How To Move To Another Country

Figuring out how to moving to another country is not a small thing, and it certainly gives you new perspectives on immigration in general.

There are steps you need to take to make this monumental change happen and while everyone will need to meet slightly different requirements, in general, everyone has to do these ten things in order to make it all happen.

Moving abroad is about moving to a place that makes your heart sing. It’s about living somewhere where you come alive and life becomes more vibrant and well… alive.

Just because you are born somewhere, doesn’t mean that’s the place you are meant to live your entire life. Some people live in one place their entire lives, never seeing anything beyond their hometown. But for others that’s just not enough. Either approach is fine. You aren’t wrong for wanting to stay, or wanting to live. You are simply following your heart.

1. Decide Where to Move

Research Potential Countries

It sounds basic, but you really do need to spend a lot of time researching your potential future home , and you need to do more than watch a YouTube video or two. Spend time researching the things that matter to you, reading the local news, looking at how the government runs, figuring out if you can deal with the climate, the cost of living, if the healthcare is good enough for your needs, etc. Here is a list of things I had to consider when I first started the process:

• Cost of living – More on this below. Income requirements can change based on the visa you qualify for.
• Language – Do you speak the language already? Are you ready and willing to learn if not? You cannot count on people speaking English in your new home country. You will need to learn to have at least a basic command of the language.
• Healthcare system – How is the healthcare rated in your country of interest? How accessible is it?
• Safety and crime rates – This becomes especially important if you are moving abroad with children.
• Climate and weather – What kind of climate do you want? Are you most comfortable in a hot and dry climate? Cold and snowy? This is important when making this decision.
• Job opportunities
• Visa and residency requirements – You can’t just pack up and move to another country. You have to qualify for a visa and understand its long list of requirements. Every country will have different requirements. Some will require that you apply from your home country, and some are okay with you applying from within the country. It’s critical to have a full understanding of how you will qualify for a visa.
• Education system – If you have children of school age, or you want to go to school yourself, learning about the school requirements, whether you can study in your own language, what the entry requirements are, and anything else you may need to get the job done.
• Cultural differences – While the finer details of culture aren’t always easily to research, you can certainly join online groups and ask people who have already made the move, what they found to be the biggest differences between your home country and your potential new home country.
• Quality of life – How connected will you be to the rest of the world in your new home town? Are there things to do there that you will enjoy? Or will you have access to things you enjoy? Your happiness is pretty much half the decision to move.
• Expat community – Consider how important it is to you to have people in your life who speak your language. People who can help you get settled and oriented in your new hometown.
• Political stability – This falls under the “safety” topic. You don’t want to end up in an area that could potentially end up in a civil war or have big bouts of unrest. While anything can always happen, it’s important to feel relatively safe wherever you move to.
• Proximity to home country – How important is it to you to be able to get back to your home country quickly? And how fast do you want that to happen? This can be a big consideration if you are leaving family behind that may need your help at some point.
• Public transportation – This is particularly important if you don’t plan on having a car in your new home country. It’s great to want to live in the countryside in Tuscany, but if you don’t have a car, can you still get around? How important is it for you to be close to an airport or a bus stop? These types of things will make a huge difference in your day to day living.
• Local customs and traditions – Moving into a new hometown can be pure magic. But what happens if your new apartment is right on a parade route and the town has very loud parades regularly with fireworks and more? Does that sound like a good time? Or absolutely noisy torture? Only you can answer that.
• Taxation and financial regulations – Talk to a tax expert to figure out what your annual tax situation will look like once you move. It may turn out to be totally acceptable, but it could also change your mind on where you want to move to. Some countries have tax deals with other countries, some do not. Only a tax professional can answer these questions for you.
• Availability of housing – Places like Amsterdam are notorious for having incredibly limited housing, while other places will have it available en mas. You need to know how easily you’ll be able to find a place to live.
• Internet and digital infrastructure – If you work online as many immigrants do, this is really important to be aware of.
• Environmental factors – From droughts to floods, you should know what to expect in the weather department.
• Banking and financial services – How difficult will it be to open a local bank account? Some countries make this incredibly difficult if not impossible, while others make it quite simple. You need to be prepared either way.
• Pet regulations and animal welfare standards – If you are taking pets with you, you need to understand the process for being able to take your furry friends abroad. Every country will have different requirements. Be sure you fully understand that process before you leave. Also, having even a minimal understanding of how your potential new home country accepts animals in general can be a factor.
• Childcare and family support services – If you will be working full time, will there be childcare available at a price you can afford?

