5 Tips For Moving Your Family Overseas

Moving overseas to a new country is a great adventure. You have the opportunity to experience a whole new way of life, immersing yourself in different cultures, languages and landscapes. It’s a chance to break out of your comfort zone and gain a new perspective on the world. Life is so much more than the tiny patch of land you call home, so you should always seek to broaden your horizons.

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[ctt template=”4″ link=”14vTL” via=”yes” ]Moving overseas to a new country is a great adventure. You can experience different cultures, languages as well as landscapes.[/ctt]

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5 Tips For Moving Your Family Overseas

Relocating with a family in tow is a fantastic way to teach your children about the world in which they live. It can make them more tolerant of other races and cultures, and more understanding of people who are in any way different to them. They will gain a broader range of experiences and knowledge and enjoy a more interesting life as a result.

If you have decided to move overseas, congratulations. Most people spend the majority of their life in their home country and rarely venture beyond their nation’s borders. But you have taken the plunge and decided to find new adventures elsewhere. The world is your oyster, and you have an open road ahead of you. Perhaps you are moving for a new job, or maybe you are just looking to start a new life with your family. Either way, it’s a big decision.

There is so much to think about when moving abroad with your family. You have to uproot from your current life and go through the complicated process of finding a new home, job and friends. You will have to spend a lot of money on flights and transporting your belongings, and there will be an enormous amount of paperwork to complete.

You will no doubt be feeling a lot of excitement and anxiety about the big move, but here are five tips to help you get through the relocation as smoothly as possible.

Do your research

If you don’t yet have a fixed plan for relocating, it’s essential you do your homework and make the right decision. Your destination country will be a key factor. You will need to think about factors such as affordability, availability of education and healthcare, and work opportunities. You don’t want your family to feel lost at sea in a new country so you might want to consider an English-speaking country or even learning a new language together. Some countries have a much higher living cost than others so take this into account when deciding where to move. You can find an affordable house in Bangna, Thailand for a much lower price than a small apartment in New York City, so consider how far your budget can stretch. When you have finalized your destination, do some research as a family to find out all about the local culture, cuisine, and way of life. You want to know what you’re getting into and prepare to adjust to your new surroundings.

Look after your health

The last thing you want is for a member of your family to fall ill and have to fork out for an expensive hospital stay. Finding out how the healthcare system works in your new country should be your top priority. The quality of healthcare and its regulations varies by country so do your research to find out what to expect. As an expatriate, you may need to officially become a resident or have lived in the country a certain amount of time before you can access it.

Find a new job overseas

You may be moving abroad because you have accepted a new job, in which case you will benefit from financial security from the moment you arrive. The same applies if you are a remote worker and can do your job from anywhere in the world. However, if you have left a position to move away and plan to look for work once you get to your destination, you will have to face some uncertainty. Fortunately, with the internet and the rise of digital nomads, it is easier than ever before to find a job overseas. If you’re lucky, you could even have a job waiting for you on arrival. Look at international job listings to find vacancies that meet your skills, or research relevant companies local to your new home who might be looking for a new hire. Many companies will be happy to conduct a remote interview over Skype, or you might be able to book a face-to-face interview in advance of your arrival. Even if it’s just a temporary role while you search for something more suitable, having a source of income lined up before you move will remove a great deal of uncertainty.

Get the kids involved

Moving overseas can be hardest on the kids. They will be leaving behind their friends and changing their whole way of life. Younger children may find it hard to understand why everything is so different in their new country so keep them involved throughout the process so they can understand the reasons for the move. Crucially, you should make it fun for them. Moving is a big adventure and an opportunity for your family, so it’s important they see it that way rather than as an unpleasant change. Show them pictures of their new home and talk to them about the history and culture to get them engaged and excited for the move. Learning new local words and phrases can be a fun activity, and if you make exciting plans for things to do once you get there, they will start counting down the days. Don’t let them see how stressed and anxious you might be about the move, or they will begin to feel negatively about it too. Only show them the utmost enthusiasm and excitement. 

Make plans

You don’t want your exciting move to be bogged down by stress and worry, so try to make things more positive by planning activities you can do together as a family once you arrive. Whether it’s seeing a local sports game, going for a hike in the wilderness, or trying all the national dishes, this will make relocation seem like an adventure, not a chore.

Moving your family abroad can be stressful and problematic for everyone. Still, by planning ahead and making sure everyone is involved in the process, you will soon adapt to your new environment and never look back.

This is a contributed post.

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