6 Top Tips for Moving Abroad Without the Stress

Moving overseas is a fun an exciting experience but it can also be a stressful transition if you are unprepared and unorganised. In order to make the most of your move and make moving abroad as enjoyable and as positive as possible, we’ve put together this checklist for moving abroad to ensure that you’ve considered everything you need to think about before setting off. No matter whether you’re relocating to a new country permanently, retiring abroad or spending a semester abroad, these packing tips for moving abroad will help to organise your plans and releave the stress. 

Packing Tips for Moving Abroad

It’s recommended to research the weather conditions in the country you’ll be moving to first. Although buying new clothing and footwear is generally one of the easiest things to do when relocating overseas, it’s not going to be high on your list of priorities amidst everything else you will need to do and arrange. First of all, you will need to consider whether you will be using a removals company to relocate your belongings for your international move or whether one suitcase is enough. If you don’t want to fully commit to the expense and inconvenience of moving all of your belongings abroad then why not consider putting your items into storage and then travelling with less luggage initially. This works well for those who want to test the waters first to see if they actually like living abroad and packing a suitcase or two is far easier than finding a reliable and trustworthy removals company and organising a move on such a large scale.

 
Hiring a Removals Company

Finding a reputable removals company for moving overseas can be time-consuming and stressful, especially if you’re not sure where to start. First of all, it’s worth checking if the large, well known companies offer international removals to your destination. Another option would be to join forums for other expats living in the country you are moving to and see if anybody can offer recommendations. Communication is key and therefore, make sure you get a set price beforehand, as well as their requirements on how to pack, label and create an itinerary for your move. Ask questions if need be and allow plenty of time for your shipping container to reach your new home and that it corresponds with when you will also be arriving in your new country, especially if you need to be there to unload the removals van and supervise where your belongings go after that. If you are using a removals company, it’s important to make sure that you have somebody to supervise the loading and unloading of your boxes at either end. Plus, when they arrive, will they be loaded straight into your new home or will they go to a storage facility? 

Every move abroad is different. You might be a minimalist traveler who only needs a suitcase and hand luggage or you might be somebody who is moving an entire house full of furniture and memorabilia. Then there are those who fall in the middle of the spectrum – you have more than a suitcase load of items but not enough to fill an entire removals lorry. Maybe you have several boxes of belongings that you want to move, which only fill up to half of a removals vehicle. Then what do you do? Well there are some removals companies that transport multiple loads in one removals vehicle, so your belongings will be loaded onto the lorry along with a couple of other loads belonging to other people. This works really well to keep costs down and can be a convenient and more affordable option, provided that you pack and list everything clearly on your removals itinerary. That way, you are easily able to identify what belongs to you so there are no issues with misplaced boxes. 

Moving Abroad with One Suitcase

An alternative option is to place your belongings into storage either with a professional storage company or with a trusted friend or family member and then simply pack one suitcase and hand luggage. When packing everything you need into just one suitcase, you’ll need to be very strict with what you take with you and what you leave behind. There’s no room for overpacking or packing anything unnecessary. Luggage accessories, such as bag dividers and packing cubes are a really useful way to organise your packing by helping you to make the most of the available room you have. Do your research beforehand to find out whether you will need plug adaptors for your electrical items or if your electric gadgets will even work overseas. If not, then it’s best to leave them behind rather than wasting room and luggage weight on items that you won’t be able to use. As for packing clothing, layers of clothing work best for most climates. Even in places where the weather is hot for most of the year, it never hurts to pack a few extra layers just in case the weather turns cool or for when you’re travelling out of the country in the future and there’s a drastic change in temperature. 

How to Move Abroad with Kids

Moving abroad with kids can be a worrying prospect but with careful planning, patience and encouragement, spending time in another country could be one of the best things you do for your children. Living in another country, experiencing other cultures and learning a new language builds valuable skills and qualities that can have a very positive impact on their lives and future careers. It helps to build resourcefulness, the ability to solve problems, innovate and can make a person an all round, well grounded and calm individual. However, to make sure that moving abroad is just as enjoyable to your children as it is to you, it’s crucial that you take onboard the feelings and emotions of your children and maintain good communication. 

