If you haven’t yet firmly decided on which nation to call home abroad, we’re going to guide you through 5 important aspects to consider when choosing a country to move to abroad.
It’s critical that anyone looks beyond the weather and the scenery and scratches below the surface of a country to ensure it can meet their lifestyle requirements.
Making a new life abroad is a thrilling challenge that often presents the expatriate with more opportunities than issues; however, it would be remiss of us if we failed to point out that making a new life abroad can be hard work!
Therefore, to ensure you have the best chance of success through a happy integration, taking the time to choose your country is critical.
Many people opt to relocate to a nation that they have visited only on holiday, assuming that their wholly happy and positive memories and experiences are sufficient proof that the country in question will fulfill all of their hopes and dreams for a fantastic future.
However, a holiday in a country does not give a good indication of what day-to-day life in a country can be like and often does more harm than good in over-selling a nation’s positive points!
Anyone choosing a new nation to live in is strongly advised to take time out to visit that country over an extended period of time out of season (if the nation has a tourism season), and to do more than take boat trips, enjoy nights out sightseeing!
Here are 5 of the most critical considerations to keep in mind when choosing your new home country:
The cost of living
Whether you are relocating for a cheaper cost of living or for better career prospects, it is critical to assess whether you can actually afford to live and enjoy your desired lifestyle in your chosen nation.
It is absolutely essential to factor in accommodation, utilities, transportation, groceries, taxation, and any insurance you may need, such as health care coverage.
You need to assess what you will need to live on, and then you will need to consider the next point carefully.
The job market
Assuming you’re not moving abroad to live on your pension or investment assets (and if you are, you will need to make sure they are sufficient to buy you a quality of life you will be happy with), you need to look at the local jobs market.
What is a typical wage, what is the minimum wage (if there is one), what is a realistic salary that someone can live on, what skills do you have that are in demand locally, and how many options and alternatives will you have to find employment?
It’s the same in every country in the world – the majority of people are pushing for the lowest-paid, least skilled jobs, which makes competition stiff for just the most basic job and salary.
If at all possible, you need to position yourself outside of this fight and ensure you have the experience, qualifications, language skills, and ability to get decent-paying work where there is a broader opportunity for employment.
Be very cautious and realistic, as your future abroad will depend on your ability to earn and afford your lifestyle.
Healthcare standards and medical facilities
As mentioned above, it may be important for you to take out (and be able to continue to afford to pay for) medical insurance abroad.
The choice is usually between local private health insurance and international health insurance.
To make sure you get the best value for money, always shop around and request several quotes. Compare international health insurance options from various providers to find the best deal.
Even in countries where there is a state-funded healthcare system, there are often limitations to the scope of care given for free, which results in local citizens having to top up insurance.
You need to look carefully at the healthcare standards available abroad in your chosen nation and whether they are acceptable to you. Then, you have to look at how you will afford access to medical treatment if it has to be privately funded.
- How To Access Best Quality Affordable Healthcare When You Move Abroad – a complete guide to healthcare abroad.
The political situation and crime
Whilst political landscapes can change overnight in any nation, it’s wise to assess the general consensus of opinion and feeling within a nation relating to its leadership and governmental structure.
It’s then possible to make a judgment call on whether a country is secure enough to call home.
Political assessment affects the economic prospects of a nation, too, as well as their opinion on immigration, which could affect you as a foreign citizen.
Look closely at the crime statistics in your new nation and whether a crime against a person or petty crime is common. You do not want to feel unsettled and unsafe in your new home.
Paths to forging friendships
Finally, we would like to draw your attention to an often overlooked yet critical aspect of integration abroad – and that is the ability of an expatriate to meet people and make friends.
HSBC recently released its list of the friendliest nations in the world, with Canada coming out on top. It has highlighted the fact that in some nations, expats fail to integrate because they find it very hard to settle insufficiently.
In some nations, the language, religious or cultural barriers to integration are too extreme, which makes making a new home abroad in such countries hard.
Sometimes expats find that other nations are difficult but that there are strong expat communities and so it is possible to at least forge friendships therein.
Whilst the dream of living far from the madding crowd and in perfect isolation may appeal to you now as you lead a hectic life in your home country, actual isolation, particularly when you’re a stranger in a strange land, is devastating.
Ensure you can socialize and make friends in your new nation of choice.
You might find useful:
If you’re looking for inspiration, our best-of lists are a great place to start:
- Best Places To Retire Abroad
- The 10 Best Countries To Live In
- The Best Countries To Work In The World
- 5 European Destination With Great Weather All Year
- The Cheapest Countries To Retire To
