So you want to move abroad? Great! This post has all the advice you need to get the ball rolling. If you’re looking for how to become an expat, stick around, because I’ve got you covered!
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Hey! If you’re new here, my name is Nat and I’m a US citizen who has lived in China for the past 5 years.
Moving abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. It’s not for the fainthearted, and involves a lot of sacrifice and heartache. But ultimately, you will grow in AMAZING ways when living abroad.
That being said, I created this blog largely due to the desire to help other expats or expat-hopefuls find resources that are practical and helpful.
So, dear expat-to-be, I’m glad you’re here!! Let’s dive right in!
How To Become An Expat: Quick Tips
It’s not so simple as “buy the ticket, take the ride”. There are a lot of components to becoming an expat!
Below are just a few of the major steps you can take to become an expat:
1. Find A Work/Exchange Program & Get A Visa
How will you support yourself when moving abroad? This is the first and most important question.
Will you work full-time? Will you find a work-exchange program, where you get free accommodation in return for helping at a local business? Will you study, or join a certification program abroad?
Once you find your method of supporting yourself, you’ll need to make sure you have the right visa.
For working abroad, you’ll need to obtain a working visa in the country you’re moving to. For work-exchange or study abroad, your visa situation may vary.
Make sure you have the right visa for your situation by checking with that country’s embassy website, or by using the internet to find the country-specific information you need.
Living abroad, especially for work purposes, without the correct visa can cause lots of problems of personal and legal nature. So make sure you know which visa you need to obtain, and that you GET that visa!
2. Get Contacts In Your New Country!
Thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier to get in touch with locals!
A quick note on safety: DON’T OVERSHARE!! Unless you’re talking to your future boss or colleagues, don’t disclose the specifics of your moving situation.
Sharing too much personal information can lead you to connect with the wrong people: stalkers, scammers, and the like. So always be careful when navigating online contacts!
When you’re thinking about moving to a new country, look up social media accounts or pages about the country that you’re moving to. Dig around to find which followers or contributors are local to your target country.
On Instagram or TikTok, look for expats or influencers who live in the country you’re moving to! These people will probably post helpful snippets of everyday life so you can be prepared for your move.
In addition, look for online groups, Facebook Forums, and other such places where you’ll find people with helpful advice.
Best of all, when you find your job, work-exchange, or study program, you’ll probably end up with connections who can give you situation specific, super-helpful advice.
The HR at my school was one of the biggest helps when I was moving to China. After I arrived, my expat colleagues were super kind in helping to show me the ropes.
Don’t be shy! Get in contact with local people so that they can help you prepare for the move. Just be safe when sharing about your personal moving situation with people you talk with online.
3. Prepare Some $$.
Moving can present itself with many unseen expenses: visas, insurance, deposits on an apartment, daily items for your new home, etc.
If possible, it’s an excellent idea to diversify your finances. Don’t rely completely on a credit card! Bring cash with you, but check to see how much your target country allows you to bring in.
Many countries have restrictions on how much cash you can bring in or out, so make sure you research ahead of time.
Call your credit card company to let them know about your move or travels. Many companies will quickly freeze a credit card that’s used randomly in a foreign country, so let them know about your plans!
A third and excellent option: if you’re moving abroad from work, see if your workplace offers a moving bonus, or a loan for new employees. Some workplaces will lend money to expat employees who are coming from abroad.
4. Prepare Logistically for the Move
There are SO many loose ends to wrap up before moving abroad!
Some of those things include: visa applications, gathering documents, getting a medical check, making sure legal matters are in order, buying items from home, and more!
In this post I go over a list of super practical (and important!) things to do before moving abroad.
There is SO much to prepare besides just packing your bag and getting a visa. So definitely check out this post about preparing to move abroad when you’re getting ready to make the move!
5. If possible, do a trip for Research Purposes
How did I move to China at just 21 years old? Honestly, it was pretty simple…because I’d spent almost every summer since middle school in China.
I already had visited the school which I ended up getting a job at. I knew local people, and was offered a job by someone I’d known for several years already.
If it wasn’t for my familiarity with China…I don’t know if I would have moved abroad at all!
Whenever possible, it’s extremely important to do a “scouting” trip before moving. This will let you learn about things such as:
- What things can you buy in your target country, so you don’t need to pack them?
- How much money can you get around on? How much should you bring?
- Do many people speak English? Or should you take lessons before moving?
- How safe does the country feel? Are you sure it’s suitable for you?
- Can you visit potential workplaces in-person? Are they as legitimate and helpful as they seem online?
Visiting as a tourist before moving abroad is probably one of the BEST things you can do. You can either prepare super well for your move following a visit, or maybe you’ll end up feeling that this country is NOT for you.
Yes, a visit will be expensive. But think of it like “insurance”. It will either help you get a feel of the country, or maybe even save you the expenses of moving somewhere you would have hated altogether!
6. Get Insured
Last but CERTAINLY not least, get insurance!
I’ve written a whole post about insurance for moving abroad and for travelers here.
To sum up: there’s more to moving abroad than just health insurance. You may also want insurance for your belongings and travel expenses.
It’s easier for things to go wrong during big life changes, just because it’s a lot to manage. Getting insurance can provide peace of mind that at least if something goes wrong, it won’t cost you big bucks!
I’ve bought several travel insurance policies through VisitorsCoverage, and they make the process of buying insurance super simple!
Before using them, I would get super confused or overwhelmed by reading through tons of insurance policies. But their policy-finder can help you get the right policy in less than 5 minutes (it did for me!).
So if you’re worried about insurance but not sure where to start, definitely give VisitorsCoverage a shot!
Summary
Becoming an expat doesn’t have to be a massive, terrifying experience! Just like “eating the elephant”, you just have to do things one bite at a time. 🙂
Start with the steps recommended in this post, and the next steps will become clear as you go down the path of moving abroad. Plus, I have tons of resources on my blog to help you before you move!
This guide of how to become an expat goes over the basics of starting your move-abroad journey. There is so much more to come, and I’m so excited to help you through it! Got questions? Let’s talk in the comments!
You May Also Like:
How To Keep Phone Number When Moving Abroad (2023)
Moving Abroad Insurance: Advice from an Expat (2023)
What To Do Before Moving Abroad: The Ultimate Checklist!
Moving Abroad RUINED My Life: The Hidden Cons for Expats
