Monty is a moving consultant and content specialist from Flat Fee Movers. If he’s not helping families start new lives in different locations, he spends his time improving education for others.

A lot of people have found lucrative job and business opportunities in Australia, and a lot of people have also decided that retiring in the land down under is the best way to go.

Before moving anywhere internationally – or moving anywhere for that matter – it helps to have a checklist that can point you in the right direction.

Here are some of the things that you need to keep in check before you choose to start your brand new life in Australia.

• Finances

Getting your finances in order is one of the most important things to settle. If you’re closing down accounts, do them at the soonest because some banks don’t really get that you’re moving to a new destination.

If you’ve chosen to maintain a couple of bank accounts at home before you move, make sure that you have properly informed your bank that you’re moving so that you can avoid being flagged for fraud when you use your cards in Australia.

Also, it helps if you can start setting up the necessary bank accounts in Australia before even moving there. In this way, you can start transferring your assets at the soonest and you won’t have too much trouble with money when you get there.

Make sure that you have plenty of Aussie dollars and American ones for that matter, this will be helpful just in case of emergencies. (Or, if you’re dining out with friends – the split-check system isn’t really a thing in Australia.)

Please cancel any ongoing subscriptions while you’re at it.

• Housing

One thing that we often advise our clients is to make sure that their accommodations are in order before moving. This also goes along one of our favorite rules: do not move in without physically checking out the place first yourself.

Remember those jokes about “expectation versus reality” whenever you buy something online, it’s the same thing with real estate. If you can’t physically check the place out, find a good friend or someone that you trust to check out the place for you in advance.

Getting your furniture shipped to Australia should also be a priority, but it is important that you consult with an international mover beforehand in order to facilitate the process and make your relocation a smoother process.

• Paperwork

This involves your work permits, visas and your passport. Getting these things in order should be your number one priority. While you’re at it, getting your plane tickets beforehand should be a no-brainer.

Part of the paperwork is getting your insurance and health cover into consideration. Get travel insurance, it’s worth it. It’s better to have something that you won’t use, than not to have something when you really need it in the event of an emergency.

As per your healthcare, check if you would be eligible for the Australian Medicare health care system. It could save you some money in the long run.

You will also need to have references for employment purposes and please make copies of everything – this means digital and physical.

• Settling In

First off, we have to tackle the Fosters debacle, just because it’s Australian doesn’t mean that they drink it. Also, don’t be surprised about vegemite – half of the people that aren’t from Australia still don’t get the obsession.

However, all kidding aside, you really need to learn about the culture in Australia. Admittedly it’s more laidback than a metropolis such as New York, but there’s more to Australia than what you see in the movies.

The law in Australia is different and it really helps that you know some of the dos and don’ts before moving. You don’t want problems whilst settling in.

Read up on the culture and the speak. You’ll find that even the lingo is a little different from what you’re used to. It will be great to visit before deciding to permanently move there. This way you’ll have your “feet wet” so to speak.