Relocate to a New Place for Work: How to Draft a Resignation Letter for Relocation

People leave jobs for a variety of reasons, including relocation to a new place. Resigning from your present job is a big decision but planning ahead of time with a respectful and clear resignation letter can make the process easier. 

When relocating to a new destination, writing a resignation letter allows you to make an important life transition with grace while maintaining your professional relationship with your current employer. 

In this article, we will go over the components of a relocation resignation letter as well as the guide, tips, template, and an example to help you write your own relocation resignation letter. 

What is a Relocation Resignation Letter?

A relocation resignation letter is an indication that you submit to your employer when you intend to leave your job due to relocating. 

It explains when you plan to leave your job, the reason why you’re leaving and the steps you plan to wrap up your current projects and make your departure smooth and easier on the company. 

Relocation resignation letters, like any other type of resignation letter, are usually a few paragraphs long and addressed to your immediate supervisor. Depending on your connection with your current employer, you can be concise and direct or include specifics that reflect positively on your experience.

It’s best to submit your relocation resignation letter at least two weeks in advance, but if you play an important role at your company and aren’t concerned about being dismissed early, consider informing your manager about the possibility of your departure earlier to enable them to prepare for your absence.

Importance of Sending This Letter

Submitting your resignation letter for relocation is a professional thing to do when you intend to quit your job because of moving to a new place. Moreover, these are the importance of submitting a resignation letter:

• It notifies your employer that they must redistribute your duties or start the process of hiring your replacement.
• It simplifies things for your coworkers and your employer by preventing them from suddenly taking over your workload.
• In the possibility of future employment or simply to keep a record, the company can update your address and contact information in the company file.
• It clarifies that you are not resigning for money purposes or for any other reason.
• Submitting a relocation resignation to both your manager and human resources creates documentary evidence for the reason you left the company as well as your departure timeline.

Steps to Write a Resignation Letter Due to Relocation

Follow these steps to write a good resignation letter due to relocation: 

1. Put a date and address your letter

Begin your letter by making a header that includes the date you intend to submit your resignation letter. Incorporating the date provides documentation for human resources regarding the amount of notice you provided your employer prior to your last day.

2. Select a timeline 

Determine your last day before writing your letter. When deciding on your final day, allow yourself enough time to pack up your current residence before beginning your move. 

If you need to relocate quickly and can’t give a two-week notice, explain your situation and be straightforward about how long you’ll be able to work.

3. Be straightforward

Begin the letter by stating your intention to resign from your position. By stating your intention to resign in the first sentence, you can move on to the significant details. 

Your manager will likely appreciate that you are being honest rather than avoiding an uncomfortable subject. To avoid misunderstandings, state that you are leaving the company and include information on your last day early in the letter.

4. Explain your circumstances 

Inform your employer that you will be leaving the position due to relocating to a new area. Relocation is a valid and accepted reason for leaving a job, and it can help you leave on good terms. 

Moreover, you can choose how much details you want to showcase about why you’re relocating. 

5. Express your appreciation and gratitude 

Take a few sentences to express your gratitude for your time with your employer and the opportunities they provided for you to advance your career. Even if you had a bad experience at work, find something beneficial to say to leave on good terms before leaving. 

Describe a favorite project or valuable skills learned on the job that you want to put to use after your relocation. Consider sharing how your supervisor influenced you and your professional development if they mentored you. 

6. Define your transition plan 

Describe the procedures you’ll take to complete current projects before leaving. Before you leave, offer to assist in training your replacement and confirm that you will leave your workspace organized and any necessary resources for your role prepared. 

If you want to stay in touch, provide a personal email address where your boss and coworkers can reach you even if you are in a different city.

Writing Tips for an Effective Resignation Letter

Once you’ve created a basic draft, use the following strategies to maximize the effectiveness of your relocation resignation notice:

• Use professional language: When you submit your resignation letter describing your relocation, it becomes an official company document. Because the HR department may keep a copy of your letter even after your boss leaves, it’s best to use formal language when writing.
• Improve readability with spacing: Insert spaces between the header, body, and conclusion of your resignation letter. 

If your letter is lengthy, put a space between each paragraph to make it simpler to read and to indicate when you’re moving on to a new topic. Use basic margins and a classic, simple font.

• Re-read your letter before submitting it: Re-read your letter several times after completing a rough draft. Focus on the flow and clarity of your language the first time. 

Adjust any sentences that don’t make sense or appear unclear. Re-read your relocation resignation letter for spelling, typos, and punctuation errors. Print your letter and go over it again to catch any errors you may have missed.

• Save an extra copy: Make a copy for your supervisor, one for human resources, and one for yourself. Saving a copy for your personal records is just great practice that will allow you to refer to your working experience as your career progresses.

Relocation Resignation Letter Example

Use this sample resignation letter due to relocation to get ideas about what to include in yours:

Steven Scott 

1234 Castle Ave. 

New York City, NY 5678 

413-784-3472

stevenscott@email.com

February 11, 2020

Allyson Breway

Warehouse Manager

Fast Logistics

214 Fairway St. 

New York City, NY 8976

Dear Allyson, 

Please accept this letter as official notification of my resignation as inventory manager, effective February 31, 2020. I intend to relocate to Claremont, California, because my husband will begin her Ph.D. at Pomona College and I will be unable to continue working in New York as a result of this transition.

As I progressed from order picker to team lead to inventory manager at Fast Logistics, I was given invaluable opportunities for personal and professional development. Thank you for recognizing my potential and serving as a mentor as I learned about the storage and distribution industry. Although I am looking forward to supporting my wife and exploring new opportunities in California, I will miss working with you to process complex orders on time and lead the logistics process. My experience at Fast Logistics will serve me well in my next role and beyond.

Before I leave, I’ll do everything I can to help our team by documenting my key responsibilities and double-checking specifics about the upcoming inventory check. I’m happy to assist in training my replacement or to share my knowledge of which of our current Inventory Clerks could assist in taking over during this transition. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do before I leave.

Sincerely, 

Signature (hard copy letter) 

Your name 

Relocation Resignation Letter Template 

Your name 

Your address

Your phone number 

Your email address

Date letter of submission 

Name of supervisor

Title of supervisor 

CC: Human Resources manager name and title 

Company name 

Company address

Dear (recipient’s name), 

Please accept this letter as official notice of my resignation from the position of (job title) as of (last day of employment). I intend to relocate to (new location) for (reason for leaving) and will be unable to continue working in (current city) as a result of this transition.

My time at (company name) has given me invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth. I appreciate the support, mentoring, and community that I have found while working on your team. Although I am excited to pursue new career opportunities in (new location), I will miss working with you and my coworkers. This position has provided me with a solid foundation that will undoubtedly help me achieve my professional objectives.

Before I leave, I will do everything I can to help our team by finishing current projects and preparing documents that outline any ongoing responsibilities. I am happy to assist in training my replacement or updating human resources documents to reflect my current responsibilities. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do before I leave.

Sincerely, 

Signature 

Your name 

Key Takeaways 

• Use professional language in composing your resignation letter for relocation. 
• Before submitting your letter, re-read it and check if there are errors. 
• Save an extra copy of your letter for your supervisor, one for human resources and one for yourself. 
• Be straight to the point in stating your reason why you are leaving your job.
• You must tell your employer regarding your departure because you’re relocating to a new place.