Relocation Checklist for a New City or Country
Table of Contents
Introduction
What's included
Save the full checklist and customize it later.
- Before departure: destination readiness
- Check entry, residence, work or study requirements
- Compare housing, transport and living costs
- Arrange continued access to health care and medicines
- Confirm qualifications or licenses where applicable
- Confirm long-term housing or a plan to find it
- Documents to keep when travelling
- Check passports, identity documents and required permissions
- Birth certificates
- Marriage (and divorce) certificates
- Qualifications, Curriculum Vitae/Resume, job and employment references
- School and vaccination records if relevant
- Gather financial references if required for housing or banking
- Request insurance claim-history records if a new provider needs them
- Copies of your life and other insurances
- Keep essential legal documents accessible if relevant
- Check whether you need business or trust records for the move
- Keep secure access to account and loan records
- Check which investment providers need your updated contact details
- Keep an accessible copy of required documents for the journey
- Prior to relocation
- Arrange shipment or storage of belongings
- Decide whether to sell, store, ship or keep your vehicle
- Arrange mail forwarding or a reliable correspondence address
- Compile personal records and paperwork into a secure travel file.
- Check medicine availability and transport requirements before departure
- Review bills, subscriptions and automatic payments
- Confirm health coverage from your arrival date
- Confirm temporary accommodation booking for when you arrive.
- Check whether your existing banking will work at the destination
- Plan access to money for arrival costs
- Pack an arrival bag separately from shipped belongings
- Back up computer files.
- Confirm your journey and onward transport
- Leave a reliable handover contact with the landlord or agent
- Arriving at destination
- Check into your temporary accommodation.
- Let your friends and family at home know that you have arrived safely.
- Activate a suitable mobile plan or SIM if needed
- Confirm reliable internet access at your accommodation
- Complete any banking setup that required your arrival
- Check that your planned health coverage is active
- Confirm work or study arrangements, or plan your job search
- Complete agreed pet arrival and collection arrangements, if applicable
- Moving into new home
- Confirm utility and internet start dates at your new home
- Confirm school or childcare enrollment and the first-day arrangements
- Introduce yourself to your new neighbours.
- Look into social and recreational activities in your local area.
- Decide whether you need a vehicle and check local driving requirements
- Register with your local library.
- First weeks at your destination
- Complete local registration or ID procedures if required
- Arrange a local healthcare provider and pharmacy
- Set up transport and learn essential routes
Download or Print this Relocation Checklist
Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.
Presented by:
Nicole Nichols-West
Stats
Views
305
Views: 305
Uses
11
Uses: 11
Tasks
55
Tasks: 55
Details
Set up life at the destination
A relocation plan needs to work before the boxes arrive. Confirm housing, your travel dates, access to money and essential services first. Work backwards from any official application or enrollment deadlines. Keep enough flexibility for a gap between arrival and delivery of your belongings.
Separate domestic and international requirements
A move within the same country may leave your banking, identity documents and health coverage largely unchanged. An international move needs destination-specific checks before departure. Use official authorities and service providers for requirements; this checklist does not replace their instructions.
Keep records useful and secure
Prepare only the documents your destination or providers require. Check whether originals, certified copies or translations are needed. Keep sensitive records in secure storage rather than shared task notes; use the checklist to track whether each requirement is ready.
Use the right companion checklist
Use the moving checklist for the packing and mover timeline, the change of address checklist for provider notifications, and the pet relocation checklist if animals are moving with you. Moving a business rather than a household? Use the office move checklist.