Have you been dreaming of moving to another country but you are not sure how to prepare yourself?
Look no further! I got you covered. In this blog post you can find lots of tips and tricks to make sure you can start turning that dream into an action plan. I will also tell you how to prepare yourself for moving to another country without feeling overwhelmed.
Moving to another country: how to prepare yourself?
First of all, and especially if it’s your first time moving to another country, preparation is key. It will make your move so much easier if you have prepared yourself as much as possible. But I know you might be thinking: WHAT do I need to prepare?
To help you get started I have made this short checklist for you with lots of useful questions that you can ask yourself to start preparing for your move.
Questions you will need to ask yourself when moving to another country:
- Visa; depending on where you move to, do you need a visa? Ask yourself these questions to start your research and find a visa that matches with what you are looking for:
- What is the purpose of your stay? What is the planned duration of your stay? What are the criteria based on my nationality/age/skillset etc.? Can I apply for this myself or do I need professional support?
- Passport; is your passport still valid? Make sure to check the rules on the validity of your passport. Many countries ask for your passport to be valid for at least 6 months to 1 year when you enter.
- Finances; are you in control of your budget when you move? Do you know what the cost of living is in your new country? Do you have some savings for additional costs of moving? And would you perhaps need to get a world visa card? Can you continue to use your bank account when moving to another country or do you need to open a new bank account upon arrival?
- Job; are you moving to another country as an expat? Or do you need to look for a job when you arrive in your new country? Do you plan to travel long-term and work remotely with an online business?
- There are many options on how you can combine a job with moving to another country. Especially in the time we are living in right now, remote work is booming and many people combine travel and work! But also when you don’t want to lose your current job or use a move to boost your career, you could think about options of how you can take your job with you when moving to another country.
- Housing; does your employer take care of your temporary accommodation? Are you moving long term and want to buy a house? Are you moving by yourself and are you looking for shared housing with flat mates or do you prefer to rent a place for yourself? Ask yourself what options do you have and what would fit best with your personal needs and personal situation. Once you have clarity on your preferences and what fits in your budget, you can have a more focused and effective research.
- Health; do you need any vaccines? Are there any risks for your health in the country you are moving to? Do you require a medical certificate from your doctor to be allowed into the country? Is your current insurance sufficient or do you need to arrange additional health insurance? Take time to research these type of questions for your move so that you know what to expect.
What you shouldn’t forget before leaving your country:
What happens often is that we are so focused on the moving part that we forget to think about what needs to be arranged in the country of departure. I have listed a few of the questions you can ask yourself to make sure you leave well prepared.
- Deregistration and Cancellations; are you required to deregister from your current country of residence when you leave? Do you have an overview of all your memberships or contracts that you need to cancel before you leave? Have you made a plan on when you need to cancel those contracts? What about your phone?
- Housing and address; do you need to end your lease contract? Or are you renting out your own place? Is someone taking care of your mail after you leave and until you have a new address abroad? Do you need to inform any authorities about your change of residence and change of address?
- Packing or Leaving your stuff; what are you going to do with all of your stuff? Selling it, throwing it away or giving it away, putting it in a storage or perhaps shipping it all to your new country? How much luggage can you take with you? Do you need everything in your new country or can you let go of things?
Other things to think about to make your move easier:
- Language; if people speak a different language in the country you are moving to, can you already prepare yourself before you move? And is there a local language course you can join upon arrival? Do people speak English as well or do you really need a new language as soon as possible to thrive in your new country?
- Local culture; what do you know about the culture in your new country? Can you prepare yourself for any cultural differences so that you can adapt yourself easier in your new environment? Think about any specific customs and things in daily life you might not have thought about yet. Do your research of the local culture so that you know what to expect and how you can fit into this.
- Connections; are you moving to another country by yourself and want to connect with others who are doing the same? Have you searched for groups on Facebook or forums to connect with others and share experiences? What are the options to connect with others in the country you are moving to?
Prepare Your Mindset
The above list has lots of questions that you can ask yourself with a variety of important topics to prepare yourself for your move. However, I haven’t touched based on one of the most important parts of your preparation yet. Your Mindset!
Most importantly, with the right mindset you will be able to handle everything of the above. You can make sure you don’t get overwhelmed by all the things you need to arrange or stressed by the things you may have forgotten to think about.
Besides that, moving to another country is a scary thing for most of us because it is a lifechanging experience. It is a very exciting new adventure but it also comes with the process of leaving the things you are familiar with behind and perhaps saying goodbye to your family and friends at home for a while.
However, if you prepare yourself, not only for the practical things as mentioned in the above list, but also on a mindset level, you will find out that your move will become much easier.
There is not one trick or method for this, it is a journey and a process in itself and it is very personal. But for example one of the key components that have helped me during all of my moves and that has helped my clients, is to be open-minded and curious to whatever comes your way. Focus on looking at the positive side of things. When something doesn’t go well during your trip, don’t focus on the problem, but focus on the solution. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need to. Talk to people who have experience with moving countries. You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.
Need some help to prepare yourself for your move to another country?
If you need help with your mindset prep for your move to another country or further support in the full preparation process, feel free to contact me. As a certified Life Abroad Coach and Mentor I’m specialized in helping others through the transition process of moving countries. Not only to guide you through the practical side of things but also to make sure you feel confident, excited and ready to make your move. My goal is to make your move as simple, easy and fun as possible so that you can really focus on the good things of moving abroad and won’t be absorbed by worries of all the changes in your life.
If you’re interested to know more about how my coaching can help you get organized for your move and help you transition into your new country with a clear roadmap and action plan, schedule a free Discovery call.
Looking for more tips and inspiring content to get ready for your move? Connect with me on Instagram.
