Immigration can be complicated
Anyone familiar with immigration processes will know that it can be a bureaucratic nightmare not only when you enter a country but also when you leave. Experts in this matter will be able to tell you that there is a long list of things to consider in order to ensure that your exit strategy is as painless as possible. It does not really matter how long you have been in Japan because when the time comes to move out of the country, there are simply so many things which have to be carefully managed such as visits to places and people whom you may not see for a long time once you move out of Japan. All of your best friends, colleagues as well as your company will be arranging endless procession of farewell parties also giving you all sorts of gifts to bring home to wish you well and then there are a lot of seemingly insignificant things which has to be done in order to ensure that there are no last-minute obstacles.
The bureaucratic process
All of the red tapes which apply when entering a country such as Japan will also apply when you finally move out of the country. Failure to consider even one of the simplest steps can lead to unnecessary headache and this will require a lot of time to sort out and therefore such mistakes should rather be avoided. It will always be best to ensure that all of your personal matters are in order before moving from Japan because in the event of your future return you will find that people in this country have very long memories and it is best not to leave enemies behind. The moment you make the decision to leave Japan it is important to immediately start planning and to make a list of all the things which has to be done before your move because this will certainly help you to avoid unnecessary and frustrating problems when the time to leave finally arrives.
Giving up your apartment
It is important that you keep your landlord well informed and that they know exactly when you will vacate the premises. Normal practice in Japan is to provide the landlord with at least one month’s notice however, some rental contracts may demand two months. Most of the professional property managers operating in Japan will arrange for property inspection and when necessary they will arrange for essential maintenance services such as cleaning. They know exactly how much to allow for normal wear and tear but for any damage beyond this the tenant will be responsible and payment may be demanded on the spot. It will be cheaper to arrange your own cleaning and to do as much of the maintenance as possible before moving on.
Be sensible.
When moving out Japan it simply makes no sense to take unnecessary possessions with you especially if you are returning to your home country and therefore it is best to throw out those things which can be easily replaced when you reach your destination. Some things can be donated to charitable organizations while others may be sold to secondhand shops. Only take those things which you really cannot do without. It is amazing how much things can be accumulated in the space of a couple of years and therefore it is important to start sorting through your property as early as possible because this will ensure that you do not accidentally overlook something. There are many online websites where you can advertise those things which you want to sell. You would also need to think of the cost for delivery when selling your things to someone. Large items such as washing machine or pieces of furniture could be expensive to deliver even within the same neighborhood.
Moving your possessions
You need to plan carefully on how you are going to ship your personal effects to your moving destination. You may wish to check with the appropriate airline authorities as early as possible in order to determine how the process works and also how much you can expect to pay in particular as far as extra luggage fees is concerned. It might be best to send most of your possessions using the services of an international moving company in Japan. Fortunately international moving companies are providing international customers with an interesting variety of overseas shipping options. Some of such moving companies can handle your shipments even if you are shipping only a few packages. By sending your household goods as freight, you can import your belongings duty and tax free. Going to the freight terminal or at the airport can be the best option.
Utilities
Do not forget to make arrangements for the utilities which you are using and it will be necessary to contact the utility services company in your city or town in order to arrange a final statement for things such as water, electricity and gas. In most cases the contact information for these utility companies can be found on the monthly statement which is sent to you. It is important to contact them in order to require when the final statement can be expected and how to best pay for the services which has been received.
Dealing with all of those tedious details
It is a complicated process to set up a comfortable living experience in Japan and it can be just as complicated to unravel everything and to make sure that everything is in order before you leave. It is very important to ensure that all of your financial obligations have been met and, in some cases, arrangements will have to be made with your bank in order to make sure that some last-minute costs will be covered. Do not neglect to cancel your smartphone contract and it is sometimes best to speak personally to a representative of your servers provide in person by going to one of their branches. In most cases service providers will allow customers to choose a date for cancellation but once again it is best to make sure that you understand your contractual obligations.
Internet and other services
It is also important to make sure that you cancel your Internet contract. In most cases customers only need to make a phone call to the support line of their ISP. The website of such a service provider often has all of the necessary information which a person may need in order to successfully cancel the service. Living a comfortable life in today’s modern environment often requires a long list of subscriptions to all kinds of services such as TV networks, magazines, land lines, newspapers and a whole range of other things and all of these have to be canceled before you move from Japan. Most of these things can be canceled telephonically but once again there may be exceptions and it is important to make sure that you understand your obligations regarding cancellation of services.
Conclusion:
When moving out of Japan, you really must go through a number of formalities and you also must consider how you move your belongings to your home in another country. Naturally you cannot do this alone, get helps from your Japanese friends, international friends as well as international moving companies. It is also best to start making arrangements for all these as there are so many things to do and it takes time.