The idea of going to live in a foreign country is very tempting. Just picture the scene; lounging by the sea on your days off, drink in one hand, gorgeous waiter in the other (all of your days off might not be like that, but it’ll be similar, more or less). If you’ve dreamed of living in a foreign country and have finally decided to take a leap of faith and move, it’s important you prepare yourself as much as you possibly can to take the plunge. Here’s how you can prepare for moving abroad:
Register With The Embassy
Make sure you register with your new embassy before you go, as it can take quite some time for your forms to be processed. The State Department Website is a great source for safety information, and will explain to you what kind of crimes are committed, areas you should avoid, and whether a specific kind of person is targeted. Although it’s very important you take this advice, take everything with a pinch of salt as the website can paint a much bleaker portrait of a country than it really deserves. Also try following multiple embassies on Twitter and registering your phone number so you can find out important/emergency information quick as a flash.
Finding a Place to Live
You’ll need to find an appropriate place to live before you go anywhere, so check online to see what’s available in your chosen country. For example, those wanting to move to Nigeria should take a look at homes for sale in Nigeriapropertycentre.com.
Dress Appropriately
You should definitely research the kinds of clothing and outfits people wear in the country you’re moving to. You’ll probably become overwhelmed with the amount of people that will tell you different things, so the best thing to do is to try and get in touch with somebody who has done it before you and can give you first hand advice. A good rule of thumb for anywhere you visit is, “don’t dress too English/American”. This means avoid low cut tops and shirts, short skirts, and tight fitting clothes (clothes that look too “chavvy” should probably be avoided too). Try not to worry though; there will be place you can buy your new clothes from out there!
Go To The Doctor
Once you have your plans finalised you’ll need to visit the doctor to get all of the appropriate jabs and immunisations. You’ll want to be covered 100% as soon as your plane lands, so make sure you find out what necessary vaccines you’ll need and book them in.
Research Your Visa Requirements
Visa requirements will totally differ depending on where you’re going, however; do a quick search on Google to give you a good idea of what you’ll need to do.
Take the Time to Learn the Language
One thing that will make the transition, much, much easier, is learning the language of the country you’re moving to. You don’t have to become fluent in the language, but simple things such as being able to read road signs, and understanding “hello” and “goodbye” will be a great help! Once you’ve moved to your chosen country, you’ll pick the language up easier by speaking to locals and listening to conversations.
It’s never been easier to move abroad with this preparation advice!
