6-Month Homecoming Checklist

Plans and arrangements have to be made before your actual return. If your return date has been fixed, certain things must be put in place to ensure a comfortable transition upon your arrival. This six-month step will be your guide. Here are some things that need to be taken into consideration.

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6 MONTHS

  • Negotiate employment packages and benefits and finalize on new job in Nigeria, we have seasoned HR Consultants that can guide you through this contact us at info@diasporaconnex.com
  • Open a domiciliary account with a Nigerian bank so you can start sending money (in foreign exchange) for easy access in Nigeria. If possible also open a current Naira account with a Nigerian bank. Remember to sign up for online banking. For the right financial vehicles to start with our resident financial planners can guide you please contact us at info@diasporaconnex.com
  • Shortlist schools for the kids. Ensure you have visited each school in the shortlist. Find out about their requirements for admission and work with the children’s current school to ensure a smooth transition.
  • If you own your own home, you should speak with a letting agent to advice on scheduling if you want to sell or rent your property before you move to Nigeria.
  • Start buying weather appropriate clothes if needed. The temperature in Nigeria hovers around 24 to 35 degrees year round. You will need summer clothing so do your shopping the summer before you will have to move.
  • Speak with 2 or 3 shipping/moving companies and get quotes for your personal items, car, etc. for local vendors contact (to be provided)
  • If you are flying back with a visa, ensure that your passport is valid for more than 6 months. If you will be flying back with your Nigerian passport, start the process for renewal/reissue/1st time issue if necessary. Apply for Entry Visa here and e-passport.
  • Speak to your doctor and veterinarian about vaccinations for your family and any pet you will be relocating with. Infants especially should have finished their schedule of vaccinations before the move date. Pets need to have all their inoculations up to date. Have the vet give you a Health Certificate to show the status of your pet.

5 MONTHS

  • Finalize and register your kids at your school of choice. Remember to collect and make copies of their educational records and certificates. Many government services in Nigeria require the sighting of originals, so bring originals of all relevant documents. Apply for International Scholarship programs here
  • If you have not done your NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) service year yet, find out when the next batch would be. Bring originals of any relevant education documents for yourself and your spouse. If you received a student visa to study abroad at any time, bring along the passport with the student visa. NYSC requires this to register all foreign-­‐educated students.
  • Contact an international tax accountant to advice on meeting your tax obligations in your current country as a resident or non-­‐resident, if applicable. Nigeria may be entered into a tax treaty with your host country, which prevents double taxation in both countries. Apply for Tax Clearance Certificate here you can also contact our resident financial planners at info@diasporaconnex.com

4 MONTHS

  • Book flight tickets for yourself and your family. Flights are usually cheaper when purchased in advance. If you will be staying in a hotel in your first few weeks of returning to Nigeria, book your hotel rooms as well. You can       try www.wakanow.com for reasonable and competitive rates.
  • Start advertising to rent your property when you’re away if you own the property. A real estate or letting agent should be on hand to facilitate the process with you.
  • Research health insurance options.  Decent healthcare in Nigeria can be expensive.  Find out what your options are for international coverage with your current provider.  Remember to ask about medical evacuations in emergency situations. It’s better to be safe than sorry! For more information check the National Health Insurance Scheme site
  • Make copies and store all ticket, passport, visa, educational, and health documents so that it does not get packed up with the rest of your shipped documents.
  • If you are a citizen or permanent resident of your current country, check for absentee voting information and register as an absentee voter if necessary.  Ensure that there are no upcoming elections you want to vote in!

3 MONTHS

  • Send off application for Import permits for any animals that will be traveling with you.
  • Visit friends and family and see all the sites you want to see with your family. Chances are you will not all be able to come back to visit at the same time in the future. Take it all in and assure friends and family that you’ll always be accessible.
  • Start sorting and packing non‐essential clothes and items that you want to take with you to Nigeria.
  • Advertise and start selling household items and personal effects that will not be going with you to Nigeria.
  • Sign any contracts with your International moving or shipping company. Obtain written confirmation of your moving dates and expected day of arrival in Nigeria. If you are using different shipping and clearing agents, confirm the same information with your clearing agent.

2 MONTHS

  • Give notice at your current place of employment Give yourself at least a month before your move date to leave work. You’re going to need all that time to wrap up the final details before leaving.
  • Give notice at any clubs or associations you or any of your family members (especially the kids!) belong too. If any of those associations have any affiliations in Nigeria, you may also need them to write an introduction or reference letter to the Nigerian affiliate.
  • Make arrangements for the collection of your mail in the short term if necessary. For the long term, you should arrange for redirection of mail from your current address to a more suitable location. It is not advisable to redirect mails to Nigeria as any such mail will be handled by NIPOST which can be unreliable.
  • Read over the terms of your leasing agreement if currently renting. Ideally your rent should expire after you’ve left the country.
  • Have a farewell get-­‐together with close and family to have them share in your excitement about your new life.
  • Finish selling all the personal items you is not taking with you; donate all the items earmarked for donation.
  • Ship your car, furniture, and other non-­‐essential personal effects
  • Confirm housing arrangements for those crucial first few weeks back home. If you will be moving into your own home in Nigeria, arrange for someone to help you clean and prepare the home for the arrival of your family.
  • Pay off any outstanding loans or bills you may have if you are able. If not, call the relevant institution to discuss consolidation of loans or the arrangement of your current payment schedule. As your cost and expenses structure will change in Nigeria, you may not be able to meet the obligations as you previously did. You can also contact our resident financial planners at info@diasporaconnex.com
  • Consolidate your bank accounts and close any nonessential accounts (Consider the bank charges!). Maintaining a foreign account from Nigeria can be frustrating and expensive. Remember to sign-­‐up for online banking for all foreign bank accounts you intend to keep. You can also contact our resident financial planners at info@diasporaconnex.com

1 MONTH

  • Cancel monthly magazine or entertainment subscriptions. Also cancel or suspend your memberships at any clubs, associations.
  • Give notice to landlord, if renting current property. You want the rent to expire after you have actually moved out and not before.
  • Schedule the cancellation of your utilities such as electricity, gas, oil, water, mobile telephone, and internet.
  • Working with your doctor and pharmacist, ensure you have enough medication for your family for at least two weeks if needed.
  • Confirm collection and arrival dates from International movers/shipping Company.
  • If you will be taking your pet with you, get a veterinary certificate from your vet. This should be obtained no more than 1 week before arriving at a Nigerian entry port. Failure to do so may result in your pet being quarantined or worse, put down.
  • Enquire about your children’s school uniforms and how you can have their materials ready for them to go school upon arrival in Nigeria. Having school uniforms ready will help them settle in quicker and it will be one less thing to worry about once you arrive. For more information on Nigerian schools visit www.findaschool.org.
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