Whether you’re bringing your whole family to Australia to being a new life or working in Indonesia indefinitely, the relocation process is entirely manageable if you organize the move systematically. After years of hard work and dedication, you’ve finally been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live abroad and experience a new life with lots of adventure awaiting you. After you’ve shared the thrilling news with your family and friends on your contact list, the nerves have started to creep in. The thought of the daunting task of packing up all your belongings and moving across the world, the logistics of it, the cost, the planning can be complicated and overwhelming.
Fret not. If you start planning and preparing way in advance, the entire process is manageable. To help you begin, we have rounded up seven handy steps every future expat should take before they relocate, wherever the destination or however long the journey.
1. Save as much money as you can
Think of how much it will take to get you to the other side of the globe! Costs include but are not limited to visa application, plane tickets, international shipments, housing, and emergencies.
2. Apply for or renew your passport
Before you can apply for a visa, you must have a valid passport.
3. Apply for a visa
Browse your new country’s government website to see what supporting documentation you will need to send in for your application, which will vary depending on the visa.
4. Plan ahead for health care
When you live in another country, you will likely encounter the health care system. Before you go, find out if your current health care provider or insurance company will cover you while you are abroad.
5. Do your research
Even if you’re relatively familiar with where you’re relocating to, you’ll need to do a lot of research to plan for the big move and ease your transition, as well as your family’s into your new home.
6. Contact your bank and phone providers
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel dates, and consider getting an international credit card to avoid foreign transaction fees. You should also research banks in your new city and find out what paperwork you’ll need to set up a bank account.
Also inform your phone and internet providers ahead of your trip. Your carrier can unlock your smartphone before the trip. Once you arrive at your destination, you can purchase a SIM card from a local carrier and replace it with the one in your phone.
7. Find a reliable international mover
There are hundreds of international movers out there offering different types of services at different prices and it can be overwhelming to find the best option for moving your possessions abroad at the most affordable rate.
At Shiply, there is a vast range of licensed and insured movers ready to give you personalized quotes, often up to 75% cheaper than usual rates, but to get the cheapest and most accurate quotes you first need to provide them with a few details about the move via a simple online form. Shiply also has a feedback and ratings system which allows you to browse international freight quotes from the movers on their panel.
Making a fresh start in a new country comes with a fair bit of work, but the advantages of living in another country are too numerous to count. Happy moving!