Tools And Resources For Researching

• Government websites
• Expat blogs
• Forums
• Social media groups – Facebook and YouTube fantastic resources for this.

Get Your Passport

If you don’t have one already, start the process. It can take some time, so it’s not really ever too early to start this.

If you have a passport, check the expiration date. Some countries will not let you in with your passport if you have less that six months left before your passport expires. So be sure your passport can actually get you there before you leave.

If Possible, Visit Before You Move

While this won’t be possible for everyone, it’s highly recommended. You can’t get a feel for a place unless you visit. It may look great online, but then be a very different experience once you arrive. Unless you are lucky enough to be able to move if you don’t like a place, it’s best to visit first.

Look for:

• Good neighborhoods
• Local customs
• Public transportation
• Things to do (not just touristy things, everyday things)
• Cost of living
• Access to anything that is important to you.
• Local healthcare

2. Understand The Legal Requirements

Make no mistake, there are a lot of legal requirements you must understand if you want to make a move this big. It’s critical to understand what you can and can’t do.

Visas And Work Permits

Each country will have different types of visas. Spend time on this one. Make sure you understand what you need, not only to be able to move to your new country, but to be able to stay. Not every country will allow certain visas to convert to residency. So if you want to stay permanently, you have to know if it’s possible. A few different types of visas to consider are:

• Tourist visas
• Student visas
• Work visas
• Business visas
• Retirement visas

Understand how to apply for the appropriate visa or work permit for your situation. Figure out what the processing times are so you can time your move appropriately, and know what the costs are so there are no surprises. Visas are not free.

Residency and Citizenship

• Differences between residency and citizenship.
• Steps to apply for residency and pathways to citizenship (if desired).
• Common legal requirements (e.g., proof of income, background checks, medical exams).

3. Plan Your Finances

While not everyone needs a lot of money to move, you’ll want to plan financially so you know what to expect, and then have some extra for the unexpected, too.

Budgeting For The Move

• Estimate moving costs such as flights, shipping belongings, temporary accommodation, visa fees.
• Setting up an emergency fund because the unexpected will usually happen, especially during travel. Plan for emergencies.

Managing Finances Abroad

Things to consider are:

• Opening a local bank account and the documents you will need to do that.
• Currency exchange and cost of living considerations.

My biggest advice to you is: IF YOU ARE AMERICAN, KEEP YOUR AMERICAN BANK ACCOUNTS!

It might seem counterintuitive, but keep at least one checking and savings in your home country, especially if your home country is America. You don’t want to cut yourself off from being able to manage finances in your home country.

Health Insurance

• Options for health insurance: local vs. international plans.
• Understanding the healthcare system in the new country.

4. Prepare For The Move

Plane Tickets – Utilize Google Flights

Months ahead of time, start looking at Google flights. This will be your best option for figuring out when the most affordable time to fly is. It will also help you determine where to fly to. Just because you are moving to France (or wherever you are moving), doesn’t mean you have to fly into France. If it’s more affordable to fly into Spain or Germany, do that. Once you are on your new continent, getting to your new home can become a much more affordable affair.

Finding Accommodation

My biggest tip here is to not rent anything in your new country before seeing it in person. It can be tempting to get online, find something you like, and then try to reserve it so you have a solid place to land. But here is what this process has taught me:

1. Shopping online doesn’t let you listen to the neighborhood to see if it’s too loud or too quiet for you. It doesn’t let you hear if there are dogs that never stop barking. You can’t tell if there is a bar next door that has loud music until 2am every night.
2. Shopping online doesn’t let you smell mildew or mold, if the place has it.
3. Shopping online doesn’t let you talk to the landlord to see what kind of person they are.
4. Shopping online doesn’t let you see the smaller details of the place you like, like a wall being too small for that big entertainment center you have, or a closet being too small to hold all your clothing.

As hard as it is, your best bet is to rent a hostel, hotel, or airbnb for at least one month so you can look for a place in person.

