Making The Move – Part Two
Making the Move - Part Two
“Let him that would move the world first move himself.” -Socrates
TEACHME TEFL
Deciding to make the move is the easy part.
Organising to make the move, now that is more challenging!
Services that are so familiar for us in our home country, suddenly can be a cause for undue stress in our new one.
However, this list will help to alleviate your stress and get you prepared to make the move.
Doctors
If you are taking regular medication you will need to contact your doctor to let them know of your travel plans. The doctor may be able to issue you the medication you need for the duration of your adventure or be able to suggest where and how to obtain your medication in your destination.
Also some countries have reciprocal health agreements with your country of origin, this means that the cost of medically necessary care can be covered in certain countries.
For Australians, at the time of writing, there is a reciprocal health agreement with the following countries:
-Belgium
-Finland
-Italy
-Malta
-The Netherlands
-New Zealand
-Norway
-The Republic of Ireland
-Slovenia
-Sweden
-The United Kingdom
Ensure you read the agreement conditions if you are moving to one of these countries.
Vaccinations
Make sure you check which vaccinations are required for your destination. You can do this by simply typing into google, ‘vaccinations required for your destination’ and you will easily be able to find the information.
If you are from Australia, you can also make an appointment with a travel doctor who will be able to advise of all vaccinations and be able to order these online for you also as not all GPs will have these vaccinations available.
Make sure you check out what you need well in advance, some vaccinations require multiple does administered a set number of days apart. The earlier you check this, the easier it will be to get all the vaccinations you will need.
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Banks
Regardless of how you plan to manage your finances overseas it is vital you notify your banks of your travel dates and location. Most banks will freeze an account when overseas activity occurs, to avoid this simply notify your bank before you leave, some banks now have online travel notifications you can set up and others will require a phone call.
For Australians, there are limited options for accessing your money overseas. There are some banks, such as Suncorp and Citibank that allow you to withdraw money from any ATM overseas with no bank fees and a relatively good exchange rate.
Another option is a travel money card, if your current bank provides one of these cards you can use the card like an additional account, simply by adding money in your chosen currency from your own bank account, all through your mobile banking app. This means you can top up your card from anywhere you have internet and the money is instantly in the currency you need.
Just be aware that most travel money cards only accept 12 currencies so be sure that the currency you need is accepted. Also, if you have multiple currencies loaded on the card, the ATM will withdraw the funds from the ‘first’ currency regardless if that is the correct currency or not. This just means you need to make sure that you have your currencies ordered correctly.
If you are from other countries, like America, there are some excellent credit card rewards programs that are designed for overseas travel, chose the one that will benefit you the best.
Important Documents
Your most important document is your passport, ensure you have a photo of your passport on your phone, leave a copy of your passport with a responsible family member back home and take multiple copies of your passport with you. You will be surprised by the number of times you will use these copies.
Also, if you are moving to work for a school face to face they may require that you provide some of your official documents. Even online schools may require some documents to be uploaded to prove your identify and qualifications. It is best to ensure you have scanned copies saved on your device, printed copies and originals of the following documents.
-Passport
-Birth Certificate (children’s birth certificate if applicable)
-Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
-Qualification (especially your TeachMe TEFL certificate)
Also, some employers may ask for something similar to the 100-point ID check performed in Australia, for this purpose ensure you have a copy of the following:
-Medicare or health care card
-Credit card
-Driver’s license
-Bank statement
-Utility bill
It may also be a good idea in the event of theft to make copies of the front and back of all bank cards, this will ensure you have all the information for each card.
If you are moving permanently it is also important to ensure you have your legal paperwork in order, you may wish to enact the following documents.
-Power of Attorney
-Enduring Guardian
-Will and executor of estate
It is important also to prepare to take with you some additional passport photos. These may be needed for applications in your destination and you will find are not as easily accessible as they are in your home country.
Tax
Make sure you talk to a tax accountant to set up the best tax situation for living and working overseas. For each country it is different so ensure you know your responsibilities before you leave.
For Australians, some countries have a tax agreement in place, so you only need to pay tax in one county. However, some countries will require you pay tax in your country of residence and Australia will also require you pay tax again when you re-enter the country. This is why it is vital you speak to a professional, spend the money now to get the right information, it will save you money in the future.
Also, if you are leaving your country permanently, you may need to notify some important offices, such as the tax office etc. Check with your local government to see which offices will need to be notified.
Change of address
There are relatively few letters we receive these days by post, however it is important that you change your address to make sure you still receive the letters that you need.
If you have family or a friend residing in your country of origin, you may ask to use their address as your new address.
If this is not a possibility you could always set up a PO Box or Mail Box where your letters could be sent.
Once you have an address you could also investigate mail forwarding services so any letters you receive will automatically be sent to your new address not to your old address.
After a few months you will see what letters come via mail and you can investigate options to receive these letters electronically to minimise the need of a postal address in your home country.
Mobile phones
We all need to be contactable and these days it is easier than ever to keep numbers, change numbers, port numbers or take a new number.
The cheapest option is always to get a local sim, these offer the best prices and gives you the best coverage in your new destination. If you are ready to make that move, you can simply purchase a new sim on arrival and send a message to all of your contacts with your new number.
If you are slightly more attached to your number, most messaging apps such as WhatsApp will allow you to keep the number associated with your current mobile phone. This means you can get a new sim in your destination, use that number for local calls and messages and stay in touch with your family and friends back home on a messaging app using your existing mobile number.
However, don’t forget your old number is associated with your phone. When you upgrade or change your phone, you will also lose your old mobile number.
There are also other options, android phones allow dual sim options, you may choose to use this. Also, Skype and Google Voice have messaging options that may suit your needs.
International Driver’s License
At least for your first year most counties will accept an International Driver’s License along with your country’s driver’s license.
In Australia, you can simply apply online for an International Driver’s License through the Australian Automobile Association and the license gets posted to you in around 10 working days.
It is important to also check your destination country’s driving rules as there are some different regulations to what you may be used to. For example, in some countries in Europe, you can be fined for not carrying a first aid kit in your car. Therefore, it is important you know what is expected of you as a driver before you start driving in your destination.
Insurances
You may need to cancel your home and contents insurance back home and if you have private health cover you may also want to cancel this.
Some private health insurance companies allow you to suspend your policy for up to 24 months and you can activate the policy with the same benefits and no waiting period if you return within that time. Make sure you speak with your insurance company to see if this is possible in your case.
Travel insurance will only cover you for one year, you may choose to take out a one-year policy and then explore the options in your destination after that.
This initial year of insurance may be of benefit, especially since travel insurance may cover the cost of broken or stolen electronics, your teaching essentials, therefore if your tablet breaks or your phone is stolen you will be able to recover some of the costs involved in purchasing new items.
Making the move
With these tips, you will feel more confident when you arrive to start your new life.
This is not an exhaustive list, just the most important things to consider.
There is no need to be overwhelmed, simply write a moving list and work through as you prepare for your next adventure.
If you are still planning your next adventure, a TEFL certificate is the key to working and living abroad or working online.
Start your 120hr TEFL course with TeachMe TEFL today, simply click below to sign up now.