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Get your fresh start with a new country and a new life
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Are you ready to turn over a new leaf? Moving to a new country is a great way to begin a new chapter in your life, but it may seem really daunting. Starting over in a new place definitely isn’t easy, but plenty of expats love the fresh experiences and opportunities they find abroad. We’ve written this article with everything you need to know on how to move to a different country—so you can decide if an international move is the best choice for you.
Easiest Countries to Start Over In
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Mexico
- Spain
- Norway
- South Korea
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
How to Start Over in a New Country
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Apply for or renew your passport. If you don’t have a passport, submit an application as soon as you can. Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months past your departure date. If your current passport will expire soon, renew your passport through your local embassy or consulate. [1] X Research source
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Apply for any necessary visas or residency permits. Most countries require that you have some sort of visa—a legal document that lets you stay somewhere for a long period of time. Every country’s requirements are different, so visit the official immigration website for your destination country or stop by their embassy to see what applications and paperwork you need to get started. [2] X Research source
- Before getting a long-term visa, you might need to have a certain amount of money saved in your bank account or have a job opportunity in the works. Double-check with your embassy to make sure you meet all the necessary requirements.
- Ask your local embassy if the country in question has any long-term, permanent resident visas. Some countries, like Australia, have this option. [3] X Research source
- Don’t book any tickets until your visa is approved. The visa process can be lengthy and unpredictable and you don’t want to spend money on flights you won’t be able to board.
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Research your new country. Do some thorough Google searches about your new potential home to help make your transition smoother. Researching properly ahead of time can help you understand the steps you need to take to prepare for your move and adapt once you’re in the new country. Start by researching the following topics: [4] X Research source
- Weather: Look into rainfall, humidity, and extreme weather events. Keep these in mind when you start packing.
- Transportation: Is your new home accessible by public transit or only by car? Do you need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before moving?
- Laws: Review the basic laws in your new country, especially ones that are notably different from the rules in your home country to avoid making any costly mistakes.
- History and politics: Study the general history of your destination country. Countries with especially fraught political histories require special attention, as ignorance may lead you to unintentionally offend someone.
- Cost of living: Use a cost of living estimate service like Numbeo to get an idea of how much food, entertainment, and housing will cost you on a daily basis.
- Culture and customs: What holidays does your country observe? What’s the dominant religion? What are the cultural norms and codes of conduct that you must respect?
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Start learning the language. If you’re moving to a non-English speaking country, brush up on your skills in their native language. While you can improve your skills once you're there, you should attempt to at least learn the basics before arriving. Enroll in a classroom course at your local community college or study online via a free or otherwise affordable option. [5] X Research source
- Try a free app (with the option for a paid premium subscription) like Drops , Duolingo , Babbel , or Busuu .
- Explore more structured options both in-person and online like the Instituto Cervantes for Spanish, the Alliance Française for French, or the Goethe Institut for German.
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Save up at least six months worth of money before your move. Look up the cost of living of your new home through Numbeo , then calculate how much money you’ll need for the first six months. If you can, add 10% of this number to the total and use that as your savings goal. [6] X Research source
- Include the cost of moving expenses like booking a flight, signing a new lease, and transporting your belongings. [7] X Research source
- Also, don’t forget to account for costs associated with your visa application, which usually involves an application fee as well as costs for booking appointments and requesting official documents.
- Leading up to your move, create a budget and track your spending to make sure you’re on track for your big move!
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Book a 2-4 week stay in a hotel or Airbnb while you look for an apartment. It may be tempting to book your housing before you even step on the plane, but this isn’t a great idea. Online pictures and descriptions don’t always tell the full story. Instead, stay in a hotel or Airbnb when you first arrive, and visit potential homes and apartments in person. [8] X Research source
- In-person touring can also give you a feel for the neighborhood and ensure that you’ll like your new community!
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Decide how to transport your belongings. Unless you think this move is permanent, it’s best to move to your new country with only a few suitcases (or as few as possible). For furniture, look for a pre-furnished apartment in your new city. Sell or donate the furniture you currently have, or store pieces in a storage unit or with friends and family that have extra space. [9] X Research source
- If you really need to, you can ship large items by freight on a ship or airplane—but it’ll cost you a pretty penny.
- If you have pets, you also need to consider how you’ll transport them. If you’re only planning to be away for a few months, it may be worth leaving your furry friend with a trusted friend or family member.
