I have moved to another country twice. First time with a partner, the second time with a husband (the same man) and a toddler. I would say I have enjoyed the process, although it was neither smooth nor without stress. Moving country can be a massive task and you cannot predict everything, but certainly you can prepare a lot of things ahead of time, and save yourself at least part of the stress. In this blog post I will highlight a few things you can consider to give yourself a head start.
1. Narrow down the countries
The first thing to consider is your passport, as it may limit your options. What? Does the passport matter? Of course, it does. The status of diplomatic relationships between your country and the country you aim to relocate to, will determine how easy or hard it is to move. For example, if you consider relocating between two of 26 European countries consisting Schengen zone, it is pretty easy to move from an “immigration” point of view at least. The same applies to Australians and New Zealanders who can travel and work between these countries freely. Another option offered by some countries is an entry permit on the arrival, but the time frame may be a limiting factor. For example, Americans can live in Canada and Mexico for up to 6 months without visa. For most of other combinations of countries however, you will have to consider your “visa” options.
The “working visas” allow you, to work and are usually granted for longer periods of time, like several months or years – rather than for example 90 days. They are usually harder to get, but depend less on a country you come from and more on your work experience and qualifications. The work visa may however restrict you to work only for one employer. Some countries offer one year “work and travel” visa which may be a good option if you just want to try living abroad before you make any long-term commitment.
If you want to stay in another country for up to 3 months, your options increase dramatically. For Poles for example, there are about 35 countries with travel visa on arrival which include both New Zealand and Japan. If you think that 3 months is too short to bother, I would urge you to reconsider. Firstly, it may be a good testing option for someone who has never been abroad. Secondly, you can make a list of countries you could stay for a few months and just go from one country to another for a year or two, and then choose the best option to stay for long. Just be sure to check country’s policies (or even consult a lawyer) as the visas on arrival are often visitor/tourist visas and therefore may not allow for work. This is a big restriction, unless you work remotely.
2. List your skills and professional qualifications
Now, let’s consider evaluating your skills. This is a big one, as it will define your options for building a sustainable life after you relocate. Some countries have strict rules on the education level or require proof of experience for people who want to work there (stay on a “working visa”).
Treat this exercise as taking a stock of all your achievements and skills acquired to date. I would also list the things you may have a practical knowledge off, and not necessarily only the diplomas. Gather the documents of all your skills even if you think they are not worth much. As you move to another country you are not able to fully predict what you will need. You may find yourself in a different environment requiring you to do things you wouldn’t even think about doing in your own country, so having an idea of what you actually can do (and willingness to do that), may be lifesaving. If the skills you have cannot be proven by a diploma, references from employers or peers may be of use.
For younger people, having an “interest” may also be useful, if you are young enough to go to school abroad. I am not discriminating here, I was a mature student myself, but the reality is that many countries do not allow education on same majors after certain age. Consider your grades, awards or affiliations, as you may be eligible for some exchange or scholarship programs.
Also, I would suggest considering investing in obtaining certain qualifications before you move. Usually the language certificates are a good idea. Some of them may have an expiry date (e.g. IELTS score is valid for 2 years), so plan to take them as late as possible but not late enough to get you stressed or delayed.
3. List pros and cons of relocating to each of the countries
This exercise allows you to compare countries in relation to the priorities you have in life, your values and beliefs. Remember that your priorities matter the most. If you want to have a perfect job/carrier your options may be different than when you focus on an ideal lifestyle. Like with most things in life, there usually will be some compromise required. If you are not quite clear on what your priorities are, we have got you covered! Please see our previous post, which might help you decide if you even really want to move, How to know if you are ready to relocate to another country? Answer these 4 questions.
You could also consider the following points when making the comparison:
- in which country you would be allowed to work and in which professions,
- what visa types you would be eligible to apply for (a side note: if you move as a family, there may be enough for one person to qualify for a “work” visa, and then the other person goes on a “dependent” visa),
- how to cover your health care costs in each of the countries (crucial, especially if you have any pre-existing medical condition),
- what threats are prevalent in each of the countries, such as earthquakes, malaria, high crime rates, and many more,
- what would be your language abilities in each of these countries,
- would you mind a typical food, dominant religion or culture.
Make a table, list, or a mind-map, whatever works for you. But do your research – no excuses. Internet is vast and can offer some pearls. We hope that soon, you will be able to use this blog to get some tips from us too.
4. Start gathering the required documents early
The most important document would be a visa application. If you can qualify for a work visa that would be the best. I am not advising arriving on a tourist visa, and then looking for a job while you are there. There is a high chance that it may end up as a very expensive way of having a very stressful “holiday”. I do not think I could do it myself. On the other hand, I know a person who went exactly through that route to successfully move to New Zealand. If you will be bold enough to try it, double check if this option is even possible, as some countries do not allow for such visa conversion and you will have to leave the country anyway (Japan would be an example).
Other documents should include a language certificate if you are moving to a country with a different language that you received your education from. If you relocate with a family, you will probably need birth certificates for each family member and a marriage certificate if you are married. These documents may require not only translation but also an apostille seal, which is an international endorsement. As all administrative procedures, apostille might take some time, so get around to this rather sooner than later.
Proof of education might be crucial for finding a job and most likely for getting a “work” visa. Many countries base visa granting process on traditional proofs of education such as university diplomas. Translate all the documents at least into English. Nowadays, English translation often works just fine, even if English is not an official language of the country you relocate to.
5. List all the costs you need to be prepared for
Bare in mind that relocation will generate considerable costs: translating fees, visa application fees, language exam fees, plane tickets, travel and medical insurance, accommodation, buying back all furniture and other things you need but decided not to take with you. This is actually a broader topic, so if you want to know more check out our other blog post How Much Does it Cost to Move to a Different Country.
In a nutshell, go through all the tasks you have identified in step 4 and try to predict how much costs they might generate. Then, double the sum so you have somewhat an idea how much you may need. If you are clever and have time, you can sell your belongings ahead of time and that way reduce your costs, but that is task in itself. We usually ended up selling the most valuable possessions and giving away the rest. There are always people out there who will be super happy to take what you decide to leave behind.
These are key points I would consider when preparing to move to another country. What other aspects of relocation would you add to this list? If you have relocated before, how you went about it? Leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.