14 Things To Consider Before Moving To A New Country

Today marks 2 years to the day that I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in the US-of-A. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t a forever move, but it was long enough to give me a taste of living in another country and the steps you should start to think about when moving. After all, a lot of people look for new starts in January, and as dramatic as it might seem, sometimes a whole new change of scenery can really help get your New Year off to a great start.

If you’re considering moving to a new country but you don’t know where to begin when it comes to planning then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re permanently moving or you’re moving for a couple of months, you need to ensure you’re as prepared as you can possibly be. From setting yourself a final moving date to packing up all of your belongings, the more you do in advance the better. With that in mind, here are 14 things to consider before moving to a new country:

Have You Worked Out An Overall Budget For The Move?

One of the first things you need to do is to ensure you’re setting yourself a budget, as this will ensure you’re not spending more than you can afford. Although you may have a rough idea of how much you’re going to spend, you need to take the time to ensure you know exactly how much each individual aspect of your move is going to cost. This means thinking about the cost of your new deposit, the cost of your removal team and the cost of any new furniture you may need to buy. Moving can be expensive but if you’re budgeting, you’ll find it much easier. 

For a guide to budgeting for your move, you can visit this site here. 

When Do You Need To Move Buy?

Another important thing to consider is when you need to move by. Whether this is the date you need to be in your new property or the date you need to be out of your old one, having an idea of when you need to move will help you create a schedule you can work easily work towards. 

Where Will You Be Moving? Have You Chosen A Neighbourhood?

One of the most important things you need to consider when it comes to moving to a new country is where you’re going to be moving to. This means not only thinking about the country you’re going to be moving to but also thinking about the city and neighbourhood. It might be difficult to narrow down to begin with but after a bit of research, you’re bound to shortlist a couple of places you may want to live. For a guide to finding a new country to live in, you can visit this site here. 

Have You Previously Spent Some Time There?

Moving to a new country can be incredibly daunting and if you don’t know where you’re moving, chances are you’re going to be feeling incredibly anxious. Although it is not necessary, you might want to consider spending some time in the area you’re going to be moving to. It will be expensive but will give you an idea of what your new neighbourhood will be like. Not only that, but it will also give you an opportunity to find your perfect house. 

Do You Have A House To Move To?

Once you know where you’re moving to you, you need to find a house to live in. Whilst this may be difficult when you’re in your home country, you need to do the best you can. From virtual viewings to conference calls, you need to do all that you can to ensure you’re finding the right house. If it helps, you might want to consider temporarily renting a property when you first arrive, giving you a chance to find your forever home once you’ve settled in. 

Have You Put Your Old Property Up For Sale?

Although it may not be necessary right away, you need to put your old property up for sale. In fact, the earlier you put it up for sale the better as it will allow you to carry out viewings, attend meetings and finish the sale without having to travel back. For tips and tricks when it comes to selling your old property, you need to visit this site here. 

How Will You Be Moving All Of Your Stuff? Are You Taking Everything With You?

Another important thing to consider is how you’re going to be moving your stuff and whether or not you’re taking everything with you. 

Depending on how far you’re moving, you might want to consider selling your belongings and repurchasing things once you arrive in your new home. Although you may lose a little bit of money, it is considered much easier than shipping your belongings halfway across the world. 

If you want to take your belongings with you, you need to look at all of your available options. In most cases, you’ll find there’s no way to ship large items. 

What Do You Need To Take With You?

On a similar note, you need to think about what you need to take with you. Although you may feel as though you need to take everything you own, the reality is that’s just not the case. The best thing to do is to write yourself a list of all of the things you know you absolutely need to take with you, prioritising the things that are most important. It will be hard to leave some things behind but at the end of the day, items without sentimental value are nearly always replaceable. 

Do You Need To Apply For A Visa?

Once you’ve thought about where you’re moving to and what you need to take with you, you need to start thinking about the finer details. One of the most important details, of course, is applying for a visa. Although you may not necessarily need a visa, it’s important you’re looking into whether or not this is essential. Whether you need a visa to live and work in Canada or you’re looking into getting a Chinese visa, the more research you’re doing the better. For details when it comes to a China visa, you can visit this handy site here. 

How Will You Be Finding A Job? 

Now that your visa is sorted and you’ve started to pack your stuff, you need to start applying for jobs. Although you don’t need to have a job in place before you move, it’s definitely a great way to relieve some of the pressure of moving to a new company. Whether this means you look for a new job during a previous visit or you conduct as many telephone interviews as you can, crossing this off your list will definitely make the process that little bit easier. If you’re unsure about the job market in the country you’re moving to, you might want to do a little bit of research when it comes to their general employment practices. 

Who Will Be Going With You?

Another important thing to consider is who is going to be moving to your new home with you. Whether you’re moving alone or you’re moving with your family, you need to ensure you’re considering everyone’s needs. This means thinking about schools, safe locations and potential language barriers. 

Is It A Temporary Move?

Once you’ve started to think about the finer details of your move, you need to think about how long you’re planning your move to be. Whether you’re moving for a year or you’re thinking of permanently changing your residence, it’s important you have this in mind when you’re making your plans. The duration of your move will help when it comes to finding your accommodation, searching for your job and when it comes to choosing the country you’re going to be moving to – especially if you require a visa. 

How Often Will You Be Travelling Home?

If you are going to be changing your residence permanently, you need to think about how often you’re going to be travelling home to see your family and friends. Although you may want to do this as often as you can, often it comes down to money. 

If it helps, you might want to have a couple of trips home planned before you start your new journey. Not only will it give you something to look forward to but it will also give you an idea of how much it’s going to cost to regularly go backwards and forwards. Hopefully, it’s much easier than you anticipated. 

Do You Have A Contingency Plan?

Finally, you need to think about whether or not you have a contingency plan. Although the chances of something going wrong are incredibly low, you need to ensure you have a plan in place that will allow you to return home if you need to. Ideally, this will mean having a pot of money saved for you to break into at any given moment. After all, you never know when you’re going to need to fly home on short notice. 

Are you thinking of moving to a new country? What do you need to do to ensure you’re as prepared as you can possibly be? Did we miss anything off of the list? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.