The world is a big place, full of exciting opportunities to take advantage of and beautiful areas to live in. While South Africa has its fair share of beauty and wonder, some people feel like they need to spread their wings and fly beyond the borders of our country. When you choose to move to a new country, you will probably consider many different international moving companies to relocate your belongings safely to your new home. When choosing one of these international moving companies, make sure you pick the one that can provide you with a full service offering without any unnecessary hassles and without breaking the bank. 

Like some moving companies in South Africa, Elliott offers international moving services. What sets us apart from our competitors, however, is our extensive international moving network and the many decades of experience we can showcase. Elliott is not just a familiar name, but a name you will always be happy to hear when it comes to anything relocation, and with good reason. In the article below, we provide an overview of what you need to do before moving to an international destination and how you can ensure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible.

What You Need to Do Before Moving to An International Destination

The first step in the process is to get your passports, visas, and other important travel documentation in order. The sooner you do this, the better, as leaving it to the last minute may cause unnecessary delays in your international move. Every member of your household requires separate documentation, so ensure that everything is in place and up to date. Don’t forget your plane tickets!

Next, you need to calculate the overall value of everything you want to move to your new home country and across international borders. Familiarise yourself with the exporting allowances set aside by the Reserve Bank and make sure you obtain customs clearance certificates for all the necessary items (like cars under a certain ownership period threshold and other high-value belongings). The reason you need to do this is that you are essentially exporting your belongings to a new country, so you become bound to the same controls and regulations as companies that export commodities or operate across borders. Even if you do not intend to sell your belongings when they arrive at your new home, you will still need to declare the value of the items that will be loaded onto the shipping crates. To this end, you will be required to file NEP (No Exchange Provided) forms with your bank or with Customs.

You should also be aware that Elliott does not calculate cargo dues when we provide you with your moving quote. Other companies may include a fee claiming that it is for this purpose, but this fee actually needs to be settled by you with the relevant port authorities. What we will provide you, however, is a quote of what the move will cost based on the number of items you are taking with you and the size of the cargo containers we need to arrange for you. We will not, at any point during the process, include “mystery expenses” during or after your move. Our quotes are accurate and can be relied upon.

How to Ensure a Smooth Transition to Life in Your New Country

Settling in and adjusting to living in a new country can be a daunting experience, especially for first-time expats. Up until your first night sleeping in your new home, you were probably constantly occupied with planning, arranging and travelling to get there. When all that is done, you are essentially offered a blank slate. It is important to keep yourself busy to maintain a sense of control and normalcy while you allow yourself to adjust to your new circumstances.

It is also important to integrate into your new community, as this will help you foster a sense of belonging. Reach out to your new neighbours, join social groups in your city, and get involved in local projects or at your children’s school. You will ease into the new lifestyle and routine far quicker by engaging in the bustle of daily life.

Although, the rest is up to you, when you are seeking international moving companies for your Big Move, trust Elliott to make your journey to your new home country as smooth and hassle-free as it can be. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us.