Moving abroad can be a huge headache for most, getting your head around visas, laws, healthcare, tax and international money transfers for a start. But what things should you ensure are in place before you leave.
Depending on the country you are moving to it is likely you will have to get to grips with a new culture and a new set of rules. Ensure you research the country well to ensure you aren’t punished for simply not knowing. These rules could affect the way you dress, what you import to the country, what you can eat and drink and how you should behave in a public place, be sure you know the boundaries.
You should ensure that any pet you are planning on taking abroad has had the right injections and goes into quarantine, otherwise you risk not being able to take your pet with you.
De-clutter before you leave, shipping costs are high so anything you can live without and buy new abroad, sell or bin.
Find out about your pension, contact HM Revenue and Customs for advice on what happens to your pension and if necessary set up international money transfers.
Welfare rights differ from country to country; you should ensure you have the best medical insurance for you and your family as well as dental treatment. Inform your doctors and dentists in the UK of your change of address and cancel any registrations. It may also be worthwhile having a final check-up before you go.
Make sure you have notified the bank and closed any unwanted accounts, ensure that when you leave you will have no outstanding debt that may cause you agro when dealing with abroad. Also inform any mortgage lenders or insurance companies of your plans to move.
Redirect any post, this will cost so try and cancel any regular post you receive that is no longer wanted.
If you have children you should arrange to meet with their school to discuss when they will leave school and obtain any necessary handover documents for their next school.
Ensure that all paperwork is in order but never out of your hands. It is likely your passports, visa documentation, birth or marriage certificates will be needed at some point during the process but should always be on hand to produce to officials where necessary. You should also have details of your close family or friends who live both home and abroad, in case of any emergency that may crop up.