On Monday we told you about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s survey that determined that up to 42% of over 55s in the UK are actively contemplating a move abroad. That same survey also revealed that many who plan to move in retirement simply plump for a country where they have had a good holiday, and decide that that is enough ‘evidence’ to base their decision on.
However, as we have witnessed time and again in life, people who holiday somewhere, fall in love with the place and then return to live there, go through a period of a very rude awakening. Nowhere is like a holiday paradise all the time – what’s more, you cannot sustain the holiday lifestyle 24/7, 365 days of the year. Try it and you’ll get bored before you burn out!
So, in this report we’re going to break down how you can decide where you want to live abroad – we will detail all of the decisions you need to bear in mind, the facts you need to research, the criteria that can make or break a decision, and a checklist you can follow to help you decide where you would like to live abroad for life…
What You Need to Factor in When Thinking About a Relocation Destination
What is it about your current life that you like and value? There will be many things about your current life you probably want to change by making a move abroad, but equally, there will be aspects of your life you enjoy, take for granted even, and certainly value. If you can, list out the things that are important to you…and look abroad where you can match like for like.
For example, if you enjoy the countryside around where you live, you’ll be less likely to be happy abroad in an urban setting. Alternatively, if you enjoy having amenities such as a library, facilities such as a good doctors’ surgery or services such as home help on hand because you live close to a large town or city, don’t think that moving to a rural idyll will necessarily suit you.
You need to get to know yourself well before you think about where in the world would suit you! We’ve all heard stories about city dwellers ‘down sizing’ and moving to rural locations abroad, only to be driven mad by the seeming small mindedness of the people and the boredom of having very little to do each day. Well, if these people had just looked at the aspects of their life that they valued alongside those they loathed, they would perhaps have found that a happy compromise for them would have been a smaller town setting overseas, rather than in the middle of nowhere.
You need to apply thinking time to your own personal situation, working out what you like and dislike about your life, what you want to change by moving and what you would like to keep the same. With this deeper knowledge about yourself and what you’re seeking from your new overseas setting, you’ll have more of an idea of having found the right place when you eventually happen upon it! It will tick all of your boxes!
Next you will need to think about where you can afford to live abroad – we covered this angle yesterday in our article entitled ‘Where Can You Afford to Live Abroad with a Weak Pound?’ Basically, money does matter when thinking about where you can afford to relocate to. Moving is expensive, moving abroad can be prohibitively so if you choose the wrong destination!
Get Your Facts Straight – Researching Your Favourite Country
It’s highly likely that you’ll have a shortlist of countries you would consider living in – or at least, a long list of nations you know you’d never relocate to in a million years. This is all very positive data…it will help you when you start whittling down the list of finalists. Now what you have to do is factually research your shortlist on at least the follow 10 topics: -
Healthcare - I’m purposefully putting this one at the top of the list of considerations because it is a subject that most people like to ignore, as it’s complex, expensive and can make or break a country choice – which, if you’re dead set on a nation and you’re forced to look more closely at it and see the negatives, you won’t want to do! However, as we age we invariably need greater access to decent healthcare, therefore you owe it to yourself to consider a country’s healthcare offering before deciding whether you can live there or not.
Some countries have a reciprocal agreement with the UK for free healthcare for retired persons. This seldom applies to those retiring early, so if you’re moving abroad before the age of 60 or 65, you may not get free healthcare. Additionally, in certain nations, believe it or not, the system is even more bankrupt and overrun with managers than the NHS. So, not all countries have a decent system in place. Where there is perhaps a good health care system, it’s probably private, and you’re going to have to pay for it. Look at the costs involved and how you will be able to afford them.
Accessibility - You need to look at the accessibility of a given nation from the UK as there will be times when you will want or have to return to Britain. What’s more, you may well want friends and family to visit you, so they need to do so as easily and affordably as possible if you’re ever going to see them regularly!
Climate - whilst we Britons seem to think that the hotter a country is the better it is, excessive heat can really take its toll. What’s more, even Mediterranean countries get cold in the winter – and it can rain a lot, as demonstrated recently by the horrendous floods that cost lives in the likes of Cyprus.
Crime - the UK media is keen to report on the likes of knife crime and gang violence and make it seem as though the whole country is going to the dogs…but the fact of the matter is, large swathes of Britain are quite safe compared with some countries abroad. You need to look not only at the headlines and statistics of your favoured nation, you need to examine the levels of crime on a more targeted basis for the area you’re thinking of moving to.
The People - We can’t be expected to get on with everyone at all times, and it’s human nature to find some people more friendly or understanding than others…but on the whole, what are the people like in the country you’re thinking of. Are they fed up of foreign incomers, jaded by tourism, or are they welcoming, accepting of strangers and friendly?
