15 important things to ask yourself before you move overseas

Some questions to consider before making the move

Oct 22, 2024

Episode 5 of my podcast The Expat Diaries is out now! The Expat Diaries: A Year in Portugal, is a podcast for people in their 20s who are looking for advice and information about moving overseas and living the expat life. In this latest episode, I chat about all the important questions to ask yourself before you decide to move overseas.

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Moving overseas is a big decision, and there are lots of questions you need to ask yourself before you decide to make the move. I’ve compiled a list of 15 questions below for you to consider if you’re thinking of moving overseas.

Why do you want to move overseas?
Everyone will have a different reason for moving overseas, whether it be for your career, an adventure, a lifestyle change, or personal growth. It can be helpful to pinpoint your motive for moving overseas to help guide you in your other decisions regarding your potential move.
Are you financially prepared for the move?
You need to make sure you have enough money to move, afford the cost of living in the country you’re planning on moving to, and have an emergency fund handy. I wrote a whole article about the cost of moving overseas which you can read here.
Do you have a job lined up or a stable source of income?
As I found out the hard way, getting a job overseas might not be as easy as anticipated. If you don’t have a job lined up before you go, then figure out how much money you’ll need to sustain yourself while you look for work.
Are you prepared to embrace a new culture and lifestyle?
Depending on where you’re moving, the culture and lifestyle could be quite different, so it’s important to consider if that’s something you can handle and adapt to.
Is there a local language you should learn?
Does the country you’re moving to speak another language, and if so are you willing to learn it?
What will you miss about your current home?
Are there particular things about where you currently live that would make it hard to move or that you might miss too much?
Are you emotionally prepared to deal with homesickness and loneliness?
Being away from your loved ones can be really hard, so what coping mechanisms will you implement to help you get through the times you’re missing home a lot.
How will this move impact your relationships?
Moving overseas means you’ll have to maintain long-distance relationships with all your loved ones. This can be tricky while also balancing settling in and making new connections in your new home.
What are the healthcare options in the new country?
Healthcare is different in every country and it potentially could be more expensive and harder to access in a different country. Make sure you look into the healthcare system in the country you’re planning on moving to, to ensure it’ll be sufficient.
What’s your backup plan if things don’t go as planned?
Do you have a backup plan if your job, housing, or lifestyle overseas doesn’t meet your expectations?
Are you willing to be adaptable to changes and new challenges?
Moving overseas will throw all sorts of changes and challenges your way, so make sure you’re ready to adapt and overcome when necessary.
Do you understand the local laws and regulations?
When moving to a new country you’ll need to look into things such as visa requirements, taxes and work permits. This could be a dealbreaker so it’s super important!
How long do you plan on staying?
Are you just planning on moving overseas temporarily, or are you going for the long term? This can determine a lot of your decisions when it comes to the move. My overseas move is only temporary so I only brought a backpack full of stuff with me, but if you’re moving overseas more long term you might want to bring more stuff with you.
What’s your exit strategy?
Not to be a downer, but things don’t always go to plan so it’s good to have an exit strategy in the back of your mind, just in case.
What are your long-term goals for this move?
It is important to think about how the move will help you achieve your personal or professional goals over the next few years. Your goals may dictate other decisions related to your move.

Weekly update

We finished up our Workaway at the end of last week and headed back to Lisbon for a couple of nights where we stayed with some friends of ours there. Thank god we were able to crash with them because our last two hostel experiences in Lisbon were disasters (a stolen toiletry bag and then a random man sleeping in Nelson’s bed).

Anyways, we actually arrived in Italy on Sunday where we are doing a road trip for the next 8 days! We’re exploring north and central Italy and I’m not gonna lie to you, we’re mostly here for the food. And the nature, history and people! But mostly the food…