Important documents that you must possess for a smooth international relocation - Part 1

When you have decided to move internationally, there are several things to do even before you finally board the plane to your new country of residence. You have to select a home, look up professional movers and packers, compare long distance moving quotes, book your flight, start packing, etc. Amongst all this rush, you must also be careful to gather all the paperwork needed during the moving process; especially before and after the flight. Here is the list of documents you should have before getting on that flight.

Passport: This is a no-brainer. An updated passport is a must-have in a foreign country. It is the first thing officials anywhere will ask for. We suggest you get your passport made or updated as soon as you decide to move internationally because almost all countries need to see your passport before letting you pass through. We recommend you apply for your passport when you have decided to move because the paperwork may take a few weeks to a couple of months. 

Visa: The second most important document after a passport is a Visa of the country you want to move to. This document is to be kept with the passport. It has all the details that the authorities need to know about. This includes the duration of your stay and the purpose of your visit. The visa is authorised by the country you will be moving into. There are various kinds of visa and there are several papers required to clear through the visa application process. There are a few types of visas like a student visa, an exchange visitor visa, a residence visa and a tourist visa. You have to stay in touch with the consulate of both countries and make sure you have all the documents they ask for. If you haven’t yet decided on a place of residence, your residential moving services can help you in the home search even after the moving process is done.

Work permits: Visa and passport will only allow entry and residence in the country you are moving to. A work permit is something you need along with them to work and earn in the country. In case you’re going to another country while representing your organisation on a project, your employer will probably handle this part of the paperwork. If not, Writer Relocations, an international moving company, can guide you through the process of applying for a visa and a work permit. It is one of the best employee relocation companies that provides necessary assistance on handling the documentation process of permits and visa along with clearing customs for your belongings.

Furniture moving services and car moving companies usually help with only clearing customs but here you get guidance with choosing a home and a school as well. More on that in the second part of this blog.

Also, Read - Important documents that you must possess for a smooth international relocation - Part 2 

Birth certificate: A birth certificate is needed for every other documentation process. From applying for a passport or a visa to apply for a bank account, birth certificate is crucial to the process. Makes numerous copies of it, just in case.  Birth certificate is the most rudimentary document that has your name, place of birth, names of parents, etc.

These were some of the basic documents you have to carry with you while moving with local moving companies or international movers. Stay tuned for the next part!