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MOVING DOWN UNDER Follow our complete guide to getting ready for your move Down Under, for a smooth and hassle-free relocation to Australia or New Zealand Before you move 18 MONTHS TO GO 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 dif ficult to come to terms with. Investigate employment and business opportunities for all family members. Attend migration and overseas property shows such as Down Under Live! and use expat websites to gain insight. Choose a migration agent carefully, to help with your planned relocation. Check what kind of visa you will need and set about getting 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) – now is a good time to consider redecorating. 12 MONTHS TO GO Make sure you have at least two years lef t 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 see your chosen migration agent. Start filling in all of your visa application forms. Update your CV making sure that it is suitable for the Australian 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. Ensure any pets that are migrating with you are fully inoculated and fit to travel. Get quotes and book pet shipment. 6 MONTHS TO GO Medicals will be required at this stage, along with police checks. Get quotes from removal companies and for flights, and book them both. Sell any unwanted furniture. Start job hunting. You can search the internet and contact agents in our directory. Talk to your children’s schools and ask them for 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 your migration plans. Ask your medical centre and dentist for your hand-over files. Open an Australian or New Zealand bank account. Set up a trading account with a currency broker. Put your house on the market. Find temporary UK accommodation in case your house sells too soon. 2 MONTHS TO GO Find temporary accommodation in Australia or New Zealand. Book flights, shipping of your goods and pet transport. Book accommodation for each destination en route. Register your children in new schools Down Under. Book pet kennels Down Under. Start having goodbye parties now. Organise all bir thday 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. 1 MONTH TO GO 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 of fice, DVLA, pension company, inland revenue, insurance brokers and accountants. Collate three months’ bank statements and insurance evidence and file it all together. 48 Australia & NZ | Issue 200 | 2024 downunderlive.co.uk
page 49
MIGRATION CHECKLIST 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 post to be redirected. Transfer funds to Australia or NZ. Start packing non-essential items. Arrange some private health cover for Australia or New Zealand if required. Pay of f any outstanding debts. Close any surplus bank accounts and destroy unwanted cards. Shred 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. 1 WEEK TO GO 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. 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. 1 DAY TO GO Organise transport to the airport. Establish who will be coming to the airport to say goodbye. Pack activity sets for children. Get a good night’s sleep. When you arrive ON ARRIVAL Pick up a copy of On Arrival Magazine; it contains lots of ideas and useful information. 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 people who will be of help to you in the first few days. Try not to sleep through the day; this will help to keep your jetlag to a minimum. Set up a pay-as-you-go mobile to start you of f – you can buy a cheap SIM card when you’re there and use it in your UK phone. Contact your new employer if you have a job arranged. Find your nearest internet café for property and area research. Take a few days to get over the journey and explore the area. 1 WEEK LATER Get a tax file number (TFN) in Australia, or IRD number in NZ. Register at your local embassy or consulate Down Under. Explore the area you would like to live in and ask the locals for info. 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. 1 MONTH LATER Review your financial position and transfer more funds if required. Investigate family trusts and pension transfer laws Set up standing orders 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 that 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! downunderlive.co.uk Australia & NZ | Issue 200 | 2024 49

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MOVING DOWN UNDER

Follow our complete guide to getting ready for your move Down Under, for a smooth and hassle-free relocation to Australia or New Zealand

Before you move 18 MONTHS TO GO

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 dif ficult to come to terms with. Investigate employment and business opportunities for all family members. Attend migration and overseas property shows such as Down Under Live! and use expat websites to gain insight. Choose a migration agent carefully, to help with your planned relocation. Check what kind of visa you will need and set about getting 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) – now is a good time to consider redecorating.

12 MONTHS TO GO

Make sure you have at least two years lef t 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 see your chosen migration agent. Start filling in all of your visa application forms. Update your CV making sure that it is suitable for the Australian 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. Ensure any pets that are migrating with you are fully inoculated and fit to travel. Get quotes and book pet shipment.

6 MONTHS TO GO

Medicals will be required at this stage, along with police checks. Get quotes from removal companies and for flights, and book them both. Sell any unwanted furniture. Start job hunting. You can search the internet and contact agents in our directory. Talk to your children’s schools and ask them for 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 your migration plans. Ask your medical centre and dentist for your hand-over files. Open an Australian or New Zealand bank account.

Set up a trading account with a currency broker. Put your house on the market. Find temporary UK accommodation in case your house sells too soon.

2 MONTHS TO GO

Find temporary accommodation in Australia or New Zealand. Book flights, shipping of your goods and pet transport. Book accommodation for each destination en route. Register your children in new schools Down Under. Book pet kennels Down Under. Start having goodbye parties now. Organise all bir thday 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.

1 MONTH TO GO

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 of fice, DVLA, pension company, inland revenue,

insurance brokers and accountants. Collate three months’ bank statements and insurance evidence and file it all together.

48 Australia & NZ | Issue 200 | 2024

downunderlive.co.uk

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