Moving Abroad Checklist

Gather the Documents Required to Move Abroad

The first thing that should be on your list if you’re set on moving abroad should be preparing your documents. Unless you intend to move to another British territory or within the Common Travel Area, meaning to Ireland, you’ll need to do some paperwork before you can start your new life abroad.

This does mean that oftentimes you’ll be applying for a visa, what fun. If you’re curious about the specific requirements for the country you’re moving abroad from the UK for, you can check any and all requirements here on the UK government’s website.

Furthermore, it’s also a good idea to check the government website of your target country to see if there are any specific documents you need for entry, as well as any customs regulations you should be aware of.

Document Checklist

For now, here is a list of the documents you’d be wise to prepare as part of your moving abroad checklist:

• Visa and work permit(if applicable. Sorry we mention it twice, it’s very important elsewise you could be barred from entry to the country in future!)
• Passport– Don’t forget to make sure it’s up to date!
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificate
• School reports
• Work references
• Degrees and qualifications
• Medical and dental records
• Immunisation records – make sure you have all the vaccinations you need
• Driving licence– Make sure you have the right to drive in your target country! Sometimes a British driver’s license can be exchanged for a local license, or you may need International Driving Permit. It varies by country, so be sure to check!

Start Planning How to Move Abroad from the UK

With your documents at the ready and your visa application being processed, it’s time to start planning the next steps of moving abroad from the UK. This will be a time of transition, and it’s important to remember that transitions don’t always go smoothly. Thus, we recommend that you give yourself a 3-month planning window.

✔️ Save and Budget

Nothing can be more worrisome than trying to move abroad from the UK on pennies. Thus, in preparation for your move, we recommend that you start saving and budgeting since international removals don’t come cheap.

Every move is unique, but you can read about international moving costs to make an educated estimate of how much you’ll need to budget for your removal. However, if you would like to receive a better estimate of your costs while also finding help with moving abroad from the UK, then click here to receive five free removal quotes.

✔️ Book Your Flight, Train, or Ferry

An important cost to factor into you moving abroad from the UK budget is the price of your ticket. If you happen to be plan far enough in advance you can get a pretty good deal on your travel costs. It’s important to send yourself abroad, not just your belongings.

✔️ Renting, Buying and Selling

If you’re moving abroad from the UK, it’s likely that you’ll need somewhere to call home. So, before making the leap abroad, you’ll need to start your research and search for accommodation in your destination country, be it rented or bought. Just start early as it can be a time-consuming process.

Naturally, when it comes to organising your new digs, you’ll also have to spare a thought for your current accommodation. That can either be informing your landlord, as per the rental contract, that you’ll be moving out or putting your house on the market unless you intend to return.

✔️ Find a Removal Company for a Smooth Move Abroad

Moving abroad from the UK won’t be easy as you’ll have to figure out customs and international shipping logistics. If you want to make your international removal as easy and as stress-free as possible, then fill in the form below We’ll match you with up to 5 removal companies that you can compare and choose the best one for you!

✔️ Decluttering and Packing

No moving abroad checklist would be complete without a call to throw away your junk and start packing. We’re serious. Packing is time-intensive, and you don’t need to waste time and space packing junk for your removal. It only adds to the volume of your move and space is money when you move!

If you’ve never packed before, let alone an entire house, then you might want to consult our guide on packing to move house! It’ll save you time and it’s filled with great tips and tricks for packing.

✔️ Tax Planning

Now, time for everyone’s favourite topic – tax. 😑 You’ll need to contact HMRC and check whether you will be taxed while you live abroad. You may also want to fill out your p85 form. In addition, if you are moving abroad for work, it’s important to look into relevant taxes that will apply to you, such as income tax, social security tax, property tax etc.

If you will continue to receive interest income from savings based in the UK, it’s essential that you complete am R105 from HMRC and pass it onto the institutions where your money is stored.

Well done, you have made it through the most challenging part of our moving abroad checklist.

✔️ Bureaucratic Task when Moving Abroad from the UK

You might think that solving your tax status with HMRC means that you’re in the clear and have nothing else to think about. However, you’re not yet off the hook, but you’ll be glad to know that these remaining bureaucratic tasks are a little easier and of more benefit to you.

