Moving to a new country will take you to a whole new world – both literally and figuratively. Everything will be different – different culture, different language, different food, different ways of thinking, different social norms, different people – and exciting and overwhelming.
You will step out of your comfort zone and leap into the unknown. And there are many wonderful things – and many terrifying things – about braving the unfamiliar:
- You will gain new experiences and broaden your horizons – but you’ll experience severe culture shock;
- You will meet many new people and make many new friends – but you’ll be away from loved ones;
- You will gain new perspectives and grow as a person – but you’ll encounter a lot of difficulties and problems.
All in all, moving abroad will be a great adventure – and a great challenge. So, before you take the big leap, you need to be well aware of what to expect from living in a foreign country – and decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Take a look at the most essential pros and cons of moving to a new country so you can make an informed decision and feel confident in your choice.
Benefits of moving abroad
If you’re asking yourself “Should I move abroad?”, then you probably have a good reason to take such a huge step in your life. Whatever your specific reasons to move abroad, however, experiencing life in another part of the world will do you good in many ways:
You will have exciting new experiences – and great new opportunities
When you move to a new country, you will have the chance to experience things you have never tried, seen, or even imagined before – there will be new places to explore, new sights to enjoy, new activities to try, new foods to eat, etc.
Besides, moving to another county will present you with countless new opportunities – new employment options, new business possibilities, new educational opportunities, new entertainment options, new travel opportunities, new chances to pursue your interests and your dreams, etc.
It will be a real adventure – and quite an exciting and enriching one.
You will expand your knowledge – and your professional experience
When living in a foreign country, you will get to know a place that is very unlike your homeland – from the architecture of the buildings to the way that people interact with each other, everything will be different from what you know and what you’re used to. You will experience a new culture and will learn the history, customs, and values of your new country. You will likely even learn a new language. Your knowledge and real-world experience will expand exponentially.
And you’ll grow not only intellectually, but professionally as well – you’ll see different working practices and get to know a different business culture, will experience a different professional environment and workplace ethics, etc. Working abroad may even help you acquire new skills in your field and make new business connections. Your international professional experience will enhance your competitive advantage and boost your career.
You will grow as a person
Moving to another country and diving into the unknown is daunting and challenging – and braving the unfamiliar and overcoming the difficulties that your international move will present you with will make you stronger, more resilient, and more self-confident.
Being on your own in a foreign country without the comfort of a familiar routine and the support of family and friends will teach you to be self-reliant and build character:
- You will find yourself in situations that can never happen to you in your home country and will pick some new life skills;
- You will face numerous challenges and will learn to find solutions and deal with problems in a quick and effective way;
- You will meet and interact with many different people and will improve your communication skills and your social skills;
- You will be exposed to new cultural values, new traditions, and new beliefs and will gain a new outlook on life.
You will find your true self, define your priorities and your values, and grow as a person.
You will become more open-minded
One of the greatest advantages of moving to a new country is that it will allow you to see the world from a different perspective.
Moving overseas can be truly enlightening – it will broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding of the world, making you more tolerant and more open-minded:
- Exposure to other cultures and lifestyles will enhance your perspective on life;
- Meeting people from a different background than your own will teach you to respect different opinions and beliefs;
- Getting to know the people in your new country and gaining an understanding the economic, cultural, and social situation there will destroy – or explain away – any stereotypes you have about that region and those people;
- Befriending people in your new country will give you an insight into their culture and a more nuanced understanding of the human nature, in general.
Needless to say, your social network will expand greatly and you will develop new friendships and new relationships.
Last but not least, moving abroad will give you the chance to start afresh – leave bad habits, bad experiences, negative feelings, unhealthy relationships, unneeded possessions, and other burdens behind – and build a happier, more fulfilling, and more enjoyable life for yourself.
Despite all these benefits of moving abroad, however, there are plenty of reasons why relocating to a foreign country may not be a good idea.
