International Moving Checklist: What to Do 6 Months, 3 Months and 30 Days Before Moving

An international move becomes much easier when you stop thinking of it as one enormous task and start treating it as a sequence of deadlines.

The practical difference between a smooth relocation and a stressful one is often timing. Some tasks should begin six months before departure, while others only make sense in the final few weeks.

This international moving checklist focuses specifically on what to do 6 months, 3 months and 30 days before moving abroad, with additional guidance for the final week and your first days after arrival.

Immigration, customs, healthcare and legal requirements vary by country and personal circumstances. Always confirm destination-specific requirements before acting.

International Moving Checklist: Quick Timeline

6 Months Before Moving Abroad

Six months before departure is the right time to deal with decisions that could determine whether the move is possible at all.

Confirm Your Immigration Route

Before committing significant money to the move, establish which visa or residence route applies to you.

Check:

• Eligibility
• Application timing
• Required documents
• Income or employment conditions
• Dependant eligibility
• Health insurance requirements
• Renewal conditions
• Work restrictions

Do not assume that a visa available to another person will apply to you. Nationality, income, employment and family circumstances can materially change the process.

Build Your Relocation Budget

Separate your finances into three groups:

1. One-time moving costs
2. Arrival and housing setup costs
3. Ongoing monthly living costs

Include immigration fees, flights, deposits, temporary accommodation, international shipping, insurance and an emergency reserve.

For a detailed cost framework, see our complete guide to the cost of moving abroad.

Research Where You Will Actually Live

Country-level research is only the beginning. Compare cities and neighborhoods based on:

• Housing
• Commute
• Schools
• Healthcare
• Transport
• Safety
• Daily expenses
• Access to airports

If you are still choosing between destinations, see our comparison of countries to consider when moving abroad.

Check Passport Validity

Review the expiry dates for every family member’s passport. Some immigration applications and travel arrangements require passports to remain valid for a particular period.

If renewal is necessary, doing it early can prevent later applications being tied to an expiring document.

Start Gathering Official Documents

Depending on your destination and immigration route, you may need:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Criminal-record certificates
• Education records
• Employment records
• Income evidence
• Bank statements
• Medical records

Some documents may require certification, translation, apostille or legalisation.

Review Your Employment Situation

If you are moving with a job, confirm relocation terms with your employer.

If you intend to work remotely, verify that your immigration status and employment arrangement permit it.

If you will leave your current job, begin planning notice periods and how the move will affect benefits, pensions and outstanding compensation.

3 to 6 Months Before Moving

At this stage, the relocation moves from research into execution.

Submit Immigration Applications When Appropriate

Application windows and processing procedures vary, so follow official instructions for your specific route.

Keep digital and physical copies of submitted documents, appointment confirmations and payment receipts.

Get International Moving Quotes

If you intend to ship household belongings, start comparing movers early.

Ask each provider for a written quote and clarify:

• What is included
• Packing services
• Collection
• Delivery
• Insurance
• Storage
• Customs support
• Expected transport method

Decide What to Take

Divide your belongings into four categories:

• Take with you
• Ship
• Store
• Sell, donate or dispose of

Do not automatically ship everything. Compare the cost of transporting large items with the cost of replacing them after arrival.

Research Housing

Learn how the local rental market works before signing anything.

Check:

• Typical deposits
• Proof-of-income requirements
• Guarantor rules where applicable
• Furnished versus unfurnished properties
• Agency fees
• Utility arrangements
• Neighborhood differences

Temporary accommodation can be useful if you want to inspect neighborhoods after arrival before making a long-term commitment.

Research Healthcare

Understand how you will be covered from the day you arrive.

Check:

• Public healthcare eligibility
• Private insurance requirements
• Visa-linked insurance conditions
• Waiting periods where applicable
• Prescription availability
• Existing treatment continuity

Plan for Children

If children are moving with you, start school research early.

Consider:

• Admissions deadlines
• School calendars
• Language
• Curriculum
• Transcripts
• Vaccination records
• Transport
• Tuition and other fees

Start Pet Relocation Planning

International pet moves can require several months of preparation.

