Moving During COVID: Facts and Tips
What If You Are Moving During COVID?
Any move across international borders becomes equal parts excitement and challenge. Add a global pandemic to the mix, and things can get almost overwhelmingly complex and stressful. In these challenging times of COVID-19, new hurdles need to be met with added research, planning, and flexibility. However, this factor does not put off many who keep moving internationally. With proper preparation, you will be able to face the uncertainties of moving between a pandemic. Here are some key considerations and tips that will guide you and help pull off a move safely and efficiently in these unprecedented times.
1. Check and Recheck If You Will Be Able to Relocate
The very first and most important step in planning your move during COVID-19 is to ensure that you are legally permitted to move. It basically involves being aware of the restrictions and requirements in your current country and destination.
- Departure Restrictions: First, check on the current existing travel restrictions from your home country. A lot of countries now have really tough measures against traveling, such as an outright ban on travel or special permits to leave the country. Make sure you are aware of such restrictions and if you should necessarily have some particular document to leave legally.
- Entry Requirements: It is equally important to know the entry requirements to a destination country. Some countries may be closed to people who are not their citizens or have special exemptions on entry. Besides, understand whether full or partial vaccination against COVID-19 will be a requirement for entry or a negative test of COVID. Check for the timing of such requirements, as many countries restrict the window for when the test may be taken, relative to the time at which you shall depart.
- Permits and Exemptions: You may be required in some cases to apply for some permits or exemptions to be granted before you are allowed to proceed out of your country or into your destination. Applications may also take some time; it is very important to do so early enough. Have all the relevant documents and their copies with you; also, have an emailed copy of any confirmation regarding your travel.
- Vaccination and Testing: Vaccination against and testing for COVID-19 differ greatly from country to country. Find out if you need to be fully vaccinated, or if a negative COVID test of some kind will suffice. Know what vaccines your destination country will accept and how long before the date of travel testing may be conducted. It also helps to be prepared for any changes that may take place in these requirements as the pandemic continues to work its way through the world.
2. Research the Way the Pandemic Has Been Handled in the Destination Country
You must know which way your destination country went around hand in hand with the pandemic to estimate risks and properly plan.
- COVID-19 Management: Check how the destination country is currently managing the COVID-19 situation. Monitor case numbers, vaccination rates, and particularly how good their health care system is. If it is unstable or getting worse, consider how that might affect your plans or if you’d want to move under those circumstances.
- Quarantine and Self-Isolation: In the majority of countries there have been provisions that require incoming travelers either to be quarantined or self-isolated upon arrival. Find out the exact requirements in your destination country. Find out also the length of quarantine time and where that quarantine is conducted — whether in government facilities or at home, and if at home — what it will cost you. It will allow you the luxury of planning for time and extra expenses.
- Return Concerns: Also think about your potential capacity to return home if necessary. Many countries’ governments have conferred strict re-entry protocols, which might include obligations of quarantine or perhaps other vaccinations. Closely examine the financial and time costs associated with returning home and decide whether you are ready to bear the prospect of not being able to return soon if need be.
- Work-from-Home Scenarios: If you are going to be working from home for a longer period than is customary, try to envision what this could do to your relocation. If your new job or current employer will be making you undertake work-from-home duties for an extended period, make sure your plans account for being permitted to work from your new home. That would entail robust internet, an amenable workspace, and, if applicable, the necessary work visas.
3. Be Ready for Things to Change Quickly
This requires flexibility and adaptability when dealing with a move at this time. This is because the situation is fluid, and restrictions and health guidelines can change with little or no notice.
- Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated on developments concerning COVID-19 in your area and where you are traveling. This includes information related to government notifications, health advice, and the latest travel requirements. Having the right information will keep you apprised and able to respond in good time to make alterations to your plans.
- Communication Is Key: Keep your employer, the shipping company, and the relocation company in the loop every bit. It will help you when you are informed about any changes in your way of going about the move. In case of any other restrictions and requirements, then you’ll have an open forum to share, coordinate, and adjust.
- Contingency Plan: It is very important to prepare a plan for contingencies for every situation that may arise. For example, what might you do if you are late to leave, or new entry rules are imposed? This would take some stress out of and panicky happening out of the equation and help you handle any unexpected hassle much easier.
- Health and Safety Precautions: Just because you are moving, you should not get distracted from health and safety. Abide by all appropriate precautionary measures that are recommended to prevent the risk of infection, including wearing masks, maintaining social distance as much as is reasonably possible, frequent handwashing. Be sure your mover and other service providers are also following COVID-19 safety measures in their procedures both for your protection and that of your family.
Navigating the Uncertainty of Moving During a Pandemic
To us, although we are well-aware of these uncertain times, life goes on, and so are people well-relocating across borders, even at this time of global pandemic. The successes of moving in the COVID-19 era are pegged on spending lots of time through research, planning, and readying oneself to be flexible about the dynamism of the crisis. What is most important is that one should keep informed and work with only reputable companies when moving and relocating to mitigate risks and challenges that arise from the move.
Partnering with a Well-Reputed Moving Company
It is more critical now than ever during the pandemic to make the right choice when considering hiring a moving company. A good mover can give you constant information of the driving restrictions, navigate you through the process of international relocations, and offer extra support to ensure your move goes well.
- Experience and Expertise: Partner with experienced companies that have expertise in relocating during the time of the pandemic. Companies like the Asian Tigers Group include acumen in handling logistics with international moves while following COVID-19 norms. They need to be aware of the latest rules and best practices to minimize falling into a number of pitfalls and increase the ease of your move.
- Comprehensive Services: Look for a moving company that offers comprehensive services, including packing, transportation, and assistance with customs and quarantine procedures. Such a full-service mover can really lift the load off your shoulders, enabling you to concentrate on the other areas of relocation.
- Customer Support: Good customer support, especially in these unprecedented times, is very important. Go with a company that communicates in a responsive and proactive manner, keeping you well-informed in case there are schedule changes that may affect your move. A specifically assigned point of contact will not make the process of moving during a pandemic smooth but will also simplify things.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, moving in these COVID-19 times is really testing, but with good planning and support, moving can take place safely and successfully. You will be able to carry out all this and more if you follow the tips above and find yourself an established moving company like Asian Tigers Group to ensure help in maneuvering the uncertainties of a pandemic on your way to a new country and a better life. Life does go on, and new opportunities do beckon—don’t let a little pandemic get in your way of living your dreams in a new country.
Contact us at your local Asian Tigers office or reach out through our online contact form for more information or assistance on any issue regarding your international move. We’ll be right there helping you at every step.
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