5 Things To Consider When You Move Abroad

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5 Things To Consider When You Move Abroad

Moving abroad is an exciting prospect, but also a daunting one. When you move to another country for the first time, there are many things that you need to take into consideration before embarking on this new adventure. In this blog post, we will discuss these considerations and how they can help make your move abroad more seamless.

Health Insurance

The first thing to think about is health insurance. This one can be a tough decision because you don’t want to leave your current healthcare provider, but also want adequate access in the future. Luckily there are companies like International SOS that offer coverage plans for citizens of many countries who live outside their home country as well as ex-pats and travelers abroad.

Type of Visa Needed

The second consideration is to determine what type of visa you need. If you’re just traveling, then a tourist visa will suffice. But if you plan on staying in the country for more than three months, or even working there temporarily as well as living there indefinitely, then it’s best that you apply for an appropriate temporary or permanent residence status before entering the country.

Relinquishing or renouncing U.S. citizenship?

The third consideration is to determine whether or not you are going to give up your US citizenship. Many people have an idea that this decision will be made for them, but unfortunately, it’s a difficult process and one that should not be taken lightly. It can take up to five years of living abroad without any ties with the United States before citizens can start that process.

There is a difference between relinquishing or renouncing U.S. citizenship. The word “renouncing” is a vague term with no legal definition. It’s used to describe people who gave up their U.S citizenship, regardless of how they did it and why.

Those who relinquish their US citizenship are people who perform an “expatriating act” with the intention of gaining citizenship elsewhere. There are many considerations to make if you choose this route, such as both the tangible and intangible costs, the time frame, and the legal implications.

Cost of Living

The fourth consideration is the cost of living in your new destination country. This one may not be as much of a concern for many ex-pats considering they are going to have more money than they did in their home country, but it’s still important to take into account when moving abroad because there will be.

How to Move Your Personal Belongings

Another thing to think about is how you are going to get your household belongings and personal effects over. Some people will ship things via container, others may prefer airfreight or freight forwarding. If you opt for an international shipping company , they can help organize everything from pickup in the US to delivery at your destination abroad – including customs clearance.

One thing that most people don’t think about when they’re moving abroad is how their car will make it overseas, too. If you have a collector’s item or otherwise valuable vehicle, then the costs of shipping may not be worth the hassle; in this case, many choose to sell their automobile before leaving and buy one at their destination.

What to do with your pets

You need to think about how your pets will make it over as well. Your pet’s health certificate may be required for entry into the country and they may have to go through quarantine when arriving. If this is a concern of yours, then you can look into getting an international pet passport that would cover any necessary vet visits and shots.

Prepare a budget

Consider the cost of living on an international move. Budget accordingly for food and utilities, as those may be more expensive than in your home country. Be sure to consider how changes like this will impact you ahead of time so that it doesn’t come as a surprise when you arrive at your new destination.

Moving abroad is a big step. We know that it can be daunting to try and figure out everything you need to do when considering such a life-altering change, but we’re here for you. Follow these tips and your transition will go as smoothly as possible.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.