By Moving overseas is a big step, whether you’re single or have a family. It can be difficult to move to a new town, yet alone move to a whole new country, so getting organised is key. If you’re considering a move abroad, here are a few things you’ll need to do before you get on the plane to ensure everything goes smoothly.
- Sort out schools
It’s much better to sort out schools before you fly out, as this means there’s less disruption to your child’s education. Also, in some expat areas, school places can have waiting lists, so you don’t want to arrive and realise you don’t have a place. Look for an international preschool Bangkok that ticks all the right boxes for you and you think will work for your child. International schools can be great for expat kids, as they have company from others, and even take local language lessons.
- Get a job
While the area you are considering moving to might have a lot of expats, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get a job. You shouldn’t move to a new country without a job ready for you.
There are a number of ways you can look for jobs overseas:
- Search job sites in your destination country
- Networking – see if there are any companies in your industry overseas, and get some contacts
- Cold approach – you could simply send over speculative CVs to potential employers
- Look out for transfer opportunities in your current role
If you are thinking of moving to a new country, make sure you have secure employment, otherwise you may find yourself in a difficult situation.
- Sort out your visa
Once you’ve sorted out employment, you can look for visas that you may be eligible for. Many countries allow people to have short-term visas for work, and once settled, you can look at longer term options if you wish. Visas are important, as without the right one you can lose your job or even end up getting deported. It’s not working taking that risk.
If you dream of a life somewhere new and have always wanted to live in a new place, then the expat life might be right for you. But much like any other move, it takes careful planning. Moving to a new country means a new life for everyone, so you need to get things sorted before you leave.
