Moving abroad is glamorous in books and movies. They depict a life lined with cobblestone streets, where you walk around in wide-brimmed hats and beam at your new friends. The truth is that while moving abroad can be an amazing experience, you still need groceries, and plumbing can still break. It is everyday living with a new world view and possibly better food. But first, you need to get there.
Moving abroad takes enormous research, Excel sheets, and paperwork. If you are moving through a work or study program, they may have people to help guide you. Keep extra money aside for unexpected expenses. Pack plenty of tenacity, patience, and a sense of humor.
Moving abroad is not the easiest life choice, but it can be hugely rewarding. Friends of ours have hopped around the globe, and their income goes further; they have more affordable healthcare, access to better schools, and live a better lifestyle. But they also sacrificed being close to family, which can be challenging.
What Are The Reasons People Move To Another Country?
People move to another country for a variety of reasons:
- Love
- Career opportunities
- Better quality of life
- Sense of adventure
- Nicer weather
- To gain a new perspective
What Is It Like To Move To Another Country?
Moving to another country is like a Charles Dickens quote about the best and worst of times. At least in the beginning. When you first arrive, there are all these new places to see, new foods to try and even mundane things like road signs and electrical outlets that are interesting. It can be exciting.
But it is also a marathon. Basic things like grocery shopping can be confusing. The paperwork can be mind boggling, and depending on the country, you may encounter bureaucrats who still love fax machines. Items you took for granted or assumed were a given are absent, missing, or come at a substantial extra cost. Also, despite all your research, curve balls will occur, leaving you flummoxed.
But after a while, life settles into its own kind of normal. You understand the best ways to get around, have your favorite shops, and know the people that get you. Life becomes easier but less glamorous, and it will feel like your favorite old armchair or a lumpy mattress. In addition, you feel more capable and confident.
What Are The Best Cities To Move Abroad In 2024?
One person’s dream country is another person’s nightmare. People have different priorities and desires. Some people want a country full of big, technologically advanced, squeaky-clean cities. Others crave countries with ingenious ways of using duct tape.
However, some places get more praise than others, and we’ve scooped up a few to recommend.
Top Cities With Plenty Of Sun
One of the perks of moving abroad is choosing a place with fabulous weather. These sunny cities are expat favorites:
- Barcelona, Spain
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Sydney, Australia
Top Quality Of Living Cities
These cities provide expats with top quality of living:
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Basel, Switzerland
- Osaka, Japan
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Taipei, Taiwan
Top Cheapest Cities
Affordability can be important if you are trying to stretch a freelance writer’s income or looking for a place to retire. The top loved affordable cities are:
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Cuenca, Ecuador
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Panama City, Panama
➜ Check here the cheapest cities to live and work abroad
What Are The Best Countries And Cities For Expats And Digital Nomads?
Politics and services around the world are always changing. But right now, expats and digital nomads are having excellent experiences when moving to:
- Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
- Berlin, Germany
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Madrid, Spain
- Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
How Much Does It Cost?
It’s always recommended to have at least six months of savings, plus an extra 10% before moving countries. Not only is the world still shaky from the pandemic, but global strife is causing inflation, especially concerning electricity, gas (heating and cooking), and petrol (what the rest of the world calls gasoline).
Even if you have a company willing to pay some of the big bills, such as moving companies and plane tickets, there will still be expenses that catch you by surprise.
Tips For Expats & Digital Nomads
Getting ready to move turns anyone into a project manager. But when preparing to be an expat or digital nomad, there are unique twists to the challenge. Thankfully, we have some tips.
- Start stashing money away as soon as you start dreaming about moving abroad
- Get your passport in order; at least six months left (12 is better) with at least a few blank pages
- Locate your birth certificate and marriage license if applicable
- Make certified copies of all documents and keep some with you and give backups to friends
- Start researching all requirements, including visas, vaccinees, and laws
- Find out about healthcare options
- Notify the embassy or, if US, sign up on with the STEP program
- Don’t buy/pack all the clothes in advance, as you’ll want some local touches
- Find out as much about where you are going as you can
- If you need to learn a new language or brush up, start ASAP
Get Documents In Order: Visa, Laws, Vaccines, Driving License
Now, let’s examine how to move abroad in more detail. Getting your passport and visas in order is fairly obvious. But there are other documents to consider.