Depending on destination, requirements may involve:

• Microchip
• Vaccinations
• Blood tests
• Health certificates
• Import permits
• Approved travel crates
• Airline reservations
• Quarantine

1 to 3 Months Before Moving Abroad

By this stage, major decisions should be turning into confirmed arrangements.

Book Travel

Once your immigration and timing allow it, book flights and review baggage allowances carefully.

If you are traveling with children or pets, confirm their requirements separately.

Confirm Your First Accommodation

Make sure you know where you will stay immediately after arrival.

Keep:

• Address
• Booking confirmation
• Host or agent contact details
• Check-in instructions
• Airport transfer information

Confirm Your Moving Company

Finalize collection dates and make sure the mover has accurate destination information.

Keep an inventory of shipped belongings and photograph valuable items before packing.

Check Customs Restrictions

Countries regulate what can be imported. Restrictions may apply to food, plants, medicine, alcohol, electronics, vehicles and other goods.

Use official customs information for your destination rather than assuming household items can always be imported without restrictions.

Organize Medical Records

Request copies of important medical information, including:

• Current prescriptions
• Vaccination history
• Relevant diagnoses
• Recent tests
• Specialist letters

Ask your healthcare provider how to manage medication during the transition.

Organize Education Records

Request school transcripts and other records before leaving.

Schools may require originals, certified copies or translations depending on the destination.

Review Banking Access

Make sure you can access funds internationally.

Check:

• Card expiry dates
• International transaction settings
• Transfer limits
• Two-factor authentication
• Phone-number dependence
• Foreign exchange fees

Do not close your existing accounts prematurely if you may still need them during the transition.

Review Your Tax Position

Moving abroad can affect tax residence, reporting and the treatment of income or investments.

If your finances span several countries, consider professional advice before the move rather than after problems arise.

30 Days Before Moving Abroad

The final month is about confirmations, cancellations and reducing the number of unresolved tasks.

Confirm All Major Bookings

Reconfirm:

• Flights
• Accommodation
• Moving company
• Pet travel
• Airport transport
• Insurance
• Important appointments

Notify Relevant Organizations

Depending on your circumstances, this may include:

• Employer
• Landlord
• Banks
• Insurance companies
• Utility providers
• Schools
• Healthcare providers
• Government authorities

Do not cancel services until you know exactly when they are no longer needed.

Cancel or Transfer Utilities

Arrange final readings, payments and service termination for electricity, gas, water, internet and other household services.

Review Subscriptions

Cancel services that cannot or should not follow you abroad.

This might include:

• Gym memberships
• Local delivery services
• Parking
• Local insurance policies
• TV packages
• Other recurring memberships

Arrange Mail Handling

Decide whether you need mail forwarding, digital mail services or a trusted person to handle physical correspondence.

Back Up Important Data

Keep secure copies of:

• Passports
• Visas
• Insurance
• Travel documents
• Employment contracts
• Housing documents
• Medical records
• Financial records

Store backups securely rather than relying on one phone or laptop.

Prepare Your Arrival Funds

Make sure you can pay for immediate expenses even if opening a local bank account takes longer than expected.

Start Final Packing

Keep essential documents and valuables out of shipped luggage.

Create a separate arrival bag containing anything you may need before your shipment arrives.

Your Essential Arrival Bag

Items that should normally remain with you rather than inside an international shipment include:

• Passports
• Visa and residence documents
• Wallet and payment cards
• Phone and charger
• Laptop if needed
• Medication
• Prescriptions
• Insurance documents
• Accommodation details
• Important certificates
• Basic clothing
• Travel adapters
• Essential child items
• Essential pet documentation

Assume checked baggage or household shipments could be delayed and pack accordingly.

7 Days Before Moving Abroad

During the final week, avoid starting new projects. Focus on confirming that the plan already in place will work.

Check Travel Documents

Put passports, visas, tickets and insurance documents together and verify every traveler’s details.

Confirm Airport Transport

Know how you will get to the airport and how you will travel from the destination airport to your accommodation.

Complete Property Handover

If leaving a rental property, follow the agreed checkout process and document the condition of the property where appropriate.

