Most moving checklists cover the obvious stuff. Boxes, utilities, change of address, redirect your post. What they almost never cover in enough detail is connectivity — specifically, the 2-4 week window where you’re between ISPs, between SIM cards, and potentially between countries.

This checklist is built for anyone moving home, whether that’s down the road or to the other side of the world. Work through it in the order it’s presented and you’ll arrive at your new address with a working internet connection and a plan for everything else.

8 Weeks Before Moving

Audit your current contracts. Check your broadband contract end date and notice period. Most ISPs require 30 days notice to cancel or transfer a service. Check if your ISP can move with you — some providers can transfer your existing account to a new address, which is often faster than cancelling and restarting.

Research ISPs at your new address. Different providers cover different postcodes and neighborhoods. Check availability at your new address now. If there’s a waiting list or infrastructure issue, you want to know this eight weeks out, not two.

4 Weeks Before Moving

Submit your new broadband application. Even if you’re hoping to transfer your existing service, submit a new application as a parallel track in case the transfer falls through. The sooner you apply, the sooner your installation gets scheduled.

Notify your current ISP of your move date. Give them the formal notice they need. Confirm the end date of your current service in writing.

Check your mobile plan. If you’re moving internationally, check whether your current phone plan works in your destination country, what it costs to roam, and whether you’ll need a new SIM or eSIM.

2 Weeks Before Moving

Order your portable WiFi device. If you’ve identified a connectivity gap, order it now. Have it delivered to wherever you’ll be the night before the move.

Activate or purchase your eSIM (if relevant). International movers especially should have an eSIM active before they land. Set it up while you’re still at home with a reliable connection, not at the airport.

Back up everything to cloud storage. Moving is a good prompt for this regardless, but cloud backups require a fast internet connection. Do it now, before you’re running a backup over a mobile hotspot at midnight.

Moving Week

Confirm your broadband installation date. If you haven’t already received a confirmed date, chase your new ISP now. If the date is after your move-in date, you know exactly how long you need the temporary solution.

Pack your portable WiFi device last. It should be one of the last things packed and the first things accessible on arrival. Treat it like your phone charger.

Download offline maps. Whether you’re moving 50 miles or 500, download offline maps of your destination area in Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Moving Day

Connect to your portable WiFi device immediately on arrival. Don’t try to operate on your phone’s hotspot while simultaneously using your phone. Bring the portable WiFi out first, connect your core devices, and start working from there.

After You’ve Moved In

Test your permanent broadband on installation day. Don’t assume the engineer visit means everything is working. Test speeds, test multiple devices, test that the router is positioned well.

Keep your portable WiFi charged for the first month. Outages happen, especially in the first few weeks. Having a working backup while you wait on hold with your ISP is valuable.

International Moves: Additional Steps

If you’re moving abroad, check SIM card compatibility, set up an eSIM before you leave, research local ISPs before you arrive, and understand local data pricing. Some countries have excellent cheap data (South Korea, Japan, most of Eastern Europe). Others are expensive and limited. Know the landscape before you arrive.