Work abroad or move to take up a new challenge overseas requires a moving abroad checklist for a successful relocation overseas. Sending bulky items by sea takes longer than air travel for instance.
Even if it is a checklist for moving abroad for a year, each person or family moving to another area or to another country will have different criteria.
Moving abroad checklist
The following is guidance is for you relocating for study abroad, retirement, travel, working abroad or teachers moving abroad to think about as some items require attention well before you’re intended relocation overseas. especially with family, alone animals or pets.
A moving house list will be you’re own personal plan depending on a number of factors including destination.
Maybe you have a job already, or you require to find new work overseas with another company.
Moving from UK, Europe, USA, Australia to another location has similarities to moving locally.
You’ll need more documentation and possibly arrange to send boxes in advance.
When deciding to relocate or moving abroad for work, know when you are moving a list can be compiled in time and by priority order. Maybe it is easier moving to another country alone with a suitcase than relocating as an entire family.
You’re list will be individual to you and families requirements including moving abroad checklist packing . Returning to the UK or home? the basic checklist will help.
Relocating with kids takes much more detailed planning. You’ll require to add other things to do that meets your children’s needs.
Create a plan and a list before moving overseas
Write down: What you require to do, how will it be achieved and time, specific deadlines and dates. Here is a list of ideas to do before moving to another country.
- Research and apply for all relevant paperwork such as planning permission, visa, work and immigration permits and documents that also may require authenticated & legalised at the foreign & Commonwealth Office in Milton Keynes.
- Calculate how much the move will cost, decide if you have enough finances for tickets, rental lease, new household & clothing for you and you’re family.
- Get several quotes from reputable companies, and why not think about hiring you’re own van and driver to save costs, if you are capable.
- Think about the entire family including animals and rover. What will happen to family pets if you are not allowed animals or birds in your new house?.
- Sending items overseas or long distance by sea may take weeks or even months to be delivered that you may require immediately when you arrive.
- Start looking for new places to stay. Moving to teach in Dubai or a teaching post in Abu Dhabi, France, Australia or Canada you might require finding your own housing.
- Apply for a new job and see what teaching jobs abroad are available, that is if you have not signed a contract already.
- Contact schools in the new area to find out if there is a place for your children and possible cost of fees and materials. Also, check for good schools and see what curriculums are offered, and does it meet western international standards.
- Research and purchase travel tickets when you know you are moving. Do not buy the first tickets, see if you can get a discount booking & paying in advance. Check with your new employer if they are willing to pay for your flight, even one way.
- Finances and current investments: Look at the terms & conditions of investment you already hold to see if you can hold them as a non resident, are you keeping existing bank accounts or maybe planning on opening an overseas bank account.
- Look at how to transfer, or indeed if you can transfer payments you receive each month, medical benefit coverage such as Medicare, VA you can, and how to receive pension payments in you’re new country after relocating.
Few weeks before moving overseas
- Possibly tell everyone you know that you are moving and where you are going, or maybe not
- Decide what belongings you are taking. Could be cheaper to buy new items when you move than the cost of transportation such as air freight cost to Europe or the Middle East.
- Arrange a boot fair, garage sale or sell off items that you are not taking with you to de-clutter.
- Start giving away to friends or charity items you are leaving behind. Not a good idea to leave this to the last few days. I know from personal experience and more than one move abroad get rid of things well before the day of your move.
- Arrange with the relocation or moving company all the details for a smooth day. Receive packaging materials from the moving company well in advance to pack items and arrange for early sending overseas, if required.
- Cancel insurances, water rates, telephone, internet, sports club subscriptions and standing orders at the company and your bank.
- Notify your employer of your notice to quit. Make sure you are very certain of a secure contract of employment for you’re new teaching job first or other employment.
- Inform your doctor that you are moving and arrange for your medical records to be transferred. This would only be possible for a UK move or some other countries. There would be issues sending medical National Health Service (NHS) records overseas, with possible issues with many non-European countries.
- Get measurements of the new property dimensions to see what items will fit or even go through the door or window.
- Contact schools and ask to have student records transferred or a copy if applying for a new school position. Many schools will allow a child to attend while old school records are in the process of being transferred.
