That’s the dream for everyone right?

To get married, start a family, pay their dues, and eventually move abroad – preferably somewhere super hot and sunny most of the year. However, moving abroad isn’t as simple as packing up your things and going, and it involves a lot of complications on the way; meaning people end up putting off until it’s too late.

Luckily, if you follow the right advice, you could be jetting off to your dream home in the sun sooner than you think! Take a look at this ultimate checklist to complete before moving abroad.

Check what you’ll need for a visa

This is the first thing that you should be looking into – what you’ll need to legally live in the country you’re moving to. Perhaps they will require you to take a citizenship test, or even apply for a visa to live in their country. Checking it out beforehand will save you from having the disappointment of a delayed move date or even worse – not being able to move at all.

Query mortgage rates

Buying overseas is much different to living in the UK. Some countries require you to be the owner of a business for you to buy a home, or even drive a car. You should also be checking out mortgage rates too. So, if you were to say, move to singapore, you’d research mortgage rates in Singapore before even thinking about packing your home up and leaving.

Arrange overseas moving company

Many people make the mistake of trying to move all of their belongings themselves. This is usually achieved by long distance driving and quite frankly, can turn out to be extremely stressful. Arrange an international moving company to come and help you transport all of your belongings to your new dream home. If you really wanted to eliminate stress from your overseas move, hire a company that will come and do the packing for you as well.

Sell your car

Unless you’re planning on driving over to your new home, now would be a good time to look into selling your car. It’s probably going to work out easier and cheaper for you to buy a car in your new country of residence, rather than hauling your current car overseas and paying hefty charges for transport. If you’ve got a car on lease, speak to your leasing company to see if there is any way that you can end the terms early but bear in mind that this isn’t always possible.

Check out driving laws

Some countries require you to have a different kind of license to drive, or even take a different kind of test than you would have here in the UK, so it’s a good idea to check out the driving laws that you will be expected to abide by, just so that you’re not inadvertently breaking the law. If you need to take extra tests/apply for another license, start the process before moving to avoid any delays in getting around once you’ve moved.

Rehome or arrange travel for pets

While rehoming your furry friend might seem like a drastic measure, think about whether your new home would be suited for them. If you’re moving to a particularly warm destination, a dog or cat that’s accustomed to the UK’s climate might not be able to live a full and happy life in a constantly warm climate. Consider rehoming your pet if your new home isn’t ideal. If you’re taking your pet with you, you will need to make special arrangements for transporting your pet abroad. If you’re renting a property, make sure that you check whether you’re allowed to have pets in your home.

Throw a party!

You’re likely to be leaving a whole lifetime of friends and family in the UK, so now is a better time than any to throw a leaving party! Hire out a huge venue and invite everyone you know so that you can have one final chance to say a proper goodbye to everyone you love and care about before you jet off to your new sunny home.

Stock up on your favourite luxuries

One mistake that many people who migrate abroad make is not stocking up on their favourite luxuries. Whether that be a cleaning item or a food that they love, it’s a good idea to take plenty of the things you love with you (unless you know they stock it in your new country) so that you have some home comforts with you. Places like Bulgaria have their own kind of cheese, but not the kind of cheese you’d be used to in the UK. Perhaps before moving, take a trip to your new area and scope out the supermarkets so that you’ve got some idea on what to expect when you move.

Work out how your money will work in a new country

The way you can access your money might be completely different in the area that you’re moving to. Much like when you go on holiday, it often works out better to get cash out before going away to avoid ATM fees when you’re abroad. Consider setting up bank accounts in your new country of residence so that you’re able to access your money as and when you need it – and without worrying about any extra charges. This would be an especially good idea if you’re planning on continuing work too.

Check out healthcare

Finally, we are lucky as a nation to be blessed with the NHS for our healthcare, but not all countries have that kind of luxury. It’s imperative to check out your options for healthcare. You might find that it’s a pay on the day kind of system, or it might work out better to take out health insurance for you and your family. Either way, look after your health before moving so that you’re not stumped if you do fall ill or injured.

Use this checklist before moving abroad and you’ll soon be sipping cocktails in your new home wondering why you’ve not done it before!