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Moving Abroad: The Little Details That Make The Biggest Difference

Live Long and Travel

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Moving Abroad: The The Little Details That Make The Biggest Difference

Moving abroad is an exciting new chapter, but the sheer volume of tiny details can be completely overwhelming! With my official departure date right around the corner on September 2nd, I am currently navigating the massive checklist of moving overseas, and if you don't take care of these little things early, they will come back to bite you.

In this video, I break down my personal international moving checklist to help save you from the massive headaches of long-distance relocation logistics. Whether you are moving to France, relocating to Europe, or planning a retirement abroad, these are the critical steps you cannot afford to forget.

From handling USDA-certified vet checks and complex pet travel requirements for my cats, Cali and Cray Cray, to navigating international banking fines and closing empty accounts to avoid hefty tax penalties—I cover it all. I also share my strategy for cutting down over $200/month in hidden digital subscriptions, switching away from expensive US phone plans to affordable options like Tello, obtaining official driving records for a foreign driver's license exchange, managing 90-day medical prescriptions, and calculating the true cost of international pallet shipping (Expat Shipping vs. UPakWeShip).

Three and a half months in temporary housing have given me a lot of time to think, and hindsight is always 2020. This is an honest look at what a major life transition really feels like when you are stuck in the sweet spot between leaving your old life and starting your new one.

Are you planning an international relocation? What is on your moving checklist? Leave a comment below and let's keep building this supportive, thoughtful community together!

👉 Pet info: https://www.aphis.usda.gov
👉 Telephone option: www.tello.com
👉 Shipping (FedX): www.expatshipping.com
👉 Shipping (Ship Cargo): www.upakweship.com
👉 Customs Info: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr
👉 Drivers License: https://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr...

👇 Timestamps:
0:00 - The Reality of the Final Countdown
0:57 - Pet Travel Logistics: Flying with Cats Safely
04:22 - Expat Banking & Crucial Foreign Tax Fines
06:45 - The Practical Logistics of Selling Your Car
07:51 - Digital Decluttering: Cancelling Monthly Subscriptions
09:15 - Dropping Expensive US Phone Plans for Tello & Google Voice
11:59 - Foreign Driver’s License Exchange & Apostille Rules
13:30 - Medical Prep: Securing 90-Day Prescriptions
14:18 - International Pallet Shipping Costs: FedEx vs. Ocean Cargo
18:50 - The Mental Toll of a Long Life Transition Period
20:44 - Join Our Thoughtful Community

#MovingAbroad #InternationalRelocation #MovingChecklist #ExpatLife #RetireAbroad #RetirementLogistics #MovingToEurope #PetTravel #PalletShipping #TelloMobile #LifeTransitions #LiveLongAndTravel

20 Comments

@westernnut8407 2 months ago Pinned

My head is spinning just listening to your details. I'm still most anxious about the USDA timing for your girls. My cross country move has way too many moving parts but your list is next level. Hang in there!

@studiosoixante 2 months ago

Good info Scott, thank you. You say you're neither here nor there, but you looked relaxed, so you're no longer lost! It's really happening. I'm so happy for you!

@russg5273 2 months ago

I think most of your audience is incredibly grateful for you. I know I am!

@user-dixk2rx5gz8f 2 months ago (edited)

That was a helpful list, Scott. - Seems like it is good to be a cat in your home. 😊 Lots of luck! The transition will go well! So exciting - you look happy!

@ColoradoPatti 2 months ago

Transitions can be so difficult and you are doing beautifully. Thank you for sharing your journey. I am finding it both comforting and inspiring. I love how much you love your girls.

@HaroldKress-z6w 2 months ago

Scott, I am so glad that you are going to have help relocating your fur babies. Bonne chance et bon voyage!

@elle77elle 2 months ago

Thank you for sharing your journey. I lived in Toulouse for a 3-month period before 2020. You’re inspiring me to consider staying longer!!! Greatly appreciated!

@yannip2083 2 months ago

You are great inspiration, Scott! So proud of your meticulous planning so well in advance. So happy and excited for you.

@sarahchang2835 2 months ago

Congratulations Scott,enjoy this new chapter in your life.

@BleueMavi 2 months ago

Although I’m overwhelmed listening to your necessary tasks list for next steps (hope I don’t miss anything when I get to this point), it’s also really exhilarating. Thank you for sharing, it’s vicariously fun to hear all of this because it really is all coming together very soon. Best wishes!

