Moving abroad is a big, exciting step in anyone’s life. In fact, living in another country and possibly speaking another language can be life changing! The same goes for learning new cultures, experiencing unique foods, and so much more. If you’re moving abroad, you might be overwhelmed by all of the tasks you have in front of you. From packing boxes, getting passports, and loads of paperwork, there’s more to do than you might imagine.

To make your overseas move less stressful, NSA Storage put together the following top tips for moving abroad. Once you’ve discovered them, you’ll be able to go like a pro! Read on to get your overseas adventure started on the right foot.

How to Move Abroad: Planning Stage

These first few tips are all about planning your overseas move. Use them to get everything going in the right direction:

1. Do Some Research on Your New Country

While some things may be the same, many things will be different in the new country you’re moving to. Which side of the road they drive on, for instance, as well as weather patterns, local laws, etc. The more you know before you arrive, the better, so use this time to educate yourself! 

2. Start the Paperwork as early as Possible

There’s a lot of paperwork involved in moving abroad. You might need a visa where you’re going, and you’ll almost definitely need a passport. Below are a few of the other important documents you’re going to need:

• A work permit
• Proof of income
• Medical records
• Health insurance documents
• A criminal background check
• Your birth certificate
• Your marriage certificate
• A housing agreement
• Banking arrangements
• Mail forwarding 

3. Make a Moving Budget (and Stick to It)

You might already have realized that moving abroad is not going to be cheap. The packing and loading here in the states is just the start. Then there’s shipping, travel to your new home in your new country, unloading, and more. 

Add in the costs for flights, insurance and other things and you quickly realize that making a budget just makes sense. That way, when all is done and you’re in your new home, your bank account won’t be empty.

4. Visit Your Family Doctor

Your medical doctor can tell you if you need any immunizations or need to take health precautions in your new country. You might also need a medical check-up depending on which country you’re moving to. Do this for everyone in your family.

Packing for an International Move

Packing your things when you move within the United States is important to make sure everything arrives in good condition. That goes double when moving internationally, as your things will be moved around and handled much more. 

In most cases, for example, your moving truck will be loaded at your home. Next, it will be unloaded and reloaded into a shipping container and shipped overseas. Once there, your stuff will then be reloaded again into another moving truck before it finally gets delivered to your new home. 

That’s an awful lot of handling and makes packing even more important. Here are a few packing tips to help:

1. Get Rid of Everything You Don’t Need, Use, or Want

As we’ve already mentioned, moving abroad can be very expensive. Since most international moves are based on weight, getting rid of everything you don’t need, use, or want will save you money. 

Let’s face it, you don’t want to move things overseas that you never use, don’t need, or don’t want. In short, get rid of those things first and save yourself a bundle of cash.

2. Create a Packing List

Once you know exactly what you will bring overseas, create a packing list to make sure you don’t forget anything. It can be as basic, or complicated, as you like. If it helps you to remember all of the things you need to take with you, it’s worth it.

3. Use Heavy-Duty Moving Boxes 

Anything worth taking with you overseas deserves to be packed well, and that means using new, clean, heavy-duty moving boxes. You can find them at your local big box store or at many NSA Storage locations.

4. Label All Boxes Well

When you arrive in your new country everything is going to be a little frantic and chaotic. The better you’ve labeled all of your boxes, the faster and easier it will be to move them into your new home.

What Should You Take when Moving Abroad?

There are a few factors you need to consider when deciding what to bring with you to your new home abroad. Here are a few questions to help you decide:

How Long are You Moving Abroad?

This might be the most important question to answer. If you’re moving abroad for a few months, you probably don’t want to take everything you own. On the other hand, if it’s for several years, you might want (or need) all of your stuff. Knowing this ahead of time could potentially save you a lot of money on moving costs.

Do You Need Certain Items?

Depending on what you do for a living, there might be certain things you own that you must have to do your work. A drafting table, for example, or possibly hand tools, supplies, etc. 

Experts suggest that you take only the things you definitely need when you move abroad. Deciding what those things are is something you need to start working on as early as possible in your move planning.

How Can Self Storage Help when Moving Abroad?

Self storage is an option many people use when they move overseas, especially those in the military. That’s because renting a self-storage unit can be very helpful during an overseas move. For example, if there are items you want to keep but don’t want to take with you at this time, self storage can hold your items for you. This can give you extra time to get settled in your new home without the hassle of large or unnecessary items. In self storage, your things will be safe and secure until you move back or are ready to bring them to your new home.

Keeping your items in storage can also help you stay flexible at what might be an uncertain time in your life. Sometimes overseas moves don’t work out exactly as you planned. With a storage unit, you have the flexibility to change your plans with only a few weeks’ notice.

NSA Storage is Here for Your Big Move

There’s no denying that moving abroad is exciting and challenging at the same time. There’s so much to think about, plan, and prepare for that it can be a little overwhelming. Hopefully, the expert tips we’ve shared today will make your overseas move less stressful and more successful.

At NSA Storage, we store things for folks who move overseas all the time, especially our military members. Our safe, clean, and secure storage units can be found across the United States. You can reserve a storage unit online quickly and easily so that it’s ready when you arrive to store your stuff. Until then, good luck with your move abroad and living in a new country!