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Making that Overseas Move

  • 5 years ago

Now that winter’s on the way, anyone with any half-serious plans to move to a warmer climate might want to step up a gear. With Brexit on the horizon, many Brits are choosing to make that overseas move sooner rather than later.

It’s all very exciting, the prospect of an international move, but you need to plan and think about it much more than you would do with a domestic move. Here’s how you make a success of it.

Spend a season in your dream area

Falling in love with a region or city while you’re on holiday is one thing; living there is another. You need to see the place out of season, in rain and maybe in autumn and winter, to really get a feel for it. By spending a few months there, you’ll see past the glamour and work out how well you’ll integrate with the locals and other immigrants there. You should aim to learn the language, too, as well as invite friends and family over to see how easy it is to get to you.

Decide what to do with your UK home

Are you moving permanently or are you keeping an option open in the UK? If you downsize you can free up enough money to buy your overseas home and one (albeit smaller) back home. You could rent out your UK property as well, to help with the mortgage or living expenses; just make sure you find a reliable letting agent.

Get tax advice on your property purchase

You need to talk to a cross-border property lawyer to find out what your tax and inheritance implications are in the short and long-term.

Find out about schools

It’s relatively easy for UK children to transition to European schools now, especially as the UK has adopted the International Baccalaureate (IB). many cities have international schools, too and there’s also the added advantage of bilingual children!

Don’t sweat the small stuff, but don’t forget it either

Look over your insurance policies in the UK to see if they’re affected by your living overseas for long periods of time. Also, look into your driving licence and whether it’s valid in your new country. These are just two of the things you need to think about, so talk to an emigration adviser.

Get all of your paperwork in order

You need to have all your documents – passports, driving licences, birth certificates and anything similar – in original, copied and digital form. You should leave a complete set of all your documents with someone – a lawyer, your bank or a relative – in the UK. You should also obtain your medical, dental and (if necessary) academic records so you can pass them onto the right people in your new home.

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