Moving somewhere new can be stressful. But moving internationally? That can feel even more overwhelming. Although there is so much excitement surrounding your move to a new country, there are plenty of tasks to take care of before moving day, and that can be nerve-wracking. Making your international move less daunting can feel like an impossibility, but luckily, that’s far from the truth. With the right steps and proper measures, you can move internationally without much hassle at all. Curious about the best ways to make your international move a breeze? Keep reading for our eight best tips.

1. Give yourself plenty of time

Planning an international move is a major undertaking. It requires lots of preparation to orchestrate it in a manner that has as few logistical errors as possible. The more time you take and the more organized you are, the more smoothly your relocation will go. As soon as you’ve decided to move to a new country, it’s best to hit the ground running when it comes to your planning efforts. One essential component of this plan that you should dedicate a lot of time to is your budget. Moving expenses can quickly rack up no matter where you’re moving to, so especially when you’re heading to a different country, it can be an expensive endeavor. Being smart about your finances during this time is critical to decreasing stress during this process.

2. Figure out your visa

Every country has different visa requirements. The visa you need to obtain will differ depending on your destination, meaning it’s important to do thorough research to ensure you acquire exactly what you need. The requirements will be different based on how long you want to stay there and the reason you’re there. For instance, there are different visas to acquire if you’re a student or if you’ll be working in the new country. Alternatively, you may be seeking dual citizenship to the country where your new home is located. Finding out if this is an option is another important step in figuring out your stay in a new nation.

3. Book your travel itinerary

Since you’re traveling to a different country, you’ll absolutely have travel details to work out before your journey to your new home. From flights or other forms of transportation to lodging during your travels, it’s a good idea to figure out these details far in advance. The earlier you’re able to book flights and hotels, the better. Not only does this save you from undue stress, but it can also serve as a financially smart move. Usually, you can get better deals when you book further in advance, which can be a great way to cut costs during your move.

4. Gather your important documents

Before you travel to your new home, you’ll want to make sure you have all the important documents you need and that they’re stored in a safe place for your relocation. You and your family members should have your birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, social security card, medical records, driver’s license, school records, and any other documents that may apply. These irreplaceable documents are critical to have for safekeeping and for any moments where you may need them in your new home.

5. Declutter your items

Before you begin packing for any move, it’s necessary to complete a thorough declutter. Particularly for a long distance move to a new country, cutting down on the items you need to bring is extremely helpful. Reducing the amount of items you’re bringing to your new home will enable you to spend less money on transporting your belongings and cut down on clutter in your space. To declutter, you will want to separate your belongings into four categories: donate, sell, trash, and keep. The more you can get rid of, the less you’ll need to pack and transport – which makes the moving process a lot easier.

As you sort through your items, try to be as discerning as you can. Oftentimes, we form emotional attachments to items that encourage us to make excuses about why we need to keep them, even if we actually don’t use them often or ever. Be honest with yourself, or find a trusted loved one who can help to keep you honest during the sorting process. Once you’ve figured out which categories your items fall into, you can move forward with the next steps. If you’ve accumulated a lot of items to sell, you may want to look into planning a yard sale to sell a lot at once in an efficient manner. If you have a lot to donate, you can easily find people who will be happy to have your items at a local secondhand store.

6. Pack concisely

After you’ve properly decluttered your items, your next step is to begin packing. When it comes to packing, you’ll want to consolidate as much as possible and ensure your items are properly protected. First, you need to ensure you have the right supplies. You will need sturdy boxes, packing tape, permanent markers, bubble wrap, packing paper, and any other items as you see fit. Having an adequate amount of these supplies will make your packing process a lot easier. When you pack, you should always pack one room at a time, keeping items from different rooms in separate boxes. This is one of the easiest ways to stay organized while packing. Each box should be labeled with the room it corresponds to, as well as the items or types of items held inside. These details will make it easy to locate what you’re looking for as you unpack. Additionally, be sure to fill your boxes as much as you can without them becoming too heavy to carry.

Another aspect to consider is the protection of your items. Since your belongings will be traveling a long distance to your new home, there will be plenty of opportunities for them to get damaged in transit if they aren’t packed sufficiently. You will want to minimize movement within your boxes, ensuring your items are padded so they will move around as little as possible in transit. This can be done by keeping your fragile belongings wrapped in bubble wrap or other soft items like towels or blankets. These considerations are critical to keep your items in good condition during your move.

7. Notify important people

You will need to alert a few different places about your change of address and the new country you will be living in. It’s important to reach out to the embassy, the postal service, tax agencies, your bank, your insurance provider, your employer, and your utilities providers, among others. Making sure the right services know about your impending relocation is an important part of the moving process.

8. Find an international moving company

Prior to your relocation, you’ll need to find a full service moving company to help you transport your items. Start by finding highly-rated services near you. Make sure they offer international solutions, and comb through their reviews to confirm that the majority of customers have a positive experience with the company in question. Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few trusted companies, reach out for an in-home quote. Try to get at least three quotes to ensure you receive the best price possible.

If you’re looking to book a trustworthy professional moving company based in Illinois, look no further than Moving Services Inc. With international moving options, over 40 years of serving satisfied customers, and valuable expertise, your belongings are in safe hands with us. Reach out today for a free in-home estimate!