Moving overseas can be tricky, stressful, and time-consuming. However, this does not mean that you won’t be able to enjoy the experience of moving overseas. Even before you start with the paperwork for your move, there are other things that you need to consider for your move: looking for a job, finding a home, retrieving records, etc.

If you make your preparations as early as possible, even with all these things that you need to do, you can still make the experience memorable and fun.

Secure a job before you move

Before moving to live somewhere else, it is best to have a job lined up. After all, you won’t be able to afford a home or pay for your necessities if you don’t have a steady income or plenty of savings!

Once you have decided on which country you are moving to, look at international job sites and share your CV or resume if you are interested in a specific job. Use your connections, and reach out to those that might be able to help you find a suitable role. Its not easy, but if possible, secure a stable source of income before finalising the details of your move.

This way, you won’t have to worry about having enough money to pay your bills. You can opt for part-time or full-time employment, depending on how you like to spend your first few months in your new location.

Sort your belongings before packing

Before you start packing, consider going through your belongings and weeding out the things you don’t want or need to take with you.

You may donate or throw away the stuff you won’t be bringing along. Taking only the items that you need helps lessen the hassle of packing your items and unpacking them once you arrive at your destination.

This will free up extra time to focus on more important things and make the process of packing and unpacking less stressful.

Take care of practical matters

Moving to another location is a big step that you should prepare for, especially if you are relocating with your family. Hence, it is important to take care of practical matters before you actually move. This involves everything from getting healthcare to finding schools for your kids.

This way, you will be prepared if things don’t go according to plan or to the scheduled time frame due to unforeseen circumstances. These matters are most crucial if you are moving overseas.

Getting started early will help you avoid being overwhelmed by all the things you need to do when you reach your new location.

Learn About Your New Home

It might not seem like a big deal, but you will be a lot happier in your new home if you are familiar with the culture of your new neighbourhood.

If possible, spend some time exploring the place and meeting your potential new neighbours before you are there permanently. One of the ways we find works well is to go to the local shopping mall, you’ll soon understand what kind of people live locally by engaging in a little “people watching” there!

This way you will know what to expect and be able to relax and enjoy your new home and neighbourhood so much more when you get there.

Pack as early as possible

Packing all of your belongings in labelled boxes can be stressful and time-consuming. Hence, it is highly recommended that you start packing as soon as you finalise the moving date.

You can start packing off-season items and other things you barely use. Make sure that the moving boxes are labelled properly, so you won’t have a hard time locating your items. You may also create an inventory to keep track of the things that you have packed, as well as items you can pack slowly as the moving date approaches.

Planning the details and preparing your things as early as possible can help you avoid getting too stressed in the lead up to moving day.

Scout the location before making a decision

If you know anyone from the new location you are moving to, ask for help to scout the location. Even if most of the details are already available online, having someone to look at the physical location will give you a better insight into whether it is the right place for you or not.

Your friends/colleagues can also give you more information about available jobs, recommend good banks, and advise on places for shopping and dining.

Have enough cash for essentials

Unless you have a property overseas or a relative/friend you can stay with, you may need to rent a place for the duration of your stay. To do this, you may be asked for an upfront payment equal to at least two months rent and deposit.

Aside from rent money, you also need to have enough money to buy food, groceries, and other essential items. It’s better to save enough money for the first few months or at least until you receive your first payment. If you don’t have a job lined up before moving, it would be best to save some amount that you can use when looking for a job.

Learn the language

If you are moving to a country whose primary language is not English, we strongly recommend you learn some useful words or phrases in advance, that you can use when you arrive. Even if almost everyone can speak English, this does not guarantee that road and store signs will also have translations on them.

Learning the language will also make it easier for you to communicate with the locals, and enjoy your experience much more. You can also benefit from this when you start working or when you have to go to different places to run some errands or for other purposes.