Disadvantages of moving abroad
When considering the advantages and disadvantages of moving to another country, you should not underestimate the downsides of living away from your home land:
You will be far away from family and friends
Parting with loved ones is the most difficult part of moving away – especially when moving overseas. You will be able to stay in touch – modern technology makes that easy enough – but social media and video chats are poor substitute for personal interaction. You won’t be able to spend time with your friends and have fun together, you won’t be there for family celebrations and special occasions, and you will feel sad and lonely and homesick.
You will make new friends in your new country, of course, but it will take time – and you will still miss your loved ones back home.
See also: How to make friends after moving
Good to remember: If you have children, moving abroad will uproot them from their home country and will take them away from their grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, friends, etc. It may not be very hard for young ones to get used to the new lifestyle in the new country and to make new friends, but they may lose their sense of homeland and feel like strangers in both your native and your adoptive countries. (See also: How moving affects children)
You will experience culture shock
It’s not easy to seamlessly integrate into a new culture – the social rules and cultural practices in your new county may be radically different from what you are used to and may even clash with your previous lifestyle. You may not be able to relate to the local people, may not understand their way of thinking, may find the social norms in the country weird, frustrating, or even offensive, etc. You may not be able to practice some of your favorite activities, some of the goods and services you’ve been using on a daily basis in your homeland may not be available in your new country, and you may not feel at ease in your new environment. It will be a staggering transition – and if you’re not fluent in the local language, things will be even worse.
You’ll feel like an outsider in your new home and will be constantly reminded that you don’t belong. The culture shock can be truly overwhelming and it may take you a while to overcome it.
Good to remember: If you’re moving to a country that has a different language than your mother tongue, you will encounter communication barriers that will further exacerbate your culture shock. Even the simplest daily tasks – shopping, ordering a meal, doing your job, etc. – will be difficult for you, as you won’t understand people and they won’t understand you. In such a case, you need to learn the native language as quickly as possible, so you can freely communicate and bond with the locals. Some languages, however, are hard to learn, so the acclimation process becomes longer and harder.
See also: How to adjust after moving
There will be a lot of risks
When thinking of moving abroad, you should keep in mind that such a life-changing step comes with many challenges – and many risks:
- Unless you already have a job in your destination country, it may take you months to find employment and ensure a steady income. You need to have enough money saved to cover several months’ worth of housing and living expenses before you decide to take the leap and move abroad;
- The financial system in your new country – the currency, the tax system, etc. – will be quite different than what you’re used to, so you need to be very careful when dealing with money after the relocation;
- Being unfamiliar with your surroundings and the local safety risks can make you vulnerable to mishaps and/or crime;
- The food and water in your new country may trigger illnesses or intolerances due to the different local bacteria and allergens;
- The climate in your new area may have negative effects on your health.
There will be a lot of paperwork
Moving internationally and establishing residency in a foreign country involves a lot of paperwork – visas, work permits, driving permits, insurances, certified translations of all your personal documents, etc. And the procedures for issuing, updating, and transferring the necessary documents tend to be tedious and frustrating.
On top of it, you will need to deal with plenty of paperwork after the relocation as well – negotiating a rental agreement, setting up a bank account, arranging health care, etc.
Related useful information: How to prepare for moving abroad
The international relocation process will be difficult and expensive
Moving to another country is a complicated, arduous, and stressful process – you will have to take care of the paperwork, decide which of your possessions are worth moving overseas, find a trustworthy international moving company (as well as an international pet shipping company and an international car shipping company, if applicable), book your flight, arrange accommodation in your destination country, pack your belongings for moving, etc.
And your international relocation endeavor will be quite costly too – you will have to pay for the necessary documents, for the transportation of your items to your new country, for customs duties, for plane tickets, for temporary housing, etc.
There will be a lot of hassle and stress and the entire process will be physically, emotionally, and financially draining.
Now that you’re aware of the main pros and cons of moving abroad, it will be easier to make the right choice for you and your family – take every little detail into account, do as much research as possible, and choose wisely. And if you’re up to the challenge, be sure to plan your international move well, so you can make the most of your big overseas adventure. Good luck!
