Expat Life: Here's How to Make it Happen

TGIF! I am working from the shore today as is my current schedule. Two things: 
1. I hope you're following The Tumbling Nomads on IG and via their blog - it's Steph from Insert Classy Here and her husband Justin and they are  traveling the world for a year and it is awesome to watch and read about and please follow their adventures. 
2. On a related-ish note, here's an article on expat life written for this audience

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Living abroad for good may seem like a dramatic life change but if it’s something you’ve been dreaming about, it’s doable. Yes, you need to figure out how to make money while living there, sort out the visa process, and find a suitable place to live - but that’s also all you need to do.

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After those things are settled, you can legally stay and work in the country of your choice. These three tasks can be overwhelming, though, and particularly to those who have never done it before.

Here are a handful of excellent tips on how to make your expat dreams come true so that you can take one step at a time, finding your feet and settling in, without feeling that the process of moving is getting the best of you.

That way, you’ll have the time and the energy to make the right kind of decisions and can feel completely confident once the time to move abroad has come.

First: Where and how are you going to live?

Every expat’s situation is different, and it’s impossible to provide you with a one-size-fits-all solution to how you’re going to find a place to live. To most people, this is the first challenge they encounter when considering if they should become an expat: how do we find a place to live when we’re not actually living in the country yet?

Moving to an entirely new country without having a set roof over your head when you land is  daunting. But again, doable. You could check in at an Airbnb, and look for apartments for the first week or two while staying there.

The key to everything, as usual, is cash. Make sure that you have quite a bit of money saved up so  you’re able to rent a place on short notice. Money talksand most landlords will welcome you with open arms if you’re able to pay a few months up front. Bring a bulk sum, in other words, and you won’t really feel too scared when boarding that plane.

You do have many other options, though, and you certainly don’t have to go without having any other preparations than your savings account. If you already know someone living there, you can always ask them to look at a few apartments for you.

Ask them to take some pictures or even a video of the place, and you can rent it without actually seeing it yourself.

You could also hit the world wide web and look for a place to live right away. Check out the site of tanah dijual murah for some great places at affordable prices.

Next: Which type of visa are you going to get?
You need to consider the type of visa you need and keep in mind that many countries require a different type of visa depending on your nationality. Maybe you’re planning on moving somewhere you don’t need a visa at all - or maybe you’re going to a country where you’d be deported rather quickly if you attempted to work without permission.

Start by figuring out what kind of visa you actually need; if you’re going together with your partner, it may be enough for them to get a work visa and you can apply for a spousal visa.

This means that you’re going to have to prove your relationship, though, so be prepared to have both pictures and proof  ready. It may feel weird if you’ve been married for a decade already but it’s all a part of the application process.

You may have to get a work visa instead, however, and this means that you should have a job offer before you apply. This is where a lot of people meet the first few bumps in the road of their dream to become an expat. How are you supposed to have a job offer if you’re not actively looking for work in the country?

You can check out this site for some great visa advice as well so that you’re completely up to date on all of your options.

How are you going to make money abroad?
This brings us over to our next point which is how you’re going to make money while you live abroad. This may solve your visa conundrum as well, though, and it’s a good idea to think about this before you start to look for a visa - or you could just start off on a tourist visa, to begin with, until you have a job in the country you’ve set your eyes on.

Image from: Pexels

Look for jobs online, chat with your current employer about work opportunities in the country you’d like to move to, or talk to people you know who already live there. It’s not going to be easy but job hunting rarely is.

When you don’t have a job offer or a partner who is able to stay there legally, you still have a few other alternatives. One is to simply continue working remotely for your company at home or get a position as a freelancer; now you are able to make money in your home country’s currency while also staying overseas.

There are many jobs you could do from your laptop too and technology has made it really easy for people to become an expat. You could continue doing what you’re already doing, for example, as long as your company allows for it; there are many options out there in terms of video conferences and sessions through Skype. If they don’t allow this, you could consider setting up your own company. Offer counselling sessions or classes through video calls, make your own professional website, and use social media to market yourself. As long as you put some thought and effort into it, you will be able to find a solution.

Working remotely for your company at home or freelancing in your own currency means that you don’t have a visa that allows you to stay as long as you want to though, and you certainly don’t have a visa that allows you to work in the country. As long as you adhere to the limit on the number of days you can stay there and go home once in a while, you’ll still be alright - although that is definitely more of a hassle.

Many freelancers enjoy this kind of lifestyle, though, as they can increase their standard of living while also staying in a comfortable climate. Maybe you want to spend some time travelling when your visa expires - or maybe you just want to make a quick trip back home.

Other options are working for the web, in general, by doing copywriting, web design, programming, or anything else that the online world requires these days. It may not be as easy as it sounds but it will definitely ensure that you’re able to make a living - and live anywhere in the world.


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I know some of you out there are living that expat life. Any tips to add?

If you're not, have you ever considered it?