Family relocation checklist: 120 things to do before, during, and after your move

Moving a family internationally involves more moving parts than any single person can reliably hold in their head. This checklist exists so you don't have to.

It covers 120 tasks across all five stages of the Global Relocation System — Decide, Prepare, Move, Arrive, and Thrive. Some will apply directly to your situation. Some will not. All of them are worth knowing about.

A note on how to use it: this is not a linear to-do list. Many of these tasks run in parallel. Many have dependencies — completing one unlocks another. The sequence matters, and the sequence is built into the stage structure. Work through each stage before moving to the next, and you will not miss anything critical.

The free downloadable version of this checklist is formatted for practical use — printable, organised by timeline, and designed to be worked through as a family. Download it at the bottom of this page.

STAGE 1 — DECIDE

This stage is about making the decision clearly and deliberately — whether you are choosing a destination independently, evaluating a job offer or posting, or assessing which opportunities to pursue based on where they would take your family. Visa availability and immigration pathways belong here too — they are not an administrative detail, they are a primary constraint that shapes every other decision.

The family decision

1. Define what your family needs from a relocation — write it down explicitly, not just as a conversation
2. Identify what is non-negotiable for each family member — education, career, lifestyle, proximity to extended family
3. Establish your timeline — when could you realistically move, and what constraints does that create
4. Involve your children in the conversation early, at a level appropriate to their age — a five-year-old needs a different conversation than a fourteen-year-old, but both need one. Children who are included in the decision process adapt faster than those who are told
5. For older children and teenagers specifically: ask them what they need to feel okay about this move — their answers will be more practical and more manageable than you expect
6. Assess the working situation for both partners in potential destination countries — remote work, local employment, self-employment, or a career pause
7. Define your budget range for the move itself and for ongoing cost of living
8. Make the decision as a family — ensure every member who is old enough has been heard
9. Write down the reasons for the decision — this document will matter more than you expect in difficult moments

Visa and immigration — evaluate this before committing to any destination

10. Check the visa options available to your family for each shortlisted destination — your passport combination matters enormously and options vary widely
11. Research whether your destination offers a viable long-term visa pathway, not just a tourist or short-stay option
12. Check visa processing timelines — some countries have processing times of six months or more, which directly affects your move date
13. Identify whether any family member's nationality creates complications or advantages for specific destinations
14. If evaluating a job offer or posting: confirm that the employer's visa support covers the entire family, not just the employee
15. If a destination has no viable visa pathway for your family's passport combination, remove it from your list at this stage — not after you have fallen in love with it

Destination evaluation

16. Research the school systems in your shortlisted destinations — IB, British, American, local — and check whether spaces are realistically available
17. Check international school waiting list timelines for your shortlisted destinations — some are measured in years
18. Assess healthcare quality and accessibility in shortlisted destinations
19. Evaluate safety and security — not from headlines, but from people currently living there
20. Research the expat community in shortlisted destinations — size, activity, accessibility
21. Assess climate and lifestyle fit for your family's actual preferences and needs
22. If evaluating a job offer or posting: read the full relocation package and identify what it does and does not cover
23. If evaluating a job offer or posting: assess the professional opportunity against the family impact explicitly — these are separate evaluations
24. If evaluating a job offer or posting: research the specific city, not just the country
25. Set a provisional move date and work backwards from it
26. Communicate the decision to immediate family and close friends
27. Begin talking to your children about the move — age-appropriately, honestly, and as early as possible

STAGE 2 — PREPARE

This is the most research-intensive and time-sensitive stage. Many tasks here have long lead times. Start earlier than you think you need to.

Visa and immigration — execute what you researched in Stage 1

28. Confirm the correct visa category for each family member
29. Check passport validity — most countries require at least six months validity beyond your intended stay
30. Renew any passports that will not meet validity requirements
31. Gather all required documentation for visa applications — birth certificates, marriage certificate, police clearances
32. Get documents officially apostilled or authenticated where required
33. Submit visa applications within the required timeline — build in processing time and assume it will take longer than stated
34. Research the process for registering with local authorities on arrival
35. Check whether you need to deregister from your current country of residence

Schools

36. Research international schools in your destination city in detail — curriculum, fees, ethos, waiting lists
37. Request information packs and application forms from your shortlisted schools
38. Submit school applications — do this as early as possible
39. Confirm school places in writing before finalising your move date
40. Obtain your children's school records, transcripts, and any assessment reports
41. Get school records officially translated if required by the destination school
42. Research the school's settling-in process and what support they offer new families
43. If your child has any additional learning needs, contact the school's SENCO or equivalent in advance
44. Research after-school activities, sports, and clubs available at or near the school

Temporary housing — book before you leave

45. Book short-term accommodation for your first four to eight weeks in the destination city — a serviced apartment, an Airbnb, or a short-term furnished rental
46. Choose your temporary accommodation based on proximity to school and a central neighbourhood — you will be learning the city from here
47. Do not commit to a long-term lease before you arrive — see the Arrive stage for the long-term housing search
48. Confirm your temporary accommodation is available from your arrival date and get written confirmation

Financial preparation

49. Research banking options in your destination country — which banks are accessible to expats, what documentation is required
50. Open a bank account in your destination country in advance if possible
51. Set up a multi-currency account (Wise, Revolut or equivalent) for the transition period
52. Understand your tax obligations in both your current and destination country
53. If you have a financial advisor, brief them on the move and its implications
54. Review your pension arrangements and understand the impact of moving internationally
55. Research the cost of living in your destination city in detail — not averages, but actual costs for your family's lifestyle
56. Build a transition budget that covers the first three months with a 20% contingency

