Dos and Don’ts of Moving to Another Country for Love

Posted Moving Abroad / February 14, 2018
Hannah Michaelson

Hannah is a freelance relocation writer from NYC that has become an expert on packing and unpacking.

Deciding on moving to another country for love is a matter of heart, but it also has some rules. Not strict ones, but still rules. Knowing the dos and don’ts of relocating to another country for love can save your relationship and even improve it. Be ready for everything that awaits with our guide.

If you think that moving abroad for love sounds like an amazing idea, get familiar with some facts about it. The answer to the question Should you move countries for love is only up to you, but if you decide to do it, be sure you know what’s a good move and what’s a big no-no. Relationships call for a lot of effort and time, and if you plan to improve yours by relocating across the world, read on to find out what you should and shouldn’t do.

Don’t Rush When Making Decisions

First and foremost, when deciding Should I relocate for a relationship, take some time to think it through. Talk with yourself first and ask – Does moving to another country make you happy? Even if you’re making a relocation checklist and going to one of the best places to live abroad, be positive that you really want that. Making decisions in a hurry is never good, so try not to make that mistake.

Also, this relocation might be a good idea, but the timing can be wrong. Ask yourself if you would prefer to keep it long-distance for the time being, or is it finally the perfect moment to start living together. A good life is all about good timing, so take it slowly and try not to misjudge.

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Here’s How to Make This Trip to a New Place for Love a Good Choice

Regardless of your reasons to move, no relocation can’t be beneficial if you don’t do research first. That, for example, means that if you’re relocating to Canada, you have to learn how to immigrate to Canada, what the cost of living is there, what kind of jobs you can find, and so on. Be sure you’re familiar with all the facts about that nation and city.

Once you have knowledge of what you can expect and whether you like it, your relocation for a relationship will be much smoother. Talk to your partner about their impressions and ask them if they think you would like living there. Since they know you well, their opinion is important. Put everything on paper and think it through.

Be Prepared That Moving to Another Country for Love Might Not Work Out

You should be positive but also realistic. Be ready for a possible negative outcome, especially if you’ve never lived with your partner before. If you learned how to live in another country and moved there with unrealistic expectations, you might end up disappointed, even though things are not that bad. Every long-distance relationship has its ups and downs, and it can be hard to balance everything while you’re in an unfamiliar environment and you haven’t adjusted to the new place yet.

Moving to Another Country for Love Is Definitely Worth Trying

The best thing about moving to another country for love is that you can merge two positive experiences and make the best decision of your life. Learning how to move to another country and relocating there brings so many positive things. You will broaden your horizons, meet new people, learn a language, see many beautiful places, and feel much more fulfilled. If you do that with your future wife or husband, it will create the best memories.

Set a Date When You’ll Talk About Money

While you’re making plans about relocating and creating a relocation checklist, agree to leave one day when you’ll discuss your finances. Since you’re planning on beginning a life together, it’s crucial that you agree on important topics such as money, especially if you’re planning to have a joint budget. It might take you some time to get one of the jobs for Americans in Europe, Asia, or wherever you’re headed, so you might depend on your partner’s salary. If that scenario is inevitable, make it as short as possible. In the video below, you can see how a married couple explains how they combine their finances. If you find it useful, feel free to use their method and apply it to your situation.

Don’t Allow to Come to a Situation Where You Fully Depend on Your Partner

If your significant other is living overseas for quite some time, they probably already have their friends from expat communities, favorite places to go out, and in general, their life set up. Since you’ll be the newcomer, try not to stay fully dependent on your partner’s life. You’re not on vacation, so do everything you can to establish your life there. Get ready for working in Europe as an American, find a job, start meeting people, and find yourself in that city. It can be hard to thrive in a place that your partner chose for their career, but with some luck, it shouldn’t be a problem. On the flip side, if you can do your job remotely, you won’t have to worry about this.

Stay Self-Aware and Independent

It’s easy to get lost in the jungle of unknown things in a foreign place. It’s even easier to get lost in a long-term relationship. If you wish to stay true to yourself and to be independent, focus on that as soon as you relocate. Get involved in some activities you like, start learning the language abroad, develop your career overseas, and remember who you are. Couples that focus on each other too much easily ruin what they have built over years. Keep in mind that this relocation can bring so many good things.

Realize That Relocating Abroad for Love Calls for a Lot of Tolerance and Compromising

Just like in every romance, compromise is everything. Now that you’re thinking of changing your environment completely, tolerance and compromising must be lifted to another level. You’ll live somewhere where you’ve never lived before, and you have to find balance with your significant other while dealing with culture shock. It won’t be easy, but it’s doable with enough patience and going the extra mile from time to time. The situation you’re in can bring some problems you’ve never faced before, but remember that they are solvable.

Don’t Use the New Country to Fix Old Problems in the Relationship

Deciding on moving to another country for love shouldn’t be your last straw to save your romance. If you plan on doing it because you think that the new place will bring some refreshment to your relationship and that the existing problems can just vanish, you’re making a mistake. Moving internationally brings much pressure and stress; you’ll be separated from your friends and family and everything you’re familiar with. While you struggle with figuring out how to keep in touch with friends and how to adapt quicker, bringing the problems you had to another part of the world won’t change anything for the better. We’re not talking about minor disagreements – if you have some major issues in communication, try to solve them before you hire an international relocation company.

Don’t Push Yourself Into Living Together if You Don’t Feel Prepared for That

If you’ve never shared the living space with anyone before, you don’t have to do it now either. That is if you can financially manage to pay two separate rents. If you feel that you’re still not ready to live together, you can be in the same city, but in separate apartments. In case you’re relocating on a low budget, keep in mind that the financial problems can be solved by finding roommates, and you’ll be able to see your significant other whenever you want, without a bad internet connection. Also, finding roommates and sharing houses is an amazing way to meet people and make new friends. This always means a lot for a newcomer trying to fit in into the unknown.

Always Be Honest With Your Significant Other (and Yourself)

This might seem obvious, but it’s one of the essential “dos” that you have to practice each day. Stay open and transparent about your feelings, plans, intentions, and impressions. If you have found out that you don’t like something, don’t hide it. You’re not relocating abroad alone, so you have to share your thoughts with the person you chose to live with. If you start feeling homesick, let your loved one know so that you can make a plan and decide what to do about it. The same goes for any other feeling that might overwhelm you. If you realize that this is not the place where you see yourself in a couple of years or if you can’t imagine having a future there, inform your partner about it and see what can be done about it.

This Crucial Step Will Be Much Easier if You Hire a Professional Overseas Shipping Company

The simplest and most logical answer to How do I move abroad for love is to contact an overseas shipping company to help you with the international move. Professionals will take care of all of your possessions and ensure that your transition to another part of the world runs smoothly. Relocating overseas requires a lot of logistics, so it’s always good to have someone to provide you with packing services and even a storage unit in case you need it. You can also get overseas vehicle shipping and professional oversized freight for any large shipments.

If you’d prefer to relocate your belongings faster, you can get international moving by air. In case you’re shipping overseas something valuable and breakable, there’s an option of custom crating. With all of these features, overseas shipping will become smooth, and your new life with your significant other will have a start without any relocation stress.

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