Make sure your passport is current. If you need a new one, that is the first order of business. It can take several weeks to apply for and receive a new passport. [3] X Research source

Discussing the packing and shipping arrangements. Interview at least three different companies and get their quotes for the move. Find out what each company is prepared to do: specialized packing, dealing with your wine cellar (this can be problematic), helping with pets, timing guarantees, storage at the other end, etc. Also, discuss the possibility of storing possessions in your current country. If this move is short-term and you intend to return, it might be best to leave some—or even most—items behind. Deciding what to do with your current home if you own it. Are you going to sell it or rent it out? If selling, talk to a real estate agent and tell them about your plans. Ask yourself if you have time to wait for the best offer, or you need to sell quickly to get the money. Be careful how you convey this to your agent—you still want the best price, whatever your hurry. If renting it out, interview agents responsible for rental properties and be sure you are one hundred percent happy with their services. Ask for references and if possible, favor an agent used to renting out properties for overseas landlords—it’s much harder to be an overseas landlord and much can go wrong in your absence if the agent fails to meet their basic obligations of checking the property regularly and vetting tenants properly. Dealing with mortgages, leases and loans. You will need to talk to your bank or other lenders about handling these financial obligations most effectively. Talking to your children’s schools about the upcoming change. You will need evidence of your children’s current level of schooling, as well as a guarantee of willingness to be emailed or phoned by the school in your new country, if relevant. Ask the guidance counselor about any transition issues you might find useful. Vaccinations and visas. Be sure that you are up-to-date with relevant vaccinations and obtain all visas. Sort out any accompanying documentation needed for a permanent or long-term move. If you’re planning on renouncing your citizenship of your current country and taking on new citizenship, this will take considerable time, so start working on this from the beginning of your planning. Developing a timeline for packing. Follow this with dedication, as it can give you plenty of time to deal with things that go wrong—and they will! {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/0/0b/161405-02b06. jpg/v4-460px-161405-02b06. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/0/0b/161405-02b06. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-02b06. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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If you do have the luxury of your own timeline, give yourself at least six months. You will need every moment of this time to tie up many loose ends, including dealing with your property, car, pets, insurance, packing, and shipping, banking, educational transitions and more. In some cases, you may not have this luxury. It is possible to move quickly, so if this has been thrust on you, try not to despair. However, do immediately spend time creating networks of helpers. You really need as many hands on deck as you can gather.

Avoid buying a place over the internet. You could buy something terrible without noticing. You need to be on location to get a sense of the neighborhood, to see the dry rot at the base of the house, to realize that it is overpriced! One way around this is for you or one family member to do a forward visit, to check out real estate to see what’s on offer and whether anything is a good deal. You may also know somebody in your new country who can be your eyes and ears. Even if you want to buy a house or apartment in the new country, it is recommended that you begin by renting. Renting gives you a quick out if you choose the wrong location or you simply do not like being in the new country. After at least six months, you will have a better idea of wanting to stay or not, plus a much better understanding of the real estate and preferred areas to live. This means less pressure for you and a greater likelihood of making the right decision. Be aware that you will initially be without your shipped goods. This makes living in a hotel or a serviced apartment initially a good choice. Get a good lawyer when dealing with purchase of property in another country. You will need someone on your side who understands all the taxes, fees, liens, caveats, etc that the country you’re moving to has in store. Your current attorney may be able to give you a recommendation for an attorney in your new country.

Unless you are planning to never return to your current country, it is advisable to keep at least one bank account open in your current country. The longer you have an account open, the better your credit standing. When you do return, it is easier to start where you left off than to have to open new accounts. Internet banking makes it easier for you to monitor the account in the country you have left. [7] X Research source In some countries, accessing money will be a lot harder than in others. Be sure to discuss the challenges and solutions with your bank and a reputable financial adviser with knowledgeable about the country that you are moving to.

Be ruthless. Every thing added means greater costs in shipping. Occasionally, shipping containers fall overboard, while damage can occur to goods at any stage of transit due to rough handling and other mishaps. Bear this in mind when lugging your antique collection of whatnots with you––it may be better to place in storage or to sell and have the cash. Become adequately insured for any mishaps during shipping.

Is your pet allowed in the country you are headed to? Will your pet undergo quarantine? For how long and at what cost? How will your pet travel? Find out about safety, costs, and all requirements, such as pet passports. How is your pet’s health? Your pet needs to be thoroughly vaccinated and medically fit to travel. There may be other requirements of the country of destination too––check. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/23/161405-09b04. jpg/v4-460px-161405-09b04. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/23/161405-09b04. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-09b04. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Consider your pet’s frailty when making the decision. Taking an old or disabled pet with you may be too much trauma for the pet.

