Checklist to do Before Moving Abroad

If you’re considering moving abroad, expatriating, living a new life overseas - there are a multitude of things you need to take into account and plan for before doing so!

Whether your “greener pasture” is in France, Spain, Italy or beyond, a checklist of the basics can help you prepare for an international relocation.  This is the Shelter Offshore checklist to do before moving abroad…

Some of the top considerations that demand attention before you move anywhere in the world include: -

• Examining personal motivations.  An international relocation – even within Europe for Brits or the Americas for US citizens – is not something to undertake lightly.  Examine your personal motivations for wanting to relocate closely and make sure a move is right for you before you pack up and go.  Taking family into account is also vital.  If children are involved in the move the situation can become much more complex and you need to consider everyone’s feelings carefully.

• Finances and employment.  Having a way to make money when living abroad is an absolute must.  Britons on pensions or living off investments often have an easier time of it as they know what they have to rely on in terms of money each month.  If it is your intent to secure a job before moving or after arriving, take a good look at the realistic prospects for finding a job.  EU countries are often easier to find employment in for Brits expatriating, but this isn’t always the case.  Really research this carefully for your country of choice.

• Exchange rates and pensions.  The pound tends to hold up very well around the world, but it does better in some places than others – whereas the dollar is weak currently.  If you intend to live off a pension, considerations such as these are very big considerations.  Also look at what moving will do to your pension’s inflation increases.  Some moves will enable them to continue, but others might not.

• Residency requirements.  Although many EU countries allow entry on passport alone for residents of another EU nation, full relocations even within Europe for Brits for example present the need for additional paperwork.  Carefully research your chosen country’s requirements for immigration.  If a move outside of the EU is for you, the requirements are often very different and much more extensive.

• Language barriers.  This is a very big and real consideration to take into account.  Moving within the UK can be difficult enough when it comes to fitting in, but going to a country where the language is other than English can make acclimation nearly impossible.  If a language barrier is an issue, examine the options for learning the required language at least on a basic level before emigrating.

• Cultural differences.  It might seem exotic to consider living in a beach hut in Morocco or in a chalet in the mountains of Bulgaria, but are you really prepared to live among the nation’s people?  To make sure, examine the culture in depth and really ask yourself if the destination is one you’ll ever really feel at home in.

Moving abroad is a very big undertaking that nearly 200,000 Britons alone chose to do last year and international relocation is favoured by many from all over the world – however for others, living abroad is just not their cup of tea!  So, careful study of the facts and circumstances of a particular move can help open your eyes to whether the idea is really a good one or not…complete the above checklist and see where you stand before you plan on starting a new life abroad.