The Australian Move Checklist: Important things to prepare for before migrating

by ninyeh · Published July 18, 2016 · Updated July 20, 2016

Arriving in a new country can be very daunting and only the braves will take on the challenge. Whether you are coming in as a skilled migrant worker or as an international student it is very important to come prepared. I will bring out to you a list of basic things that you will need to be able to settle in as quickly as possible. This list will contain important things we suggest you prepare for before migrating or leaving your beloved country.

Make a list (not being OCD but I assure you it helps a lot!)Making the big move is not a simple thing thats why its called the BIG MOVE. Make yourself a checklist of important things that you need to do. If you dont know what to do then you can start listing down the next few things we are about to say. For easier access, this checklist can be a to-do app on your smartphone or tablet that you always have on you. Or it can be a simple written paper that you keep to yourself and tick along as you go.
Getting cheap flights. (Not unless you can afford business class)
Who says moving to Australia has to be expensive. There are plenty of websites that can offer you cheap comparisons for the budget ticket you are after such as skyscanner, expedia, kotif etc. and it is all about finding the right one for you or your family. Although economy flights have a lot of bad customer experience as they say but the savings in $$$ you get can really help you when you touch down here in Australia. Another good way in finding cheap tickets is by getting in touch with the International Organization for Migration. They offer assistance for immigrants migrating to Australia. Offering cheap fares with generous baggage allowance. I will be doing a more thorough walkthrough on getting cheap airfare deals in a different article soon.
Get Personal/Legal Documents ready.
Now remember the checklist bit I was talking about? You better be writing things down starting now as this is where things can get messy. When moving to a different country it is very important to know what legal documents or personal documents you should be bringing in for you and your family. We have your passports, your Australian visa grant, birth certificates from NSO, marriage certificates from NSO, driver’s license, resumes, work related references or professional reference, diploma or transcript of records from your university, certificates from your professional board, children’s documents, immunisation records, medical records and more! The list goes on and on for this one. You have to make sure you get everything and written it down your Australian move checklist. Told you it was handy but just in case you missed out something or lost them, not to worry! I will be creating a different article that will assist you in getting legal documents whilst you here in Australia
Organised accommodation for you to temporary stay Another important factor to consider before moving to Australia is your temporary accommodation when you get here. This is applicable to those who dont have families to live with short-term and will require to rent or share out a place. Rents in Australia will vary from what location you are bound to go to, for example, you will be hitting base in sydney which is known for it’s obscure rental properties, you will surely be paying a lot. But if you will find places in outer suburbs or areas away from central business districts you will be able to find affordable housing prices. So plan ahead and ask people who already have experiences in the area. Seek out their opinion on where to find cheap accommodation. Another option to take is to check housing websites like gumtree or flatmates. Websites like these offer rooms or properties for rent at a wide range of prices depending on the location. You can either share a house with someone or rent someone else’s room as a start. We will publish a seperate and more thorough article on this matter soon.
Get your finances straight and organised
The cost of living in Australia is outrageous believe me. It can shock newcomers when learning about how much things cost, especially in the big cities like Sydney and Melbourne, both food and transportation can be pricey at first. For those newly arrived skilled migrants or students, relying on jobs for these cost of livings may not happen as getting a job immediately is another challenge. So this will mean you will have to finance yourself in the first few weeks. If you are bringing your family together with you, it will mean more cost for the start up. Do an intensive research as to how much you money you will need to commence your big move. It will be an advantage if relatives to reach out as you get here as it will take away some of those cost while you settle in
Saying Goodbye. Saying goodbye something really important but can be one of the hardest things to do before leaving. I bet you are just thinking of just sneaking away and not telling everyone about your move. not only it’s rude but it would say that you didn’t give importance to the relationships around you. So organise a get together and strengthen those networks. you never know that friend of yours know someone in Australia and can help you out in adjusting. Keep the networks you have as you never know they will come in handy. This is can be a very emotional event for the family as you make the decision of going away. This is a very huge obstacle and will require mental strength to prepare for. It can be difficult but dont let it stop your dreams. We are living in a modern world so it is easy to stay connected with love ones. not to mention the opporunity to be able to come see them again soon after we achieve success. Just dont look back. Grab hold of the great possibilities you have forward and dont hold back.Did i forget anything else? Share your tips for fellow migrants and students on the comments below.