It does not matter if it is a country next to yours or you are thinking of moving to Japan, making a big international move can be difficult and scary. Here are some moving tips that can help to move internationally easier.

Moving Tip 1: Make Preparations Early

Planning, packing, and making other preparations for an international move is very time-consuming. Make sure to start early, so you have plenty of time to do everything before moving to a new country. Start decluttering and selling or giving away items you don’t need months in advance. If you are moving to Japan or any other country, be sure to have your bank know you will be out of your country to prevent your account from being suspended.

Sort out your finances early before moving to a new country. Pack everything carefully. Doing so will help you maximize space and prevent fragile items from breaking. Avoid having to cram lots of things into suitcases last minute. It will make your move much smoother and far less stressful.

Moving Tip 2: Make Peace with Leaving Large Items Behind

It’s incredibly costly to ship large items internationally across the ocean. Consider leaving anything too large to fit in a suitcase behind. Sell your car and other vehicles, furniture, large decorations, and other household items. Unless you own large items that are rare, antique, or otherwise highly valuable, it probably is not worth shipping them across the planet. You can find a new vehicle, furniture, decorations, and household items when you move into your new home. In the meantime, try to sell your used items at the best price you can. You’ll need that money – international moves can be pretty pricey.

Moving Tip 3: Take This Opportunity To Declutter

We consider this a particularly important tip when moving internationally. You won’t be able to take nearly as many things with you as you would be if you were moving domestically. This means that even the number of small items you can take with you is limited. Take this opportunity to declutter and get rid of anything you do not need. Go through your closet and take only the clothes you love with you. There is no point in dragging things that don’t fit right or don’t look good on you across the world. In addition, you probably don’t want to take household items like dishes or storage containers with you, even if they are on the smaller side and could fit in a suitcase. Give these items a new home by giving them away to family and friends, selling them online, or taking them to a thrift store.

Moving Tip 4: Decide If You Want To Ship Anything

Some people who move abroad manage to do so with only a few suitcases. Others ship some items via the mail or other delivery services. Decide if you want to ship anything, and figure out how far in advance of your flight you’ll have to send it off. If you decide to ship some of your things, make sure that the packaging you use is sturdy and will survive being handled roughly as it makes its way around the world.

Moving Tip 5: Get Your Finances Sorted

It’s imperative to sort out all of your finances before moving to a new country. If you intend to keep a bank account in your home country, let them know you’re going abroad. They may require you to fill out some paperwork or establish a way of contacting them and/or logging into your online banking account that does not require a phone number.

If you decide to keep a bank account in your home country, it’s best to get a credit card that doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees. You should also make sure that your taxes are all in order. This is especially important for United States citizens, who are required to file taxes even while living in a new country. If you own any property, make sure to get all the necessary paperwork for that in order too.

Moving Tip 6: Don’t Forget Important Paperwork

Make sure to bring all vital pieces of paperwork, like your birth certificate, with you. You don’t necessarily need to bring hard copies of everything to your new home in Japan. However, you should make sure that you at least have digital access to any important documents that you may need when moving internationally. This includes medical records, financial documents, transcripts and degree certificates, birth certificates, and marriage certificates. You never know when you’ll need to show proof of education or other qualifications.

Moving Tip 7: Make Sure Your Cell Phone Is Unlocked

Chances are, you won’t be able to stick with the same cell phone plan or carrier if you move abroad. Make sure your phone is unlocked before boarding your flight. You don’t want to find out that your phone isn’t unlocked once you get to your new home. You won’t be able to sign up with a new carrier until it is, and it might be hard to get in touch with your previous carrier from another country.