If you’re not familiar with the customs of the local people, do some research beforehand and get to know the ways as much as possible. It is better that you have a surface understanding than none at all—at least this gives you the opportunity to be understanding and to get more involved in cultural events and customs when you’re in the new country. It will also help you avoid insulting the local people. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/19/161405-12b01. jpg/v4-460px-161405-12b01. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/19/161405-12b01. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-12b01. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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It’s normal to feel sad or depressed due to these losses; it will pass once you get used to the new country. If you move from a country with a lot of choice in consumables to one with a lot less choice, you may find life challenging. No longer do you have the aisle of breakfast cereals (it is now down to a small rack) or the amazing choice in cars (you have either the blue or the gray one now). Initially, this can be extremely frustrating. You have two choices—one, accept it and realize that a lack of choice frees up thinking time and spares planetary resources, or two, travel back to your home country and buy up (or have understanding family and friends send you care packages). While for many people the lack of choice does not really fade with time (you will find yourself reminiscing frequently about the days when you could get X item in X different styles) but you do get used to fewer choices!

Early on, ask about decent tradespeople. Eventually, something is going to break. In addition, you are going to need someone reliable who turns up when they say, they will and who charges fairly. If you have not already lined up such people through asking others who do know, you are fair game for being taken advantage of, and overcharged. This can be a nightmare experience, and since you have the freedom to plan rather than wait for the ax to fall, plan. Stay calm when dealing with bureaucratic procedures. Most countries have forms, most have queues, and most have the most insanely ridiculous reasons for filling out things and waiting. Yours is not to question why but to learn via locals and online sites how to manage these issues as best as possible. There is always a way, be sure to learn about the right way. If you do not ask, you will never know.

Your rollercoaster of emotions deserves to be taken care of. If you suffer from anxiety, unabated fears, depression, etc. , seek help with a mental health therapist. Do not suffer in silence—it will only be compounded by the foreignness of everything and everyone around you and you can end up feeling completely isolated and terrified. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/65/161405-16b01. jpg/v4-460px-161405-16b01. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/65/161405-16b01. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-16b01. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Be sure to build a network of close friends, to talk openly with family and friends about feelings and to listen carefully to the concerns of your children (if relevant). {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/26/161405-16b02. jpg/v4-460px-161405-16b02. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/26/161405-16b02. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-16b02. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Mental health therapy can be obtained online if you would rather deal with someone from your old country. The beauty of the internet is that you can remain close if need be. [14] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/24/161405-16b03. jpg/v4-460px-161405-16b03. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/24/161405-16b03. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-16b03. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and email to keep in touch with friends and family you’ve left behind. Use Skype to have face-to-face talks: it’s almost like being there! This can be reassuring and beneficial way to keep your feelings in check and to get support from people who know you well. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/4/4b/161405-16b04. jpg/v4-460px-161405-16b04. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/4/4b/161405-16b04. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-16b04. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Invite your closest friends over to stay occasionally for a mini-break. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/f8/161405-16b05. jpg/v4-460px-161405-16b05. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/f8/161405-16b05. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-16b05. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Wear appropriate clothing for the place you are living in and try to blend in. Sometimes lack of safety happens because of criminals considering someone to be a tourist or to be inappropriately dressed. Call in to the local police station to ask about safety issues. You might also ask about crime levels in areas you are researching for buying or renting a home in too.

Imagine living in that new country. Watch videos online to get a sense of what it like there, during all seasons of the year. Consider weather, pollution levels, ease of access to food, transport, and medical attention. List what things there are to do there by way of work and activities. Look online to find the stories of people who have already made this move. Ex-pats can be the best source of information; reading their experience will help you develop a wider sense of whether or not this is a sensible option or whether it is something that a majority find problems with. Give some credence to what they say, since they are experiencing it; however, also beware that individual experiences will vary considerably depending on the reasons for their move, their income levels, their job experiences, the area of the country they are living in, etc. Ask questions if the forums of the site permit. Will you be able to work in the new country? Is there a demand for your profession? What hoops will you have to jump through for employment? Is there a possibility of getting a job there before moving so that you can be reassured of earning? Few people can afford to take the chance of not having a job in a new country unless they are already wealthy enough to cover the length of stay there. Also, find out about social insurance and what tests you’ll need to meet to be eligible—be aware that you may not be eligible for months or years, or maybe never.

Contact the country’s embassy as your first port of call. They often keep information packs for those wishing to emigrate. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/a/aa/161405-21b01. jpg/v4-460px-161405-21b01. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/a/aa/161405-21b01. jpg/aid161405-v4-728px-161405-21b01. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Consider learning the language to a proficient level before leaving your own country. Book lessons for language immersion the moment you arrive. Find a sympathetic tutor who understands both your language as well as the one they are teaching you. Ensure that this person can make the time for you to go to places together to help you learn the language in specific contexts, such as shopping, dealing with a landlord, banking, buying a car, registering for school/college, etc.

Don’t forget that depending on where you go, your children will likely have to learn a new language or a new dialect of a language (for example, they may need to become familiar with differences between Australian English and American English). While some parents see this as a good thing because their child has an opportunity to become multilingual, if your child has educational issues of any kind, this might really throw them through hoops. This is especially true if the local language functions on a different alphabet than the child’s first language.