What Is Stopping You From Making A Big Move?

After all, once jobs, schools and homes have been secured in the destination country and the difficult task of transporting all our worldly possessions has been completed, it’s a little late in the day to have a major change of mind.

Naturally for many people the excitement and eagerness to emigrate is inevitably tinged with feelings of anxiety and apprehension, so if you’re planning a move abroad then it’s well-worth exploring the main reasons why you might not up sticks and go, before making that final decision.

Family

Granted that, for the majority at least, the concept of the ‘extended family’ living in back-to-back houses in neighbouring streets is long dead, we are still fortunate that, by occupying a small island (albeit one with foul weather) our families are never too far away. And while for some the threat of the mother-in-law calling on a Sunday morning might be enough to book that one-way ticket to Australia without further ado, the possible sense of isolation in a foreign land with no relatives within ten thousand miles shouldn’t be ignored. So do plan for the cost and time of flying visits ‘home’, the burden of childcare without grandparents and alternative means of communication with your loved ones, such as Skype.

Finding work

In an effort to stem the tide of incoming Brits who have arrived on a tsunami-like wave over the years, some countries have imposed strict rules about who can be admitted based on their occupations. In Australia, for example, certain professions are classed as ‘Skilled Occupations’ and assessments are carried out to check a migrant’s suitability before an offer of residency is made. So as part of your planning, make sure that you are qualified to work in the country of your choice and research the availability of jobs in your field of work.

Children

Unless you have especially generous relatives (not to mention awful relationships with your own children), the chances are that you’ll want to take your little darlings with you when you head to sunnier climes. This, however, can be a major sticking point for families deciding whether to emigrate. Relocating children means changing not only schools but whole education systems which might not jigsaw particularly neatly with their schooling thus far. Children can be far more reticent about the whole idea of moving to a new country, leaving behind established friendships not to mention familiar routines and ways of life. Also, the long term future must be considered: does your new home country offer the same or better prospects for your children as they would have enjoyed in the UK?

Fitting in

One of the main reasons why people desire to live abroad is to experience a different culture and a new way of life. But even in English-speaking countries the culture can be considerably different and settling in - with the inevitable sense of homesickness, at least intially – can be challenging. If you’re the type who finds change difficult to adapt to, then think carefully about whether a move abroad is for you.

Abandoning your life and starting afresh in a new country can be an exciting journey of discovery whatever your age and circumstances, but it is only natural to have some misgivings along the way. Therefore detailed research and planning is crucial to ensure that you foresee all the pitfalls and are fully prepared to embrace the changes instead of being intimidated by them.