young couple packing to move with luggage in background

How To Make Your Vacation A Permanent Home

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Have you ever gone on an overseas vacation and found yourself dreaming of moving there permanently? 

The idea of living in a new country with new experiences and opportunities can be exciting, especially in exotic locales like The Bahamas, Bali, or Australia, for example. 

But while going on vacation is fairly painless, the process of actually relocating your family can be daunting.

young couple packing to move with luggage in background

Moving your family overseas requires careful planning and consideration. 

It’s not just about packing your bags and hopping on a plane, as there are various factors to consider, from visas and work permits to housing and school options.

If you’re seriously considering moving your family overseas after a vacation, there are several things you need to keep in mind. 

You can make the transition smooth and stress-free with the right approach and preparation. 

So, if you come home from a vacation and realize that you want to relocate and turn your family travels abroad into living abroad, here are some tips:

Research: First, just like going on your overseas vacation, research the country you want to live in. What are the costs of living, climate, culture, and educational system?

Make A Plan: Relocating is the easiest part, but make a plan to replace those things you have at home, like finding a job, a place to live, and enrolling your kids in school.

Financial Planning: Get your finances in order because moving abroad can be expensive. In some countries, a requirement to be able to live in the country is to have a specific amount of money saved for contingencies. 

Prepare The Family: Prepare your kids for the move by talking to them and helping them learn about the new culture. Help them prepare for the change by finding things they can be excited about in their new surroundings. 

Be Patient: Moving abroad will require a considerable upheaval for everyone in your family, so be patient in adapting to the changes and at which everyone acclimates.

Be Flexible: One of the most important things to prepare is to be flexible in expectations and attitudes. 

Things will be different, so plan to have time to adapt and adjust to the requirements, changes, and cultural ways of doing things that may be unfamiliar to you and your family. 

Also, feel free to ask for help.

Remember that relocating to a new country will be a different experience than your time on vacation there. It will be an adjustment on many different levels in your life, so be open-minded to the occasion and embrace the culture change. 

Be Ready

The dream of living abroad, immersing yourself in a completely new culture, and learning about the world from a different perspective can be stimulating. 

However, it is essential to understand that establishing residency overseas will take much work. 

Depending on the country you are hoping to move to, there will likely be several hoops that you need to jump through, as well as tedious paperwork that needs to be filled out and submitted.

Having a job or prospects for work is one of the most crucial steps to take. 

Those who plan on living abroad for only a short period of time, like three to six months, can maintain their tourist status without applying for a visa.

However, anything over this time will require more significant planning and organization. Immigration lawyers are often needed for longer-term visas and residence applications. 

If possible, it can also help if you have personal recommendations, so researching reviews and testimonials can help in selecting an immigration lawyer that is fit for your unique case. 

In any case, just remember: none of this will be easy and should not be taken lightly.

Find Your New Home

Moving to a new country can be both exciting and intimidating. 

One of the most important decisions is deciding where to live. You want to consider factors such as the lifestyle you’re looking for, the city size, transportation, health care infrastructure, and cost of living. 

It’s also important to consider whether you’d rather live in a big city or somewhere more rural.

When it comes time to decide on your new home, research is vital. 

Look at online listings of properties for rent in different areas and consult local rental agencies for guidance. You can look at local listings or conduct a Google search to help you find a property. 

For example, if you’re looking at moving to The Bahamas, you may want to look for:

If you don’t have a place secured when you arrive, get a hotel or Airbnb for the first week until you have time to look around and choose what’s best for you. 

With research and exploration, soon you will find the perfect place that counts as ‘home’ amongst all those other places in the world.