@kathygolden2103 2 months ago

Best of luck with your move. It sounds like you've prepared well. I hope the girls like their new country too!

@catherineweimer 2 months ago

Scott, we were in your position as well. House closed mid November, and we landed in France Jan 15. We just moved into our final place in France (house that we bought). Short term housing wears on you, but we tried very hard to see the beauty and benefit of every place we stayed. It’s not perfect, but it helps!

@laurihines300 2 months ago

We moved to France last September with two Rottweilers and our cat. The pet shipping people made a mistake and didn’t realize that our Rottweilers required a permit from the local commune to enter the country so while being completely jetlagged, we had to make a 20 hour round-trip drive to Luxembourg to bring them home. Our first long-term rental villa involved carbon monoxide poisoning and extreme mold toxicity while the balcony was literally falling off, (my best bit of advice for this is read the DPE your landlord must provide you; had we done this we might have picked up on the fact that the electrical system had severe anomalies which caused the power to go out every time it rained) so right now we are bouncing around various Airbnb‘s in the south of France while waiting to close on our house on the river. This is not a journey for the faint hearted, but you’ve got the right stuff. Good luck to you and your kitties and continue to keep us posted!

@pamelam.7789 2 months ago

Hi Scott,
I arrived in La Ciotat France about 3 weeks ago on a long stay visa. Luckily I moved here with my French boyfriend because after arriving I realized how difficult it would have been for us to find long term housing. We are currently in an Airbnb. When I started looking for a long term unfurnished rental I realized they were very difficult to come by. I am retired and my boyfriend is still working which was very helpful as they want to see a work contract in your dossier. I would suggest organizing your documents and dossier before arriving if possible. Ours was 60 + pages and it took a lot of time. We would be out of luck if he did not speak French I think. You may consider hiring a company that helps folks find permanent housing here if you find you are having trouble. With that said, we did exactly what you are doing by making a very detailed calendar with things that are coming up and crossing them off the list one at a time. Your trip will be more complicated than ours due to your cats too, but that is wonderful that they are going with you. I wish you the best of luck! I want to check out Montpellier now because it is not very far.

@candaceclark4427 2 months ago (edited)

Good morning Scott: I am very happy to hear that you will have a friend with you on the way over. It will make everything less stressful.
There is not much room for luggage on the train and passengers are always in a hurry so having 2 people helps get things settled faster (and easier for the kitties).
A word on the driver license exchange. In addition to our driving record in Florida, we were asked to provide proof of our first driver's license ( eons ago for me!) so I had to scramble online to see what I could get from my home state. Luckily, they had a specific record showing the date of my first license and I could download it. No apostilles have ever been required of us here in the Dordogne but that could well be a departmental matter. Anyway, it will be good for you to make sure you get that while you are still in the US.

Bon courage from the Dordogne!

PS - I forgot to mention that your USDA certs for the kitties will be important when you take them to the vet for their check and European passport (registration with the République is required within 30 days) and the vet needs that record.

@LaPawsBound 2 months ago

We are behind you by about a year. Selling the stuff in our house now and saving up to meet 12 months+ worth of income, even though hubby will be drawing on SS next year. And we will sell the house before we move. Even though I've taken French in school and studied some more before our first trip to France in 2017, I'm starting A1 level classes on Saturday. Hope to also complete A2 before we go. We appreciate all your videos (we also have cats - 4!). We're thinking of flying United to France so we can purchase the extra seat each to be able to take all 4 cats in the cabin w/out having to find help (my family's passports expired awhile back). We, too, will be following your route of Paris first and then south of France. Haven't picked a town yet. We're concerned about being able to find a place to rent with all 4 cats once we move out of the AirB&B. Will keep following your journey closely.

@francois3475 2 months ago

Congrats, Scott. After you've settled in a bit, you will love France. And once you've learned a bit of French, you'll wonder why you didn't do it years ago! C'est le plus beau pays du monde !

@sheli4795 2 months ago

I'm a few years behind you, Scott, and I have a furbaby, too. This list is really helpful. Thank you.

@diannamoynihan1377 2 months ago

Bon chance …. U got this🎉🙌🏿🌈

@sempreitaly 2 months ago

Hey Scott. Best of luck. I just received for the first time the SS form - I live in Italy. FYI you can call the number and do an attenuation by phone. It was so simple