How well your child settles in and adapts to their new life overseas will greatly depend on support and understanding from you as their parent, as well as their age and circumstances. In general, younger children tend to adapt better to new surroundings than pre-teens and teenagers. That said, you should never automatically assume that your child will or will not respond well to their new surroundings. In terms of schooling, you will typically have 3 options: send them to a state school, an international school or home education. Do be aware that home education isn’t legal in all countries and in some countries, you may require permission from the authorities in order to home school your child. State schools are the local schools in your area that are funded by the state and where the local language is spoken as the main language in classes. International schools are for international pupils from other countries and are usually conducted in a widely spoken language, such as English, German, Spanish or French. There is normally a fee for sending your child to an international school, as these are not funded by the state in most cases, so it’s worth checking costs in advance when considering your options. Should you decide to home school your child, make sure you also give them the opportunity to socialise with other children as well. Attending language lessons, sports clubs and getting involved in recreational activities are ideal for giving your child the chance to meet other children and interact with others on their own terms. 

Tips for Moving Abroad with Pets

In today’s world, what with online banking apps, social media and having access to the internet and the wider world in our pockets via our phones and other devices, moving abroad is nowhere near as complicated or as isolating as it was 20 years ago or more. However, moving abroad with pets has become somewhat more complicated and more expensive. In fact, many people who have taken the plunge and moved overseas will probably tell you the same – that the most difficult thing about an international move is quite often traveling with pets! As border controls and travel restrictions have tightened, as well as added factors such as Brexit (for those traveling between the EU and the UK), moving your pets abroad has become a bit of a nightmare. That’s not to say it can’t be done but do be aware that you will need to thoroughly research your options when deciding to relocate to another country with pets. 

For most people, driving is the best option and the least complicated. Moving abroad by car gives you the freedom to stop and take breaks when you choose, giving you the flexibility to follow your own route and schedule. You will need to prepare your pet’s pet passport beforehand and make sure they have all of the necessary inoculations before leaving your country of origin. Every country is different and has it’s own rules and regulations in regards to what your pet needs in order to move from country to country. Due to regulations changing and with there being so many different factors to list, including the countries you’re traveling to and from, the type of pet you’re traveling with, as well as the means of transport and route you’ll take, it would be impossible to list everything here. However, here are a few key points that you must research and take into account before traveling with your pet:

• What type of pet are you traveling with?
• What is the weight of your pet?
• If traveling by road (e.g. by car) which land borders do you pass and what are the requirements for passing through that border when traveling with a pet? Do you need to obtain a signed, stamped and possibly, a translated certificate from your vet beforehand to state that the pet is healthy to travel?
• If traveling by air, does your pet need to be transported in the hold or in the cabin?
• If traveling by air, do you need connecting flights and if so, do the same pet travel rules apply? So for e.g. one flight may require your pet to travel in the hold in a hard case, whereas your connecting flight might require your pet to travel in the cabin with you in a soft case. Clearly, this is difficult to do, as it means that you will need to travel with both a hard and a soft case for your pet. If your pet is too large to travel in the cabin with you, which typically means that they weigh over the 10kg threshold then this would also prevent you from travelling the entire route with your pet. The best way would be to clarify this prior to booking your flights and if this is the case then consider other options. 
• If traveling by air, can your pet legally be flown into your destination country and if so, do they need to be in the cabin or hold? Although many flight companies allow pets to travel onboard, either in the hold or cabin or both, depending on the country you’re travelling to, you might not be able to fly your pet directly into that country. So for e.g. you could find a flight company that accepts pets onboard and will allow you to travel with your pets between any EU country but you would be unable to fly your pet into in a non-EU country (such as the UK). In this case they’d usually have to cross the border into the non-EU country by land. This is why the easiest way for most people is to travel by road with their pets or they travel to the closest land border by air and arrange for a special pet transportation company to transport them and their pets the rest of the way. 
• Another option is to book a pet removal company. These companies are experts in transporting pets overseas and they are well informed on local and international laws on traveling with pets. This potentially means that your pet would have to travel alone and not with you but it is an option for those who are struggling to find a solution. 

