Papers

Before your movers pack up the contents of your desk, including your passport, visa, and employment pass, it's a good idea to put all the essentials you'll need to one side. Once the boxes have gone, you won't see anything in them again for a long time. It can be useful to keep other valuable documents with you, such as birth and marriage certificates, academic certificates, wills, recent bank statements, pay slips, and income tax returns.

Antiques and Valuables

Although moving companies are experts at moving furniture, it may not be a good idea to cart your favourite two-hundred-year-old cabinet across the globe. The humid climate in Singaporecan cause irreversible damage to wood, and the moving process itself is not entirely fail-safe. Consider storing special heirlooms with family or friends back home.

Beds

It's useful to know that mattresses in Singapore are shorter than those in the US, Europe, and Australia - so any new mattresses or bedding that you buy here is unlikely to fit your existing bed. Conversely, if you buy a bed while you are here, you may want to get it customised to a size that will be practical back home.

Electrical Items

Singapore follows the British electrical system. If your home country doesn't work on the British system, you will need adapters for your electrical appliances. If you come from North America or Japan, where the voltage is 100-127, you should know that the voltage here is 224-240. Adapters and transformers are easily available in hardware stores.

The television system in Singapore is PAL, which means that televisions and video recorders from the US and Japan (which use NTSC) will not work here.

Pets and Quarantine

For many expats, furry friends are part of the family and will accompany us on our exotic posting. If you are coming to Singapore from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand, the good news is that your pet does not need to be quarantined. Nonetheless, it still needs to be microchipped and certified as healthy to travel by your vet, and you will need to obtain an import permit from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) within 30 days prior to the date of arrival. (The fee is $50.) You will also need to purchase a special travelling box for your pet and book a space on an aeroplane - check with the different airlines for prices, rules, and availability. When your pet arrives in Singapore, it will be inspected at the Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine Station and issued with a certificate of health. If you plan to arrive in Singapore after your pet, there are several "pet hotels" that offer a collection service from Changi.

If your pet is not from any of the countries listed, then it will need to be quarantined for 30 days. Since it can take over two months to secure your pet a place in quarantine, you should reserve its place as soon as possible. Certain breeds of dog, such the pit bull, are not permitted in Singapore. For more information and to reserve a place in quarantine, log on to the Agri-Food and Veterinary website at www.ava.gov.sg

The Pet Hotel www.pethotel.com.sg

Ricted The Animal Resort www.rictedkennels.com

Animal World Express www.awexp.com/relocation_singapore.htm

Pet Movers www.petmovers.com.sg

Mitchville K-9 Kennels www.mitchville.com.sg