Moving Abroad? Here’s What You Need To Do First

Enjoying a smooth transition from one country to another depends on good research and planning ahead. You have to expect everything to change, and be okay with welcoming a little chaos into your life – at least temporarily. So stop daydreaming about possibilities, and start making the practical moves you need to turn your ideal life into a reality.

This is a contributed post and my referral affiliate links are below. If you click through and take action, I will be compensated at no extra cost to you. My full disclosure is here. Thank you!

[ctt template=”4″ link=”aiIl5″ via=”yes” ]Moving abroad smoothly depends on good research and planning ahead. You have to expect everything to change, and be okay with temporary chaos in your life.[/ctt]

Image via Pexels – CC0 Licence

The world really is our oyster these days, and more people than ever are finding that their careers, personal relationships or even just a sense of wanderlust are sending them overseas. If the days turn into weeks and the need for a relocation of a more permanent nature arises, it can be a highly exciting time. The thrill of discovering new locations and creating a new life in a distant location is considerable. The flip side of all that, of course, is that moving your home and your whole life to a foreign country is a big administrative task. Finding a home, sorting out insurance and making sure you have all the basics covered can feel overwhelming, especially if you aren’t a fluent speaker of the native language.

Ensure Your Income 

Some of us move because of a job opportunity, but if that's not your situation, you're going to need to ensure you have some kind of income in place to support your living expenses at the other end. If it's looking for a job abroad through an agency in country, think about the transferable skills you have and how they might translate to a new setting. Might you need to gain a basic qualification in the local language to help you find work? Or could something like a Teaching English As A Foreign Language course be a good option to take you anyway? Similarly, you can think about jobs that lend themselves to working virtually – sometimes called digital nomadism. Things like Web development, marketing consultancy, graphic design, running an online shop or becoming a virtual PA can all be done easily from anywhere in the world with a decent WiFi connection. If you can't work remotely, it's all about understanding what skills are in demand in your destination country. Making arrangements before you head out there will alleviate some of the financial anxiety you can feel when stepping into the unknown. Of course, you should always have a cushion of savings built up to call on during should you need to, but it really takes the pressure off to have a job sorted out top. 

Arrange Your Accommodation 

The next biggest concern, of course, is where you'll be living. Many people think of a hotel as a short-term option while they sort their arrangements out, but this can quickly get very expensive. It's far better to work with a specialist lettings agent who has local knowledge to find a place to rent. They will be able to fill you in on which areas are best for your circumstances, whether it's knowing the most commutable location in the Parisian suburbs or hunting down that chic one-bedroom in rumah kontrakan before you head out to Jakarta. Be guided by their advice but also do your own research to make sure you understand the average cost of renting in your destination location and what the transport links are like. 

Sort Out Your Visa and Insurance 

When moving to a new location, be aware of the legal requirements of moving to a new country – you may need a residency visa, a work permit or other official documentations to allow you the right to stay over a certain number of weeks and to work in the country. Some countries have schemes where you can stay, live and work for up to two years before requiring further permits, but these schemes often have an upper age limit. At the same time, it makes sense to organise your insurance cover. Educate yourself on how the healthcare system works in your new country – some have very different systems of payment or for accessing primary care. Work out what kind of health insurance cover you need to be covered medically and for things like the dentist. You should also arrange a comprehensive travel insurance policy. It's a risk that's never worth taking to not sort this out before you leave – as much as we don't like to think of the worst happening, especially when we're about to embark on an exciting new adventure, sometimes it does and you'll be really glad you were prepared. 

With a little bit of forward planning, you can have a smooth move to another country and begin the next chapter of your life with as little drama as possible. 

This is a contributed post.

Subscribe so you never miss a post.

If you find my tips useful, feel free to buy me a coffee to support my efforts. Thank you in advance!

Want to remember this? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest Board!

Moving Abroad? Here's What You Need To Do First