Taking that huge step to move out of the country will require more than just courage. In fact, you can fall chest deep and feel extreme stress in the process. Even the mere logistics of this big move are enough to make the calmest person lose their cool.
To fully prepare you for moving overseas, your professional international removalist team at Nuss Removals want you to be aware of the truths about moving overseas, as you’ll be facing them throughout the relocation process.
1. You must be willing to start over
When you decide to live an expatriate life, you will be leaving your family and friends back home. You need to prepare to be away from the ones you love and be 100% willing to start over.
And even if you are fortunate enough to take your family along with you, you need to be prepared to leave some of your belongings behind.
Logistical and budgetary constraints would make you think twice about doing so. Therefore, you need to steel yourself for the reality that you can’t take everything with you, and be ready for the tasks ahead. For furniture or belongings you can’t take with you overseas, make use of a furniture storage facility to secure them while you’re away.
2. You should comply with all expat visa requirements
If you will be moving abroad on company sponsorship, then it is likely that you will already have a working visa issued. If this is not the case, make sure to research the terms and conditions of getting a visa in the country you intend to move to.
Bear in mind that a visitor’s visa is only valid, on average, for about three months, and there are strict immigration policies you need to consider if migration is your final objective. So, if your purpose is to migrate, you should prepare months ahead or even a year or two in advance to ensure you satisfy immigration requirements.
Once your visa is approved, make sure you have a temporary place to stay in the host country, as well as a substantial amount of savings ready. Most countries actually require visa applicants to declare their financial assets as part of the visa application requirements. Financial preparation will ensure you will have time to search for a viable property you can either buy or rent once you have settled in.
3. You need to learn about the local culture
Expect that the country you’ll be moving to will have a different culture to what you’re accustomed to. Moreover, your chosen host country may use a different language, making it much harder for you to communicate with locals.
To easily adapt to your new environment, it’s important that you conduct advanced research to know a little more about what you can expect when you start living on foreign soil. When you get there, be open-minded and learn and respect the culture and language of the receiving country. After all, you made the decision to go and live there, whether for work or for a lifestyle change, so prepare for adjustments and be flexible.
However, it’s hard not to miss the comforts of your home country, especially the familiar food and traditions. But being outside your comfort zone can also lead to good things. Besides learning your surroundings, you should also take time to:
- Explore your neighbourhood and know where the nearest hospital, supermarket, etc., is. This way, in an emergency or when you are busy, you will know exactly where to go.
- Get to know food outlets or restaurants that serve cuisine from your home country.
- Find out if there are any local groups comprising people of your ethnicity, and see if you are interested and able to join them.
- Familiarise yourself with the areas that you should avoid for your own safety.
- Protect yourself by having health insurance in case you become sick, injured, or get involved in an accident while living abroad.
4. You have to pack with a strategy
Unlike the typical packing that you do when you travel for a vacation, packing for a move overseas is far more complex. You need to have a strategic approach when you pack for your move abroad to ensure you don’t leave anything important behind.
- Make a list – Think and list down the tasks you need to accomplish. Your list will serve two purposes: you have a record of what needs to be done (tasks) and it gets all those things out of your head, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting something. You will be driving yourself crazy if you continuously think of all the tasks you have to do.
- Sort items – It’s much easier to pack when you sort your items according to what you can donate/give away, pack, or sell. If you have enough time to do a yard sale, you can earn some extra money that you can use while you settle in overseas. Sorting will also greatly reduce the things you need to bring, thereby reducing your moving expenses.
- Keep an inventory – It’s hard to remain organised when you have no idea where your things are. As you pack your items, number the boxes or container in which they get stored. Itemise your list of what is inside each box to make sure that everything is accounted for when you arrive in your new location.
5. You must organise all paperwork
If it’s your first time, you will definitely find it amazing (and even frustrating at times) how much documentation and paperwork is needed to move overseas. You will need to have a simple system for organising all paperwork to avoid the headache of sorting through them or looking for what you need.
What you should do is to buy a binder and several binder sleeves to contain:
- Birth certificates
- Insurance papers
- Kids’ school records
- Marriage license
- Medical records
- Property-related documents (e.g. deeds of sale)
- Travel documents
With all your paperwork kept together in one binder, you can easily find whatever document you need when it is required. You can even put your binder inside your carry-on bag so that you have it with you at all times as you travel.
Preparation is Key
Living abroad can be a wonderful adventure to look forward to if you conduct thorough research and planning.
Whether you’re in search of something new or just following your career path, living an expat life isn’t as glamorous as projected in the media, and it will require a lot of work. In fact, before finalising your decision, you should have a complete understanding of what it will take to be a successful expat living abroad.
It’s challenging to begin a new life in an unfamiliar place, but it isn’t impossible. The priceless experiences and lessons you’ll get while living an expatriate life will play a great role in your personal development. As long as you’re 100% prepared prior to your departure, you have a better chance of having a smooth and successful transition to life abroad.
Allow yourself the opportunity to truly enjoy your move and take advantage of new experiences. Work with a reliable international removalist so you have fewer things to worry about and have a stress-free move overseas.
Planning for an upcoming international relocation?
Contact Nuss Removals for a stress-free international move, today.
