We may love where we’re from, but it’s also true that it can begin to feel a little “samey” from time to time. And when we think of just how big the world is, it’s normal to think about packing up our belongings and moving to an overseas country. But is it realistic? You bet. Indeed, in this day and age, it couldn’t be simpler to make the transition to moving overseas. But of course, it’s not as if it’s something you can just do at the drop of a hat. It may be easier than in the past, but there are still challenges. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at a few useful tips that’ll help to make your move to a foreign land as smooth as possible.
Where To Go
It’s a big old world out there, sure, but realistically, the countries where you’ll actually want to live will be limited. You’ll want to pick the right place. So how do you make that decision? There are a few different ways. The first is to think about which types of places you’re drawn towards: which countries do you think would offer you what you’re looking for? Other factors include how far it is from where you live now (will you want to visit home regularly, for instance) and whether you can get a visa/job (more on those things later).
Long-Term Ambition
As we said earlier, you’re not going to move to a new country at the drop of a hat. It’ll be a process. Indeed, it’s best to think of it as a long-term ambition. You might be eager to get moving, but everything will be a lot more straightforward if you’re a little patient. Giving yourself, say, a year to make the move will give you enough time to get everything in order and ensure that everything is correct. This approach applies only to if you’re looking permanently overseas; if you’re younger and just want to live overseas for a year or so, then you don’t have to be so patient — it’ll be best just to go.
Taking Care of the Basics
There are some logistical matters that you’ll want to take care of. While the main driving force behind the move will be your excitement, that won’t take care of everything! The essentials, such as ensuring you have the right visa and a way to make money, will be highly important. The visa is arguably the most crucial detail: you don’t want to run the risk of living in a country illegally. Even honest mistakes are punished. It may also take some time to get the visa if one is needed, so it’s best to get the ball rolling as early as possible. From there, think about how you’ll make money. Will you get a job while you’re there? Will you work remotely for your current employer? Will you look at online jobs? There are many options out there, but you’ll need work to get things right.
Making the Move
When you’re planning to move, most of the experience will be exciting. You’ll be looking forward to just what your life will bring once you’re there. But before you get to enjoy all that your overseas existence will give you, you’ll need to physically make the move to your new country. And of course, that can be tricky. Think about how tricky it is to move houses in your own country, then think about moving to an overseas home. It’ll be tricky, or at least it will if you try to do it yourself. So look at working with the professionals. A company such as My Baggage can help to transport your belongings overseas. You’ll find it’s much easier to move when you don’t have to worry about every small detail yourself!
Meeting People and Settling In
One of the risks of moving to another country is, well, what if you don’t make friends? It’s an understandable fear. The dream image you formulated when you were planning to move overseas involved doing fun and exciting things with like-minded people. Many people freak out when they don’t find friends straight away, but the key thing is to be patient. It might not happen on day one, but it will happen! You can speed things along by putting yourself out there and getting involved. There’ll be plenty of Meetup groups and other get-togethers that’ll improve your social life. Make an effort, and you will be rewarded!
