Have you been relocated overseas? Are you expecting your stay to last a few years, or possibly even permanently? If so, you probably have a lot of planning on your plate. Your most important to-do items may be to secure housing and get a visa. However, your planning shouldn't stop there. Moving to a new country can be a complex and stressful experience, so it's important that you take the time to consider all the possible complications that can arise. The earlier you start planning, the easier the process will likely be. Here are three important actions that you'll want to take well ahead of your scheduled move:

Get your medical care in order. Much of your medical treatment will likely change once you relocate to the new country. Obviously, you'll need a new doctor and a new dentist, but the changes can even go beyond new healthcare providers. Many insurance companies don't have coverage for expatriates. You should contact your company to see if your coverage will follow you to the new country. In some countries, health insurance isn't tied to employment, so your employer may not offer insurance in your new location. Check into this before you leave so you have healthcare when you arrive.

Also, your prescription drugs may not be available in your new country. Talk to your doctor to see if all your necessary medications are approved and available in your new home. This even extends to things like contacts and eyeglasses.

Set up your bank account. You'll also likely need a new bank account in your new home country. Many domestic banks don't have branches overseas, so keeping your old account could make it difficult to make deposits. Opening an account in a new country can also take time. The bank may need to verify your visa and your identity, as well as establish any direct deposits. If possible, try to start this process in advance. Contact banks in your new country and ask them if you can email them documents ahead of time so your account is ready for use when you arrive.

You may also want to keep your current bank account open too. That will help you pay any ongoing bills back home and allow you to have access to a domestic bank when you come home for visits.

Choose an international mover. Moving your belongings becomes much more complicated when they're going overseas. Rather than being loaded onto a truck, they have to travel by boat or plane. They also have to go through customs. That can be costly and time-consuming. Think about which items you really need and which can be replaced when you get there. If you don't need the belongings, its better to sell them before you move.

Also, start the move in advance. It's possible that your goods could sit in customs for days or even weeks depending on how efficient the country's customs processes are. 

For more information, talk to an international relocation company, like Hollander Storage & Moving. They can help you decide which items should be packed, how they should be packed, and when you should have them shipped to your new home.