purchasing a plane ticket and committing to making it happen. Of course, there are many minor details to iron out that will make the big move go more smoothly, so once you’ve decided to make your dream a reality, familiarize yourself with what to do (and what to bring) when moving to another country. You’ll need a checklist of things to consider when moving.
Recommended: Easiest countries to get a work visa.
Steps to take before relocating
To make your life easier and more organized, consult this checklist of things to consider when moving! There may be a few things you didn’t think of yet.
1. Apply for a visa
If you ever want to move to another country, this is one of the most important things to consider when moving! You should know where you’re going by now; maybe you got a job or got into a great university abroad, or maybe you just discovered a cool working holiday visa exchange program that lets you travel around a country for a year.
In any case, the time has come to apply for that visa. Allow plenty of time for this step, as it is arguably the most time-consuming. Prepare to fill out some forms and then fill them out again; there is no getting around the bureaucratic red tape that varies by country and can range from mildly annoying to excessively boring.
Your application will most likely ask for personal information, how you intend to fund your stay, and any travel and housing arrangements you’ve made so far — all of which we’ll go over in this moving abroad checklist.
2. Buy a plane ticket
An important item on the things to consider when moving abroad checklist is to book your flight well in advance of your departure date, primarily to get a good deal! You’ll be able to track deals, check multiple websites on a regular basis, and keep your eyes peeled for a good price if you start your travel planning early.
You can also be flexible with your dates, allowing you to get the best possible deal. Once you’ve decided on a departure date, you can start counting down the days until you leave, which will definitely help you check off the rest of your checklist for moving abroad quickly!
Plane ticket prices tend to rise about four weeks before departure, so even if you wait until the “last minute,” you should still have some time.
3. Research your new city
Now you’ve got your visa and your plane ticket! It’s time to equip yourselves with knowledge about your new country. If you aren’t tied to a specific school or job, you have your pick of cities to choose from within your country.
You can scroll through Trip Advisor, check out some Facebook groups, poll your friends who have been there, and of course, watch some youtube videos to your heart’s content. This will all help you get a feel for some good spots.
Get excited, and make a list of things to see and do once you’re settled; customizable Google Maps is a great tool for this.
4. Start the packing process early!
It’s difficult enough to pack for a trip. Our advice is to get started as soon as possible. Since you’re relocating, this step on your moving abroad checklist could be simple or difficult.
In either scenario, the best course of action is to get rid of as much as possible while also packing as little as possible. Not sure of things to consider when moving to another country? You’d be surprised how little you’ll need, and how little you’ll miss all that stuff back home while traveling the world.
Plus, you’ll need some extra space in your carrier bag for any new souvenirs or one-of-a-kind clothing items from the cute boutique around the corner from your new apartment. You may find this checklist for first time travellers helpful.
5. Sort out your health coverage both at home and abroad
You may be responsible for cancelling your active insurance coverage while away, depending on your home country.
Now is the time to get those last-minute check-ups in and use that insurance to verify you’re ready to go for your trip. Some visas may even require special medical examinations prior to departure. You may also require special vaccines depending on your destination, and you should always get enough of any prescription medications you take to last the duration of your stay.
At the very least, obtain a written prescription for your medications, which you can then take to a doctor or pharmacy in another country for an equivalent when you run out. When relocating abroad, don’t forget to consider your health.
Most countries will require you to create a health insurance plan in their country as well, so now is the time to research your options and figure that out. Some places will not allow you to enter without proof of a pre-existing plan.
6. Figure out what to do with your belongings
What are you going to do with your property while you’re gone? Well, you have a few options. The first one is to sell it and pocket that cash for your travel fund — hurray!
A great way to downsize before your departure is to sell stuff online; there are all sorts of websites and apps and even local garage sale sites so that you can earn a bit of extra cash for your travels. After that, you can donate any remaining items to friends or family, or goodwill. Otherwise, you can rent storage space for items you can’t let go of or travel with.
7. Money matters
Maybe you’ve been shouting it from the rooftops that you’re so excited to move overseas and you just can’t wait! That’s great, but did you shop around for a new account with lower international fees? Now is the time to get an international credit card for use abroad.
You’ll need to transfer your money from your previous country to the current one. The obvious choice might be to go the traditional banking route. However, the communications network used by banks to send and receive money transfer orders, SWIFT is neither fast nor affordable.
The great news is, Changera is the quickest and most secure way to send money from one country to another. It only takes a few minutes to send money abroad. No need to use the slow and tedious SWIFT network, the blockchain route which Changera uses remains the swiftest and most reliable way to move your money. Get it now on Android or iOS stores and read more about the Changera EasyDollar card, the best card for international transactions
8. Get your electronics sorted
Don’t forget that just about everywhere outside of your country might have different plugs for electrical devices and different voltages. Most electronics have built-in converters now, but you’ll still need a plug adapter. So before you plug in your hair straightener, fry it and blow out all the lights in your hostel dorm room, better check what voltages your devices accept.
The good news is that most things these days are dual voltage, meaning they work both in anywhere. If you don’t have these items yet, maybe it’s time to upgrade the ones you plan on bringing.
Things like computers and cell phone chargers have built-in converters, so those will usually work fine just about anywhere. A plug adapter (ideally one that works all over the world) should be a top item on your international move packing list.
9. Get a jump start on housing if possible
Probably one of the more daunting and time-consuming tasks of your move abroad will be figuring out where to live. If you’ve ever searched for a new place to live anywhere, you already know this isn’t exactly the most fun way to spend your time.
Now you have also got to figure out what the local Craigslist equivalent is, get a phone number once you land, and start calling those listings, agencies, and realtors, to make appointments to see some places.
If you can set some of these up for the day you arrive, all the better to make it so you hit the ground running and can move out of the 20-person hostel dorm room sooner rather than later. At the very least you can research some neighborhoods and get a feel for prices which will help in your search.
10. Relax and enjoy!
It’s no joke that any move, whether down the street or across the world, comes with some stress. But try not to let it dampen your excitement about this crazy new adventure you’re about to embark on!
You’ve got your checklist for things to consider when moving abroad, so break it down into manageable chunks and do a little each day. Before you know it, departure day will be here and you will be all ready to go.
Soak in those last moments with friends and family and make some fun plans for your arrival so you’ve got something to look forward to after that long flight!
You’re ready to move to another country!
You’re about to go on the adventure of a lifetime. Hopefully, after reading this list about what things to consider when moving to another country, you’re feeling pumped and motivated to start checking things off your list before boarding that plane!
Enjoy the excitement of the planning stage, and complete small tasks daily. Moving to another country is an exciting and rewarding adventure, and while you can’t plan for everything, a little preparation never hurt anyone!
Discussion about this post