How to prepare for the move

Weigh the pros and cons. The decision to move radically changes lives. Even if you have a source of income, and you are not bothered with money-wise questions, the usual life will be affected by the change of: language, friends, shops, jokes on national topics... Such a decision requires caution and responsibility for you and your loved ones.

But you've decided. Congratulations! Whatever motivated you - if you're here, you know what you want. What can you do while you're still at home?

1. Determine the place of residence

If you have the opportunity and understanding of the local housing market, you can try to rent an apartment for a long stay remotely. If not (which is more likely) - use well-known resources like Booking and Airbnb and book something for a week or two - the time it will take you to find an accommodation for a long time.

2. Prepare necessary documents

Even though many visitors even for a long time consider the possibility of a visa run at least the first time (including your humble servant), the ultimate goal always remains to obtain a legal residence permit in a foreign country. Documents from Russia (or other states) that may be required to obtain it on various grounds:

a valid foreign passport;

confirmation of the availability of funds that allow you to stay in Serbia during the planned stay (maybe an employment contract, a salary or scholarship certificate, a bank statement on the availability of the necessary amount of money, confirmation of pension payments, a certificate from the "My Tax" application, etc.) ;

if you plan to obtain a residence permit based on family reunification - a document confirming that you are a family member of a citizen (or a person with a permanent residence/residence permit) of Serbia;

if you plan to obtain a residence permit based on a "civil marriage" with a citizen (or the owner of a residence permit / permanent residence permit) of Serbia - a certificate confirming that you are not married from the home registry office;

if you have children - all birth and education documents, at whatever stage of life they are;

if you have pets that you take with you - a separate package of documents that I described here.

3. Translate documents at home

It is also better to apostille documents at home, as it usually might be cheaper. This service is provided by translation agencies.

If you plan to work in your specialty - translate (and better also apostille) documents confirming secondary and higher education - a certificate and diploma with annexes to them, as well as all other documents confirming your merits. These documents will also be necessary for the nostrification of the diploma. Please, read here, what I am speaking about.

4. Give power of attorney

I strongly recommend you leave at home a notarized power of attorney for the person you trust. At home, there may always be any small (or not so small) questions that, at the same time, can be essential - opening an account, receiving correspondence, obtaining certificates, doing business, and attending government agencies. Usually, such a power of attorney is issued to close relatives. The power of attorney must be issued with a notary, prescribing all the necessary powers. You can contact me for help in drawing up a power of attorney.

The power of attorney will help to significantly reduce the costs and time required to return home to resolve such issues. It can be issued while already abroad - at the consulate - but these are much more significant financial and organizational costs. Given that practice shows that at home they still do not know what to do with consulate verified powers of attorney, it is better to take care of it in advance and go to a notary.

5. Exchange currency

Yes, in the current social situation, this is not easy to do given the established prohibitions on the acquisition of foreign means of payment. But at the same time, it is necessary - it is almost impossible to exchange rubles while already in Serbia (at the time of this writing). At the same time, you will need the local currency immediately upon arrival in Serbia - starting with travel from the airport to the city, renting a house, and purchasing food. The stock of currency should be enough before opening an account in a local bank. Ask your acquaintances and friends while still at home - at present, any currency is suitable for buying a dinar, except rubles.

6. Ask for advice

It will be useful to register on popular resources and in communities of emigrants from the same country as you are from on social networks by simply entering your citizenship and country of destination in the search engine. For example, "Russians in Serbia." In such communities, you will be able to ask questions that relate directly to your move and read about the experience of those who have already moved.

7. Take care of your business

Complete your business in your homeland as much as possible. Everyone has those things that we always postpone at last. Don't put it off - do it if they are really important to you. Visit a friend whom you always didn't have time to, go to the grave of a loved one, take that necessary certificate to the agency - do it now! It is not known when and if such an opportunity will be presented again. And your mind would definitely be calmer.

8. Undergo a medical examination

Yes, it so happened that we trust more the doctors we know. This does not mean that medicine is bad abroad. But it's easier and cheaper, especially at first, to go through a health check at home. If there are any pathologies that occurred or prescription drugs are needed, it is also necessary to take care of receiving and transferring the prescription to drugs. Read more about it here.

This is the main thing you need to do at home so that the moving procedure is the most comfortable and least disturbing in the future. The next stage is arriving in Serbia. What to do next? Read about it in other articles.