5 Things to Consider Before Moving Abroad
- thereseholland
- Sep 2, 2015
- 3 min read
Moving abroad is an exciting possibility that many people consider in order to grow both professionally and personally. It can be an amazing experience, though not without its challenges.
Before making the big leap to move abroad, it might be worth it to ask yourself a few questions...
1. Do I have my visa situation sorted?
Many people (myself in the past included) think you can just up and move to a new country without a visa. More likely than not, this is not the case. While there are ways to get around this legally (more on that another day), a visa is probably something you’ll need to have figured out in advance.
On top of that, there can be loads of other paperwork that needs to be done, accounts to open, and other boring things people tend not to post about on Instagram.
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2. Am I ready for such a big move?
Experiences like study abroad, or even moving to a new city in the US are great ways to be prepared for a move abroad. There’s a big difference between traveling abroad, and living abroad, so having some experience being away from home for a long period are great ways to make sure you can handle the changes.
3. Will I want to travel home often?
Consider the location where you want to move. Is it going to be very expensive to fly home? Will it be a long trip?
Consider costs of flights for holidays and emergency trips home when considering the cost of the move. Remember, though, that just because a place is far, does not mean the flight is more expensive. Big cities like London or New York can be (relatively) inexpensive to fly into, as compared to other cities. Depending on the location, sometimes domestic US flights cost more than some international ones!
Be prepared, though, and understand the time and money it will take to get home for holidays or events such as weddings.
4. Will language be a problem?
Many English-speaking countries are popular to move to because of the language. While you’ll surely make fellow expatriate friends in a non-Anglophone country, you could still benefit by learning the language. Learning a language is great for personal development, but it will also help you socialise with locals, get help when shopping or general outings, and possibly help at the doctor’s in your new country.
If you're moving to an English-speaking country in the hopes the language will be the same, this is a perceived advantage. There will still be new words and expressions to learn, and possibly a different culture as well.
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Learning a language is both challenging and fulfilling. Ask yourself if this is a challenge you're ready to face for an international move.
5. Do I understand how taxes work?
Property and income tax are important things to research. Here in Italy, for example, there is a much higher tax for second home owners. In the UK, there's no taxes on earnings less than £10,000 per year. Sometimes, you might have to pay taxes in both your home country and the country that is your new home!
Moving abroad is an important experience for personal and professional development. This list isn’t intended to intimidate you from living your dream, but rather, to make sure you can do it with ease and preparation! Ask yourself these things and tell me, are you ready to move abroad?
Have you moved abroad? Do you have anything to add to this list of tips?
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