Moving overseas can be one of the most exciting, not to mention rewarding, experiences you will ever have in your life. You’ll get to experience new cultures, try new foods and experience a whole new way of living. However, if you’re not prepared for the process, it might give you a few headaches too!
So, if you’ve found the perfect new house for sale and you’re getting ready to move overseas, check out these tips to make the process easier. That way, you can (hopefully) ensure that your new life adventure goes without a hitch:
Declutter. In the months and weeks before you head off for your new life in a far-flung destination, you should make a really strong effort to declutter your possessions. Take an honest look at those shelves of books and DVDs, go through your closet and check out those trinkets to determine what is worth keeping and what you can do without. That way, it’ll be a lot easier, and cheaper to transport your stuff overseas, and if you sell the excess, you’ll even have some ready cash in your pocket to start your move off right.
Hire a Storage Unit. If, after decluttering, you have a lot of stuff you can’t bear to part with, and if you plan to return to your home country at some point, hiring a storage unit is a good option. You’ll be able to safely keep your bulky furniture ready for when you need them again, without having to worry about them being damaged, stolen or otherwise ruined.
If you do need a storage unit, be sure to shop around because prices can vary wildly, and you don’t want to be paying over the odds when you’re starting a new life overseas.
Hire a Shipping Container.
Hiring a shipping container is the best way to send your stuff overseas if you plan on sending furniture and other household goods, as well as clothing. Although it might seem expensive, it will almost always be cheaper than starting from scratch at your new home, when you have perfectly good stuff already. Again, it’s best to shop around when hiring a shipping container because there is a lot of competition in the industry, and with a little research, you should be able to minimize your costs.
Get Insurance. When you’re living overseas., even if they have some kind of health service to provide treatment for free, like the NHS in the UK, as a visitor to the country, it is unlikely that you will be eligible, at least when you first arrive, which is why it is vital that you get some insurance in place before you get to your new home.
If you’re moving overseas for a job, be sure to ask your employers if you’re covered by a work policy. If not, it’s time to make some phone calls to find out what kind of insurance policy will cover you best.
Check Your Passport. If you’re only moving overseas for a year or two, rather than permanently, you should make sure that your passport will be valid for at least three months from your return date, so that should anything happen and there be a delay in you coming home, you will not face any problems.
It’s also a good idea to make a few photocopies of your passport, taking some with you and leaving some back home with a friend or family member, so that if your passport does get lost, you can pretty quickly sort out a new one.
Pack Your Important Documents.
It’s also a good idea to photocopy and pack all of your important documents like your birth certificate, driver’s license, and qualifications, so that you don’t find yourself in a tight spot with the authorities or when trying to apply for a new job
Look Into Visas. As soon as you know you’re moving overseas, you should start looking into visas. The rules and regulations of every country’s visa system is different, and the kind of visa you need will vary depending on what you’re doing and how long you plan to stay in your new country, so you need to absolutely know which one you need if you don’t want to be turned away by customs when you should be starting an exciting new life.
Find Out About Property Regulations. You should also, as soon as you’ve found your new home overseas, enquire about any property rules or regulations, such as responsibility for maintaining green spaces or paying for services. Some countries have a lot more property regulations than others, and the last thing you want to do is fall foul of them and start your new life out on a bad note with the neighbors.
Set Up a Bank Account. Your new country is obviously pretty important, especially if you’re going to be paying a mortgage for your new home in the area, or working there. It’s always a good idea to contact banks before you move so that you can be sure you meet all the requirements and take all of the necessary paperwork with you.
Notify Companies of Your New Address.
Before you leave, you’ll need to spend some time calling up companies that you’ll still be in contact with when you move, including government agencies, to let them know about your new address, so that you can be sure that any important information you need will get to you in a timely manner.
Get an International Driver's Permit. If you plan to drive overseas, it’s never a bad idea to look into the possibility of getting an International Driver's Permit. Although they aren’t accepted in every country, where they are accepted, they make the process of legally driving a lot easier and get rid of the need for you to carry your passport everywhere you go, which is always a bonus.
Have you moved overseas? Do you have any tips to make the process easier?
