If you love to travel, you might have visited a place before and thought, “I’d love to live here.” We all sometimes get dissatisfied with the place we live - perhaps boredom, perhaps few opportunities, perhaps you simply want a change of scene - so when you visit a vacation spot that makes your heart happy, you might consider making a change and moving there.
While this is a rare occurrence, it is something that more people should consider. Especially if you are young, with few ties, now is the time to spread your wings and try somewhere totally new.
Moving to a new country takes some preparation and consideration, though - it isn’t like the movies! In this blog, we will go through some key advice for when your vacay turns into a move!
Checking your immigration status
If you are trying to move to a place in order to get a job, rent a home or do anything “official”, you will need a visa in order to do so. Without a visa, you won’t be able to get a job legally or sign any paperwork on an apartment or house. Getting a visa can be easy, and it can be very difficult, depending on the country you are moving to.
If you feel confused or unsure of the rules, you should sit down with an immigration lawyer who can go through your options with you in a clear, easy to understand way. This will help ensure you aren’t breaking any laws, and that you will be able to find work when you arrive in your new place!
Planning ahead
If you decide to make your vacation a longer stay, you need to plan ahead. How long do you plan to stay in the country, and if so, what will you do? These sound like plain, simple questions - but many people end up “going with the flow” leading to financial issues down the line. You need to ensure you have enough cash to sustain yourself while adventuring around a new place for a longer period of time than you originally planned.
Find friends
Traveling alone can be super fun, but living alone in a new place can be very daunting. It is important that you try to find your people before you take on the task of moving all by yourself. You could even get a trusted friend to come with you on this adventure, sharing the load of responsibility both financially and emotionally.
Going with a friend or finding friends there can also help with your safety in the country. Depending on where you are planning to stay, it can be potentially unsafe for you to stay alone in a foreign place, particularly as a woman. Make sure you aren’t in an unsafe situation by bringing a buddy with you.
Final Thoughts
If you love traveling and want to take on a new challenge, why not consider relocating for a while? This will test your traveling spirit and awaken your senses to a new way of life.
*Post contributed by Chelsea Mack, a peer travel writer and coffee lover.*
