Deciding what to take with you when you move abroad can be difficult. You need to strike a balance between taking enough with you to help you settle in and make you feel at home, but not too much that it becomes expensive and impractical to ship.
As an international moving company, we have experienced our fair share of family debates and heated discussions about what items should be packed or left behind.
To help settle these debates, we have outlined how you can decide what to take with you and created a packing list so you can track what items you might need when moving abroad.
How to decide what to take with you when moving abroad
Sifting through your belongings and deciding what stays and what goes can be daunting. We have come up with three top tips to help you make these decisions.
1. Consider the repurchase cost
When deciding on whether an item should be packed or left behind, ask yourself the following questions:
- How much did this item cost me?
- Is the item in good condition?
- If I didn’t pack the item, would I replace it?
- How much would it cost to replace the item once I’ve moved?
Items that are in poor condition, or items you wouldn’t bother to replace, are ones you should consider leaving behind. Items that are low-value and relatively cheap to replace could also be left behind.
You should consider packing items that are high-value, in good condition, and would cost you a lot of money to replace. For example, china and crockery can be expensive so you might decide to take what you already have with you.
This idea can be applied to nearly everything in the house including furniture and electrical goods.
2. Consider the shipment cost
Shipping items internationally can be expensive. Estimating the cost of shipping can help you make a decision about what you pack.
You can determine the size of an item by measuring the item’s height, width, and depth in inches, multiplying the dimensions together, and dividing the result by 1782. This gives you the cubic capacity of the item.
Although international removal costs will depend on the shipping company and where you are shipping to, you can estimate the shipping cost by multiplying the cubic capacity of the item by approximately £4.50.
Once you have estimated the shipping cost of the item, you can use your judgment to decide whether it is worth paying the shipping cost or if you would be better off replacing the item once you have arrived in your new home.
Remember that items can be shipped together, so you might find it beneficial to strategically pack your items into boxes and fit smaller items amongst larger items.
3. Understand customs regulations
Once you have decided what items you are taking with you, it is important to check that they can be shipped to your destination country.
Customs regulations vary from country to country and some countries have stricter restrictions than others. Most removal companies will have a good knowledge of different customs regulations but won’t know everything. If there is anything you are unsure about, you can always consult with your removal company and ask them to check on your behalf.
Custom regulations when purchasing new goods
Typically, any new goods are only allowed in to a country if you pay duties and taxes on them. However, you do not need to pay UK VAT on these items if you follow these rules:
- The item is delivered to or collected by your mover and is not taken possession by you.
- A certificate of shipment from your mover confirming the item has been exported is provided to the retailer.
The retailer should then reimburse you the UK VAT, although it is important to note that some retailers will not offer this service. Therefore, you should check with the retailer before you make the purchase.
Packing restrictions and regulations for Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand’s customs regulations are particularly strict. This is because these countries wish to protect their environment and don’t want any bugs arriving in your consignment.
We recommend thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting any items that are associated with soil, earth, or dirt. This includes items like:
- Garden equipment
- Shoes
- Outdoor toys
- Bikes
We would also advise painting the blades of any garden tools where possible because this seals them and shows that they are clean.
Items made of plant material like wicker, cane, bamboo, and sea grass may cause concern and be subjected to a thorough examination. This may result in extra charges for fumigation, disposal, and labour costs.
Wooden furniture should typically be okay but may be inspected for evidence of past or present woodborer activity. Unfortunately, it seems there is no defining rule for this and it can depend on the judgment of the MAF inspector on the day of inspection.
If you have any questions or concerns about what you can take with you to Australia or New Zealand, contact the relevant authorities such as Australian or New Zealand Customs or The Ministry of Agriculture.
Packing list for moving abroad
There are a few techniques for packing you can follow to make the process as smooth as possible, including:
- Organising your items into categories.
- Deciding which items you can take on the plane with you, and which items need to be shipped.
- Packing items that aren’t used on a daily basis first.
- Hiring a professional packing team to help.
Use our moving abroad packing list below to help guide you.
