How to move abroad

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Long time lurker and answered but haven’t posted yet so please forgive me if this is in the wrong section

Ive always dreamt of living abroad for a year or two since I was a child and slowly as I’ve gotten older; the prospect fades but my passion for this experience lingers. I’ve recently hit a milestone birthday and Ive reminded myself that life is too short and I want to live it the best way I can.

I would like to live abroad for a few years. Ideally between 2-5 years (or maybe even longer if it works out) and whilst I’m sure it will take a lot of getting used to and most likely a lot of hard work; I still want to try. My problem is I have absolutely no idea where to start. What is the procedure to get started? I think I honestly haven’t done it yet because I don’t know HOW to do it and feel it may be out of reach but I would like to try.

I was born in the UK with most of my family being UK residents. I have some family members who live abroad but I would ideally like to go to a totally new place I haven’t been before. I have a trade job (think hair and beauty) but I’m unsure if it’s enough to get me by in another country. I am also open to working in an unrelated job if I could get one that would cover living expenses - but again; I have no idea where to start.

I’m 20 something with 1 child (who would be coming with me)

Thanks

I feel at the back of my mind that the prospect of this adventure may be difficault as I now have a child to consider - but I’m hoping not impossible.

Thanks again

Australia are keen to have hairdressers?

@swimmingunderwater

Thank you. I have looked at Australia and actually that was one of the top places I would love to live.

My worry is that I have heard and also researched that it seems very difficault to get a visa if you haven’t a skilled job or a family tie/ link to Australia.

Maybe I should enquire again. Thanks for the info.

How would I go about getting a visa for myself and my child to go there to live in opposed to going on holiday?

Thanks again

Healthcare? What are your current healthcare needs? Which countries have healthcare systems you are comfortable could meet your needs now and if the worst happened? Can you afford the healthcare costs of that country?

School system? Is it good enough? Is it compatible with a child dipping in and out? What will your child miss? Will they be able to resume schooling/exams in UK easily afterwards?

Living costs? Visa requirements? Taxes? Pension? Bureaucracy and corruption levels? Language? Cultural values? Moving costs? Costs to visit UK? Social integration?

What are you actually hoping to achieve? What does 'adventure' mean to you here?

What's your exit plan to return to UK? Will you be able to afford to return? Moving costs but also re-entering an economy of a different size to where you've been (e.g. Where your earnings aren't enough for UK rental or house deposit?) Do you know about requirements for accessing NHS again after residency outside the UK?

It sounds like a nice fantasy rather than a realistic aspiration, although meaningful research could change that perhaps.

There are more appropriate boards you could ask this to be moved to.

Could you get a remote work from anywhere so long as you have a laptop and wifi type of job?

You have to make a list of all Countries you are interested and find out their criteria for letting you live and work there. This is available through their embassy's website.
Then list criteria you can not ever meet and rule those Countries out. Criteria you can meet by some changes, for example finacial situation, time periods, sponsors, etc. And finally critetia you already meet. The Countries you can go to will become obvious.
Now set a plan on what you have to do to meet the criteria. Once you have done this decide on whether you are going with a job secured or looking for one. Work out a budget that will give you time to find a job and support yourself. Always have enough to get home if it goes wrong.
Go on support forums for expats and get their advice. Get active on them and make connections.
If it is non English speaking then language skills are important. Start learning asap.
Good luck. Don't let anyone be negative, it is a great thing to do. You are in your 20s, nothing has passed you buy yet. A child adds challenges, but nothing insurmountable.

@user16395699

Thank you for the list. This is what I was looking for. Things I suppose I need to consider

I am going to research these points you have made and see what is our best choice.

I definitely feel I want to try. If things dont work out then we can always come back home - can’t we? (I genuinely don’t know. Like I said- I’m pretty clueless with this all)

@1Micem0use I work in the hair and beauty industry so I’m some ways yes I could work remotely but would need a job to keep me afloat at first.

@ClareBlue Thank you so much for that advice. I really appreciate it. I will research everything you have kindly noted

Check out the skills list for countries you want to move to, they list all shortages that they need immigrants for.

If you’re under a certain age you used to be able to get a 2yr visa to Australia, not sure how that is these days. They’re pretty locked up right now as is NZ.

