Moving to a different country can be exhilarating and transformative, opening you up to new opportunities, challenges, and adventures. Recent data shows that approximately 557,000 people emigrated from the United Kingdom in the year ending December 2022.
However, relocating to another country requires careful planning and preparation to ensure a smooth transition. If it’s your first time moving, several unforeseen challenges may await you in your new location. Fortunately, you can avoid them with adequate preparation. So, here are four things you should do before moving abroad.
Cancel your health coverage and get a new one
If you already have health insurance in your home country, you’ll be responsible for cancelling your insurance before you move, depending on where you live or your insurance provider. Failing to do so may mean continuous deductions from your bank account, and trying to cancel when you’ve already moved can be frustrating.
After cancelling your insurance, find out what health coverage options are available in your destination and how to apply. It’s best to consider other insurance policies too. And don’t forget to get all the necessary health checkups before you leave.
Organise and move your belongings
Take the time to decide what items to travel with and what to leave behind. You may need to downsize and carefully select what to bring so you’re not weighed down by excessive luggage. Consider selling or donating the items you don’t need before leaving.
The proceeds can go into your emergency fund. Next, arrange to store all valuable possessions or sentimental items that you’ll be leaving behind. Research removing or moving companies experienced in helping you move from items your location to your destination. For example, if you’re moving from London to Paris, research the best UK to France removals available for a smooth transition.
Know your visa options
When relocating, knowing your visa options is best so you get the most advantageous long-term visa option available. For example, if you plan to study or work in your new location, apply for a visa to carry out those activities. A tourist visa, for instance, will do you no good in this situation.
Also, don’t forget about your visa renewal options and processes. Find out if you can renew your visa from your new location or whether you must return to your home country first. Knowing your options in advance will help you avoid unexpected changes in your travel plans.
Build up your emergency fund
Aside from the travel, documentation, and moving cost, other surprise expenses like health emergencies, accidents, and unexpected complications can drain your savings before settling. You probably don’t want to start your new life abroad while in debt, so create an emergency fund and build it before you leave.
A general rule of thumb is to save at least three to six months of your living expenses for your emergency fund. Where do you put these savings? You can leave it in a bank that has a branch in the country you’re moving to. But don’t forget to have some physical cash on you in the currency of your new country.
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Until next time, thanks for reading.
Helen, Nial, Lewis and Mason
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
