A large number of Japanese people especially young people are very interested in going to another country to study or work. Some of them move overseas to live with their partners who are originally from that country.
Moving overseas from Japan can be the biggest adventure in one’s life whether it’s due to work requirements, in search of better standard of living or to study abroad. To make sure that this adventure proves to be an excellent lifetime experience, there are some things that you need to get done before you board the plane to your ultimate destination:
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1. Build upon your savings
Moving to another country from Japan would empty your savings, so you better save as much as you can beforehand. Make a list of all the costs during the process of packing, travelling and settling into the new place. These include but are not limited to visa processing, travel tickers, shipping expenses, housing costs and some emergency funds as well. These expenses will exhaust your finances as they will cost a fortune.
It is also advisable to have enough money to finance your living expenses for the first seven to nine months of having moved abroad. Being broke in a foreign country among foreign people can subject one to serious mental pressure.
2. Complete your paperwork
Make a list of the documents that you need to carry along with you as they might be required by the country you’re moving into for various reasons. Having an important document missing can land you into a lot of trouble.
Make copies of every document you fill out during the permanent resident application process. Also keep separate copies of your personal documents in each luggage bag. Clear your dues if any before you leave the home country. Obtain required health clearances documents and any other necessary paperwork.
3. Do your homework on shipping and storage
Shipping your existing possessions from Japan to your new destination requires a fortune as the international shipping costs are sky-rocketing these days. At times, the shipping expenses can have you bear more financial burden than the cost of buying new things from the scratch. The shipping costs also include the cost of shipping your items from your home to the shipper’s warehouse or the port of origin, customs clearance as well as shipping them to the destination port and then to your new home once they have arrived at your destination country. It would be best if you get shipping quotes from several different international moving companies in Japan to compare their prices and services.
4. Take care of your health needs
Every country has different health systems and regulations in place and it is always wise to make health arrangements prior to your travel.
Carry vaccination records all way from your infancy to your adulthood with you. Get any boosters and new vaccinations that your host country requires before you go. Do your homework on the foreign country’s health systems, hospitals and emergency health digits in case you meet an emergency there.
You can hop on the plane now and set off for your new adventure!