Driving License rules differ between countries. Many allow you to drive on your license for 6 to 12 months. Regardless, it isn’t an ID you want expiring shortly after your arrival. Make sure it has a year or five, if possible.
Birth Certificates don’t seem necessary when you have a passport but plenty of places like them, even the occasional bank. Ensure you have the original and certified copies stored with trusted friends or family. If you have kids, you will need them for school and, for some countries, presented with their passport.
Wedding Certificates, if applicable, should be brought along, as they can come in handy in situations you’ve never considered. If you are traveling as the spouse to another, you may need to present it with your passport and visa at customs.
Vaccines must be updated, and the paperwork must be in line with the new country. Do not assume you can sort this out after you arrive.
If you have kids, ensure that if you can’t get the injection in your current country, you know where to source it in the new country. We had friends where the unique vax was done right after birth. Thus, only specific places in select cities would inject a toddler. But without the vax, they couldn’t go to school.
Find Out Laws In Advance. Crucially, if you are a family and one parent is traveling ahead before the rest, there may be additional paperwork. Some countries are very touchy about admitting entrance to children if both parents are not present.
Get On Board With Finding Work Abroad Or Set Up An Online Business
You might need a job or source of income before you are allowed to move abroad. Thus, check the laws before applying for visas so you don’t waste money.
However, searching for a job in advance or starting your online business is still wise. First, find out the style of your resume (often called a CV), as it may look very different from your current style. Also, some countries will want your high school degree and your advanced education certificates.
Lastly, if you went to a college in the United States, refer to it as a university. “College” often means something different in other countries, closer to a type of high school. Other terminology might need to be rephrased, so do your research before filling out job applications and contacting recruiters.
Research Accommodation Abroad And Cost Of Living
Research accommodation and the cost of living ahead of time. When possible, look into booking a temporary place before signing any long-term contracts. Even with thorough research, you will learn more about what suits your needs once you arrive. But you don’t want to be stuck taking whatever is left.
When looking into accommodation, consider the following:
- Cost
- Additional fees (estate or building taxes, garbage service, security)
- Deposit
- Safety
- Distance to public transport, schools, hospitals, work, groceries
- Does it come with closets or wardrobes?
- Does it have appliances?
- Is the place hooked up to wifi, and if so, what kind?
- Is there bike storage or parking? Are those extra?
- Is it in an area with lots of expats? Some people think of it as a plus, others as a negative.
Also, note that some countries are having energy problems. Some places are using alternative energy sources such as solar and generators to counteract this. The latter might come with extra costs. In addition, some neighborhoods might have more power outages or water restrictions than others. For example, areas closer to a hospital might not have as many disruptions as other places.
Research Health Insurance
Research your health insurance options before you move abroad. It can often be worth it even when moving to countries that allow you access to their health insurance for a reduced cost. You may have specific desires, such as being flown out, that are not provided by regular country services. Also, many countries insist you live there for a specific time frame before being allowed to use services at citizen prices.
Some countries will have insurance plans you can join once you are there. However, there is often a gap between your arrival, signing up for a new policy, and that new policy becoming activated.
When looking at expat insurance, consider the following:
- Is it only emergency care or routine check-ups?
- Does it cover prescriptions?
- Is there an emergency evacuation?
- Will it cover pre-existing conditions?
- Is there flexibility in medical providers?
- What hospital care is provided?
In some countries, you can choose between a government or private hospital. Sometimes your insurance will have deals with government hospitals, and you’ll be given a better deal.
Also, check ahead if you have any chronic medications and care needs. Yes, medications are often cheaper in countries outside of the United States. However, the brand you use might not be sold. Sometimes, that medication might not be available, even in generic. Also, consider that certain vaccines, such as the latest CoVid injections, might not yet be available in that country.
