Dream of a new start? Five questions to ask yourself

Happy New Year! Is your new resolution for 2019 a new start overseas? Living abroad is a big decision; after all it’s not just leaving home or changing jobs – it’s moving your whole world to another country. A change in lifestyle raises many questions, but here are five questions that bound to be priority, read this article, and you’ll make 2019 your best year ever:

Depending on where you are moving to, from and your nationality, you may need to obtain a visa to enable you to enter the country. Visas will normally have conditions attached that may include the territory covered, the time the visa is valid and the period that you may stay in the country. When moving to and working in certain countries, you may also need to obtain residency and work permits.  Some countries will allow you to travel in and out as a tourist freely without having to obtain any visa/permits.

For many countries, you must be a skilled professional or trades person to enter and for that country to have a need or demand for your profession. You would need to have a recent track record of your employment history or relevant qualifications before entering the host country. By having the necessary language skills and trade/professional experience for that country will help in making your application more attractive. Some countries in the world are harder to get a visa to work, always check before applying to any country to ensure you have the required skills.

Depending on the country you are visiting there are different rules for short-term travel. However, if you are planning on living and working in the country rather than traveling as a tourist, in many places there will be restrictions in place that mean you need a specific work visa rather than leaving and re-entering the country regularly. We would advise you check all details before entering a country as this information is a guideline only.

Pitching up in a new country and staying in a hotel for a week, before scouring for places to rent is how many young professionals traveling to a country would typically reside – it provides an opportunity to become familiar with the local areas and look for long-term accommodation. 

It is always important to use a reputable estate agent when searching for accommodation. Most will require reference checks to ensure you don’t have a criminal record or county court judgment. Normally a bank reference and employment reference (if you have this) are required to ensure the necessary due diligence has been carried out for the landlord. Some countries may require rent payment upfront, other countries require monthly payments. 

Alternatively, Crown Relocations can provide a home search specialist to speed up this process. We’ll discuss suitable areas, budget of accommodation and special requirements with you and provide a detailed understanding of where you can afford to find the property you are looking for, as well as organizing research and accompanying you to view the properties. Crown can also assist with proof-reading the tenancy agreements and providing the support and protection needed if you do not have local knowledge and experience of the legal agreements relating to renting accommodation.

When finding a place to call home, you’ll probably want to consider factors such as distance from the area in which you’ll be working, the public transport options, and proximity to shops and facilities.  In some countries, you might also prefer living in areas which are commonly inhabited by other expats. Expat websites are a great way of gaining inside information as you can talk to people in a similar situation to you but who have already moved and settled-in. Check out our destination guides which will help you to gain an overview of your country of choice.

Make sure you do research of your destination country before making any final decisions so you know exactly what is expected of you before relocating. There is lots of information across our website that will help you plan. And lastly, never bypass the required documentation at any point. The risks of not getting a visa can include you being refused entry, so it is important that you seek advice from a relocation company or immigration service to help you obtain the relevant documents.