Inform your children’s school that you will be moving abroad and ask for transfer certificates and any information which will be relevant when you move.

Things to do:

Person Responsible

Done

Notes

Experience

Timeline
3 Months Before Moving

Decide what to do with your current housing: rent out, sell, or terminate lease.

Look into storage costs for storing personal possessions in your home country rather than shipping them to the new destination.

Choose the moving company and set a date for the movers to pack your belongings.

Consider a small airfreight shipment of essential items that you would like to be there on your arrival.

Choose a relocation agent and inform them of your accommodation and schooling needs

Inform your children’s school that you will be moving abroad and ask for transfer certificates and any information which will be relevant when you move.

Book your air tickets and hotels if they are required.

Check quarantine requirements in your destination country and arrange pet relocation.

Create a folder with all hard copies and paperwork of the important documents and create a file on your computer for all of your saved files.

Obtain original copies of important documents like:

Passports

Driving license(s)

Birth certificate(s)

Wedding certificate(s)

School report(s)

Work references

Medical reports

Check the documentation requirements for the country you are moving to

Create a tax and finance folder with any information which can be claimed back on tax.

Make a checklist of all packing boxes and what will go in each one.

Print out change of address cards to hand to friends and family and let everyone important know about your departure and change of address.

If you are renting out your house and do not have any tenants yet, contact local rental agencies for their help.

Start packing items which you do not need in the next three months such as ornaments, books, photos, jewellery and out of season clothes

If you are selling your house, put it on the market.

If your national driving license needs renewing, do so before you leave.

Timeline
2 Months Before Moving

If you are selling anything such as a car or any household equipment, put everything on the market.

Check all insurance policies and organise your visas if you need to.

Organise leaving parties for yourself and your children.

Contact the post office to set up their mail re-routing service.

Prepare a power of attorney.

Make sure you have certified copies of all important documents ready to hand over to the person you will be leaving in charge of your affairs.

Contact your bank and explain that you are moving abroad. If you already have your new address, give them this

Set up direct debits with your bank for any bill payments which you will still be making while you are away.

Find out what the local names and equivalents are for any prescription medication you or your family are on.

Make sure that the prescription medication will be available in your destination country.

Set up internet banking – as you will need to manage your money online while you are away

Have a garage sale of all the things you want to sell.

If you are renting out your house, get all minor repairs completed.

Organise the cancellation of all magazine and newspaper subscriptions or regular deliveries you receive on the day you will be leaving.

Arrange temporary accommodation for the period prior to the move and in the new destination prior to the arrival of your belongings.

Investigate work opportunities for partner and/or children in the new destination.

Look into insurance to cover your items during the move

If you have small children, check child care options at your destination.

Make sure you have current vaccination records, and that you get recommended vaccinations for your destination country.

Timeline
1 Month Before Moving

Change your address on anything which requires it

Make sure you have paid all outstanding bills. Leave a small amount of money with a friend or relative to settle any that you may have missed.

Contact utilities companies to arrange cancellation of accounts.

Overseas Moving Checklist

Timeline3 Months Before Moving

Decide what to do with your current housing: rent out, sell, or terminate lease.

Look into storage costs for storing personal possessions in your home country rather than shipping them to the new destination.

Choose the moving company and set a date for the movers to pack your belongings.

Consider a small airfreight shipment of essential items that you would like to be there on your arrival.

Choose a relocation agent and inform them of your accommodation and schooling needs

Inform your children’s school that you will be moving abroad and ask for transfer certificates and any information which will be relevant when you move.

Book your air tickets and hotels if they are required.

Check quarantine requirements in your destination country and arrange pet relocation.

Create a folder with all hard copies and paperwork of the important documents and create a file on your computer for all of your saved files.

Obtain original copies of important documents like:

Passports

Driving license(s)

Birth certificate(s)

Wedding certificate(s)

School report(s)

Work references

Medical reports

Check the documentation requirements for the country you are moving to

Create a tax and finance folder with any information which can be claimed back on tax.

Make a checklist of all packing boxes and what will go in each one.

Print out change of address cards to hand to friends and family and let everyone important know about your departure and change of address.

If you are renting out your house and do not have any tenants yet, contact local rental agencies for their help.

Start packing items which you do not need in the next three months such as ornaments, books, photos, jewellery and out of season clothes

If you are selling your house, put it on the market.

If your national driving license needs renewing, do so before you leave.

Timeline2 Months Before Moving

If you are selling anything such as a car or any household equipment, put everything on the market.

Check all insurance policies and organise your visas if you need to.

Organise leaving parties for yourself and your children.

Contact the post office to set up their mail re-routing service.

Prepare a power of attorney.

Make sure you have certified copies of all important documents ready to hand over to the person you will be leaving in charge of your affairs.

Contact your bank and explain that you are moving abroad. If you already have your new address, give them this

Set up direct debits with your bank for any bill payments which you will still be making while you are away.

Find out what the local names and equivalents are for any prescription medication you or your family are on.

Make sure that the prescription medication will be available in your destination country.

Set up internet banking – as you will need to manage your money online while you are away

Have a garage sale of all the things you want to sell.

If you are renting out your house, get all minor repairs completed.

Organise the cancellation of all magazine and newspaper subscriptions or regular deliveries you receive on the day you will be leaving.

Arrange temporary accommodation for the period prior to the move and in the new destination prior to the arrival of your belongings.

Investigate work opportunities for partner and/or children in the new destination.

Look into insurance to cover your items during the move

If you have small children, check child care options at your destination.

Make sure you have current vaccination records, and that you get recommended vaccinations for your destination country.

Timeline1 Month Before Moving

Change your address on anything which requires it

Make sure you have paid all outstanding bills. Leave a small amount of money with a friend or relative to settle any that you may have missed.

Contact utilities companies to arrange cancellation of accounts.

Timeline
3 Months Before Moving

Timeline
2 Months Before Moving

Timeline
1 Month Before Moving