One tip I got from an expat group is give yourself two months to find a place, but don’t rent the same Airbnb for 2 months straight. Rent two different Airbnb’s for a month each so that if you find a place in the first month, you can easily cancel the second place and not lose your money. But if it takes you longer to find a place, at least you have that second place. Just be aware of cancellation dates.

Shipping Belongings

I cannot stress enough how critical it is to downsize as much as possible. Get rid of as much as you can, even if it’s difficult to let go. You will be thankful you did when the move actually happens. Read a book on Swedish Death Cleaning if you have to. But downsizing will be critical.

Next figure out options for shipping the things you do plan to take. Check air frieght, sea freight, and luggage forwarding services such as SendMyBag.

My biggest tip here is to keep a list of what is in each bag or box you pack. You will need it for customs and you don’t want to have to go back through each bag or box a second time to take an inventory.

5. Adapting to a New Life

Learn the Language

You don’t have to be fluent before you move. But find a way to learn basic phrases before you go. Not only will the locals appreciate the effort, but it will make your life so much easier to be able to communicate on the most basic levels.

Once you are settled, consider language classes. They will not only help you settle and learn the language, but they are a good way to meet others going through the same struggles. Those initial connections can turn into lifelong friendships and a source of support in your new country, which leads me to…

Building a Social Networks

Even introverts need community in a new home country. It might be difficult for some to step out of their comfort zones to meet people, but that’s exactly what you need to do. Connecting with other expats and locals can literally make your entire experience in your new life. Don’t underestimate the importance of this.

6. Practical Tips For The Transition

Organizing Important Documents

1. My best tip here is to get yourself a three-ring binder and a set of page protectors. Keep all your important documents in this folder. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, medical records, bank statements, and whatever other records you need to take for yourself or for your visa. Having them all in one place will make your transition much smoother.
2. Every single document should also be scanned and kept safe digitally. Make sure they are easily accessible though. Don’t put them on a hard drive at the bottom of a box that won’t arrive until 3 months after you do. Use something like DropBox so you can access any of those important papers from anywhere.

Health And Safety Considerations

• Find out if you need any vaccinations in your new country and plan them accordingly.
• Refill all medications to take with you. If possible, get three months worth of medications. Most doctors are happy to give this to you if they understand the situation. You will need some wiggle room to find a new doctor for refills.
• For safety, register with your home country’s embassy or consulate once you arrive. In some places, this can be a critical component of your safety. It’s also good to know where your embassy is for things like passport renewals.

Staying Connected With Home

You will need to adjust to the time change and work out in advance when you can be in contact with loved ones back home. Plan on using Facetime as much as you can. Seeing people you love, face to face, can be a good way to stay close with people. Make sure you connect with everyone before you leave through messaging apps, social media, and any other way you prefer to stay in touch.

Pro Tip: Install a VPN BEFORE you leave your home country. Don’t wait to do this until you get to your new country. Installing a VPN before you go will ensure you get one that works best for you and for your equipment.

7. Final Checklist Before Moving

You will want to do a final check of:

1. Visa paperwork
2. Needed documents (printed and digital)
3. Confirm accommodations and things like rental cars.
4. Prepare yourself for emotional goodbyes. This part won’t be easy.

Saying Goodbye And What It Means

When all is said and done, you are removing yourself from people’s lives. One big consideration is if you can handle all that that entails. While you can certainly keep in touch with people you love, you won’t be there for birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and big life events. Your relationships will fundamentally change because of this. It’s natural, and you need to expect it if you are going to make a move like this. It’s not easy, but it is normal. When you do eventually return home to visit, expect connections to be different, and know that it’s okay that it’s different. When you make such a major change to your life, this is part of the package. So make sure you are ready for that and all that that entails.

It Will All Be Okay

The scariest thing you will do is drive to the airport and get on the plane. You will second guess yourself a lot, especially right before you leave. It’s terrifying, it’s exciting, and it’s normal. But most important, it will all be okay. If you have put thought and planning into this, you will be just fine.

Prepare yourself, set yourself up for success, pay close attention to dates and requirements, keep track of paperwork, and everything will be fine. Even if you hit a bump in the road, you’ll be okay. Expect there to be bumps, because you can’t avoid them. But know that you can always return home if you need to. It’s not going anywhere. Go and have your adventure. You deserve to be happy!