Moving overseas is a dream for many people. In fact, it is believed that 43% of all new permanent-type migration flows were family migrants in 2023. This equates to 2.5 million family migrants. It is clear that many people, especially families, are making this dream a reality.
But how do they do it? You might be asking this question as your family is beginning to think about moving abroad. Maybe you dream of sunnier climates for your kids to explore the outdoors, or there might be a country that offers better education opportunities. No matter the reason, moving abroad does require a lot of work beforehand.
The preparations that are needed before moving overseas with your family vary, but you must consider several factors to ensure the right decisions are made. This post outlines three of the most important aspects to look at before finalizing your family’s move.
Research Destinations with a Focus on Family
When you are moving abroad with your family, there are certain factors that can help you decide the best destination. These factors, such as quality of life, education, and cultural integration, can help you decide if a specific area or country is a good location to raise a family. There are numerous online resources that can help you do this, but it is sometimes more effective to complete the research yourself.
All of the considerations should be discussed with your partner or as a family. Certain aspects, like education and healthcare, are big factors that can impact the entire family. Are you happy to live in an area where schooling is inadequate and children might need to be homeschooled? Or do you want to prioritize finding a destination that has access to quality medical equipment and professions? These are questions you should be asking to determine the area of your new home.
It is also wise to look at the safety of each location. Children will want to explore by themselves eventually, especially when they begin to make friends, and this can be a daunting thought if you are aware of high crime rates or nature risks. Your kids might not worry about these things, but it is your job as the parent to worry enough for them, too.
If you are still unsure about the destinations and lifestyles they offer, you should remember that you are making this choice, but your children aren’t. Keep their best interests at the forefront of your mind and you will make the most suitable choice.
Investigate the Healthcare Available for All Ages
Despite having many factors to look into, healthcare is one of the most important. Every country could have a different healthcare system, so it can be rather complicated to understand. You will have to look at the public and private healthcare options of the destination country; for example, some countries like Switzerland will require all residents, even children, to have private insurance to access healthcare.
With this in mind, you might require international health plans for the entire family to ensure you all receive adequate medical care when needed. This will be essential if the country does not offer public healthcare or the private options are preferred. A high-quality insurance plan will provide comprehensive coverage and access to superior care. Benefits will vary depending on your chosen plan, but it could include dental care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and so on.
There are various plans available to suit families moving abroad, but you must ensure the chosen policy meets all of your family’s needs. This will require an understanding of each person’s medical history, and any pre-existing health conditions should be flagged early on. You want to ensure the healthcare service of your new country and your insurance policy will be equipped to care for and cover these conditions.
If you can, speak to your general practitioner (GP) before making the move. A doctor can share medical records to ensure continuity of care and simplify the registration with your new healthcare provider.
Prepare for Culture Shock’s Impact on the Kids
As shown throughout this post, there is a lot to do before you move your family abroad, but some things can be missed. One aspect that is often missed in all the planning is the impact of culture shock. This can be easily overlooked, but children could become more overwhelmed by this change, considering how large it is. They might act out of character, display mood swings, or become more withdrawn because of this. It is important to see things from your kids’ point of view to ensure you are able to ease their concerns.
Depending on the ages of your children, the worries they will have might vary, and this is why you should communicate openly throughout the moving preparations. It is important that you try not to keep secrets from them regarding the move, as this will only increase the shock and upset that they experience later. If other changes will happen because of the move, such as leaving the family pet behind with a relative, this should be explained early on to prevent unwanted surprises.
Additionally, to lessen the effects of culture shock, you might want to keep familiar things around. These items can create a safe space for your children, as they will offer a sense of normality in a very new place. If you find that this has eased some of the shock, then you can begin making small changes or encourage them to step outside their comfort zone by making friends and/or joining a club.
To conclude, this post makes it obvious that there are numerous aspects to consider when moving abroad as a family. It is a big choice and even a bigger change, but it can be beneficial if you prepare ahead of time and keep your entire family in the loop.