Investigating Options For A Move Abroad

Try to go self-catering and visit the shops and community resources. Read the local newspaper. Get a feeling for the lifestyle and culture. Meet up with people who have already taken the plunge and learn from their experiences. If you are not familiar with the language, consider carefully whether you can live there not knowing the lingo and think about learning it!

Back home, think about whether you can afford to move. How much are your savings and are they easily accessible? What is the economic situation of the country? Would you be allowed to work if you needed to do so? Could you afford the housing costs? Would you have enough left for contingencies? Would you have enough for a decent lifestyle in the society you chose? If you are of pension age, you can claim a pension abroad, but will it be enough for the living costs of the country where you plan to live?

It is better, if you can, to leave some money behind in the country you are leaving, as long as it’s secure, just in case...

Make sure you do your paperwork. Investigate whether you need a visa and whether you need an International Driving Licence. The Foreign Office can help you there. Just remember that it all takes time and involves expense. Do not forget the need to talk everything through with family members – both those going with you and those who will be left behind! Pets can travel with you but need their own passports. And you may need inoculations so it is wise to check with your own GP whether there are any possible medical problems about moving. Countries may have very different healthcare systems than our own and very expensive ones... Find somewhere to rent before you leave home so you have somewhere to settle in.

Remember that things may turn out very differently to the way you imagine them. Whatever you do, don’t burn your bridges! Sometimes expats return home so it is wise to leave good relationships here. However, once you have done all your planning, commit to moving to a new life and put all your energies into this new path. Go forward firmly and you will achieve your dreams.