Relocating to Bahrain
Moving abroad can be stressful. When the move not only involves a change of house but also a change of country, it can be overwhelming. A few simple steps can make your move to Bahrain one of life's adventures.
Planning ahead
When relocating, whether it be to a new house, or a new country, planning ahead is vital. Nothing piles on the stress more than leaving everything to the last moment.
Just what is involved in moving to Bahrain should be considered even before the job interview stage. You should do your homework on methods and costs prior to your job interview so that you can make decisions on whether you will need a relocation package, or you can work without one.
Things you should bring to Bahrain or not
The first decision you must make is what to take with you. This will depend partly on whether you are moving to a fully furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished property. Semi-furnished properties provide a cooker, fridge/freezer, and curtains or blinds. Consider if it would be cheaper to bring furniture with you or buy locally if moving into a semi-furnished or unfurnished place. New furniture and electrical goods in Bahrain can be expensive, but there are plenty of expats selling second-hand furniture when they leave the island. Arriving with the bare minimum and furnishing as you go along, could be a better option for those on a limited budget. Be aware that Bahrain electricity is 230 V, 50 Hz, so check that any electrical items you may wish to bring operate in the range of 220-240 V.
Clothing in Bahrain is also relatively expensive, so if you can bring clothes from home, that would be better, but bear in mind to plan for a climate that is on occasion going to be 50°C (122°F) and rarely drops below 10°C (50°F) at night in the winter. That nice woolly sweater your aunt knitted for you does not need to come
This is where you must be ruthless in your packing. Whatever you think you may use, leave it behind because the chances are you won't. Only bring those items that are essential or personal to you.
One thing you must be sure to remember is to bring all your personal paperwork, such as birth and marriage certificates, as well as any qualification certificates you will need to present to the regulatory authorities for your particular employment.
Should you choose to bring just clothing and a few personal possessions in suitcases, then you may not need to employ a removals company. In either case, please do check the Bahrain Customs pages for restricted and prohibited items.
Important:
When shipping excess baggage by air, look for a company specialising in excess baggage shipments, rather than paying excess baggage fees to the airline.
Choosing a moving company
There are many global removal companies to choose from, some more expensive than others, but choosing the cheapest is not always the wisest choice. The number of belongings you are bringing to Bahrain will determine whether your possessions will be shipped as baggage, groupage (your items are grouped together with other shipments), sometimes known as PCL, or part container load, or shipped as a full container load, FCL.
Baggage only will more than likely be shipped by air, but if you are bringing more than a few suitcases to Bahrain, container shipping by sea will be the method used.
The best recommendation for any company is word of mouth, so ask around and request your employer for recommendations. That doesn't mean you have to use them, but it is a good starting point. Check the credentials of the company and ensure they are a specialist not only in overseas locations but specifically moving to Bahrain. Companies who have shipped here before will know the customs procedures.
Choose a company that gives you good advice, explains the procedure in detail. Do not ever pay cash for this service, always use a traceable method of payment such as a credit or debit card.
- Have the company pack for you, it costs a little more, but there are advantages.
- It relieves you of the stress of packing and unpacking your possessions.
- The company will make a note of the items as they are packed to enable an accurate inventory to be provided to Bahrain Customs.
Assuming you have taken out the company's shipping insurance (you should), any breakages will be reimbursed.
On the subject of insurance, check the policy wording carefully. When your items are being shipped by sea, there are additional risks to be considered, such as total loss of the container overboard, damp and mildew, etc. Make sure the insurance covers these risks and will cover replacements for things such as matched pairs or sets, where it is not possible to replace just one of the items.
While it is possible to arrange all of the shipping yourself, it is not recommended as it will take up a considerable amount of your time, both before and after the move. Bahrain Customs require that clearing agents are registered with Customs Affairs and hold a valid licence to submit customs declarations.
Useful links:
Removal Comparison Sites
Removal Companies