Healthcare

57. Research international health insurance options and obtain cover before you leave
58. Get all family members up to date with vaccinations required or recommended for your destination
59. Obtain copies of all medical records for every family member
60. Get repeat prescriptions for any regular medications — enough to cover the first few months
61. Research hospitals, clinics, and GPs in your destination city recommended by the expat community
62. If any family member has a chronic condition, research specialist availability in your destination city in advance
63. Research dental options in your destination city

Logistics and the move

64. Obtain quotes from at least three international removal companies
65. Decide what you are shipping, what you are storing, and what you are selling or donating
66. Check import restrictions in your destination country — some items cannot be shipped
67. Check pet import requirements if you have animals — timelines can be very long
68. Arrange storage for anything you are not taking with you
69. Begin selling or donating items you are not taking — start earlier than you think necessary
70. Organise and digitise all important documents — store securely in the cloud
71. Confirm your removal company booking and get everything in writing
72. Arrange shipping insurance for your belongings
73. Research what you will need to buy on arrival that cannot be shipped

Practical administration

74. Give notice on your current rental property within the required notice period
75. Notify your employer, bank, pension provider, and any relevant government bodies of your move
76. Redirect your mail
77. Cancel subscriptions and memberships that will not be usable from your destination
78. Brief a trusted person at home with power of attorney or equivalent if required

STAGE 3 — MOVE

The move stage is the shortest. If preparation has been done properly, this stage is execution. The decisions are already made.

79. Confirm all logistics with your removal company one week before collection
80. Pack a separate bag of essentials for each family member — enough for the first week, carried with you not shipped
81. Include in your carry essentials: all original documents, medications, children's comfort items, chargers, and cash in local currency
82. Do a final walkthrough of your property before handing over keys — check every cupboard, every room
83. Take timestamped photographs of the property condition on departure
84. Hand over keys formally and get written confirmation
85. Confirm your temporary accommodation arrangements for the first night
86. Build buffer time into your travel — missed connections with children and luggage are significantly more stressful than they sound
87. Have local currency available before you land — airport exchange rates are poor but accessibility on arrival matters more
88. Confirm school start dates and any orientation sessions scheduled for new students
89. Send a brief update to close family and friends when you land
90. Do one small, enjoyable thing as a family on the first day — a meal, a walk, something that is not admin

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STAGE 4 — ARRIVE

Arrival is where most relocation guides end. It is where the real work begins. The first 90 days are the most important of the entire relocation.

First week

91. Locate the nearest supermarket, pharmacy, and hospital to your temporary accommodation
92. Get local SIM cards for all family members who need them
93. Identify a reliable local transport option — car hire, taxi app, or local recommendation
94. Introduce yourself to immediate neighbours
95. Attend any school orientation sessions scheduled for your children
96. Begin the bank account opening process if not already done remotely
97. Identify one other expat family in your area and make contact — expat Facebook groups and school parent networks are the fastest route

Long-term housing search — do this from the ground

98. Begin your long-term housing search now that you are in the city and can visit properties in person
99. Use your first weeks in temporary accommodation to learn the neighbourhoods — walk them, drive them, ask other families where they live and why
100. Visit at least five properties before making any decision — the first few will recalibrate your expectations significantly
101. Understand local lease terms before signing — notice periods, deposit amounts, what is and is not included
102. Once you have found the right property, negotiate — in most markets there is room to do so
103. Confirm your long-term housing, ideally within the first four to six weeks of arrival

First month

104. Complete registration with local authorities
105. Obtain any local identity documents required
106. Register with a local GP or family doctor
107. Register with a local dentist
108. Set up utilities in your name if not already included in your lease
109. Establish a weekly family routine — meals, bedtimes, weekend activities — earlier than feels necessary
110. Attend at least one social event, even if you do not feel ready
111. Check in explicitly with each child about how they are finding the transition — ask specific questions, not just "are you okay"
112. Check in with your partner about how they are finding the transition — the adjustment experience differs significantly between the working and non-working partner
113. Identify one activity or group for the non-working partner outside of the home and family context

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STAGE 5 — THRIVE

The final stage is the one that determines whether the move was worth it. It requires the same intentionality as every stage that came before it.

114. Review your budget against actual costs after the first month and adjust
115. Confirm that all school settling-in processes are on track — speak to teachers directly
116. Build a social life deliberately — identify the people you want to know better and make specific plans
117. Establish a family tradition specific to your new country — something that makes the place feel like yours
118. Ensure the non-working partner has a meaningful structure outside the home
119. Begin planning your first return trip home — having a date on the calendar significantly reduces the sense of distance
120. Ask yourself once a year: is this still the right place for our family, and what would we need to change if it is not — the answer should be a choice, not a drift

DOWNLOAD THE FREE CHECKLIST

The formatted PDF version of this checklist is available as a free download — organised by timeline, designed to be worked through as a family, and formatted for practical daily use rather than reading on a screen.

READY FOR THE FULL SYSTEM

The checklist tells you what to do. The Global Relocation System tells you how, in what order, and with what tools — with decision frameworks, planning templates, destination research guides, and stage-by-stage guidance for every aspect of your family's move.

Explore the Global Relocation System → (link to /products/the-global-relocation-system)

READY FOR THE FULL SYSTEM

The checklist tells you what to do. The Global Relocation System tells you how, in what order, and with what tools — with decision frameworks, planning templates, destination research guides, and stage-by-stage guidance for every aspect of your family's move.

Explore the Global Relocation System → 

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