Just imagine the stress of moving to a new home. Got the picture? Now add that the move is to another country.
It is bound to feel overwhelming. The paperwork is more complicated, not to mention international regulations, and the cost rises significantly. There are countless factors to consider.
Even so, international moves are becoming more common every day, usually for personal reasons and often in search of better career opportunities.
Let’s look at a few ideas that have delivered great results in this kind of process.
Things to consider beforehand
Decide whether you will take all your belongings to the destination country. That means, on top of your clothes, all the furniture and everything else in your current home.
If that is your case, you will need to hire a company that specialises in international moves.
These are organisations with the staff and logistical resources needed to make sure your goods reach another country without any damage. They have the capacity and experience for this kind of move.
It is not only about the volume of the move: they also need to have the right credentials and references.
Essential information before moving abroad
Gather as much information as possible about your destination country
You must check which documents you need for the move. Among others, you will need your passport, proof of deregistration from the local council, consular deregistration, the packing list in the local language, and the clearance and representation authorisation.
One idea that has proven useful, according to people who have gone through these moves, is to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
With this registration, the Spanish authorities can reach you easily should an emergency arise.
Check what you can transport
In these cases, the priority is clothing, personal documents, furniture, accessories, books and decorative items, among others. These are the essentials.
Even so, you should assess whether it is more effective to buy some furniture once you arrive at your new home. This helps you estimate the real budget for the move.
If you sell some furniture, that money will come in handy to replace it later, and you will avoid the higher moving cost that comes with a larger volume of items.
On top of that, you probably don’t yet know the dimensions of your new home, and you may want to give it a fresh look when you get there.
Steps to take for an international move
- Carefully review all the rules of the new country. This way you will know exactly what restrictions apply to what you can bring in.
- Contact the country’s consulate or embassy in advance and ask for as much information as possible.
- Make a final decision on what you will take. Give priority to the items that are truly essential in the country you are moving to.
- Request at least 3 quotes from international moving companies so you can compare and choose the best one.
- Draw up an inventory of all the goods you will transport. It is a customs requirement.
- Insure every item. Don’t overlook this detail, as it will cover any incidents during the process.
To wrap up, following these ideas will make it easier, and even more practical, to complete your move abroad successfully.
