Rough guide to relocating overseas with your family

A wise man once said moving house was more disrupting than divorce or a death in the family.

When making his gloomy prediction, that wise man might have added that moving to a new job overseas en famille is the most disruptive of all! The three P’s – planning, packing and preparing – take over would-be expats’ lives, leaving them wondering why they agreed to the move in the first place or found that tempting new job abroad. The first, crucial issue is to know exactly what you’re getting yourself and your family into as regards the cultural, linguistic, social and culinary differences between the home country and the new one.

Luckily, in this increasingly global, interconnected world, it’s far easier to find answers to the most complicated questions, either from local expat forums or websites specialising in emigration in all its glory. Even if you’re allergic to Facebook, it’s a good site for new arrivals as regards the minutiae of local information such as neighbourhoods, regulations, local customs and background knowledge aimed at making your life easier.

Getting your paperwork in order according to the new country’s regulations is the least popular aspect of moving overseas and, for many who’re not relocating via their present employer, it’s often best to have professional help with visas, work permits, work contracts, immigration requirements, opening bank accounts and renting property. In many destinations, those who don’t know their way around are at risk of being ripped off by locals and occasionally by ‘helpful’ expats. Finding the right accommodation at the right price is also best left to your friendly local real estate agent, thus allowing you to get on with the rest of your relocation tasks.

If you’ll need a car to get to and from work, not to mention getting the kids to and from school and the weekly shopping run, it’s best to ask for local recommendations or help in finding the right vehicle at the right price. Again, watching for attempts to price-gauge or hide defects is easier if the right someone’s got your back and understands not only the local language but also local habits when dealing with foreigners. Finding the right school for your young ones is easier, as parent opinion is honest, often shockingly so! Most international schools have Facebook sites as well as parents’ associations, and local online forums often have a thread covering most suitable schools in your area.