Moving Abroad: is it worth it?

Moving Abroad: is it worth it? From time to time, we all can express doubts in the country we live in, whether it’s due to attitudes, living standards, politics or otherwise. In the UK, the number of people emigrating has been slowly increasing since its most recent low at the end of 2015, according to ONS statistics, with around 400,000 heading to new shores in December 2019.

Obviously, 2020 and 2021 are not proving conducive to international travel. But are you considering heading off to live abroad when we can all finally do so? To help illuminate the choice, we’ve gathered the pros and cons together, below.

The advantages of moving abroad

Moving abroad is popular for all sorts of reasons and can convey advantages you simply wouldn’t experience if you stayed in your home country.

• Explore a new culture: Living in another country gives you an insight into a different culture, much more so than if you visited briefly while on holiday. You can fully immerse yourself in the location and get to grips with the language spoken there. It also allows you to see many more destinations, tourist hotspots, and places off the beaten track, than you would on a typical holiday.
• Improve your career: Some jobs simply aren’t available in your home country, and if they are, there’s a high chance that you will be able to make more money or enjoy a higher standard of living elsewhere. Your skills or language may be in hot demand too, or a leading company in your field you would love to work for simply might be located somewhere else.
• Meet new people: Growing tired of the same interactions, conversations, and personalities? While lovely and annoying people exist across the world in equal amounts, travelling and living abroad can be an amazing way to meet likeminded individuals, as well as exposing you to the different passions, humours, and attitudes of the people that live in your chosen location.

The disadvantages of moving abroad

Of course, it’s not all plain sailing when moving abroad. There are some serious disadvantages to be aware of too.

• The bureaucracy: In most countries, you can’t just land, get an apartment, and live there indefinitely. Arranging all the necessary documents, visas such as the Canada investor visa, and so forth can be a big source of stress. With so much to sort out, and legalities ever-changing, it can often be a good idea to enlist the help of an immigration lawyer if you’re getting confused.
• Culture shock: Moving to a new country can be difficult. People across the world live differently, and in even the most steadfast travellers, this can come as a surprise. If you are prone to homesickness while on holiday, the culture shock of moving to a different place for an extended period may be distressing.
• Financial issues: If you don’t have a firm grasp on the local language, finding employment in your recipient country can be difficult, and a lack of understanding the financial system can throw up issues with things such as tax. If you find yourself out of money, you may need to rely on help from family back home or move back home entirely. As such, it’s crucial that you have a job lined up or have properly assessed your savings, and have properly researched your financial responsibilities prior to moving to a different country.

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