What You Need to Do 6 Months Before Moving Abroad
Moving abroad takes longer than moving across town or even across the country. You need six months minimum to handle visas, shipping logistics, and the hundred decisions that international relocation demands. This timeline walks you through what to do when, so nothing falls through the cracks.
The biggest mistake people make is treating international moves like domestic ones. You cannot book a carrier two weeks out and expect it to work. International shipping involves customs, multiple carriers, weight restrictions, and timelines you do not control. Start early, work methodically, and you will save yourself thousands of dollars and weeks of stress.
Months 6 to 5: Research and Legal Prep
This is your research phase. You are figuring out what is actually possible and legal.
Visa and Work Authorization
Start your visa application immediately. Processing times vary wildly by country. UK spouse visas take 12 weeks minimum. EU Blue Cards can take 3 months. US work visas often require 6 to 9 months. Apply early. If your visa gets rejected, you need time to reapply or change plans entirely.
Hire an immigration attorney if your case is complex. A $2,000 attorney fee is cheaper than a rejected application and a wasted move.
What You Can and Cannot Ship
Every country has prohibited items. Common surprises include:
- Mattresses and upholstered furniture (Australia, New Zealand)
- Wood furniture without fumigation certificates (many Asian countries)
- Food, plants, and soil (almost everywhere)
- Firearms and ammunition (strict licensing required)
- Prescription medications without proper documentation
Check your destination country's customs authority website. Make a list of what you own that you cannot bring. You will need to sell or donate those items.
Decide: Full Container or Shared Container
International moving companies offer two options. A 20-foot container holds a 2 to 3 bedroom home and costs $4,000 to $12,000 depending on origin and destination. Shared container service (your boxes share space with others) costs $2,000 to $6,000 for a 1 bedroom apartment's worth of goods.
Full containers make sense if you are moving a whole household. Shared containers work if you are starting over and only shipping essentials. There is no right answer. It depends on what you own and what you are willing to replace.
For domestic moves within the US before you leave, goCubify scans your space with AI and gives you binding quotes from DOT-vetted carriers. International shipping requires specialized freight forwarders, which goCubify does not currently handle, but the planning principles are the same.
Months 5 to 4: Inventory and Smart Leave Decisions
Walk through your home room by room. Make three lists: Ship, Sell, Trash.
Use the Cost-to-Ship Test
International shipping charges by weight or volume (whichever is greater). A cubic meter of goods costs $150 to $400 to ship overseas, depending on route and speed. That IKEA bookshelf that cost $80 new will cost $200 to ship. Do not ship it. Sell it and buy a new one abroad.
The same logic applies to heavy, low-value items. Old textbooks, cheap furniture, bulky electronics. Calculate replacement cost versus shipping cost. If replacement is cheaper, leave it behind. Our Smart Leave guide walks through this decision framework in detail.
What Always Makes Sense to Ship
- Sentimental items (photos, heirlooms, keepsakes)
- High-value, low-weight items (jewelry, important documents, small electronics)
- Items that are expensive or unavailable in your destination country
- Quality furniture you love (if you have a full container already)
Pack a detailed inventory spreadsheet. Include item descriptions, estimated values, and which box each item goes in. Customs will ask for this. Insurance claims require it. Do it now while you still remember what you own.
Months 4 to 3: Book Your Shipping and Flights
Get Three International Moving Quotes
Contact at least three international freight forwarders. Ask for door-to-door service (they pick up at your current home and deliver to your new address abroad). Get quotes that include:
- Packing and crating
- Ocean or air freight
- Customs clearance
- Destination delivery and unpacking
- Insurance (declare full replacement value)
Cheapest is not always best. Check reviews. Ask how they handle customs delays. Ask if they have an agent in your destination city. A good forwarder will walk you through the paperwork and keep you updated on your shipment's location.
Book 8 to 12 weeks before your move date. International shipping slots fill up, especially during summer (peak moving season).
Book Flights with Buffer Time
Do not fly out the same day your household goods get picked up. Build in a 1 to 2 week buffer. Stay in temporary housing or with friends. Use that time to clean your old place, handle final errands, and make sure nothing got left behind.
Your shipment will take 4 to 12 weeks to arrive, depending on distance and shipping method. Air freight is faster (2 to 4 weeks) but costs 3 to 5 times more than ocean freight. Most people ship by sea and fly with two suitcases of essentials.
Months 3 to 2: Paperwork and Financial Prep
Get Your Documents in Order
You need certified copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, and professional licenses. Order 3 to 5 copies of each. Some countries require apostille stamps (official authentication for international use). Check if your destination country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. If yes, get apostilles from your state's Secretary of State office. If no, you need consular authentication, which takes longer.
Scan everything. Keep digital backups in the cloud and on a USB drive you carry with you.
Banking and Credit
Notify your bank and credit card companies of your move. Ask if they operate in your destination country. If not, open an account with a bank that does (HSBC, Citibank, etc.).
Keep one US bank account open even after you move. You will need it for US tax filings, old subscriptions, and any financial ties you maintain.