Shortly before relocating abroad
- Post office change of address form filled in that will enable your mail to be redirected essentially forwarded to your new address. Mail forwarding online is around £30 in 2022 for an entire household.
- Start or continue informing clubs, insurance companies and investment companies of a proposed change of address.
- Arrange for your utilities to be cut off at your present address and connected at your new property.
- Notify banks, credit card companies and other related companies of your proposed move and your new address.
- Begin packing and continue to arrange your possessions.
- Start cleaning and tidying up your home and property, especially for a rented property to get your full deposit back.
- Package all non-essential daily items carefully. Mark each box or container with a list of contents and or by room.
- Pay all outstanding bills.
- Defrost the fridge.
- Confirm with the movers, details and number of boxes.
- Animal transportation confirmation and check each animal that is able to endure transportation.
- Close bank accounts if no longer required. You may wish to keep a UK account open to continue paying any bills after your proposed move.
Moving day
- Start early and have all the items packaged to be moved ready to be loaded onto transport
- Check the names of the people transporting your possessions
- Turn off all utilities
- Check outside area for any wanted items and around the property
- Make sure you leave the property clean and tidy
- Mention about fragile items
- Check all items are loaded onto the truck, cars or other transport
- Check for any breakages, and leaving the property securely locked
- Pass the keys to another person if required
- Double check with the moving company the delivery address for your items
Arriving at your new location
- Check utilities are connected or asked in advance.
- Supervise moving your items into your new property.
- Have spare keys cut.
- Check and count all boxes have arrived and all your items are present.
- Within a few days of arrival registrar for the voting, dentist, doctor, change driving license and many other details and documentation that require to be changed. Your school employer will help with work permit and residency..
- Is the property large enough for you and family.
- Close proximity to shops, services and public transportation.
- Employers conditions of you being allowed to use the property, such as visitors, parties and pets.
- Does the employer pay for utilities, licenses and refuse collection cost or do you pay yourself.
- How far is it to your place of employment from the accommodation provided.
Think also about when moving abroad: taxes, investments in your home country and relocation, qualification accepted, retrain, and escape money just in case you require to leave that country and at short notice.
Your own checklist for moving abroad will differ from above.
Moving to Europe
With a diverse mix of mainly western cultures European countries have well developed transport, medical, law and education systems to teach in Europe, work or retire if you wish.
Choose to live in Paris, Athens, Dublin or Helsinki. Children could attend independent and boarding schools or state run schools witch are free.
Countries for relocating in Europe can be in the European Union from Ireland, France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany or Italy to other countries like Switzerland, Ukraine, Norway and Russia. In normal times jobs can be obtained in Germany, Spain, UK and other nations.
Transport networks make it fairly easy to move around each country and to gain easy access to close by countries to visit.
Holiday time and days off there is a vast amount of leisure cultural and sporting activities you can join in on.
Horse riding, skiing in Scotland or the Alps, visit art galleries in Holland and lounge on beaches in Italy and Croatia.
Relocate abroad for work
Plan months ahead of any move as it’s not easy or even possible to change anything at the last minute. Countries around the world are changing work visa and residency conditions.
This means any foreign worker requires authenticated documents and a possible interview before a job offer and a work visa can be cancelled at anytime.
Gulf & Middle East countries attract hundreds of thousands of workers from around the world each year to businesses, government job, universities, international and public schools in the region. UAE,
Kuwait and Qatar teaching jobs attract new and experienced workers to these countries with good salaries and employment packages.
Many companies advertise jobs in gulf & Middle East and other countries in Europe, South America & Asia region.
Jobs are well advertised and are accessible for people with the right skills, knowledge, qualifications, the right to work & live in that certain country.
All qualifications require to be authenticated before apply for a work visa at the respective embassy.
Allow at least 6 weeks plus to gather, process and get a work visa for gulf countries and up to 12 weeks processing for some Asian countries.
Popular destinations in Asia like Japan and Thailand attract job seekers to take up employment opportunities in these countries.
For example; teachers in Korea schools must first complete a serious of checks and requirements before taking up a job in the country. You require university sealed transcripts of your qualifications when applying for a work visa for public schools in South Korea.
You’ll also may to attend a face to face interview with a representative from South Korea before you are granted a working visa for South Korea.
