Around this time last year, I was planning on moving abroad to Spain. I had always wanted to study and or live abroad in a different country since I was in high school. During college, I was so busy that I didn’t have the time to even think about studying abroad so, I made it a note to do so after I graduated. And I did! College was so stressful that moving abroad and taking a break was so needed and I am so glad that I did. Since then, I’ve gotten so many questions about the process, the time spent, and just all types of questions! So, today I want to give you some advice on how to move abroad.
Living in a different country is something I would recommend to everyone! I think packing up and getting on a flight is the best thing anyone could do. It makes you feel brave, bold, and happy. You get out of your comfort zone and get to explore another culture for however long. Americans especially (in my opinion) don’t really travel internationally and I think it’s time that’s changed!
- Research
The first tip I have is to research! With anything that you do in life, you must research. When it comes to moving abroad, there are a ton of factors that play into it such as finances, laws, the way other countries run, and a whole lot of steps that you must complete before you can even get on your flight.
Moving to a different country isn’t like moving across the city. You need a visa, a job or sponsorship, a place to live and you have to have all of those ready before moving. Research the percentage of how many people move abroad, how locals feel about expats, and other similar questions. Also, research the way of life in multiple places. A lot of countries are different from the people to the way the government runs. You have to be prepared.
- Choose A Destination
The second tip is to choose a good destination, that’ll make you happy and feel safe! The first thing to do is to make a list of places that you have in mind. When I was moving to Spain, I knew that I wanted to go to Spain for a while and had already been researching the country but, I also had a few backups like Germany or Ireland. Make a list of your favorite places then research them, and make a pros and cons list.
When researching, make sure you look into how everyday life is. That is the most important aspect. You want to be able to feel safe and easily blend into the culture. I’m from Boston and Bostonians are very fast-paced. Spanish people aren’t. I had to get used to that so that is something that you should look into because you want to be respectful of the country’s culture.
Also, knowing how their government, healthcare, and employment rates are also extremely important! You don’t want to move somewhere that is going to be a hassle on you. I was lucky enough to have health insurance and a job right when I moved to Madrid.
But, all in all, you have to be comfortable to live somewhere!
- Getting A Job
The easiest way to move abroad is to get an English teaching job. Becoming TEFL certified and working as a Language Assistant is one of the biggest expat careers. It is so easy and there are so many companies that you can apply to. I went through Conversaspain and they were an amazing company; and were very helpful, useful, and gave us free health insurance. We also got paid $1,000 per month. Ps, this is also something else to check before moving abroad; knowing how much money you may get paid so you can properly plan and save.
Other types of jobs are online and virtual jobs! There are a ton of virtual assistant, writing, editing, and online teaching jobs that some people do. It may be a little difficult to get those jobs and have them be sustainable so, definitely look into it before depending on it.
Another type of way is to look for a job in your current industry! Most countries love hiring foreign employees because of the diversity and culture that they can bring to the table! Look at Emily in Pairs! That really can happen for a lot of people. Definitely look into it and apply.
- Save Money
The entire process of moving abroad can be very expensive! From getting your documents, to ceritifing them, to finally receiving your visa— it’s a lot of money. Then, once you arrive in said country, you’re not done! I probably spent over $3,000 just to move into Spain and to this day, I still can’t believe I did that as a struggling college student. Seriously.
When you decide to move, make a budgeting plan right away! Also, give yourself at least 6 months to a year to prepare. I know some people get the moving bug and pack up and are abroad in 2 weeks but unless you have great savings, you’re going to need to wait and save. It’s not cheap.
You have to pay for your visa and with that, you have a ton of documents that you have to bring to the office (consulate) of whichever country that you’re moving to. The documents have to be certified and legit since they’re for the government— both your current one and the new one. You could possibly spend up to $1,000 depending on which country you choose.
Also, if you do go with the teaching route, you have to pay for the company! Conversaspain charges almost 3,000 euro and it’s known as one of the cheapest. Then, once you get into the country, you have a few more steps to complete that you have to pay for, plus getting your living situation settled which can once again be hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Make yourself a spreadsheet of how much to save each month, your payment schedules, and spending money! If you’re a broke college student like I was, you definitely want to be frugal during this time.
Lastly, you need a visa! You can’t live (Legally) in a country for more than 3 months without a visa. I know a few people who country hop— meaning that they live in a certain place for 3 months then hop to the next destination. That is doable if you have a job; such as YouTube, blogging, or a great remote job that pays you well.
However, if that’s not your case, then you’ll need to get a visa. And with obtaining said visa, there are a lot of steps. First, you either need to already have a job or be a student. There are a lot of different types of visas out there and if you’re not self-employed then you need to get said work or student visa. In Spain, I had a student visa because I was an English teacher. Most English teachers automatically receive student visas which makes everything easier for us because we don’t have to worry about too much government stuff.
Research visas because like I said, there are a ton of them and if you’re not going through the English teaching route, you need to figure it out. Without a visa, you’ll be kicked out of the country after your 3 months are up and you don’t want that to happen!
Okay, that is all for this post. I hope you enjoyed it and if you want me to talk about any other moving abroad topics or any Spain-specific topics, let me know!
Comment, Like, Share & Subscribe!
Xoxo,
Shay