Moving abroad. From dream to reality.

In an increasingly global world, international travel has become more accessible to more people than ever before. Be it for work or pleasure, travel opens the door to new possibilities, and many Britons, seeking career opportunities, an escape from the rat race, or endless sunshine are making the decision to move abroad permanently.

According to BBC News, there are an estimated 5.5m British people living abroad, with Australia, Spain, and The United States topping the list of the most popular destinations. Despite the coronavirus pandemic and BREXIT undoubtedly putting a dampener on things, it is still entirely possible to start a new life overseas. Here`s a quick guide to get you started.

Research

It sounds obvious, but before you get carried away in your search for sun, sea, and sangria, make sure you thoroughly research your destination of choice and find out all you need to know to make your proposed migration a reality. Do you need a visa, and if so, what type and what are the requirements? How are you going to support yourself? Do you need to learn a new language? What areas of your chosen country best suit your needs? As well as official sources of information try to talk to people who have already made the move. Online forums, chat rooms, and Facebook groups are great for this.

Plan

Once you`ve decided on your destination and done your research it’s time to start planning your move. You`ll need a place to live, a job (if you don’t have one already) schools if you have kids, and possibly even need to start learning a new language. Check out Duolingo for free daily classes to get you started. Rather than buying property straight away, it`s always a good idea to rent or use Airbnb in the beginning. This gives you time to be sure you`ve made the right decision and get a feel for which neighbourhoods you like. And then there’s the move itself. Widely believed to be one of the most stressful experiences in life, it is imperative that you find a reputable company specialising in international removals to ensure a smooth transition from door to door (and take care of any headache-inducing bureaucracy in the process!) Remember any pets will need their own transportation, vaccinations, passports, and paperwork. Contact your local veterinarian for more details.

Enjoy!

After the stress and upheaval of moving overseas, it's time to sit back, raise your glass to the Spanish sunset, the New York skyline, or the Sydney Opera house and enjoy your new life! It takes time to settle into a new country so don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel a little homesick at first. Check out these top tips from experts on making the move overseas as stress-free as possible.

If you are considering moving overseas or want to find out more about our service for shipping boxes, please get in touch with us for a quote.