Depending on your situation and the duration of your trip, you may need to organize your departure to your work. Some people refrain from leaving for a long-term trip because they fear leaving their job in which they are well established. Here, perhaps some thought is in order about your values and dreams to determine which choice is best for you. It is important to confirm with your employer whether long-term leave is possible, such as deferred leave or unpaid leave. These options are interesting since they allow you to keep your job while living your dream of going on a long trip. It is important to also inform yourself about the terms and conditions of these leaves since, sometimes, you must make your request for leave within a certain period of time before your departure. Also, if your job allows it, working remotely can be a good option. There remains, finally, the option to resign if no possibility is possible with your employer and that you are comfortable with this choice.
Prepare your taxes
Even if you are traveling outside the country, you must do your taxes whether you have worked or not. If you work in the country or countries visited, it is also important to find out about the tax period in force in the country in question and to find out whether you have to declare it or not. For example, in Australia, the tax year ends on June 30 and foreign workers must file a tax return. Another approach that I strongly suggest is to contact Revenu Québec and Revenue Canadato properly inform you of the rules regarding working abroad. You must file your tax returns in the country even if you work abroad and failing to do so is illegal. A federal foreign tax credit exists to prevent you from paying double taxes. To be certain that everything is done according to the rules of the art, refer to a qualified accountant.
Another legal paper that is interesting when you go on a long trip is the general power of attorney. This allows someone to act on your behalf in multiple procedures. For example, it allows a loved one to sign your tax returns. Find out more from Info-notaire or your notary since this document gives great powers to the person you appoint. If you do not opt for a general power of attorney, a bank power of attorney, at the very least, is a protection to take so that a loved one can access your accounts in the event of a problem. All you have to do is go in person to your banking institution with the person you want to appoint as proxy.
What to do with your belongings on a long trip?
Leaving for a long trip always brings up questions about what to do with your belongings, with your apartment or house and with your pets. Several options are available to you for each. For the goods, I am of the opinion that the decision depends on your view of the attachment to them. At first, I thought I would keep all my furniture and belongings. However, after calculating the staggering price that a warehouse would cost me for a year, the choice was easy to make. So I sold most of my possessions on Marketplace after a big minimalist cleaning . Letting go of my belongings was a good exercise to get used to living with little in anticipation of my future trip. I certainly kept a few items that I stored with friends and family.
What to do with your apartment/house on a long trip?
For your house or apartment, the decision will be related to your purpose and your travel duration. If you have in mind, for example, to settle in another country after your long trip, it may be wiser to get rid of your apartment. It is possible to sublet your apartment or rent your house while you are gone, which will allow you to keep your property. Personally, I didn’t like the idea of someone living in my business for a year. So I chose not to renew my apartment since I was leaving from July to July anyway. Home exchanges also exist, but this can restrict your movements. It really depends on the mode of travel you want.
Where to leave your animals?
For your animals, you can check with your relatives first. House sitting, where a person lives in your house to take care of it and to take care of your animals, is also a possible solution. Others will decide to travel with their pet. If this is your case, find out about the rules of each country you plan to visit.
Preparing for your trip: the medical aspect during a long trip
First, it is important that you validate the necessary vaccines for each country you are going to visit. To do so, make an appointment with a nurse at a travel health clinic. This step is essential to ensure your health, but also to ensure that you do not encounter any problems at customs. For example, I was planning to go to Laos in my itinerary and the Laotian authorities are currently asking for written proof that the traveler has indeed received a polio vaccine booster. Without validation with a travel health clinic, my entry into Laos could have been compromised. Obviously, the bill for vaccines is often high (tax deductible if your insurance does not reimburse them). The choice to take them or not remains personal, but I invite you to discuss it openly with the nurse at the clinic. Keep in mind that you only have one health and that is priceless. Be aware that for a long trip you will need more than one
