Checklist for international moves
An international move requires a great deal of preparation and planning. This moving checklist will give you a lot of handy tips. Of course, your Dockx Movers project manager will always be there to advise you.
3 months before moving day
- Give notice of termination of the rental agreement
- Inform your internet provider, telephone and cable company in good time
- Request information about the country and the new place of residence
- Start informing yourself about schools in your new neighbourhood in good time
- Make a note of the measurements of your new home and draw a plan
- Who will take care of disconnecting electrical appliances (oven, washing machine and dryer) and light fittings?
- Check if plugs need to be adjusted for use in the country you are moving to
- Every house has a lot of ‘fixed’ elements that must also be moved. For example, curtain rails, towel rails, fitted carpet, built-in furniture ... Plan beforehand who will dismantle each object.
- Get advice about import conditions and restrictions concerning wine and alcoholic beverages
1 month before moving day
- Confirm the moving date
- Apply for time off work
- Throw out anything you no longer need
- Check passports and identity cards to make sure they are valid
- Arrange residence permits, import licenses ...
- Make the necessary arrangements with your bank for moving to a new bank or branch at your new location
- Give notice of termination to the gas suppliers at your old address
- Give notice of termination to the water suppliers at your old address
- Notify schools and collect reports and documents
- Use up food in the freezer and store cupboard
- Arrange transport for your pets
- Do your pets need vaccinations for the new country? Special medical certificates are often required.
- Sell your car or make the necessary arrangements for importing your car in accordance with the customs regulations of the country you are moving to
2 weeks before moving day
- Inform your doctor
- Make sure that you have your medical files and reports
- Inform your health insurance
- Take out insurance policies
- Inform municipal services
1 week before moving day
- Give your telephone number to the Dockx Movers team. So that you can always be reached when not at home.
- Give your new foreign address and your temporary address if you have one to the Dockx Movers team.
- Make an appointment to hand over the keys of your old address
- Inform house owner/janitor/syndic
- Gather together your marriage register and birth certificates
- Arrange for someone to look after your children and pets on the day of the move
- Make appointments to turn off gas, water, electricity and to read the meters
- Return library books
- Arrange with the post office for post to be sent automatically to your new address
- Check that you have left nothing with the shoe repair service or dry cleaners
- Check that all lockers (school, sports club …) are empty
1 day before moving day
- Gather together personal items that you will need during the journey, such as keys, travel documents, tickets, medication, money …
- Defrost the fridge and freezer
- Provide enough parking space for the moving van
- Disconnect electronic appliances
Moving day
- Have the gas, water and electricity meters read
- Drain water pipes if the weather is very frosty
- Your project manager from Dockx Movers will be there for you. Go through the house with him and discuss what still has to happen, so that your moving team will be aware of any special requirements or specific instructions.
- Keep keys, passports, travel documents, and all items that you will have on you or in your hand luggage during the journey separate.
- Tell the Dockx Movers moving team what you will need first when you arrive at your new location. They will then make sure that these items are loaded last.
- Everything has been loaded and the removal team is ready to leave? Are you sure you haven’t forgotten anything? Walk around the house one last time for a final check.
Pass on your change of address to
- Family
- Neighbours
- Friends and acquaintances
- Colleagues
- Family doctor
- Dentist
- Pharmacy
- Dierenarts
- Insurance companies
- Insurance agents
- Electricity company
- Water company
- Gas company
- Internet provider
- Telephone company
- Cable and TV company
- Post office
- Bank
- School
- Sports clubs
- Clubs and associations
- Town hall
- Library
- Car registration
- Newspapers and magazines
- Book club
- Mail order catalogues
- Organisers of written courses
- Church
- Notary
- Health insurance provider
Other useful pages
Request information
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