Check your credit report. Fix any errors now. Some countries check US credit as part of rental applications.
Taxes
Talk to a tax accountant who specializes in expat taxes. If you are a US citizen, you still file US taxes every year no matter where you live (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can help, but you still file). Understand your tax obligations in both countries before you move.
Months 2 to 1: Cancel, Forward, and Pack
Cancel Subscriptions and Memberships
Cable, internet, gym, streaming services tied to your US address, car insurance, renters or homeowners insurance. Our cancellation checklist covers the most commonly forgotten items.
Do not cancel your phone plan yet if you are keeping your US number. Many expats use Google Voice or international plans to maintain a US number for banking and two-factor authentication.
Set Up Mail Forwarding
USPS will forward first-class mail for 12 months. That buys you time to update addresses with banks, the IRS, and other institutions. For long-term forwarding, use a service like Traveling Mailbox or US Global Mail. They scan your mail and email you PDFs. Cost is $10 to $30 per month.
Start Packing Non-Essentials
Pack out-of-season clothes, books, decorations, and anything you will not need in the next 8 weeks. Label every box with contents and destination room. Number each box and note the number on your inventory spreadsheet.
International movers often require you to provide a detailed packing list for customs. The more specific you are now, the easier customs clearance will be later.
Month 1: Final Walkthrough and Essentials Prep
Confirm Everything with Your Freight Forwarder
Two weeks out, confirm pickup date, delivery address abroad, and required documentation. Ask what forms you need to fill out for customs. Some countries require you to be present when your shipment clears customs. Know what is expected.
Pack Your Carry-On Essentials
You will live out of suitcases for 1 to 3 months while your shipment is in transit. Pack:
- Two weeks of clothes minimum
- Medications (bring prescriptions and doctor's notes)
- Important documents (passport, visa, bank info, lease, medical records)
- Laptop, phone, chargers
- Small comfort items (photos, favorite mug, etc.)
Ship or check everything else. Do not carry valuables in checked bags.
Clean and Photograph Your Old Place
If you are renting, do a move-out walkthrough with your landlord. Take photos of every room. You want proof the place was clean when you left. International time zones make disputes harder to resolve. Document everything.
Move Week: Pickup, Final Details, Departure
The freight forwarder arrives. They pack, crate, and load your goods. This takes 1 to 2 days for a full container. Be present. Check that fragile items are wrapped properly. Take photos of your shipment before it leaves.
Hand over your inventory list and customs paperwork. Get a copy of the bill of lading (the legal receipt for your shipment). Keep this with you. You will need it to claim your goods at the destination port.
Finish any last errands. Return library books. Cancel your car registration. Close out your lease. Do a final walkthrough of your home to make sure nothing is left behind. Our move day morning routine applies here, even though this is not a traditional moving day.
Fly out. You are done with the US logistics. Now you wait for your shipment to arrive and start the next chapter abroad.
What Happens After You Arrive Abroad
Your shipment will arrive 4 to 12 weeks after pickup. The freight forwarder's destination agent will contact you. You will need to clear customs, which requires:
- Passport and visa
- Packing list and inventory
- Proof of residence (lease or deed)
- Customs declaration forms (filled out ahead of time)
Some countries charge import duties on household goods. Others exempt personal effects if you have lived abroad for at least 12 months prior. Rules vary. Your freight forwarder should explain this upfront.
Once cleared, the agent delivers your goods to your new address. Inspect everything before signing the delivery receipt. Note any damage immediately. File insurance claims within 30 days.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting too late. Six months is the minimum. Eight months is better. Visas, shipping slots, and document authentication all take longer than you think.
Not insuring your shipment properly. Declare full replacement value. Budget $50 to $150 per $10,000 of declared value. Ocean freight is risky. Containers get dropped. Ships encounter storms. Do not skimp on insurance.
Ignoring weight and volume limits. Airlines charge $100 to $200 per extra bag. Freight forwarders charge by cubic meter or by ton. Weigh and measure before you commit. Sell the stuff that pushes you over budget.
Forgetting about pets. If you are moving pets internationally, that is a whole separate timeline. Rabies titers, health certificates, import permits, and quarantine rules vary by country. Some require 6 months of prep. Our pet move day guide covers domestic moves but the principle holds: plan pet logistics separately and early.
Not keeping copies of everything. Scan every document. Email copies to yourself. Carry physical copies in your carry-on. When customs asks for proof of residence or visa documentation, you need it immediately.
Why Six Months Is Not Overkill
International moves involve more variables than you can control. Visa processing stalls. Shipping slots fill up. Customs holds your container for inspection. Documents get lost. The six-month timeline gives you buffer room for when (not if) something goes wrong.
It also gives you time to sell belongings, say proper goodbyes, and mentally prepare for a major life change. Moving abroad is not just logistics. It is emotional work. Give yourself space to do both well.
If you are moving domestically within the US before your international move, use our moving cost calculator to estimate what that leg will cost. For the international portion, work with a licensed freight forwarder and follow this timeline. You will arrive at your new home with your belongings intact and your sanity mostly preserved.