Your Moving Abroad Checklist

Whether you’re moving abroad to study at a different university or you’re starting an exciting new career adventure, making the leap overseas is alternately exciting and scary. Don’t worry though, the Simon Long Removals Gloucester team are seasoned removal experts, and we’ve come up with a comprehensive checklist to ensure that your move abroad goes as smoothly as possible. We can’t help with the cultural side of things though, that’s up to you!

The Checklist

1. Make sure you understand the visa requirements of the country you’re moving to. EU member states now require British citizens to apply for the appropriate visa!

2. Make a big list of all of your current utility bills, because you’re going to need to make sure they’re all turned off before you leave.

3. Are you going to rent or purchase a property in your new country? Make sure you get this sorted as early as possible. You’re also going to want to think about your property back home. If you currently own a property, you’re going to have to make the decision as to whether you rent or sell. 

4. You’re going to need a phone while you’re out there, so start scouting out network providers now so you’re sorted when you arrive.

5. Let your GP and dentist know that you’re moving abroad to ensure that any annual checkups or appointments are cancelled in good time.

6. Take a look at a map of the new town/city you’re going to be living in and start making plans for the first few weeks that you arrive. For example, taking part in local community activities is a great way to make friends!

7. Talk to your bank about financial planning options, as this will help the transition go a bit smoother.

8. Make sure that you fully understand the tax requirements for your home country when you’re living abroad, and also the tax requirements of your new country of residence. You’re certainly going to need to notify HMRC about the fact that you’re leaving, so that should be one of the first things that you do.

9. Do you have any pets? Relocation plans should be high up on the priority list if so!

10. If you have surplus stuff, then you might need to put some of it in storage before you go abroad. This will take some of the stress off the move and just make the whole process a lot simpler in general.

11. Are you going to be driving in your new country of residence? You may need to apply for an additional license or take a test, so bear this in mind before you go.

12. Get your insurance sorted. That means home, travel, life and car. The main thing is to ensure that your move complies with any existing policies that you have running.

13. Decide on which international moving company you’re going to go with. Here at Simon Long, we’ve got plenty of experience when it comes to moving people overseas safely and efficiently, so you can’t go wrong by choosing us!

14. Decide in which international moving company you’re going to go with. Here at Simon Long, we’ve got plenty of experience when it comes to moving people overseas safely and efficiently, so you can’t go wrong by choosing us!

Simon Long Removals Gloucester is the region’s most trusted removals company. If you need help with your big international move, don’t stress, just give us a call and we’ll talk you through everything that we can do to make it easier for you.