Quick emigration checklist – the essential things to remember before you go
Moving abroad is an exciting time, but it can also be an overload of things to remember before you go. We’ve written a quick checklist you can use, whether you’ve just started looking to move abroad or are waiting for the moving van.
Keep all your documents in an accessible place
In the first few weeks of being abroad, you might find you need to present a lot of your vital documents, so getting into the habit of keeping them in one place can be a good idea to save you having to hunt through boxes when you arrive. You’ll want to include passports, visas, travel documents, insurance certificates, proof of address, and anything else you might need to present.
Medical insurance
Some countries won’t grant a visa unless you have medical insurance, while others offer excellent standards of state care that expats can make use of. Make sure you do your research to see what medical care is like where you’re going and find out if it’s a requirement for you to have an insurance policy as an expat. Compare some quotes and read the small print as some insurances don’t cover ambulance costs etc. which may result in you paying more should an emergency arise.
Make time for a check-up
You might want to make a last trip to the doctor or dentist before you go, as well as getting your vaccines up to date. It’s also important for you to prep your pets too, so they have inoculations, the correct microchip information, and some new pet ID tags.
Be prepared for anything
No one wants to think about an emergency happening, but it’s always a good idea to be as prepared as possible. Before you go, make sure everyone’s phone has the overseas emergency numbers for where you’re headed, so you don’t have to worry about finding the correct number to call should something happen.
Change your details
There are lots of places you’ll need to change your details, but some of the key ones are the passport office, DVLA, credit card companies, and postal services. Cancel any direct debits you don’t need to trim down your outgoings, and if you’re taking a car, don’t forget to update your insurance policy too.
Find your new home
It might be that you’ve decided to rent and want to leave your search for property until your move is a little further down the line, or it could be that you know exactly where you want to buy. If you’re not sure, speak to a specialist estate agent who has dealt with overseas property purchases before, and can help you find your ideal location, and help you with the technical legalities too. You can also speak to our Dealing team to discuss locking-in an exchange rate for up to two years too.
Organise your currency transfers
Talking to a currency specialist ahead of your move gives you more opportunity to maximise your currency transfers. With Global Reach, you can lock-in an exchange rate for up to two years for property purchases, have an experienced Dealing team guide you through the market, move money with an award-winning online platform, and can stay up to date with the latest market news. Global Reach also holds Feefo’s Gold Trusted Service Award.
If you’d like to discuss moving your money abroad and find out how we can help, contact us on +44 (0)20 7989 0000 to speak to one of our Dealers, or find out more about moving your money abroad, here.