These Tips Will Help You Move to Another Country
According to the UN stats, there are around 244 million people around the world living outside their country of origin. That is approximately 3.3% of the world’s population.
In other words, if you are moving to another country, you are not alone. There have always been and there will always be people looking for a better life in countries other than their own. And if you are one of them, congratulations. This is not an easy thing to do.
And precisely because of that, we want to help you find true happiness wherever you decided to go. Below are listed essential steps for moving to another country.
Research Thoroughly
Moving to another state is a huge step in your life. That is why you can’t just go there and expect things to turn out great.
If you want everything to go as smooth as possible and to experience as little stress as possible, you need to research everything before you move – every single detail. This includes things like planning all the details and researching the culture of the country you’re moving to.
Making a plan
With a list of all the things that you should do before and while moving, you will feel much more organized and efficient, especially when checking things off the list.
Here are the most important things you should consider:
– giving adequate time to the entire moving process
– packing and shipping arrangements
– deciding what to do with your current house or apartment (sell or rent it)
– handling your loans, leases, and mortgages
– if necessary, obtaining visas for your new country
– sorting out any documentation for your move
– making sure you can buy health insurance as soon as possible after arriving in your new country
Culture
Even though globalization is slowly but surely taking over the world, there are still huge gaps between cultures in different (and sometimes even the same) continents.
That is why you need to find out as much as you can about the culture you are moving to. Try to learn about:
– your new country’s history
– its government and laws
– social norms and rules of etiquette
– basic words and phrases of the language spoken there
Make Sure You Have Enough Money
Or even better – have more than enough.
Money is a major concern even in everyday situations, let alone when you are moving to completely new surroundings. Ask yourself how much money you need to move to your new destination.
As a rule of thumb, you should have at least six-month worth of savings when moving abroad. In addition, make sure to research the cost of living in your new country in order to create a monthly budget.
Think about things like:
– your visa application
– international shipments
– plane ticket
– housing
– emergencies
Moreover, it would be wise to set up banking accounts to facilitate transferring money between countries without spending too much on processing fees. Keep at least one account open in your current country if you ever decide to return, as this will allow you to start where you left off instead of having to open new bank accounts and build your credit from zero.
Finally, not all countries provide the same options for accessing money. Make sure you know about all potential issues with your bank and consult with a financial adviser from the country you are moving to.
Get a Job Before You Move
Before moving to another country, you need to find a job in it. Or at least, you have to be sure you will get a job soon after getting there. Even though you have some money on the side as we advised you to (or at least we hope you do), getting a job is one of the first things you should do after you have moved.
If you are moving for business and already have a job, that’s perfect. However, if that is not the case, try with the following websites.
Upwork
Upwork is the most popular freelancing platform in the world. From web design to accounting, you can do pretty much anything on it and earn money.
But before getting down to business, read these tips for becoming a successful freelancer. Then, merge your professional expertise and freelancer skills, and you will be able to work from anywhere around the world.
AngelList
If you’re into working with startups, then this website can help you find your new job. With more and more new businesses emerging everywhere around the globe, you will easily find a job, especially if you are an expert in online marketing.
Good old LinkedIn always offers great opportunities to build your business network and find new jobs.
And if you are not upgraded to LinkedIn Premium, consider doing so. It is free for the first month and after that, you will pay around $60 a month. This may sound a lot, but just think how useful it can be for landing a job of your dreams in your new country.
Find accommodation
Whether you are moving to another state or another country, you will definitely need a place to stay. In the beginning, you can stay at a friend’s home, but this can’t go on forever.
Think about what part of the city you would like to live in, how much money you can spend on accommodation, whether you are going to live on your own, etc. Once you know all these things, you will have a good idea what kind of accommodation to look for.
Even though you may be inclined to save money on accommodation, don’t be too thrifty. Where you live has a significant impact on your life habits and general well-being, so treat it like investing in yourself.
Speaking of well-being, we move on to our last tip.
Prepare Psychologically for Moving
As you may suppose, moving to another country is a big change, especially if it is completely different than your current country.
Wherever you are moving to, you will probably experience a culture shock sooner or later. That is why you need to be tolerant and try to understand local customs in order to embrace them as part of your new life.
Also, even though the initial period may get you running all over the place and giving you excitement, this will fade away after some time. After that, depression is very common, and you need to be ready to fight it.
That is why you have to get yourself mentally prepared before moving and make sure you give yourself enough time to get used to your new surroundings. Stay calm when dealing with difficult situations and you will find yourself much stronger than you ever thought you could be.
Bonus Tip – Keep in Touch with Those Close to Your Heart
Although you are physically far away from your beloved ones, you have a number of options to stay in touch with them. This is very important for your mental health and sense of belonging.
With social media networks like Facebook and messaging apps like Viber and WhatsApp, you can communicate with them whenever you feel like it. It’s not the same as if you were right next to them, but it’s very close to it.
