So, you’re planning on moving abroad and living the ever-desirable ex-pat life. How exciting!
Moving to a foreign country is one of the most adventurous and rewarding things you can ever do. It opens the door to many new opportunities that you may have never come across if you decided to stay in your home country.
Becoming an ex-pat enables you to find new friends and make incredible memories that you will never forget. You can see the glories of the world and embrace a new culture that is nothing like anything you’ve ever known.
With all of this excitement, it’s easy to forget about the ‘boring’ stuff when moving abroad. There are lots of formalities that you can’t ignore, as much as you might like to!
These formalities include arranging accommodation, applying for a visa, arranging overseas health insurance, and organizing your taxes if you plan on working to earn money while you’re living abroad.
To ensure you don’t forget about any of the essentials, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know and the key things to organize when you’re planning a move abroad.
Cultural Research
All of the pictures and videos in the world can’t compare you for what’s come when you move to another country. Culture shock is a very real thing that affects most ex-pats, as every culture is unique.
When moving abroad, you need to do extensive research to prepare yourself as much as possible for the significant differences between your home country and your ex-pat destination. Read forums, watch previous ex-pats videos, and learn about the cultural norms and expectations.
It’s also a good idea to learn some of the basics of the language spoken in your chosen area. Knowing even the most basic phrases will come in handy when you’re trying to communicate with local residents as a new ex-pat. Over time, you will pick up the local language as you interact with more people.
Health Insurance
Even if your home country offers free public healthcare, you can’t assume that the country you’re moving to also follows the same system. In fact, many countries across the globe have an exclusively private healthcare system that their home residents must pay to use.
As a foreigner, you will need health insurance to access medical treatments in your ex-pat destination. This applies whether your chosen country offers free public healthcare, private paid healthcare, or both.
Health insurance enables you to access primary healthcare facilities, hospitals, and emergency services. With coverage, you can access medications, therapies, and surgeries to manage chronic health conditions or treat acute sports injuries and illnesses.
Your health insurance provider will cover some, if not all, of the costs associated with your medical care to reduce your overall costs. They can also liaise with various healthcare facilities in your local area when you move abroad to ensure you can access all of the specialized treatments you need.
Travel Insurance
As with health insurance, travel insurance offers financial protection for you while abroad. With travel insurance, you may be reimbursed if your flights are canceled or delayed and need rearranging.
Travel insurance providers will also cover some or all of the expenses if your luggage gets stolen or lost or if you need to cancel your travels due to unexpected personal or family illness.
Without flexible travel insurance, you could end up paying a significant amount of money to resolve travel-related issues. For peace of mind, it’s a good idea to purchase a policy that covers your travels. If you plan on traveling to multiple places after moving abroad, make sure your policy is the correct duration to cover every trip.
Utility and Internet Providers
As soon as you have a moving date, you will need to arrange your utility and Internet providers in your new home. Research online to find various providers and compare their offerings and prices. Consider going on a comparison website to make comparing multiple options easier.
When you find the perfect utility and Internet providers for your needs, contact them to arrange for each one to activate on the day. You move into your new home. Waiting until you have officially moved into your home to activate your account reduces unnecessary standing charges while your new property is empty.
More specifically, you will need to organize suppliers for electricity, gas, water, and Wi-Fi. Make sure to also contact your current providers to cancel your accounts in your existing home to avoid paying for two properties at once when you relocate abroad.
Most providers enable you to cancel your account online. However, note that many will charge a cancellation fee if you cancel before the end of your contract term. If you currently pay any of your utilities by direct debit, you will need to contact your bank to cancel them or ask your provider to do this for you.