Moving to another country can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling adventures of a lifetime. Going to a place that is strange and vastly different from your own home shouldn’t be a life goal for the faint of heart, but it can be a radically potent chapter of personal development. If you are considering moving to a new country, then it is important to sit down and go over some key aspects of what this will mean for your life. Here are some considerations you should make, if you are thinking of moving to another country…
Language barriers
First of all, for many places, language could be something that makes it difficult to integrate, for a while. Perhaps you already speak the language of the country (hence you planning to move there), or maybe many people there speak your native tongue. But if this isn’t the case, then you should plan on having this be a major hurdle for at least several months. However, the benefit of going somewhere that speaks a different language is that it forces you to learn a new language at a rapid rate. Honestly, this sort of trial-by-fire is the best way to adapt a new language.
Tax and insurance implications
If you are a United States citizen, then moving to another country and making that your residence is going to have implications on your taxes, every year. Depending on the country, and if your work is located within that country, then you might have to pay taxes to two different places, which can put on more of a financial strain. In addition to this, some insurance companies won’t offer insurance for expats in another country, or will charge high premiums for those that do. Truth be told, a lot of this has to do with which country you are planning to move to, so you’ll need to do some in-depth research on your own.
Moving will be difficult
Many people envision the glamour of actually living in a new country, but it’s also important to think pragmatically about how you would go about moving there. If you have a lot of things that you’ll want to take with you, then the moving process is going to be quite a headache. Moving is already difficult when you move between states, but going to a new country adds a whole layer of complications. For this reason, many people opt to get rid of most of their things when they move to a new country. However, if you do want to move with your things, there are some comprehensive moving service companies that can assist in this.
Purchasing large-ticket items
If you do move to a new country, one thing to consider is whether or not you should purchase any large-ticket items, such as a home or a vehicle. Usually, you would only want to purchase these things if you are planning on staying in the country for an indefinite period of time. Sometimes, depending on the country, turning around and selling these things can take quite a bit of time and paperwork. This means that you should probably avoid purchasing these commodities if you aren’t certain that you’ll be there for a number of years, if you can help it.
Can you make money there?
Sure, you might’ve always envisioned living in France, or in Japan, but the thing that is going to make or break these dreams is if you can really make a living there. Look at how each country treats foreign work visas, and then consider if you can actually find a way to make money in the country that you want to live in. The alternative to working within those countries is to have a job in the United States that you don’t have to be at, and can work for remotely. No matter how much cheaper it is to live in a certain country, you’re not really saving any money if you aren’t also making it.