Moving To Another Country Alone (Expat Advice)

Moving is difficult and it gets magnified when moving to another country alone.

We understand how challenging this can be as expats. We have gone through this ordeal and recognize the benefits along with the hurdles.

We want to educate readers on what is required when moving to another country alone and what to prepare for to make it as smooth as possible.

When moving to another country alone, sort things out at home to avoid stress later, get your documents early, buy flight tickets 3+ months beforehand, and get your accommodation in the new country set up early.

We believe these are key details that will set a stronger foundation for you when moving away.

Here is our advice when moving to another country on your own.

Tips For Moving To Another Country Alone

Be Prepared To Grind

This is one of the bigger mistakes people make.

It’s not going to be easy and don’t expect it to be. You are moving to another country and looking to set up a new base where everything is not already in place.

It’s not just about adjusting to the country and its customs but also the basics such as your job, living arrangements, and where you are going to buy things.

You need to be ready to work hard and accept that mistakes will be made. Just go with the flow and do your best to plan everything.

Sort Things Out At Home

You don’t want to look back when you are moving to another country.

Some people will look to have things in both nations and that’s fine. However, you do need to sort this out and make sure someone is taking care of your assets if you are leaving things behind (i.e. a property manager).

You don’t want to deal with these additional stresses when trying to fit into a new country after a move. It will make things difficult and increasingly stressful.

Get Your Documents Early

Depending on where you are moving, it’s important to get your documents ready.

Remember that moving is not the same as traveling to a country. You will need additional documents to be allowed to stay in the nation for the long haul.

This includes immigration depending on where you are going.

Read into these details and make sure everything is done based on the laws of that nation. Otherwise, you are going to get deported. In most cases, you should be looking at speaking to a legal professional to learn more about what is required such as the main documentation.

Buy Flight Tickets 3+ Months Beforehand

When you are certain it’s time to move to another country, you will want to start thinking about how you are going to get there.

This includes buying flight tickets.

The best time to buy flight tickets to any country is well in advance. This ensures you get good prices as airlines are going to drop those prices to sell out early. You can get a good deal when you book tickets beforehand.

Have A Job Lined Up (Or A 12-Month Emergency Fund)

You have to know how you are going to be earning money in a different country.

This will create undue stress if you are looking for a job after landing.

The only time it’s okay to not have a job lined up is when you have a large emergency fund. This will allow you to slowly get things rolling knowing you will not be struggling to buy food every day.

We recommend having a 12-month emergency fund if you don’t have a job lined up. Although, the better idea is to have a job, especially if you can get one online.

Get Your Accommodations Set Up

Where are you going to be staying when you are moving to another country alone?

You want to make sure you have your accommodations ready when you land. This is a must or you are going to be homeless!

We don’t want to see that happen so coordinate these details as soon as possible. You can do this from the comfort of your home in most situations.

Visit The Country For A Short Trip Beforehand

This is one of the better ideas a person can look into when it comes to moving.

If you have the funds, you will want to try visiting a country to see how it is. This includes learning more about its customs but also looking at homes to see where you want to live.

Each city has good neighborhoods where you are going to want to live. Look into these details and speak to the locals.

Join Local Groups

You are going to be on your own.

This means it’s essential to immerse yourself in the local community. Otherwise, you are going to feel alone and/or bored, which is not good for your state of mind.

Yes, it’s good to be independent and roam around but it is also good to join local groups as a way to develop a small network where you reside.

Look for like-minded people in the city.

For example, do you love hiking? Why not join a local hiking group that takes trips? You can easily join them, do something you love, and make friends.

Final Thoughts

These are the most important things to go over when moving to another country alone.

Moving to another country on your own is difficult. We recommend going through our advice here and learning more about the area before you complete the move.

This is a wonderful decision and one that will change your life. However, you should plan things out to do it the right way.

Moving away leads to a unique set of situations whether it’s dealing with ethnocentrism, moving to a new country as a student, or understanding the impact of race while moving.

Just be patient and plan with a purpose.