Follow our complete guide to prepare for your move Down Under, for a smooth and hassle-free relocation to Australia or New Zealand.
- Decide where you would like to live. A fact-finding visit is invaluable, or use the web or word of mouth.
- Research house prices, salaries and cost of living in that area.
- Discuss your plans with your family and make sure they are all on board; teenagers in particular can find a big move difficult to come to terms with.
- Investigate employment and business oppotunities for all family members.
- Attend migration and overseas property shows and use expat networks and websites to gain insight.
- Choose a migration agent carefully, to help with your planned relocation.
- Check what kind of visa you will need and get your eligibility checked.
- If you have any serious medical conditions, check that they are not going to hamper your plans.
- Prepare your house for sale (or rental) - you may need to redecorate.
- Make sure you have at least two years left on your passports.
- Dig out all your personal paperwork, including birth, adoption and marriage certificates, employment references, driving licences and qualifications.
- Make an appointment to your chose migration agent.
- Start filling in Visa application forms.
- Update your CV to make it suitable for the Austrailian or Kiwi market place.
- Get your finances in order, consolidate bank accounts and reduce debts. Avoid entering into any new long-term commitments or contracts.
- Discuss your plans with your extended family and friends.
- Medicals will be reuqired at this stage, along with police checks.
- Get quotes from removal companies and for flights, and book them both.
- Ensure any pets that are migrating with you are fully inoculated and fit to travel.
- Get quotes and book pet shipment.
- Sell any unwanted furniture.
- Start job hunting: search the internet and contact agents in our directory.
- Talk to your children’s schools and ask them to prepare hand-over files.
- Clean and paint any garden tools and furniture you plan to take. Items with soil on will be denied entry at customs.
- Consider talking to your employer about you migration plans.
- Ask your medical centre and dentist to hand-over files.
- Open an Austrailian/Kiwi bank account.
- Set up a trading account with a currency broker.
- Put your house on the market.
- Find temporary UK accomodation in case your house sells too soon.
- Find temporary accommodation in Australia or New Zealand
- Book flights, shipping and pet transport.
- Book accommodation for each destination en route.
- Register your children in new schools.
- Book pet kennels Down Under.
- Start having goodbye parties now.
- Organise all birthday cards and presents for the next three months.
- Request up-to-date statements on any savings and pensions.
- Request credit checks, or a credit reference letter from your bank.
- Depending on your contract, give notice to your landlord.
- Collect all hand-over files from doctors, dentists and schools.
- Give formal notice to your employer and get your P45.
- Give your new address to your bank, passport office, DVLA, pension company, inland revenue, insurance brokers and accountants.
- Collate three months’ bank statements, mortgage statements and no-claims car insurance evidence. File together for use on arrival.
- Bring council tax and utilities up to date and cancel accounts for TV, internet, phone and insurance.
- Sell or donate any surplus items.
- Arrange for your post to be redirected.
- Transfer funds to Australia or New Zealand.
- Start packing non-essential items.
- Arrange some private health cover for Australia or New Zealand if required.
- Pay off any outstanding debts.
- Close any surplus bank accounts and destroy unwanted cards.
- Shred and surplus personal records.
- Confirm your booking with your removal company; and flights.
- Ensure all your relevant paperwork is in a handy travel file.
- Cancel any redundant direct debits or standing orders.
- Ask for a copy of your no-claims bonus from your insurer.
- Arrange car hire and hotels.
- Cancel any newspapers, milk or satellite TV subscriptions.
- Cancel your car insurance.
- Sell your vehicle.
- Buy some currency for each destination en route Down Under.
- Throw more goodbye parties!
- Ensure your goods are either about to leave the UK or are on their way.
- Organise any cards or presents your children may want to send to their friends prior to leaving.
- Make sure early transport to the airport is organised.
- Establish who will be coming to the airport to say goodbye.
- Pack activity sets for young children.
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Pick up a copy of On Arrival Magazine; it contains lots of ideas and info.
- Collect your hire car and check into your accommodation.
- Contact your friends back home to let them know that you are safe.
- Make contact with your resettlement agency or any other poeple will be of help to you in the first few days.
- Try not to sleep through the day; this will keep your jetlag to a minimum.
- Set up a pay-as-you-go mobile to start you off - you can buy a cheap SIM card and use it in your UK phone.
- Contact your new employer.
- Find your nearest internet café for property and area research.
- Take a few days to get over the journey and explore the area.
- Get a tax file number (TFN) in Australia, or IRD number in New Zealand.
- Register at your local embassy or consulate.
- Explore the area you would like to live in and ask the locals for information.
- Meet with rental agents and see some property options.
- Consider buying a car, as rural public transport can be irregular.
- Get car insurance for your new motor.
- Register at a local school and arrange to meet your children’s new teachers.
- Get a land line installed and set up internet access.
- Invite your neighbours around for drinks and make new friends.
- Review your financial position and transfer more funds if required.
- Investigate family trusts and pension transfer laws.
- Set up standing orderes for utilities.
- Register with your local doctor and dentist, and Medicare if in Australia.
- Meet with mortgage brokers to understand your borrowing capacity.
- Visit your children’s schools to ensure they have settled in.
- Consider re-writing your will.
- Discuss your first month with your employer and resolve any problems that have cropped up.
- Start to attend social functions or join a sports club.
- Establish a routine and settle into your new life Down Under!