Easier in some countries to obtain work & residency visa
Some countries are easier to move to and others require at least 3 months in advance planning.
Think about:
- Police record check, 30 days to process in the UK. Up to 3 months for a FBI certificate.
- Medical check for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, Oman and other countries can take 2 weeks plus for results to be confirmed.
- Authenticated and legalised documents, and possible copies to be obtained and processed.
- Best time of the year to apply for the good schools who start advertising their jobs 8 months plus.
- Complete any training or qualification you require for your job.
- Always try and secure a work visa in your passport before moving abroad.
- Moving with a family or partners means, school records obtained, marriage certificate processed and medical records forwarded.
- Expect to be rejected for many jobs if you are in your 40s, 50s or especially 60 years old over above.
Much more expensive to employ older workers, including medical insurance cover, with some companies unable to afforded the high cost of your medical insurance as an employee.
60 years old and over you have more limited countries that will offer you a work permit and residency as age limit for a workers visa and jobs may exclude you from some Asian countries.
Employer job contract you sign
Depending on the employer a contract is an enforceable contract.
A job teaching English abroad or your specialist industry sector should legally come with a contract of employment.
The employer needs to lodge the contract with the labour department, immigration and other places relevant to that specific country.
A job contract is very important to gain a job, visa, residency papers and protect both parties, don’t be tempted work without one.
Where to find a job abroad
– Specialist & general job websites
– Careers fairs
– Overseas recruitment agencies
– Job vacancy boards
– Contact employers direct
When you wish to travel to another country
Before you travel for any job abroad, proper planning, tickets, and other arrangements should be in place.
Remember, one day you may go back home and a successful relocation to another country is your foundation to returning home.
Are you travelling to the Middle East or South Korea or China? Start up costs for a single person will at least £1,500 ($2,000) for medical, document processing and possible fight, depends on the position and country.
That is just to get to the country.
Money transfer worldwide
Think about the exchange rate and a safe way to transfer money abroad to pay essentials.
Getting hold of some money in the local currency is very useful to pay bus or taxi fares or a visa on arrival for when you first arrive.
In addition, exchange rates changing can affect how much purchasing power you return home with your savings.
Exchanging money before travelling to another country to start any teaching job is essential for some money in the local currency for small items.
You can transfer money which can be done online or face to face through banks, and currency transfer shops.
There are a number of online businesses operating in the overseas money transfer market, FX Currency dealers that can deal with your entire process online or by a combination of online, telephone and face to face contact.
Companies offer a range of currency transfer products & services when you purchase a home or wish to send money overseas.
Some of the services: (Check the small print and the deal you receive)
- No commission, No hidden fees
- The transaction you send are encrypted for safety and security when sent
- A fast and efficient service most of the time
- Same day service in most parts of the world
- Bank to bank transfer
Anyone company that offers overseas transfer of money must have permission (Regulated) from the relevant authority such as customs & excise in the UK and will have a number to prove it.
Purchasing a new home or sending money overseas requires more money than you normally deal with on a weekly basis.
With money laundering laws in place and the general unsafe nature of carrying larger sums of money, most of us require currency and use overseas money transfer services.
Traditional banks provide good services for dealing with transferring currency required.
Banks in general charge higher currency transaction fees, and a combination of exchange rates that may not benefit you.
Maybe you do not intend to return to the UK, India, USA, Australia, Sri Lanka or other countries or just moving for a short time. This will impact on the decisions you make about selling everything or finding a storage lockup in your country before you leave and move overseas.
Medical insurance cover moving abroad
Everyone gets ill sometimes while overseas.
Good idea to arrange medical cover before you leave or your employer may provide coverage as part of you’re employment package.
Check to see how far away from a good hospital and other medical facilities are are from work and a new home and the standard of care.
Do you have a medical condition that restricts you in walking and movement? Think about how much access you will have for a wheel chair for example to get around and access to public transport.
Just because you can access the regular medicines you take each week in you’re home country does not mean you can get hold of it in a foreign country, the medicine could be illegal.
This checklist is general and you should think about specific details and arrangements for your needs.
In closing, you’re own moving abroad checklist is a detailed schedule that needs to be completed successfully before a move abroad for a job.