Working Abroad: 5 Steps To A Stress-Free Relocation

So, you’ve finally bagged that dream job overseas. Your contract has been sorted out and the weeks are approaching for you to pack up and ship out. Moving overseas, especially for work, can be a very exciting time in your life. New experiences, people, a possible a new language and discovering a completely new city can be amazing. Related:5 Things To Consider When Working Abroad But what about the stress that comes with it? There is a lot to sort out when you are relocating and it can quickly become a stressful time. That said, being organized and planning ahead can make it one hundred times easier. If you're planning on working abroad, be sure to check out these five steps to manage your relocation stress-free.

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1. Make A List & Talk To Expats

It sounds boring, but it’s one of the best pieces of advice that you can take. Until you actually start getting ready to go, you probably won’t realize how much there actually is to do. And you will realize that this becomes list-worthy very soon. Talk to friends who have been in the same situation or expats you know. There are also a large number of expat forums online, which can assist with meeting expats. They will be able tell you everything that should be on that list.

2. Get All Of Your Paperwork Sorted Before Departure

Even if your company is looking after your paperwork for you, make sure you know exactly what they are organizing and what you need to organize. Having to organize paperwork in a foreign country can be one of the worst experiences of travelling and you really don’t want to deal with this when you are starting a new job. Some of the most common paperwork you need to be on top of are:

• Up to date passports
• A signed work contract
• Appropriate working visa for yourself
• Visas for your family
• International Drivers license
• Travel insurance
• Lease agreements

3. Research Accommodation Before You Leave

If you’re lucky, your company may be providing you accommodation for your entire contract. However, that is not always the case. Often, a company will put you up for a few weeks in a serviced hotel and then give you an accommodation allowance for something more permanent. Make sure you organize your permanent accommodation before you go. There are many relocation professionals and websites that can help you with this and you will appreciate the extra time as it can take a lot longer than you think.

4. Ship Your Goods In Advance

If you have a shipping allowance, be sure to research exactly what that entails. If your are only covered for sea freight, it will take up to three months for your possessions to arrive, so you will need to organize this well in advance.

5. Store Your Possessions Properly & Organize For Your Return

Even though something like a three year contract seems a long time, you need to be ready to return at some stage. Be sure that you store your possessions appropriately so that they are accessible and undamaged on your return. Work out someone you can stay with when you come back for visits too as this is the last thing you need to stress about! This post was originally published at an earlier date.

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