Important documents
There are many documents that are essential to have when you travel abroad. These documents will allow you to prove your identity, prove your right to be in the country, and make an insurance claim.
You should consider keeping important documents in your hand luggage to prevent them from getting lost if your checked luggage fails to reach your destination.
It is also a good idea to make paper and digital copies of all your important documents in case anything is lost, misplaced, or stolen.
Examples of important documents you might need to pack include:
- Passport or travel documents
- Visa documents
- Travel insurance documents
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Medical records
- Immunisation records
- Prescription information
- Plane tickets and boarding passes
Clothing
Before you start packing your entire wardrobe into boxes, consider what you will actually need. Ask yourself:
- What will the weather be like in my destination country?
- What activities do I want to do when I get there?
- Will I need work-appropriate clothing?
When you have decided what clothing you will be taking, separate them into clothes you will take with you on the plane and clothes you will ship over separately. Using items like packing cubes can help condense your clothing down and keep them neat and organised.
Clothing items you might consider packing include:
- T-shirts
- Button-up shirts
- Jeans
- Trousers
- Activewear
- Swimming costumes
- Windbreakers
- Coats and jackets
- Pyjamas
- Underwear and socks
- Sunglasses
- Sunhats or beanies
- Walking boots
- Trainers
- Flip flops or sandals
- Heels
Furniture
When deciding what furniture to take with you, it is important to think about practicality. It can be expensive to ship big, bulky pieces of furniture halfway across the world, so you should only take your favourite pieces of high-quality furniture with you. Everything else can be replaced once you get there.
It is also worth considering that flat-pack furniture is not intended to be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled again. This can make the furniture weaker and more prone to breaking. Don’t be tempted to take used flat-pack furniture with you just because it can be packed down small.
Appliances and electronics
We live in a digital world, so it is likely you will be bringing various electronics with you when you move.
Every country will have its own voltage requirements and plug sockets which might differ from the country you are moving from. It is important you check these requirements before you move so you can prepare accordingly.
An adaptor is arguably the most important electronic to pack as this will allow you to charge your personal electronics in your new home until you can pick up new, local chargers.
You might want to leave kitchen appliances, televisions, and other home electronics behind as these will likely be incompatible with your new country’s electrics and it becomes complicated to use adaptors for every appliance you own. It is often easier to purchase new home appliances that are designed for use in that country once you arrive.
Examples of the appliances and electronics you might take with you include:
- Adaptor plugs
- Portable charger
- Mobile phone and charger
- Laptop and charger
- Tablet and charger
- Kindle and charger
- Smartwatch and charger
- Camera and charger
- Headphones and charger
- Portable speaker and charger
Sentimental items
You shouldn’t feel guilty for packing items that mean a lot to you. In fact, this can help you feel more at home in your new space and make such a big change a little easier.
Sentimental items might include:
- Framed photographs
- Favourite art pieces
- Special pieces of home decor, like rugs
- Jewelry
- Favourite books
- Favourite records
- Ornaments
- Diaries or journals
- Hobby items, like art supplies or sewing machines
- Favourite blankets or soft toys
- Family heirlooms
Vehicles
Shipping your vehicle overseas can be expensive and you might have to pay extra to have it clear customs. It is worth checking whether the country you are moving to allows vehicles to be imported, as this is not always the case.
If you have a vehicle that is particularly important to you and the country allows it, you can pay to ship your vehicle over. Otherwise, you might want to consider selling your car and purchasing a new one if needed once you arrive in your new country.
Packing for your move abroad made simple with John Mason International’s Removals Services
At John Mason International, we aim to make moving abroad as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Our team of experienced professionals can help with international removals in four simple steps:
- Schedule your international removals service online.
- Discuss your removal with a skilled surveyor and get a quote.
- Receive the required packing materials.
- Have your items packed, loaded, moved, and unloaded at your destination by a team of removal experts.
We tailor our services to your needs and can transport your belongings by sea and air freight depending on your budget and how quickly you need your goods delivered.
Our expansive global network also means we are able to provide services to locations all over the world.
Contact us online or get an instant online quote to start your relocation journey today.
