10 things I wish I did before moving to another country

Going through relocation twice, you would think I have learned all the ins and outs, but no. There is still a considerable room for improvements. So without further ado, please enjoy a list of things I wish I do before relocating next time:

1. Going to the dentist

When you are settling in, it takes time to find a new dentist, a clinic or medical laboratory. Therefore, doing all the periodical medical check-ups before you go will give you a peace of mind for at least first few months after your arrival to a new country. I would also recommend comparing vaccination schedules between the countries, and catching up on any differences.

2. Throwing a big goodbye party for all the family and friends

Even though I have started goodbye lunches and coffees quite early, I still feel that I did not say “bye” properly to SO MANY people. One way to solve this issue would be to simply throw a goodbye party for all the family, friends and colleagues. A hustle of organising a party shortly before your departure may seem like a crazy idea, but may actually be the opposite. It would give you an opportunity to spend a fun time with many of your close ones at once. Also, what a great opportunity to make some awesome last-minute memories.

3. Selling as much as possible

Relocation is costly, if you can get some money back while downsizing your belongings – that’s a bonus. It does not matter how rich you are, throwing perfectly fine goods is just wasteful. I was very ambitious about selling our stuff right after we decided to relocate. Unfortunately, as the move out date was approaching, I quickly progressed to the “giving away” business. Nothing wrong with that, I keep telling myself. On the other hand, the amount of money you can spend relocating is infinitive. Try selling what you can early, instead of throwing away everything last-minute. Also, when you know that you will be relocating, try to limit all the purchases to only the things you plan to take with you. I usually stop buying clothes, shoes, books, stationery and many more, the second I even consider relocation. This exercise has taught me how little I really need in my everyday live.

4. Learning the language

I cannot emphasise this one enough. Before our first move (to New Zealand), we knew the language quite well. The English I mean, not Māori. In my wildest dreams, I would never think that the second relocation will be to the country (Japan) we do not really know the language. Of course, we were trying to prepare. We have signed up for the language course a year before. But having a language classes in your “free” time, was not enough for us. We ended up struggling at the beginning in any interactions with Japanese people, including the simple situations like shopping. The point is, if you can prioritise language learning, do it. It will lower stress levels, and facilitate the process of going through all the administrative procedures to mention only a few. Also, having an ability to freely ask questions will immensely speed up learning of your new environment.

5. Finding new friends

Each time we were relocating we knew at least one person in the cities we were heading to. There is nothing more special, than being picked up by a friendly person (thank you Ralf!) when you land after a 30-hour trip to start a new life.

Now when we have a daughter, I wish I would be more persistent in looking for friends for her ahead of time. Let me explain: keeping her three languages going becomes an issue in a setting where she spends her days in a one-language day care. Being an adult makes making friends harder though, or I am just useless in that, I do not know…

These are more or less the things I would invest in sorting out before the relocation. I have asked Tomek about this topic, and he suggested some additional things to consider:

6. Getting a new passport

The passport is your most important document. Make sure it is valid for a way longer time that you think you will need it for. The worst thing is to be forced to fly back to your country or try to update your passport while being abroad. Both options are costly and additionally the second one can take up to 6 months depending on the country’s processes.

7. Getting international driver’s licence

There are some exceptions like European Union, but in general, if you want to drive a car in a foreign country, you need an international driver’s licence. There are usually easy to get, by which I mean you do not have to pass any additional exams. If you have a regular driver’s licence you just apply for the international one by filling in some forms, getting a photo and paying a fee. They are usually only valid for a year, so eventually you would have to convert your licence to a local one if you wish to continue driving in the new country.

8. Taking all your documents

The most important ones are probably the birth certificate and marriage certificate, you might also get them apostilled and translated if needed. Do not forget about your diplomas, transcripts, certificates, recommendation letters etc. Too many, you say – scan them than. All of them. When you relocate, many things, including your career path, may change and you might need some documents you did not expected. If you really do not want to take you documents with you. At least pack them in folders with tags. That way, person who you leave them with, can easily find what you may need later.

9. Online access to your accounts

This is more of a general travel tip. Make sure you call your bank and let them know about your travel or relocation plans. Banks may interpret an unexpected overseas purchase as a fraud and lock your card. Also make sure you have access to your two factor authentication (2FA) login codes by using an app like Google Authenticator. If you are getting your codes via TXT/SMS, make sure that roaming will work. You can also try to disable/suspend the 2FA until you get your new mobile number.

It is also very handy to get an online access to whatever you can, like governmental sites for doing taxes, post redirection etc. If you plan to keep your original country’s mobile number after you move, make sure you can top it up online. Mobile carriers tend to suspend numbers which are not being topped up regularly.

10. Getting a travel insurance

Getting a travel insurance is not very expensive, but might save you from massive costs if something happens while you are on the way to your new country.  

Would you have more tips to add? Leave a comment below.