To return to your home country, follow similar steps to "
Before the Departure" and close down your household. Be prepared to experience culture shock, even if you are returning to your home country. Take the time to take care of necessary paperwork and say good-bye to your foreign home.
- Consulate: Contact your consulate to find out details about your countries recommended procedures on issues such as visas, exit formalities, pensions and unemployment.
- Banking: Transferring large amounts of currency out of the country can be difficult. Inquire with your bank in Malaysia and your foreign bank to organize the move as smoothly as possible.
- Selling Your Home: If you bought a house, you will want to leave ample time for organizing a seller and all the associated paperwork.
- Leave Your Rental: If you are renting, you should provide your landlord with at least three months' notice.
- Utilities: End all of your contracts in writing as soon as possible
- Goods: Prepare your goods to go through customs by making a detailed inventory and secure a proof of change of residence. A moving form attestation can be secured through your Consulate. If using a shipping company, they should be able to handle most of this paperwork for you. Ask about their services when getting quotes from companies.
- Taxes: To have the lowest taxes, you will usually need to have had a residence abroad for more than 12 months and have had use of the possessions in a private capacity for at least 6 months. If your taxes are being withheld, you should have the withholding statements to show the officer.
The peculiarities of repatriating are explored in the article, "The Art and Science of Repatriation".
Prepare for your arrival in a new country
Along with shutting down your foreign house, you will need to prepare your next location. If this location is not your home country, you will need to follow many of the same steps from when you established yourself in Kuala Lumpur.
Check out our other Easy Expat guides for details on your new location.