Moving abroad with kids: a 6-month checklist

Moving alone is a logistics problem. Moving with a family is a family systems problem that looks like logistics. Here's what breaks if you don't plan 6 months ahead.

Schools — start first, finish last

International schools (IB / Cambridge / French Lycée network) have 6-12 month waitlists in every major EU city. In Berlin, Amsterdam, and Dublin, schools interview parents, not just children. If schools are a hard constraint, your destination is your school — not your employer.

Medical records

• Request full pediatric records including vaccinations (apostilled if possible)
• Prescription medications: bring 90-day supply + generic-name prescription
• Ongoing specialist care: get referral letters addressed to "attending physician"

Pets

Cats and dogs need EU pet passports, rabies vaccination 21+ days before travel, and ISO microchips. Budget 2x what Google says for pet relocation — every airline has quirks.

Spouse work rights

• Germany (EU Blue Card dependent): work rights on day 1, no separate permit
• Netherlands (HSM): dependent permit, but full work rights
• Portugal (D3): family reunification unlocks work rights after 6 months
• Ireland (Critical Skills): spouse gets Stamp 1G, full work rights after 90 days