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Imagine packing everything you have into a suitcase and starting a whole new chapter of your life in another country.
If that has ever crossed your mind, you are not alone. Taking vacations to foreign destinations is no longer enough.
If you love a place, you need to be in that space full-time.
In this century, more people are relocating abroad than ever before. United Nations Statistics shows that over 200 million people were migrants in 2019.
This figure represents a 23% increase from 2010.
For the majority of people, relocating abroad has many advantages, ranging from better living conditions to an increase in earnings.
There are other reasons that make people relocate from their countries- for instance, searching for job opportunities, gaining unique work experience, expanding their professional network, and discovering new cultures.
However, before you move into a new country, you have to do some homework.
Essentially, you have to know all the steps of how to move to a different country. It means that you have to prepare beforehand to make the whole process smooth.
Doing this will minimize unnecessary headaches like unexpected cultural differences or missing documents, which can make your stay a nightmare.
The good thing is that we have prepared this step-by-step guide on how to move to a different country to help make your transition as smooth as possible.
15 Steps on How to Move to a Different Country
1. Start Preparing Early
Relocating to another country is not a small decision. That is why you should prepare early once you have made the decision to move to a foreign country.
Start by researching everything from cost of living, relocation expenses, rental expenses, healthcare, and visa application, among other things.
Preparing early also means saving for your relocation.
As you can imagine, just moving down the street can be expensive; expect it to be more expensive while in a foreign land.
Global living expenses have additional things like movers, international insurance, housing deposits, transportation, and visa processing.
So, try to calculate what you will likely spend in that country on a monthly basis, and then try to have at least six months’ worth of savings.
2. Understand the Visa Process and Apply for a Passport
The next step of how to move to a different country is to apply for your passport and visa.
Know that you need a valid passport before you can apply for a visa.
Once you get your passport, try to understand the visa requirements.
You are unlikely to get a job abroad without a work visa. In fact, you might not even step into another country without the right type of visa.
So if you want to avoid these problems, research the visa requirements, cost, and expected timelines, among other things.
3. Learn from People Who Have Gone Through the Process
As they say, experience is the best teacher.
So, you can learn a lot from other people who have successfully relocated to the country you want to move into.
Expats who are already there will provide valuable insights based on their own experiences.
4. Take Online Language Classes
As you will discover, language plays an important role in your successful stay in a foreign country.
So, if you have already decided on the destination, make an effort to learn a major local language.
The good thing is that there are several useful apps and websites that will help you learn a foreign language.
Also, understand that a proficiency in a language is not about communicating with locals; it is also essential for your professional success while there.
When you are able to speak a local language, you will stand a better chance of finding a job and even promotion.
5. Sort Out Your Banking Situation
If you are going to maintain a bank account while abroad, you might face expensive exchange rates and hefty foreign transaction fees.
So, you may need to open a new account in your destination country.
Sometimes this is difficult initially, so you can negotiate for a travel debit card with your bank.
Also Read: 7 Best Banks for Digital Nomads in 2024
6. Complete a Language Certification
Apart from learning the main language of a destination country, it is also important to have an official language certification to prove your proficiency.
This way, you can prove to employers and authorities that you are able to use their language professionally.
If need be, you can get a private tutor to help you in the language certification exam preparation.
7. Get Your Documents in Order
It is also important to prepare your documents ahead of time to avoid last-minute rash or forgetting to carry important documentation.
With this in mind, collect all medical, legal, financial, academic, and registration documents you have.
After that, make sufficient copies of each document and convert them to digital formats.
8. Understand Your Tax Obligations
Apart from sorting out with your bank, another important step on how to move to a different country is researching your tax obligations.
This way, you will avoid unexpected costs and penalties.
You may need to call your accountant to clarify how you will navigate the tax situations in your destination as well as your country while abroad.
Some countries, like the US, require their citizens to file their tax returns annually.
Your accountant will also tell you some of the exceptions that you may qualify for.
9. Secure a Job
An important step in living a successful life in a foreign country is having the means to maintain yourself.
If you are working for a multinational company, you may be lucky if the company has a presence in that country, so all you do is transfer your workbase there.
Otherwise, try looking for international job openings in the destination country. Some good places to start your job search are:
Also Read: 15 Best Digital Nomad Jobs in 2024. Work Remotely As You Travel!
10. Learn About the Healthcare System of the Country You Want to Move Into
Healthcare systems vary across countries.
So, try to learn the health system of the destination country and what you qualify for under your visa.
Also, find out from your current health insurance provider if they will cover you while abroad.
On top of this, arrange for all the necessary immunizations before leaving your country.
It might interest you to read: 7 Best Health Insurance For Digital Nomads
11. Find Your New Home
Another important step on how to move to a different country is knowing exactly where you want to settle once you arrive in the destination country.
Of course, sometimes you may want to keep your options open, only deciding while there.
Be that as it may, try to learn about the lifestyle, location, and other aspects of the location you want to settle.
Also, be sure to find a place to stay while there.
In this case, you may plan to rent, which means you should research a local listing and arrange for a rental contract even before you arrive there.
12. Bid Goodbye to Family and Settle Any Other Affairs in Your Home Country.
Before the departure date arrives, try to wrap up any loose ends in your home country.
For instance, you may want to sort out your previous living situation.
Also, don’t forget to bid adieu to your family and friends with a goodbye party or something like that.
13. Sort Out How You Will Deal with Your Belongings
You should decide whether you will ship your belongings to your new destination or whether you will keep them in your country.
With this in mind, you will need to understand the logistics cost of each item.
Sometimes, it will make economic sense to just sell your belongings before the move.
This is usually the case if you are making a more permanent move.
If you are going to drive in your new location, you may also want to weigh the pros and cons of shipping your car there.
14. Learn About Local Culture
Part of the steps that you have to undertake on how to move to a different country is researching the local culture, including history, government system, and social norms and etiquette.
Doing this will minimize social faux pas and help offset culture shock that you are likely to encounter.
It also helps you settle easily in your new destination and connect easily with locals.
15. Start Connecting with Expats and Locals
Moving to a new place is not always easy. It can be a lonely process.
So you need some social support to guide you through the process and help you settle and live successfully in another country.
So start connecting with expats as well as locals. The good thing is that many expats are ready to share their tips and make friends with.
Making friends with locals will also help you solve some problems that you may encounter there.
Closing Remarks
As you have noticed from the above steps, early preparations will go a long way in smoothing the process of moving to a different country.
From understanding how health systems work to the nitty-gritty of visas to learning a new culture and language, each of these steps is a leap towards having a successful stay abroad.
If you are to take anything from the above list of steps on how to move to a different country, it is to learn the local language, culture, and customs as well as sort out your financial and professional life.
Being proficient in a local language will help you connect with locals and improve your daily interactions, thus opening doors for more friendships and opportunities.
Likewise, having marketable skills or business will help you attract opportunities and reduce financial constraints.
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