- If your move is permanent or being separated from your animal companion is too much to bear, look for a USDA accredited veterinarian to fill out your pet export paperwork and get you up to date on mandatory vaccines.
- Depending on the size of your pet, they may be able to travel with you in the airplane cabin or be held in the hold. Some countries only allow animals to be flown freight, so check your destination country’s requirements.
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Find a health care plan for your new country. Start by asking your current health care provider if they’ll be able to cover you while you’re abroad. Then, determine whether or not your visa gives you access to the local health care system. However, many visas require you to purchase a private health care plan anyways to make sure that you’re covered in their country. [10] X Research source
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Get a new phone plan or unlock your current phone. International phone plans are pretty steep, so you’ll need to purchase a local phone plan in your destination country. Go to your current cell phone provider and ask them to unlock your smartphone. When you arrive abroad, purchase a SIM card from a local carrier and replace it with the one in your phone, or sign up for a local phone company. [11] X Research source
- If you don’t want to lose your phone number from back home, try a virtual phone service provider like Grasshopper or Google Fi .
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Change over your bank account and credit card. Call your bank to close your account and check in with your creditors. Let them know that you’re moving overseas so your account doesn’t get flagged or locked in the future. [12] X Research source
- Research banks in your new city and find out what paperwork you'll need to complete to set up a new savings or checking account.
- If you don’t already have one, set up a credit card with no foreign transaction fees before your big move. [13] X Research source
- Capital One Venture, Chase Sapphire, Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards, and Deserve EDU MasterCard are some good options for international credit cards.
- It may also be helpful to hire an accountant to help you manage your money , especially if you’re planning to keep bank accounts and pay taxes in more than one country (and you will still have to file American taxes even while living abroad). [14] X Research source
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Make copies of important documents. Scan extra copies of your passport, driver’s license, and credit cards before you move. Give a set of these scans to a trusted friend or family member, and keep another set for yourself. If you ever get robbed, these scans can help prove who you are. [15] X Research source
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Register with the U.S. Embassy’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Go to the STEP website and click Enroll a Trip . Answer the application questions to enroll in the program. Once enrolled, STEP will notify you with the most up-to-date information about safety conditions in your destination country. [16] X Research source
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Prepare your family for the move, if applicable. If you’re moving with your whole family rather than on your own, consider any additional steps you have to take. If you’re moving with your partner and/or children, make sure to complete the extra paperwork for their visas and passport applications.
- Research potential job opportunities for your partner and look into schooling options for your kids.
- Another country’s school system may vary greatly from your own, so make sure to explore all your options and understand the different types of schools and admissions systems before committing.
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Throw a goodbye party. Have one last hurrah with your closest loved ones before you leave! Assuming most of your things are packed up or sold away, ask a good friend to host or gather people at your favorite hometown hangout. Enjoy spending time with your nearest-and-dearest before taking off, and make sure to extend the invite for them to visit you in your new home!
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Connect with fellow expats. Most countries have a thriving community of expats that are always willing to support and welcome newcomers to their adopted country and lifestyle. Look for online forums for expats within your city—you’ll likely find tips on navigating the area as well as meet-ups to connect with new friends ! [17] X Research source
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Apply for permanent residency and citizenship. As a permanent resident, you can stay in a country for a longer period of time. In certain countries, like the United States and Canada, you can apply for citizenship after being a permanent resident for a few years. [18] X Trustworthy Source USA.GOV Official website for the United States federal government Go to source
- The application processes for permanent residency and citizenship vary by country; for specific information, contact your local embassy for help.
- To become a Canadian citizen, for example, you need to already be a permanent resident, file all your taxes, reside in the country for 3 of the past 5 years, complete and pass a citizenship exam, and demonstrate your foreign language skills. [19] X Research source
- Citizenship lets you stay in a country permanently without getting deported. Depending on the country, you might also be able to vote in elections and apply for federal jobs. [20] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I avoid errors in my immigration application?Miatrai Brown is an Immigration Lawyer based in Washington D.C. With over 10 years of academic and professional experience, her areas of focus include employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, investment-based immigration, family-based immigration, risk management assessment, and regulatory compliance. She began her legal career exclusively practicing immigration and nationality law as external immigration counsel to large U.S. corporations and fast-moving start-ups. After six years at top immigration firms, she opened her own practice, Direct U.S. Immigration. This move was motivated by her desire to provide more access to a high level of immigration support to clients worldwide. As a thoughtful and strategic advisor on immigration and related matters, Direct U.S. Immigration earned an impressive honor as Immigration Law Firm of the Year 2023 – Washington DC.Frequently, errors in immigration applications arise due to insufficient knowledge of current immigration procedures. A prevalent mistake involves the submission of outdated forms. Applicants may use forms that were current when printed and prepared but become obsolete by the time they are submitted, leading to rejection if received by immigration even slightly late. It is crucial to ensure that the forms are not only accurate but also up-to-date. Another common error pertains to incomplete or inconsistent answers regarding the applicant. Providing thorough and honest responses is essential, as even minor oversights, such as forgetting to mention a brief employment stint on a visitor visa application, can carry severe consequences. In some instances, when an employer sponsors an individual for a green card and the individual later recalls and includes previously omitted information, immigration authorities may scrutinize the integrity of the original application, potentially resulting in allegations of misrepresentation or fraud.