• Inform your council – as you’ll no longer be using your local council’s services. If you need the contact information for your local council, you can use this local council finder.
• Benefits – if you’re currently claiming any benefits, you’ll need to inform the relevant office to see if you can continue to claim benefits after moving abroad from the UK.
• Pensions – while this might not yet be pertinent to some, it still worth reading about your state pension after moving abroad. It’d be a waste to let your current contributions to be forgotten.
• Voting – lastly, and possibly most important from a civic duty perspective, if you wish to have a say in the policies that affect Lady Britannia, then be sure to register as an overseas voter.

✔️ Organise Your Banking

What came first, the chicken or the egg? Sometimes opening a new bank account can be easier said than done- in some cases, you need a bank account to rent a new home, but also an address to open a bank account...we’ll let you battle with that one.

However, constantly having to convert money into a different currency is time-consuming and expensive. We, therefore, recommend that you set up a local bank account in your destination country as soon as possible. In the meantime, it’s worth looking into money transfer companies that can help you transfer funds while you set up in your new home.

✔️ Utilities, Subscriptions and Mail

Our last stop on this moving abroad checklist is fairly broad, but nonetheless each is important. For your utilities, you’ll no longer be using water, gas, telecoms, or electricity in your old house, so it’s best to cancel them. Just ensure you coordinate it to the date that you’ll be moving out.

As for subscriptions, you’ll often be able to continue using them, you might just need to update the billing address or payment method. If you receive any magazines, just be sure to check if they can deliver to your new home!

And let’s not forget about mail when moving abroad from the UK. It could be that you miss an important letter from the bank, or an old acquaintance sends a letter to your old address, either way you don’t want to miss it. In that case, you can use the Royal Mail’s mail redirection service to save you some trouble!

Insure Everything!

Moving can be a risky business, on multiple fronts. Therefore, the next thing to do when leaving the UK is to insure just about everything.

In this moving abroad checklist we list a few types of insurances to star you off with, but it’s by no means a bad idea to go the extra mile and insure other aspects of your move too.

• Travel insurance
• Removals insurance
• Life insurance
• Home insurance
• Health insurance

We know that more paperwork and more expenses are not what you want, but trust us, you won’t regret it if something happens to your new sofa in transit.

Sort Out Your Healthcare

Next up on our moving abroad checklist is, very importantly, your healthcare. What exactly this will entail will depend on where exactly you are moving, but it’s vital that you do some research prior to your move.

If you move abroad, you will no longer be covered by the NHS, nor will you be entitled to use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in Europe. If you have private healthcare in the UK, make sure to speak with them to see what your options are, otherwise, it may be wise to look into new healthcare options.

Sirelo tip: Remember to contact your current your current GP and dentist to inform them you’re moving abroad from the UK and obtain your medical records. It might also be wise to stock up on prescriptions before you move, just in case!

Bringing a Pet with You?

We know that leaving a pet behind is simply not an option. If that’s the case, make sure you get the following steps ticked off your moving abroad checklist. For almost all countries, there are import requirements for pets, so check the specific rules of your destination country. However, in most cases you can assume that you will need to:

• Get your pet micro-chipped
• Have your pet immunised against rabies
• Seek practical advice on how to transport your pet
• Make sure your pet has a valid passport
• Contact your airline

Sirelo tip: If you have an appetite for more knowledge, you can always read our page on moving abroad with pets!

Taking Your Vehicle With You?

Much like your pet, the specific import requirements on vehicles depend on your destination country; make sure you’ve read up on shipping a car overseas. The following steps on our moving abroad checklist are suggestions for moving your car that are generally considered good practice wherever you are moving:

• Find a trustworthy international shipper
• Fill out all the necessary paperwork (this will depend on your destination country)
• Purchase shipping insurance
• Wash and empty the vehicle
• Perform a final inspection

Let’s Get Your Move Abroad Going!

Congratulations! You have made it through our moving abroad checklist. Now you know what to do when leaving the UK with our amazing moving abroad checklist, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your move! Feeling tired just from reading this? A little overwhelmed? Don’t worry, that’s only natural. Just make sure to remember that moving abroad is something to be excited about; trust the magic of new beginnings!

However, you can learn more about international removals by giving the pages we have linked for you below a read. Of course, if you’re tired, drop a bookmark and come back tomorrow and continue preparing for moving abroad from the UK. 😊