About The Author
Jona writes on remote work, circular economy, and SaaS. With the objective to help businesses scale up, she blends quality, storytelling, and SEO expertise.
Preparing to move abroad can sound scary. I remember the mix of excitement and fear when I made my first move to Hanoi, Vietnam back in 2017, and Germany four years later.
It’s an emotional and financial rollercoaster, for sure, but it’s also hugely rewarding. And with the right mindset and preparation, you can definitely do it too!
So whether you’re chasing your dreams to live abroad, work remotely, or more – here are 13 steps I’ve learned from experience to help you prepare.
Wrapping Up
When moving to a new country, preparation is key. Your first step should be doing research to better understand the country you’re thinking of moving to. Starting with the basics:
What’s the best way to get to know a country from afar? Talk to people who are living there!
You can easily find online focus groups where you can ask questions and receive real-time answers from people living in these areas. Facebook is a great option – just type in the city you are interested in moving to, tail it with “expats” or “remote workers,” and ask away.
These groups are usually very accommodating and helpful. There might be some trolls, but most people will genuinely answer questions on the best areas to live, the best insurance for expats, the best hospitals that speak your language, and tons of answers on “Who is down for a drink?”
Next, determine how much money you need to save up. You want to make sure you have enough for the move (logistics, paperwork, transport, etc) and at least the first months of your stay.
Some countries require a lot of savings, especially if you don’t have work waiting upon your arrival. Compare the pros and cons of living there, and take into consideration your existing financial sources or responsibilities.
A lot of my former coworkers chose Vietnam for its low cost of living and relatively high wage (for expat workers), allowing them to pay off their student loans while enjoying a pretty relaxed and travel-laden lifestyle.
Depending on your current income, saving for the big move could take months, or years. Personally, it took me two years to save up for my new life in Germany. Coming up with a savings strategy or using a budgeting app can help you make sure you hit your targets.
Next – how will you support yourself?
Suppose you already have a full-time job that you love and don’t want to lose. You may be able to chat to your employer to see if they’re open to a remote work agreement. You may also need to figure out a flexible work schedule, especially if there’s a big time difference between your HQ and the country you’re moving to.
To help, we’ve written a guide on how to negotiate a remote work agreement at your current job.
The odds are on your side: a study by Upwork predicts that, by 2028, 73% of teams will be accommodating remote work. The time will come when employers have no choice but to cave to the demand!
Alternatively, if you plan to give up your current role and start afresh, then the sooner you start looking for another job, the better. Start job hunting for jobs in your target country and make sure you have a Plan B in place before you turn in your resignation letter. Once you get a job offer, you can also try to leverage this with your current employer.
If you’ve always liked the thought of having more freedom and flexibility, your move abroad may be a great time to look for a new remote work position.
The number of remote jobs is increasing every day, and you’ll have access to a wider global job market. If you’re not sure where to start – here are some of the best sites to find remote work that pays well.
Remote work certainly has a lot of perks:
Alternatively, it may be a great time to kick off a freelance career to support yourself on the side (although don’t expect to make bank overnight).
Just be sure to check your target country’s policies on remote work / digital nomadism. Which leads to our next point.
For some, visa processing is a bit of nightmare.
To minimize heartache, be sure to check out the visa requirements of where you’re going as soon as possible. These will vary a lot depending on the country itself, your nationality, and the activities you intend to do over there.
If you’ve decided to work remotely abroad, some countries in eastern Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia offer visas that are perfect for digital nomads.
Depending on the visa requirements and your passport strength, visa processing can be easy, or time-consuming. For some, it is a total nightmare (oops, said that twice). Either way – always allow a considerable time frame for the entire process.
It’s also possible to find migration lawyers or agencies to take care of the visa process for you. Just make sure you do your research to check they’re legit, as there are plenty of scams out there. If you decide to work in a physical office, it should be on your employers to process your papers.
Pro tip: If you already have a passport and it is near expiration, make sure you process it way ahead of time!
One thing that I ended up doing late was sorting out my bank and phone providers in my home country. Don’t make the same mistake!
Ensure you inform your bank and credit card company that you’re relocating soon and ask them to maintain your credit score before moving.
Getting an international credit card or a cash app that allows international and multi-currency money transfers is also a good idea. Wise and Payoneer are popular among digital nomads, who don’t have a base, or don’t have the patience to go through yet another bureaucratic process upon arrival: opening bank accounts in a foreign country. Check out our full review on Wise for more details.
Making international transfers?
Check out our research on the safest and cheapest methods to send money internationally.
If you’re working in person while abroad, your employer should include travel insurance to keep you covered. However, remote workers will have to get travel insurance themselves.
Do some research on travel insurance and their coverage – especially since we are now living in a mid-pandemic world.
If you intend to bring your pets abroad, be prepared to shell out additional expenses on top of your own. Asking clinics that specialize in moving internationally with pets is a huge help. The whole process might take up to six months, depending on the requirements of the country you are moving to: a titre test, microchip, and many other documents might be needed for your pets to be allowed entry in the country. Sad fact: moving abroad with pets will most likely double your relocation budget.
cimb itrade
I have witnessed so many heartbreaking stories of pet owners being separated from their pets for two reasons:
If you’re unsure how long you will stay abroad, selling or donating your belongings may be much better (and cheaper!) than keeping them in a storage unit. Places like Facebook Marketplace and Letgo let you sell virtually anything off, from furniture to clothes (check our full guide here on where to sell stuff).
If you have some belongings you don’t want to let go of, you can always ask a friend or family member to hold on to them.
When moving abroad, it’s highly advisable to pack light. It’s a good opportunity to purge as much as possible. And yes, the process can be painful – there are always things you don’t want to let go of, but it may be time.
Unless of course, you have the budget to hire an international mover. You can also negotiate with your future employer if your employment includes a relocation package.
This step can be utterly foregone if you pack light. A lot of things you need to survive in a foreign country can be sourced once you have settled down in your new home, and hiring a mover may not be worth it unless your employer shoulders a chunk of the expenses.
But if there are things that you cannot let go of, then do some research on reliable international movers.
Here are some benefits that I noticed when working with an international moving company:
We’re almost there!
Many guides online don’t really mention this. It’s been proven that moving abroad can have some negative psychological effects. You’ll be vulnerable to alienation, homesickness, and loneliness, which can sometimes dampen the excitement of living abroad. But if you factor in these concerns early on, you’re on the right track.
Finding some groups that have similar interests and hobbies can definitely help. You can ask your focus groups for after-work or weekend activities. Some social activities can be found on apps like Meetup too.
And yes, find time to socialize and integrate into your new city, or else the notorious, confusing three-month slump (yep, this can be applied to your budding relationship with a new country too) can extend indefinitely if you let it be.
Moving to a new country means you’ll have a lot to do, even more when it’s one month to your flight date!
Here’s a quick checklist to follow as you approach the big day.
One month before your big move
Two weeks before
One week before
No matter how well you prepare – there’ll always be hiccups here and there. Good news though – it is what it is. Don’t be hard on yourself if some things don’t go your way.
You’ve done your best to be as prepared as possible. Now, enjoy that mimosa, those hugs, and well wishes from your loved ones and friends. A new chapter of your life is about to unfold. And as someone once succinctly advised me, embrace the process!
Jona writes on remote work, circular economy, and SaaS. With the objective to help businesses scale up, she blends quality, storytelling, and SEO expertise.
