How to Prepare for Moving to Another Country

Are you getting ready to move to another country? If the answer is yes, and this is your first move, then we have some things to tell you about the move. Here are some step-by-step instructions that you can use if you are moving to another country or city.

You can use these instructions for any moving situation happening in your life.

So, without further ado, let us jump straight into the list of instructions that will help you prepare for the move. Read on to learn more!

This post is part of our Expatriate Life series

Research Thoroughly

The first thing you should do while moving to another country or city is to research the city or country of interest. There are a couple of things that you must research, including the language, the weather, the job market, the currency, the immigration process – every single thing that you can possibly think of needs to be researched.

You get the point – before finalizing any country or city, you must conduct thorough research while looking up everything you can find about your place of interest.

Prepare Your Paperwork

Your paperwork is the second thing you need to prepare for moving to another country. When we say paperwork, we are talking about passports, visas, and the myriad of documents you need.

If your passport is expiring or is about to expire in the next 12 months, get a new one. Don’t forget to take a passport photo online; you’ll be surprised just how often you need these!

Depending on your nationality, you might be entitled to two passports, so you can get the second one if the first one is expiring or you’d like to enjoy dual-nationality rights whilst abroad. Believe us when we tell you that no one needs an expired passport – don’t delay, and check this early in the moving process.

Also, research the visa situation. Suppose you are moving for studies to Canada, and you will need a study permit. And in most countries, irrespective of which country you are moving to, you will need either a study or work permit – if you want to perform any of these activities.

That said, research all the documents you need and gather the documents in a handy file -this will come with you everywhere.

Tidy Your Apartment

Next, you will need to plan the move and even ship a few things to your new destination – you might want to avail the services of the best international moving companies to make the process easier. While decluttering your space and tidying your apartment, you will come across many things that you no longer need. You might want to sell those things or donate them to someone who can benefit from them.

Perhaps, you can leave a few things for later where you might want to pick them up at some point later in life. Don’t forget to make a pile of things that you want to take with you – this way; you will find it easier to estimate the number of pieces of luggage you are taking with you.

You can also ask your family and friends to ship some boxes to your new destination later. Make sure that you start the packing and decluttering process in advance so that you have some time to sell and donate unnecessary items and belongings as well.

Make a List of Everything

Moving to a new country can cause you to feel overwhelmed and even instigate panic attacks. That said, if you want to prevent yourself from panicking, you ought to make a list of everything, especially your documents and personal belongings.

Also, make a to-do list of all things that you need to do. Jot down everything that you need to do, from applying for a visa to packing things, the list of documents you need, and so on. Also, list things you want to sell, donate or take with you to the new country.

If you have never made lists before, you might think that it is an overwhelming task – however, the truth is that by making a list of everything, you will have a roadmap and know which direction to go. The list will also help you stay organized and assist you in your moving and immigration process.

Purchase Plane Tickets

Once you have reached this point, you will start to understand why you need to start with your things first. So, when you are buying plane tickets, you already know how many suitcases you will have and whether you will be getting extra luggage space – or, perhaps, you have some overweight and oversized luggage that you will need to pay a certain amount for.

Get Your Health Checked

Before moving to another country, you must get yourself checked first, which is why you must go visit your doctor before your departure. Get all the checkups and prescriptions because you never know what might happen in your new country.

If you are moving countries, there is a great chance that your prescription is not valid in that country, which is why you might need to see another doctor for that, which can be an inconvenience. That said, gather all your prescriptions, your pills, and whatever you need and take them with you – as long as you have your prescription and your pills, everything will be fine.

But, it is also a good idea to go for a checkup, so you know that you will be fine for at least three months in the new country. Travel insurance is a must, too until you’re established in the new health care system.

Expatriate Life