Language - Language can be a barrier to you settling in to a country and getting the most out of it. Have you ever learned a foreign language before, how did you get on? Did you struggle or enjoy the experience. If you think you will struggle to learn a new language, perhaps you should be looking at English speaking nations? If you’re happy to learn, then why not get started with your classes now, before you move.
Housing - In the UK we have a variety of housing from flats and house shares to terraced, semi and detached homes – build quality is fairly good, and it’s standard that most of us are fortunate enough to live comfortably. What are housing standards and expectations like abroad, will you be able to make a comfortable home overseas for you and your spouse or family?
Social Care - Like it or loath it, the UK has a decent social system in place that picks up as many as it can. Abroad this is seldom the case – so if you fall on hard times, or you perhaps need home help or extended nursing care even, what will you do? What is in place, what can be afforded privately or with insurance and what can you realistically expect from your new country in terms of social care?
Fellow Expats - For some of us, the thought of living in an expat enclave abroad is a nightmare, for others it’s exactly what they’re seeking. Depending on which camp you fall into, there will be times when you will certainly want expats around you…so what are the expats like where you’re thinking of moving to abroad? Are they like-minded, from a similar background, can you get on with them, will they be supportive to you?
Entertainment - And finally…if you’re retiring abroad, the last thing you might be thinking about is ever being bored, however, the delights of the glorious sunshine and beautiful setting of your new home may actually wane eventually and you’ll be left looking for things to do! So, how about it? What is there to do in your new location overseas? Are there any cultural events you can get involved with, clubs and societies or just social gatherings that you could join. What about getting out and about and seeing more and experiencing more of the nation…and how easy will it be to make like-minded friends abroad?
The Good, The Bad and the Downright Ugly – Be Realistic
There’s good and bad in every country in the world – however, we expats tend to move abroad with rose tinted glasses on, and then bitch and moan when they are removed to reveal the true colours of our new nation. If we set out with a realistic understanding and realistic expectations of our new country, we’d find the period of adjustment far easier.
To get as realistic a feeling for what a new country will be like there are things you can practically do. For example, you can spend an extended period of time living there out of any tourism season. This will give you a first hand idea of what the nation is like as a place to really live day-to-day. Whilst you’re ‘in country’ you can get to meet natives and expats and find out from them what they think of their country.
You can also spend time on forums on the Internet speaking to people who have made the move abroad to your chosen destination. However, remember that those most likely to comment are those trying to sell something or those who are very dissatisfied and looking for an angle to voice their upset! So, take what you read with a pinch of salt!
The point of all of this is building as balanced and realistic a perspective and picture of your new country. After all, you’ll soon figure out the downsides when you relocate if you haven’t figured them out before you move. The only difference being, it would be better for you to know in advance, then you can prepare yourself!
Your Country Choice Checklist
Finally, you can use the following checklist to make sure you have thought about, researched, tried, tested and considered every important angle and aspect of your country choice: -
How affordable is it to live there on a day-to-day basis?
How affordable is real estate?
Are foreigners allowed to own freehold title to property?
How buoyant or otherwise is the property market?
Have you looked at renting a home abroad before committing to buying there?
What are taxes like on income and capital gains?
Can you earn an income there if you need or want to?
If so, what is the employment landscape like?
How accessible is the country from your friends and family in the UK?
How affordable is it in terms of accessibility?
What are the local people like towards incomers?
Are there any other expats?
What are the health and social care facilities like?
Can you afford access to levels of care you may need now or in the future?
Do you have to have a base level of income to be allowed to live in the country?
What are the initial and ongoing visa requirements for residency?
What are the costs involved?
Can you import your worldly goods affordably (think about shipping costs as well as import taxes)?
Can you import your pets?
How secure and safe is the country?
Will you need to learn a foreign language?
What are the laws relating to inheritance and succession – important to consider if you end up with assets such as a property in your new country?
What is there to do to occupy you in your new nation?
What’s the climate like all year round – will your new home be suitably air conditioned or insulated to cope with the extremes…many homes sold to foreigners in popular overseas destinations are not necessarily well-built, bear this in mind.
Can you get hold of goods and services you need, depend upon or desire in your new nation?
What’s the religion, what are customs and traditions like – can you adjust?
Remember that you’re moving in to a new country so you will be the one who has to adapt, you can’t expect people or rules to change to suit you! Have you thought about the reality of this fact?
The above list is by no means exhaustive but will hopefully give you plenty of food for thought. Our aim at Shelter Offshore is to help those who want to, to relocate abroad and find the best quality of life possible. Living overseas can give you so much and fulfil you greatly no matter when in life you decide to relocate…but it is also a challenge and requires a lot of effort from you. Don’t underestimate what you will get out of the move, but at the same time, don’t underestimate what you need to put in in terms of time, effort, research and consideration.
