International Moves
Moving to a new home on the other side of town can be exciting and worrisome. Moving to a new country can multiply the excitement and stress exponentially. Not only do you need to get your passports and visas in order for an international move, shipping your belongings internationally requires special arrangements and handling. Start planning an international move months before you move in order to allow plenty of time to get everything done.
International Movers
Choosing a reliable international moving company is very important. Don’t choose a mover solely because it’s the one that offered you the lowest price. Moving internationally is a complex move, and you need an experienced mover that will get your belongings there safely.
Get moving company recommendations from others who’ve moved overseas. Then check out various companies and their ratings. An experienced international moving company will be able to help you navigate the different steps of the move. Your belongings will need to be packed and loaded at your home, transferred to the port and loaded onto a vessel to be shipped overseas. Your shipment will then need to be met at the arrival port, customs must be cleared, and finally it can be delivered to your new home. Often the moving company coordinates with its partners in the destination country who take care of the move on the other end.
Packing for an Overseas Move
When you pack to move overseas, decide which of your belongings you want to take with you. Consider whether your furniture and clothing will fit into your life in your new country. Find out what type of climate you are moving to, and adjust your wardrobe accordingly. You may choose to get rid of some clothing and furniture, or put them in storage. Depending on the availability/cost of consumer goods in the country you are moving to, you may want to purchase additional items to take with you.
Bring a supply of your favorite toiletries and medications to use until you find the local equivalents.
Find out the electrical voltage and plug configurations in your new country in order to decide which appliances to bring with you. Some appliances may work with a voltage adapter. Verify customs and tax laws to determine whether it’s worth it to bring new appliances with the correct voltage into the country, or if it’s easier/cheaper to buy them in your new country.
Keep in mind that unlike cross-country moves, where fees are calculated by weight, international moves are calculated by the volume of the container used and not by weight. This may help you decide which belongings it pays to ship, and what you are better off buying once you arrive in your new home.
Since your belongings have very far to travel and will be handled and jostled several times during an international move, consider having the movers pack your belongings so they are well protected during the move. Or you may want to have them pack only the fragile items. In an overseas move, there is bound to be at least some slight damage to your belongings; maybe more. Check out MoveInsure’s different coverage options, and be sure to purchase enough coverage for your belongings. For more information, see MoveInsure Coverage Options. Make a list of everything that you pack so you can check it off when you unpack. Photograph items and furniture that are going to be disassembled for the move. This will help when they are reassembled.
Keep separate items that will not be shipped, so they don‘t get loaded onto the moving vehicle or container. This includes items that you will need during the move and during your first days in your new home (see Your Carry Me Box: Items to Keep with You During Your Move), as well as important documents that you should take with you such as passports and visas, medical records, licenses, banking records and school records.
Helpful Websites
U.S. Department of State
The State Department’s website provides a lot of information about traveling and living abroad. Find links to individual countries’ embassies and consulates in the United States. Contact them for customs and visa information.
(When your shipment arrives in your new country, it will need to be cleared by customs at the port there. Different countries have different laws governing which items can be brought in. Many household goods can enter tax-free; some are taxed. Check with your destination country’s consulate or embassy ahead of time to be sure that you are in compliance. You may decide not to bring certain items in order to avoid paying costly duty on them.)
U.S. Embassy Locator
Locate the American embassy or consulate in your new country through the embassy locator. You can register online for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), a free service for American citizens who are traveling or living in a foreign country. This way the embassy can contact you in case of emergency, and you can access services from the embassy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tell your doctor about your move and make sure that you and your family’s routine vaccinations are up to date. Bring a copy of your medical and immunization records. You can look up health information for the country you are moving to on the CDC‘s website, including recommended vaccinations for you and your family.