Keep Essential Contact Details Offline

Save important phone numbers and addresses somewhere accessible without internet access.

Charge Devices and Prepare Connectivity

Check whether your existing mobile service will work on arrival and how you plan to obtain local connectivity.

The Day Before Your International Move

Keep the final day simple.

• Check in for flights where available
• Confirm baggage allowances
• Charge devices
• Confirm passports and documents
• Check transport
• Keep medication accessible
• Verify your destination address
• Keep emergency funds available
• Get adequate rest

Avoid packing critical documents into checked baggage at the last minute.

What to Do After You Arrive

Arrival is the beginning of the final phase of relocation.

Depending on the destination, your first tasks may include:

• Local address registration
• Residence permit or card procedures
• Tax identification
• Opening a bank account
• Getting a local SIM
• Healthcare registration
• School enrollment
• Utility setup
• Transport registration or passes
• Driving licence formalities

The order differs by country. Some tasks depend on having completed another registration first.

Documents to Keep Accessible During the Move

International Moving Checklist for Families

Families should add several parallel timelines to the main relocation plan.

Check:

• Dependant visa applications
• School admissions
• Childcare
• Vaccination records
• Medical records
• Extra baggage
• Suitable temporary accommodation
• Family-sized housing
• Transport to school or work

A family move usually involves more dependencies, so avoiding last-minute decisions becomes even more important.

International Moving Checklist With Pets

Pet relocation should run as its own project alongside your move.

Track:

• Microchip requirements
• Vaccinations
• Required waiting periods
• Blood tests
• Veterinary certificates
• Import permits
• Airline booking
• Travel crate requirements
• Arrival procedures
• Quarantine where applicable

Do not assume that your pet can travel on the same date you do without advance preparation.

Common International Moving Mistakes

1. Starting immigration research too late. Legal eligibility should be established early.
2. Booking irreversible expenses before visa certainty. Major commitments should reflect the actual immigration process.
3. Waiting too long to collect documents. Certificates and legalisation can take time.
4. Shipping everything automatically. Some belongings are cheaper to replace.
5. Leaving pet planning until the final month. Animal import processes can require advance steps.
6. Ignoring temporary accommodation. Permanent housing may take longer than expected.
7. Closing bank accounts too early. You may need continued access during the transition.
8. Packing essential documents into shipped belongings. Keep originals and critical records with you.
9. Forgetting arrival administration. Relocation work often continues after landing.

Checklist vs. Complete Relocation Plan

A checklist tells you what needs to happen. A complete relocation plan explains why each decision matters and how the pieces fit together.

If you are still building the overall strategy, read our step-by-step guide to moving abroad.

For an even broader pre-relocation task list, see our Moving Abroad Checklist 2026.

International Moving Checklist FAQ

How early should I start planning an international move?

Start as early as practical, particularly when immigration, document legalisation, schools, pets or international shipping are involved. Six months or more can give you significantly more flexibility than starting in the final few weeks.

What should I do six months before moving abroad?

Focus on immigration eligibility, destination research, budgeting, passport validity, official documents, employment arrangements and the overall feasibility of your move.

What should I do three months before moving abroad?

Finalize major applications, compare movers, research housing and healthcare, organize medical and education records, confirm financial access and begin booking the physical move.

What should I do 30 days before moving abroad?

Confirm flights and accommodation, cancel or transfer services, organize mail, prepare arrival funds, finish packing and keep essential documents accessible.

When should I book an international moving company?

Start obtaining quotes several months before your intended move if you are shipping household goods. The appropriate booking time depends on route, volume, season and the mover’s availability.

What documents should I carry when moving abroad?

Keep passports, immigration documents, accommodation details, insurance, essential certificates, medical information and other critical records with you rather than placing them in household shipments.

When should I start planning a pet relocation?

Start early. Some destinations require vaccinations, tests, certificates or waiting periods that cannot be completed at the last minute.

What is the biggest mistake when planning an international move?

One of the biggest mistakes is making expensive commitments before confirming immigration eligibility and understanding the timing of required documents and applications.