Relocation to another country can be one of the most stressful journeys we can embark on in our lives. Not only are you uprooting your life and taking it to another place that you’re probably unfamiliar with, the physical move itself also takes its toll. Moving a house full of items overseas can not only be difficult to organise, it can be expensive. Here are some ways that you can minimise the stress that international removals can cause. PlanOne of the simplest ways of reducing stress when moving abroad is to plan in advance, even further than you perhaps would for a regular move. Make a checklist as soon as you’ve decided to relocate. This list can range from where you want to start looking for your new home, contacting estate agents, selling your existing house, booking a removal company and packing. It’s also wise to keep writing and rewriting new lists so you’re always up-to-date and confident in the move. Knowing where you are, the pace at which the process is moving and being on top of it will help reduce the stress later down the line.There are also more legalities and formalities involved with relocating abroad. Apply for Visas and organising work in your new destination significantly in advance of your intended moving time as these can take months to organise. Give yourself a generous estimate to reduce the stress if something goes wrong or Visas take longer to be accepted than you originally thought. Of course, if you already have a job sorted for when you move house, keep in regular contact with them to make sure everything is still going ahead as planned and to also form relationships with your future co-workers.When you move house, you need to notify companies that you’ll no longer be at your old address. This can include banks and utility companies. If you’re relocating to another country, this can get even more complicated as you’ll probably need to start banking with a new bank and close your other account down. Again, sorting this out far in advance of the moving date will make the process easier down the line.Condense It stands to reason that the less items you have to transport, the less stress and money is involved in the process. Before packing, go through your belongings and decide whether you really need them; either throw out what you don’t need, recycle it, or donate it to charity. You may be able to sell some items to make a bit of money towards the move, so if you find an item you think it worth some cash, look online and see what your options are.International removal serviceIt’s wise to hire a removal company which specialises in international removals rather than several companies who aren’t connected. Not only will this be simpler, as you only have one set of contact details rather than numerous different numbers, they’ll also be experienced in helping people relocate and can provide plenty of advice and tips on making the move smooth. Essentials boxWhen packing, having a box full of essentials and emergency items to keep separate from the rest of the items is sensible. However, this is even more relevant when moving abroad. Keep important documents, such as passports and Visas, medication and other essential items altogether somewhere you can get to them easily. If you’re getting a plane to your destination, it may be sensible to bring these in a carry on.