Research Everyday Life: Mobile, Electricity, Wifi, Data, Transport, Streaming
Look into how everyday life needs to function in the new country. For example, even familiar services like Netflix will have different prices and won’t show the same playlists as in your home country.
Your favorite online retailer might not ship to your new country, but there are still ways to order online from any country in the world.
Also, do not assume that an area is necessarily hooked up to wifi or receives a consistent 4G signal. Prices can also vary considerably.
Tie Up Loose Ends: Mail Forwarding, Taxes, Bank, Voting
Tie up loose ends before flying away. For example, you don’t want to try to figure out how to deal with your mail or bank accounts after you’re gone.
Managing Mail and Packages
Once upon a time, expats had to have their posts forwarded to friends and family. Now there are mailing forwarding companies that can offer various services. For example, some will send you photos of the outside of your letters. Then you can decide if you want any opened and scanned rather than forwarded.
Mail forwarding services can also serve as a “home address” if you require one for taxes, banking, or voting.
Package Forwarding vs Virtual Mailbox
Package forwarding and virtual mailboxes are services that offer solutions for managing mail and packages, but they serve distinct purposes and have different features:
Package Forwarding
Purpose: Package forwarding services are primarily designed for individuals or businesses who want to receive physical packages at an address different from their own location.
How it Works: Users are assigned a physical address, often in a different geographic location or country. When packages arrive at this address, the service forwards them to the user’s specified destination.
Use Cases: Commonly used by international shoppers, travelers, or those who want to receive packages at an address other than their residence.
Virtual Mailbox
Purpose: A virtual mailbox is a digital solution that allows users to manage their postal mail online without the need for a physical mailbox.
How it Works: Users are assigned a virtual mailbox address. When traditional mail items (letters, packages) arrive, the service scans and uploads them to a secure online platform. Users can then view, manage, and decide whether to forward, discard, or store the mail items electronically.
Use Cases: Suitable for remote workers, digital nomads, or individuals who want the convenience of securely managing their mail digitally and remotely.
US Taxes Must Be Filed
The US has tax treaties with many other countries, so you are, in theory, not taxed twice. However, you still have to file. In addition, if that country does not have what the US considers an equivalent Social Security program, you will have to pay certain taxes. Lastly, not all tax filing services are available if you are abroad, including most online filing options.
Remember that if you are residing in a country with an unreliable postal system or one that doesn’t date stamp their mail (that happens), you will have to courier your taxes.
Banking Abroad
Find out from your bank the options of using the account while abroad. Also, find out how difficult it is to close accounts after you’ve moved.
It might be worth looking into having international options even if you plan to open accounts in your new country. For example, Wise.com will allow you to transfer money between countries and currencies.
Also, research if services such as PayPal are available in your new country. However, even if it is, there might be different rules and restrictions to the service outside your home country.
Voting Abroad
Voting abroad is a legal right for US citizens, but not all other countries allow it. Nor does every US state make voting abroad easy. In addition, you may have to courier your vote from some locations, which can be expensive.
US citizens can find help and better information from the following organizations:
Moving Belongings Abroad: Packing And Moving Companies
Packing for an international move can differ from a regular move in the same country. For example, there are sometimes restrictions on items that can be transported. In addition, there might be requirements for how things are packed, including the size and shape of containers.
Also, be aware that your goods will be traveling through international customs. There will be forms; if filled out incorrectly, your belongings could be delayed, and you might be forced to pay taxes on your own stuff.
Consequently, it can be advantageous to hire an international moving company that is familiar with the rules and regulations and can ensure your stuff is packed correctly and will go through customs smoothly and without extra fees.
When looking at different quotes, find out if your goods will be in their own shipping container or shared. Sometimes it can be advantageous to pay slightly more to have your belongings in an exclusive container. Research country rules and regulations, and read about other people’s experiences when moving overseas.
Conclusion
Moving abroad as an expat requires extensive research and decision-making. But in the end, you’ll be creating memories of a lifetime. So remember: pack plenty of tenacity, patience, and a sense of humor.