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Tips
- From the visa process to the culture shock, moving to a new country can be really difficult. But it can also be completely worth it! Take baby steps, lean on your support network, and remember how much more resilient and independent you’ll be on the other side of this.Thanks
- If moving to a new country is something you really want to do, that’s amazing! If you’re only moving away because you’re running away from problems at home, however, you may want to address the root cause of those issues before leaving.Thanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about citizenship and immigration, check out our in-depth interview with Miatrai Brown, Esq. .
References
- ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport.html
- ↑ https://preply.com/en/blog/how-to-move-to-another-country/
- ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/permanent-resident
- ↑ https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/how-to-prepare-to-move-abroad
- ↑ https://preply.com/en/blog/how-to-move-to-another-country/
- ↑ https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/how-to-prepare-to-move-abroad
- ↑ https://www.goabroad.com/articles/jobs-abroad/moving-abroad-for-work-like-a-champ
- ↑ https://preply.com/en/blog/how-to-move-to-another-country/
- ↑ https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/how-to-prepare-to-move-abroad
- ↑ https://www.goabroad.com/articles/jobs-abroad/moving-abroad-for-work-like-a-champ
- ↑ https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/cell-phone-europe
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2018/05/31/the-12-things-every-expat-needs-to-do-before-moving-abroad/?sh=7c746a5e6b6b
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/no-foreign-transaction-fee
- ↑ https://preply.com/en/blog/how-to-move-to-another-country/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2018/05/31/the-12-things-every-expat-needs-to-do-before-moving-abroad/?sh=7c746a5e6b6b
- ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/step.html
- ↑ https://preply.com/en/blog/how-to-move-to-another-country/
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/become-us-citizen
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html
- ↑ https://www.newamericanscampaign.org/top-6-benefits-of-citizenship/
- ↑ https://internationalcenter.umich.edu/abroad/swt/work/work-permit-visas
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2013/09/13/seven-simple-steps-to-finding-a-job-abroad/
- ↑ https://www.timeout.com/travel/digital-nomad-visa-destinations-countries-remote-workers
- ↑ https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/blog/7-step-plan-for-teaching-english-abroad
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor
- ↑ https://fr.usembassy.gov/services/travel-to-france/
- ↑ https://www.germany-visa.org/united-states/
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-living-abroad-helps-you-develop-a-clearer-sense-of-self
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2020/04/30/hidden-financial-benefits-for-americans-living-abroad/?sh=1feacc4b32f8
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2020/04/30/hidden-financial-benefits-for-americans-living-abroad/?sh=1feacc4b32f8
- ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/generation-emigration/living-abroad-you-constantly-weigh-up-the-pros-and-cons-1.2663681
- ↑ https://www.vergemagazine.com/work-abroad/blogs/2348-pros-and-cons-of-freelancing-abroad.html
- ↑ https://www.vergemagazine.com/work-abroad/blogs/2438-settling-into-switzerland.html
- ↑ https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170111-how-do-you-make-friends-in-a-new-country
- ↑ https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/living-abroad/culture-shock
- ↑ https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Colombia
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2021/01/01/quit-your-job-and-live-abroad-in-2021-9-places-so-cheap-you-might-not-need-to-work/?sh=7a78c82f37e9
- ↑ https://www.insider.com/easy-countries-to-move-to-from-usa-visas-immigration-2020-11
- ↑ https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/entry-and-residence/
- ↑ https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/5-countries-will-pay-live-205228939.html
- ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/17/us-cities-and-states-that-will-pay-you-to-live-there.html
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2018/05/31/the-12-things-every-expat-needs-to-do-before-moving-abroad/?sh=7c746a5e6b6b
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