Movingto an international location is the dream of many South Africans. Other countries offer better income opportunities, superior education institutions, and higher overall safety compared to South Africa, which is what makes internationalrelocation so appealing. People might be overlookingthe inverse of this scenario as well – there are people who would love to move to South Africa for its beautiful scenery and relatively low cost of living. Whether you’re movingoverseas from South Africa, or shopping around for movers in preparationfor your move to South Africa, it’s quite possible that you are overlookinga few things. There are many logistical factors to consider and preparationto be undertaken, not just for the move itself, but also in terms of legal and monetary aspects. This article will explain international moving, as well as anything you might be overlookingin preparationfor international moving.

What You Need To Know About International Moving

Laws differ from country to country. Something that is perfectly legal and acceptable in one country might be the opposite in other countries, if not outright illegal and criminalised. Hopefully, you conducted extensive research into the laws of your new home country in preparationfor movingbefore you the actual move takes place. There are many laws and bylaws that need to be followed in your new country that you may not be aware of, so it is an important part of preparationto arm yourself with extensive legal knowledge pertaining to your new home.

During the preparationphase, it is important to take into account that some of your belongings might be illegal in your new home country (like certain books or paraphernalia, even if they are considered innocuous in the country you’re moving from, which is assumed to be South Africa for the purposes of this article). It is likely that your boxes will be inspected by customs officials, so trying to smuggle illicit items is very ill-advised and can land you in hot water. Furthermore, you might not be allowed to take your beloved pets (and other exotic animals) with you. In the case of the latter, most countries will allow you to “import” your dog, but they could require sterilisation and quarantine for up to several months at a time. Think long and hard before you consider transporting your pet over internationalborders.

Luckily, the logistical side of internationalrelocation is slightly less stressful (especially if you choose the right removal company) but overlookingcertain factors can still happen. It is important to keep in mind that you are relocating to an entirely different country and that your belongings will travel enormous distances. Overlookingbasic issues is only really a problem if you do not plan properly, so make sure you plan everything meticulously – put clear labels on every box, take a detailed inventory of everything you own, and communicate with the movers from start to finish to ensure a smooth ride.

How International Moving Differs From Local / National Moving (And Why Preparation Matters)

As mentioned previously, your belongings will travel very long distances. The transportation of physical goods over such distances differs quite a bit from transporting the same goods on a local or national level. For example, if you were to undertake a move from Johannesburg to Durban, your removal company of choice will simply use a large truck to transport your belongings. The truck collecting your stuff from your old address, will also be the one delivering your goods to your new address. This basic process completely changes when borders need to be crossed, especially if there is an ocean between your current and new, future home.

You need to be aware that your belongings will probably exchange hands more than once on the way to their new destination. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as you will usually be able to trace the move through each company that gets involved. Cross-continent or overseas moves require that your goods be transported either by ship or by plane (although the former is more common and less expensive). If you move your belongings with Elliott, we will organise everything for you. Once your belongings leave our care in South Africa, we do everything in our power to ensure they get to your new home safely, including constantly communicating with both you and our overseas affiliates.

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