With all the excitement of a move to a new country comes a whole lot of drudge work...that’s right, all the bureaucracy and paper work, cutting through red tape, forms, applications, approvals, dealing with officials: everything that can suck the joy out of the enjoyment of your new experience.
It matters not if you are moving of your own volition or being relocated due to work; there are still rules and regulations to deal with.
But fear not: because we have come up with some guidelines to help you cope with this difficult, but inevitable, side of relocating.
Let’s tackle them one by one:
1. Work Permit/Visa: Even if you’re being relocated by your company, you will still need a residence and/or work permit. This will depend very much on the country to which you are being relocated, and the length of time you anticipate spending there. If it’s a three-year assignment, for example, then the government requirements may be a little more accommodating. If you’re intending to emigrate there, then you will have to go through an entirely different procedure. Whichever approach you are taking, be sure to have work and residence permits for you and the members of your family, and get local tax or social benefit requirements all squared away.
2. Insurance: Personal, medical and property: if you can get this sorted out before you leave, and have all your papers and documentation carefully field, copied and scanned, you will have fewer problems with local officials on the other side. Ensure you also have all your medical and dental records available or easily accessible.
3. Personal vehicles: If you are taking a vehicle, make sure that all its documentation is in good order: ownership papers, insurance, registration, driver’s licenses, medical examinations if required and so on. Again, copied, filed and scanned to the cloud for easy access and safety.
A word of caution: do NOT pack anything into the car, such as artwork or boxes of food or liquor, for example. The vehicle will probably be impounded, along with your goods inside, and you will most likely get on bad terms with the local government.
An additional word of advice: make sure the car and tires are clean and free of dirt or soil and that it has no more than a quarter of a tank of gas in order to pass through customs.
4. Packing your belongings: Pack your belongings in a way that makes them easily accessible should the customs inspectors wish to have a look. Compile an inventory of exactly what you have in each box or trunk. A reputable shipping contractor should be able to do this for you, but make sure you are aware of it and ask them for copies. Life will be so much easier if a customs officer asks you “What’s in case #5”, and you can tell him without hesitation.
5. Take a preliminary trip: If you are moving on your own (not through a corporate relocation program), you should take a short research trip in advance and make accommodation arrangements. Make sure you know all the rules and regulations regarding renting or purchasing a home in your new country: agent’s commissions, escrow rules, deposits, rental agreements and leases. It would make sense to hire a local lawyer or expert to help you with the paper work.
6. Moving with a pet: If you’re moving with a pet, there are specific rules which apply in your country of destination. These are normally controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture in your host country, and in some cases, are extremely strict. In the UK for example, dogs have to remain in quarantine for six months. In addition, you will need to know exactly what vaccinations and inoculations your pet needs and what documentation you should have ready to present. Find out exactly how your pet should be transported for passing customs and what precautions should be taken for its protection and well-being. Research what the country’s requirements are for importing pets, and speak with your vet about fulfilling those requirements at least 6 months before moving.
7. Forms and documentation: Make sure you have all the forms you need well in advance. You can download forms directly from the country’s official government website, in most cases, or fill them out and submit them directly on the website. But make sure you have copies saved, scanned and printed, for your records.
8. Education and child care: Make sure you know the local education authority’s requirements, and prepare all documents required for your child’s admission to the relevant kindergarten, school, or college - certificates, reports, teacher assessments, diplomas, school records, etc. Doing this will help make the adjustment to a new education system as easy as possible for your children.
After following these basic guidelines, you can be on your way and board that airplane with no worries about getting entangled in red tape on the other side. A final thing to remember is to take your patience and sense of humor along, as well...because a smile to a grumpy customs official may be just what you need to make the entry process as streamlined as possible.
