Moving aboard is a truly exciting adventure, but before the fun can begin, you have to do a whole lot of planning and organising. Whether you are going to study, work or travel, you will likely need to make quite a few arrangements before you can hop on a plane. Sorting everything out ahead of time can help you to relax and fully enjoy your trip.
1. Sort Out Your Documentation
The first thing on your moving aboard checklist should be to sort out your documentation. You will need to check your personal identification documents, like your passport and driver’s license, to make sure they are all in date. Check to see that your passport will not go out of date during your trip. If your passport is running out, then order a new one as soon as possible because getting a last-minute passport can be costly and unreliable.
2. Organise Your VISA
The rules about your VISA will differ depending upon where you are travelling to and from. You should organise your VISA and your work permit early as the process can take a few months to complete. You might want to consider hiring an immigration lawyer to help you with the process. Alternatively, you can contact your embassy for more information.
3. Health Insurance
It is always a good idea to take out a health insurance policy that will cover you when you are travelling. Some countries have set rules about the type of health insurance and coverage needed for someone entering the country. Make sure that you check the rules of your destination before taking out a policy.
4. Organise Your Finances
Try to organise your finances as soon as possible to ensure that you can fund your trip. Organising your finances before moving aboard might involve:
- Notifying your bank
- Opening a new bank account
- Budgeting
- Applying for work
- Contacting the relevant tax authorities
5. Moving Your Belongings
Moving your belongings can be a very stressful part of getting ready to emigrate, so it is useful to begin this process early on. You will need to sort out what you are going to bring with you and what you are leaving behind. It is always a good idea not to bring too much with you, as you can likely buy a lot of what you will need when you have arrived at your destination. You will probably want to organise storage for what you are not bringing with you. You might want to consider using a self-storage solution, as this will help you be confident in the knowledge that all of your belongings are in a safe and secure location. Take a look at Blue Box Storage and see where they can be located if you are after a safe place to store your belongings.
6. Make Your Healthcare Arrangements
It is always a good idea to visit your doctor and dentist before travelling, just for a check-up. It is also important that you think about the medication you are going to be taking with you. Many people don’t realise that the laws on medications can be very different from country to country. Check to make sure your medication is legal in your destination or if you need a special permit.
