Moving With The Times

Relocating to a new country can be an exciting next chapter, filled with countless opportunities. Globetrotting expat, Gemma Holden offers her top tips to ensure your brand-new life abroad is a resounding success with the times

Explore Your Chosen Destination

This is definitely the best way to get a taste of life in your new country, to experience the culture first-hand and multiple times, visit potential schools, check out the local property market and gain an insight into leisure and pleasure offerings in the area, maybe even do a test-run to work or school.

Join Expat Forums

Hearing about the experience of people who’ve been through the relocation experience and asking them about your concerns is a great way to get a realistic insight. Read Blogs, ask questions, get support, and make business and social connections in your new area.

Prepare for Change

Understanding that life – from food and currency to language, behaviours and routines – will be vastly different is important. If you are moving with work, ask if your employer provides cultural training, as this is a great way to prepare. If not, make sure to do your own research, involve your family and help everyone build their expectations, to minimise any unsettling impacts of new beginnings.

Learn the Language

If you don’t already know the basics of the language of your host country, then your preparations should include learning as much as you can including a mix of business and social everyday phrases. Communication with the locals – however rudimentary – will help you feel more settled and confident in your new surroundings.

Prepare Your Partner

If your partner or spouse is accompanying you, then identifying career opportunities, perhaps evaluating any training that might be required to do their existing job under new standards, or retraining for a new career they’re interested in, will go a long way to making the transition easier if they are planning to work. If your partner isn’t planning to work in the host country, then establishing new social networks will be an important part of helping them settle in.

Know the Local Laws

Understanding how to behave both legally and in a socially acceptable manner, is really important, especially if you’re going anywhere outside the EU, where attitudes towards public behaviour and dress codes can be completely different. Take some time to find out about the customs and regulations of the new society you are about to enter.

Check Travel Insurance

As an absolute minimum, you’re likely to need travel and health insurance – especially where your host country doesn’t operate a national health service for which you will be eligible. In addition, consider insurance for your new home, and make sure that other policies, such as life insurance and car insurance, will cover you while you’re abroad, too.

Research Moving Services

If your employer isn’t paying for international shipping of your household goods, or if you receive a lump sum but are responsible for your own arrangements, then you should consider researching and appointing a mover four to five months in advance of your move. If you’re sourcing your own removal company, it’s a good idea to get at least three quotes, to make sure you’re getting a cost-effective price and the level of service you require.