10 Things You Need to Know if You’re a Brit Moving Abroad

Moving your whole life from one country to another can be a very exciting but stressful time, and making sure you have everything in order before you settle down is imperative if you want to start on the right foot to begin with. We have teamed up with Property Turkey to give you a list of things one should be aware of.

Passports & Visas

Making sure your passports have been updated, and visas have been bought prior to travel is essential for allowing you to settle in that country. It would be best to get these done sooner rather than later to prevent last minute stresses that you don’t need.

Local customs

If you plan to work overseas you should really get to know the local business customs of your new home, it’s important to observe international business customs to develop successful relationships.

UK tax requirements

So you’re moving to another country, but this doesn’t mean that you can escape your tax responsibilities from home. It would be best to check with an advisor on this to understand how it will work for you in your new country of residence.

Medical & health insurance

Depending on what country you are living in you will need to decide which medical insurance to take and what would be best for you which may also depend on your line of work. You shouldn’t assume you’re automatically covered by the country’s health system, as each country has its own unique set of requirements for relieving care.

Pets

If you’re planning on bringing your pets along with you, there are a number of things you will need to consider and organise prior to moving day such as transportation, immunisation and also cost of living for pets in the country your settling in.

Driving and getting around

If you’re planning on driving in the country you’re moving to, it would be a good idea to broaden your knowledge on the local driving laws and regulations. The international driving license is recognised internationally however you may also need to purchase a local driving license as well.

Moving to Istanbul?

If you’re moving to the vibrant city of Istanbul you’re in luck as it’s quite a smooth transition as many of the Turkish banks have English speaking staff, as well as many of the Turkish residences speaking pretty good English too. Money also goes much further in Turkey, as the rate is pretty good so you will be able to get a lot more for your money and live a more comfortable lifestyle, however much like any other move you will still need to organise visas and permits if you plan to work.

Cost of living

Before you head off to your new place of residence, you really need to fully understand your future financial situation, you will need to figure out the various different costs of food, fuel, drink and general life pleasantries to ensure your new wage will cover this.

Vaccinations

Before leaving you should arrange an appointment with your doctor to see if you will need any vaccinations prior to the move. If you are moving somewhere tropical it may be worth a visit as it will be a lot harder to find somewhere to get vaccinated once out there.

Language

If you are moving to a country with a foreign language, it is always worth learning vital elements of the language, especially if you plan to live there long term. There are many language pocket books available where you can learn the basics so you’re not a complete fish out of water.

Charlotte Giver

Charlotte is the founder and editor-in-chief at Your Coffee Break magazine. She studied English Literature at Fairfield University in Connecticut whilst taking evening classes in journalism at MediaBistro in NYC. She then pursued a BA degree in Public Relations at Bournemouth University in the UK. With a background working in the PR industry in Los Angeles, Barcelona and London, Charlotte then moved on to launching Your Coffee Break from the YCB HQ in London’s Covent Garden and has been running the online magazine for the past 10 years. She is a mother, an avid reader, runner and puts a bit too much effort into perfecting her morning brew.