Moving overseas – especially if you\u2019re going to somewhere that doesn\u2019t speak the same language as you – can be pretty anxiety inducing. Even if you\u2019re mostly excited about it, you\u2019d have to agree it\u2019s like stepping into the unknown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll quickly see how there\u2019s way more to the whole process than just booking your flight when you\u2019re getting ready to leave your home country. That includes gathering a range of important documents and setting up a new bank account. Literally every part of your move needs attention. It\u2019s not just something you do on a whim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So we\u2019ve made a moving abroad checklist to cover everything you need in order to settle in properly, wherever you\u2019re planning on moving to. This includes things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First things first: sort out your passport, visas, and all those vital papers. You can\u2019t have your passport expiring for at least six months after you set off. Pretty much any major country, including the one you\u2019re probably thinking about travelling to, needs this kind of buffer to let you in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So we\u2019d advise applying for any necessary visas or work permits you need for your destination country as soon as you can since the processing can take a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then after that, get every important personal document that you might need. So this includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it\u2019s also a decent idea to get an international driving permit if you plan to drive abroad because one of these IDPs proves your Australian<\/a> licence is actually valid overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep these documents somewhere organised in your carry-on luggage. Just make sure it\u2019s safe because you definitely don\u2019t want to lose them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also not a bad idea to leave photocopies or digital scans with a trusted friend or relative back home so you\u2019ve got some kind of backup. We get that this might sound a bit overly cautious or needlessly meticulous, but being this way with paperwork only takes a bit of prep and will save you headaches when setting up your new life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Money matters a lot when you\u2019re making any big move. Obviously it helps if you\u2019ve got more cash to play with, but it\u2019s not even just that. You\u2019ve now got to decide what to do with your Australian bank accounts – will you keep them open, or close them out? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Notify your bank that you\u2019ll be abroad so none of your cards get randomly frozen when charges suddenly appear from overseas. People tend to keep an account open so they can handle any remaining bills they\u2019ve got back home, but you\u2019ll also want to open a bank account in your new country that you use on a daily basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your Australian bank about international transfer fees or limits too, as you don\u2019t want to be caught off guard by any restrictions your host country might have on money transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let the Australian Taxation Office know about your move if you\u2019re leaving Australia for more than a few months – you must tell the ATO within seven days if you\u2019re going overseas for over 6 months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And make sure you know what your tax obligations are in Australia and in your destination country so you don\u2019t end up paying double. Australia only has tax treaties with a handful of countries to prevent double taxation, so otherwise you are probably going to be liable for taxes in two places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If that sounds complicated, just get in touch with a financial advisor. They can help you through issues like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget to look after your health during this move. When you go abroad, you won\u2019t have access to healthcare in your host country, so you\u2019ll need to arrange your own health insurance coverage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So that means researching international health insurance plans that suit your needs in the new country. And you\u2019ll want travel insurance to cover the actual move itself but also the first few weeks of your life abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have existing policies (for example, private health or life insurance), check with your insurance provider about whether your coverage will still be valid overseas. There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll probably have to update or extend your policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See your doctor for a general checkup and ask if you can get some copies of your health documents. For instance, keep a record of immunisations (vaccination records for all family members) and any important medical files or prescriptions you\u2019ll need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bringing these along will help new healthcare providers in your destination country understand your history and ensure continuity of care. Pack a basic travel first-aid kit and enough of any prescription medication to last until you can find a local doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, start by deciding what you want to do with your house or apartment back home in advance. If you\u2019re just renting, you need to give notice to your landlord. If you own a home, on the other hand, you could either sell<\/a> or lease the property out to get some rental income<\/a> while you\u2019re away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Figure out what to do with your vehicle as well – you could sell it or arrange for transport overseas if you plan to drive in your new city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget things like cancelling or even just updating some of your services and subscriptions. Obviously things like a Netflix subscription can stay, but you\u2019ll need to notify your utility companies of your move so you can settle any final bills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Set up mail forwarding with Australia Post or a private service so important mail reaches you abroad – or just get it sent to a family member\u2019s address. It\u2019s also a good idea to update your contact info to your new overseas address with institutions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You also need to take care of any legal and personal matters, which could be just updating your will or giving a trusted person power of attorney to handle some of your affairs while you\u2019re gone. And before you hop on the plane, exchange a bit of Australian currency into your destination country\u2019s cash so you have local money in hand when you land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, it never hurts to prepare for the cultural change. Read up on your host country\u2019s customs, and maybe learn a few key phrases in the local language. These are just small steps but you might find it helps you settle in a bit faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upscore\u2019s Finance Passport<\/a> compiles all your income and credit history<\/a> into a single profile, which makes it way easier to share with banks or lenders in your destination country. It\u2019s completely free, and a great way of comparing different lenders<\/a> when you\u2019re applying for a mortgage<\/a> abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSort Out Your Finances and Banking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tax Responsibilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Take Care of Health and Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Handling Any Loose Ends Before You Leave<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How Upscore Can Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n