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To return to your home country, follow similar steps to "Before the Departure" and close down your household. The peculiarities of repatriating are explored in the article, "The Art and Science of Repatriation".

There are a few details that can take quite a bit of time to close in Mozambique, so be sure to give yourself lots of time in country to organize your departure. These details become much more difficult to organize when you are no longer in Mozambique.

1. Banking: Transferring large amounts of currency out of the country can be difficult. On arrival, we recommend opening one foreign bank account for large amounts of money, and keeping only small amounts of cash in your Mozambican account. This will mean less hassle when you are trying to take your money home.
2. Selling Your Home: If you bought a house, you will want to leave ample time for organizing a seller and all the associated paperwork. It is perhaps easiest to try to sell your home within the expatriate community.
3. Leaving Your Rental: If you are renting, you should provide your landlord with at least three months notice - though probably more. Landlords are notoriously slow with giving back deposits, and will sometimes expect you to find a new tenant.
4. Utilities: Be sure to end all contracts with utility providers.
5. Consulate: Contact your consulate to find out details about your countries recommended procedures on issues such as pensions and unemployment.
6. 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.
7. Taxes: To have the lowest taxes you will 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. Be aware that the Tax Bureau has the right to presume that you are earning income. It is your duty to refute that presumption, if you choose. If taxes are not being withheld from your income, the Tax Bureau might impose a liability on you. If you claim you were not working, you will need to account for how you spent your days.

Prepare your arrival

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 Maputo.

Check out our other Easy Expat guides for details on your new location.