How to Find Jobs Abroad

Finding jobs abroad is easier now than it has ever been before. Mainly because international travel and moving abroad is a lot more common than it was in the past. People from all over the world relocate ever day and it’s not unusual for people to relocate to one country and then move on to another country from there. The world has become more connected and working environments have adapted to this shift. Some countries make it easier for non-citizens to obtain work visas in order for them to be able to legally work in that country. In other countries, it may be more difficult to find work, especially if you don’t speak the language. There are of course, loopholes and ways in which you can find jobs abroad, no matter whether or not you speak the language and have the skills needed in order to fulfil your role effectively. In some cases, your employer may need to prove that you are a more suitable candidate for the role than a local citizen of the country, as some countries require companies to give jobs to citizens of their own country first before hiring non-natives. This is why language teaching, such as teaching English as a foreign language or translating, are highly sought after roles for those looking to find work abroad. The best way to find jobs abroad independently is to ask around, join forums, look at job boards or consider remote work opportunities that you can do online.

How to Run an Online Business from Abroad

The least stressful way to find work when moving abroad is to start your own online business and take that work with you when moving overseas. You will need to register with the national revenue agency in that country and obtain any necessary permits if required. Running an online business from abroad means that you don’t have the hassle of transporting stock or being tied to one location in order to be able to work and therefore earn an income. The best online businesses to start that enable you to relocate abroad and travel include but are not limited to: blogging, dropshipping, affiliate marketing, NFTs, investing in stocks and shades, trading cryptocurrency, or being an online service provider. Being an online service provider means that you market and run your business remotely via online marketing channels and ways of communication. Consider roles such as becoming a virtual assistant, starting a graphic design business, digital marketing, social media management, consulting or coaching. What with so many traditional roles moving into digital, the options are endless when it comes to starting an online business that allows you to work remotely and travel. If you haven’t already started an online business and are still in the phase of brainstorming ideas, have a think about what kind of business you’d like to run and whether or not you could transform that idea into a virtual role. 

Your Move Abroad Checklist

 
Moving abroad today is far easier than it was 20 years ago. For one thing, advances in technology, such as social media and digital apps that make it easy to stay connected with friends, family and service providers in your new, as well as your home country, make it easier to stay in touch thus making the world feel smaller. These days, your move abroad checklist can be as simple as packing for a vacation and throwing everything you need into one suitcase or depending on your situation, it may need more sophisticated planning. When planning for your international move, every situation is different but typically for most people, your checklist for moving abroad will need to include: your packing list, work, managing finances, accommodation, travel, as well as documentation and visas. 

Your Checklist for Moving Abroad:

• Decide on how to relocate your belongings
• Create a packing list for items that will travel with you
• Create an itinerary for belongings you will move with a removals company
• Research removal companies
• Book removals company
• Organise storage facilities if and where needed
• Notify your credit card company, bank, utility companies, phone operator that you will be moving overseas
• Make sure you have easy and convenient access to funds overseas. Setting up a multi currency card, such as Wise or Revolut is highly recommended
• Gather all necessary paperwork and documentation, such as passports, ID, birth certificates, tax information, work and study visas
• Purchase adaptors for electrical items (so that you can use your electrical items abroad)
• Get an international SIM card or temporarily upgrade your current phone package to enable roaming and international calls and mobile data so that you can still use your phone as soon as you arrive and don’t experience any inconvenient connectivity issues
• Plan and organise your children’s schooling and prepare any necessary documentation
• Sort pet passports and ensure that your furry friends are up to date with vaccinations and meet all requirements prior to travel
• Prepare for any change of address beforehand and notify any relevant organisations, service providers and companies beforehand to ensure that this process can be carried out smoothly
• Arrange for your own means of travel, whether that’s flights, trains or traveling by car
• If traveling by car, check beforehand what certifications, insurances and safety checks you will need to undergo before arriving in your destination
• Prepare your route and schedule
• Organise and book accommodation
• Obtain health and travel insurance
• Start learning the language spoken in your destination country by familiarising yourself with a few essential words and phrases to get you started. 

Finally, remember to document your journey and enjoy your experience! Moving abroad can be as stressful or as simple as you make it, so have fun, plan ahead and embrace everything as part of your path to a new chapter in your life. Best of luck!