Prepare for International Moves | Mabey's Moving and Storage

Learn how to prepare for an international move with tips from Mabey’s. Rely on our experience and comprehensive guide when moving out of the country.

Navigating an international move can be a complex and challenging task, but with careful planning and organization, the process can go very smoothly. At Mabey’s Moving and Storage, our international moving services help customers prepare, pack, and ship items for international moves every day. Over the years, we have grown and learned a few important tips that have been compiled into a comprehensive guide that is designed to help you prepare for an international move.

Early Planning for Your International Move

It's never a good idea to procrastinate when planning an international move. However, long before you start gathering boxes or buy dozens of rolls of tape for an international move, you need to take specific steps to prepare for the unique requirements that go with leaving one country to live for an extended period in another. The key things you need to consider include:

Understanding the Timeline for an International Relocation

When it comes to an international move, ideally, the earlier you start, the better. You can count on dealing with a variety of legal and bureaucratic elements related to the move that are far different from anything you have ever tackled domestically. At the very least, you want to begin the process at least eight to 10 weeks before the move to ensure you have ample time to make decisions and take specific actions. If possible, you may even want to start the process as long as six months before the big day.

Regardless, by a reasonable advance date, you want to make sure to verify the expenses an employer will pay and the responsibilities they will handle as well as note which moving expenses may be reimbursable or qualify as a tax deduction. You can contact your tax department or your accountant to find this information.

Planning ahead is the most important step in any relocation. For additional strategies to stay organized and reduce last-minute stress, explore our guide to creating a detailed moving checklist before the big day.

Navigating Legal and Documentation Requirements

Part of the struggle with an international move is the paperwork that is involved for living outside your home country. Obviously, this differs based on which country (or countries) holds your citizenship, the reason for your move (business vs. personal), and the political situation between your country of origin and your new destination.

However, regardless of these factors, it will be necessary to gather all the essential documents, such as passports, visas, birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical records, academic transcripts, and any other legal documents. Once you gather the items you need, keep these documents in a secure folder or binder and carry them with you at all times during the move.

Financial Preparation for Moving Abroad

To ensure a smooth transition and avoid any financial surprises, financial preparation is crucial when planning an international move. Critical factors to consider include:

Managing Bank Accounts, Taxes, and Financial Obligations

Part of the financial preparation for an international move includes basics, such as budgeting, researching cost of living, and planning for income (if you aren’t moving for work). However, more specifically, it’s also important to take care of broader issues, such as:

Banking: Set up a local bank account in your destination country before the move to facilitate financial transactions and avoid high currency conversion fees. Make sure to also notify your current bank of your move and inquire about international banking services and fees.
Taxes: Research the tax implications of moving abroad, including any tax treaties between your home country and the destination country. To do this, it is wise to consult with a tax advisor or accountant to understand your tax obligations, potential deductions, and any foreign reporting requirements.
Financial Obligations: It’s also important to evaluate your current debt obligations and consider how they will be impacted by the move. Once you do so, develop a plan for managing and repaying any outstanding debts, taking into account changes in income, currency exchange rates, and interest rates.

Sorting and Organizing Your Belongings

Because of the sheer logistics of shipping your belongings for an international move, it’s important to carefully and consciously sort your belongings. Conduct an inventory to evaluate your possessions and think about what could be sold or donated to a charitable organization. Do you have items you haven’t used within the last year? Then, you probably don’t need them. Especially if your move is temporary or for work, you may want to store non-essential items until your return.

Detailed Packing Strategies for International Moves

Once you figure out what to pack, it’s time to figure out how to pack those items. Let’s take a look at some of the most common items you will take with you on an international move:

Documents and Valuables: Keep important documents, jewelry, and valuable items in a carry-on bag or a secure container that stays with you at all times during the move.
Medications: Ensure an adequate supply of prescription medications, including single-use contact lenses, to last throughout the transition period. Pack these medications in your carry-on luggage to avoid potential issues with lost or delayed baggage.
Electronics: Back up important data from your electronic devices before packing them for the move. You also want to remove batteries from electronic devices to prevent damage from leakage during transit.
Clothing and Household Items: Vacuum-seal clothing to save space and protect items from moisture and pests.

Addressing Health and Insurance Needs

Moving internationally brings about various health and insurance concerns that need to be addressed to ensure you and your family are adequately covered during your transition and stay in the new country. Most importantly, this includes both securing health insurance as well as having a plan for managing prescriptions.

Securing International Health Insurance

Investigate the healthcare system in your destination country. Determine whether you will be eligible for public healthcare or if you will need to purchase private health insurance. If the latter is true, you will need to research and compare health insurance plans available in the new country to find coverage that includes doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency care, prescription medications, and medical evacuation, if necessary.

Managing Prescriptions

When it comes to prescriptions, first ensure you have an adequate supply of prescription medications, including contact lenses, to last throughout the transition period. Next, research the availability of your medications in the new country and understand any regulations or restrictions related to bringing medications across borders. In addition, make sure to consult with your healthcare provider to obtain necessary prescriptions and documentation for carrying medications during travel and upon arrival in the new country.

Transitioning Smoothly to Your New Country

As your move date draws nearer, make sure you inform banks, utility companies, subscription services, and other relevant parties of your upcoming move and provide them with your new contact information. It’s also important to keep a checklist of tasks to complete before, during, and after the move to stay organized and minimize stress levels for everyone involved. Mabey’s printable guide for an international move is a great start for this purpose. You can download the guide here.

Common Challenges with International Moves

International relocations often involve more logistical considerations than domestic moves. In addition to shipping timelines and customs regulations, movers must also plan for international freight schedules, container loading requirements, and import restrictions that vary by country. Working with experienced international movers can help ensure documentation is completed correctly and that shipments move efficiently through ports and customs checkpoints.

Professional moving companies also help coordinate inventory lists, packing standards for overseas transport, and final delivery in the destination country, making the transition significantly easier for families and businesses relocating abroad.

Leveraging Mabey's Expertise for a Stress-Free Relocation

When you are moving to another country, there are a lot of important things to consider. Particularly if this is your first time making an international move, the decisions that must be made can add another layer of stress to an already stressful time. Partnering with an experienced international moving company like Mabey’s is one way to ease that stress level and make your international move much smoother. Contact us today to learn more and get a quote for international moving services you can trust.