Moving abroad from the UK is no easy feat, and you can rest assured that there will probably be some stress involved in the whole process. However, there’s no need to panic as by simply being well prepared you can easily reduce stress and make moving out of the UK easier. This might sound very obvious, but what isn’t quite as obvious are all the things you have to prepare for your move. Hence, we’ve put together a leaving the UK checklist to help you along your way. So, relax and grab a refreshing beverage and let’s begin!
Visa Status
Unfortunately, moving abroad from the UK has become positively more complicated after Brexit, as now you’ll be requested to have a visa to do so for most countries across the globe. Therefore, before you start booking, packing, and moving, be sure to check out the entry requirements for the country you intend to move to.
Documents
Did you know that if you apply for a visa, your passport must be valid for at least three months after the expiry date of the visa? Before moving you should be sure that your passport isn’t expiring anytime soon, unless you want to put your big move on hold.
Likewise, you’ll want to make sure to bring along with you several documents that can act as proof of identity and of qualifications (i.e., birth certificate, marriage certificate, degree and qualifications, police background check). You’ll find these documents useful for setting up your life in a new country and for the visa application process.
Just a few extra things to note, since these are important documents, you should keep them safe and even have duplicates. Furthermore, if you’re moving to a country where English isn’t the mother tongue, it would be advisable to have your documents officially translated before you go. As an official translator can be expensive, check with your embassy before rushing out and translating all of your documents.
Shipping and Removal Companies
Before you start packing, you should know that moving overseas from the UK is hard without professional help, as it can be difficult to organise and fill a shipping container entirely by yourself. Therefore, to guarantee that you’ll be aware of what you’d be getting yourself into, you should visit a site like Sirelo for relevant information that will help you understand the ins and outs of container shipping. Getting to grips with the basic information on this part of your move will save you a lot of time and headaches!
Packing
This is likely an obvious step, unless you intend to leave everything behind. For packing, the sooner you start, the less stressful it will be. So, we recommend that you consider starting to pack at least one month in advance of your moving date. To give you an extra hand with this moving task, here are some expert packing tips from us:
- Create an inventory list of everything you plan on moving to your new home.
- Start gathering packing material such as boxes, packing tape, and supplies like newspaper or bubble wrap, as soon as possible.
- Decide which items are essential and non-essential. The essential items should likely be packed last, whilst the non-essential ones can go into the boxes as soon as you hit that one-month-prior-to-moving mark. Keep in mind that these less essential items might contain some clutter that you can simply part with.
- Remember to label every box as you pack it (per room is great). This will help keep track of everything that will be transported during and right after the move.
- We recommend packing things like a change of clothes, snacks, and your trusty kettle for a cup of tea or coffee in a separate bag that you can keep with you during the relocation process. Of course, these items will vary depending on how long it will take for you to arrive at your new home and how much you can carry with you.
The most important thing to remember is that packing is unfortunately a task that will take time and which requires patience, so being organised and starting early are critical. The last thing you’ll want to do is have to pack your entire house and your belongings a couple of days before your move, trust us on this one!
Utilities and Mail
If you’re moving abroad from the UK, your utilities will need to be cancelled. Before cancelling, you should check the contract you signed to guarantee that you won’t breach it. This is particularly important when you’re requested to give one or two months of notice, or if you’ve recently acquired a new contract as you could face penalties for ending it early. Furthermore, it’s important to properly end these contracts so you don’t go into arrears and end up a criminal for not paying a bill!
To avoid missing any bills or letters from friends and family, you can make use of the mail redirection service from the Royal Mail. They’ll be able to forward any mail even after you’ve moved abroad from the UK as long as you leave a forwarding address.
Taxes
Taxes aren’t anyone’s favourite subject, unless it involves a tax rebate, but sadly that’s not this section will be about. Since you’ll be moving abroad, you’ll need to inform the HMRC that you’ll no longer be paying taxes in the UK. Additionally, you’ll also want to notify your local council that you won’t be residing there anymore. Last but not least, you must investigate the tax system of the country you’re moving to in order to avoid complications and unexpected penalties caused by misinformation.
And that’s it! These were the most important things to prepare when you’re moving abroad from the UK. We hope this checklist will help you on your way. We know that moving aboard may seem scary and difficult, but it’s easily overcome with a little bit of planning and preparation. So, don’t dally any longer, put what you’ve read here to good use, and you’ll be fine. Good luck!