There might be a similar system with Canada

@HerRoyalNotness Thank you so much for the advice. I will look into it now

From what I’ve gathered; the first step is to look at what country I would like to live in and check the eligibility and the criteria to be able to get a visa. The countries that seem impossible are ruled out for now and the countries left over are the countries I need to research about how to get into and start the process of applying for a visa/ finding jobs and housing and such

Thank you so much, I’m doing some checks now to see how I could make this dream a reality

@HerRoyalNotness Canada has been a place I have almost decided on as I know friends and family who have been and lived it and said it was very similar to the UK.

I think I will start here. Thank you

We used the expat boards.
Canada is definitely feasible for you. If you can change your career skills to oil pipe line maintenance then you are rocking😁

If you’re under a certain age you used to be able to get a 2yr visa to Australia, not sure how that is these days. They’re pretty locked up right now as is NZ.

This is the Working Holiday Visa but as far as I know you cannot get this if you have a dependent child. Worth checking though as the rules may have changed.

Also, I read a very useful book years back before I went to Australia (it may still be available) called The Sensible Girl's Guide to Emigrating Elegantly. Ignore the twee title, there is a lot of good, practical advice in it.

Good luck, living abroad was the best thing I ever did so I hope you get to experience it.

I am going to sound very negative but I honestly cannot think of anywhere that you are going to be able to live and work with your current circumstances and work history. I am basing my views on a decade of active involvement on expat / immigration forums.

I was, at the time, particularly knowledgeable on Australia and to a point New Zealand. The days when hairdressers could move to Australia as a skilled migrant with some ease are long gone. A working holiday visa is a good option for somebody in the mid 20s but this will not be an option for you as you cannot get a WHV if you have a child.

Just to respond to a point you have made, it is something of a misnomer that having family in Australia is helpful, it really isn’t that helpful, in some circumstances it can mean more points on a skilled migrant application, but that is it.

Truthfully, I think if you want to work overseas, you need to make this a medium to long term plan, look to retrain and hope that your new qualifications will be more in demand. Anything medical is a better bet than most things, but still no guarantee. Needless to say, no point training for something that you would not enjoy doing.

Make a short list of places.
Look at the visa/entry requirements and see where you match.
Assess feasibility and what you like about the possible countries.
Start the planning/paperwork.
Make sure you have a "fund" behind you in case of no work.

I lived abroad for several years in Asia and loved it - but I found the job first as I was employed for specialist skills I have in relation to my work.

Be really practical and avoid emotions:

1. what could your take home salary be? What's rent/food/utilities like? Could you even afford it.
2. what about childcare/ schooling? Where would you want to go? What's the rules on schooling. You mention that you'd be taking the child with you. Does the father agree? (As you'd need permission) and what about visitation for them?
3. how would you speak the language/integrate into the culture?
4. what about coming home? How often? Costs etc.

It's exponentially more difficult moving with kids but it's not impossible.

I am going to sound harsh, but as someone who emigrated I am greatly concerned about the fact that you don't knwow anything yet you've always dreamt about it.
That's not to discourage you, more to make you think you need to put reall effort in it. And honestly it needs quite a lots of research when you move with a child. It's not like moving by yourself.

You got goof lists above, use them as base and properly look into things.

Hairdresser is in the list of skills for Canada, about #257 or so. They have the info you need based on a points system. When we lived there we met people in a small country town who were able to move there under the proviso they lived and worked in small country towns for x number of years before they were allowed to move wherever they wanted.

www.immigration.ca/fast-track-high-demand-occupations

Well, which countries have you spent time in? What languages do you speak?

How old is your child. Will their father allow you to live abroad with them?

Outside of English speaking countries, you can also consider other countries with a significant English speaking expat population, where you might establish a client base. Spain with British pensioners, Dubai with corporate expat types etc.

I know a couple of non-English speaking beauticians in London, primarily catering to women from the same diaspora. I tend to use them, and they seem to be doing very well, definitely able to afford a mortgage etc.

It's do-able but you will need to DO a lot of research - and make sure you have good amount of savings to afford the move (not just the flight, but shipping possessions as well), enough to set up a new home (rent/deposit), schooling may cost money, and you'll need a buffer if you don['to get work immediately, and so on...

short list countries - what's the criteria for you getting into those countries?
what climate are you best suited to (hot / cold / temperate).
apply for the visa (will also have a cost attached). Also be prepared to jump through hoops paperwork-wise.
wait for however long visa takes to be granted.
get a job on arrival or starting applying ahead of time?
on arrival - getting temporary accommodation before finding a long-term home.
schooling - how will that work? how much will it cost? what will suit your child the best (ie, local schooling or international), do you have to apply for a place in advance.
language - depending on country.

and so on... listed out, it sounds onerous but if you are well organised, it's a good side project to be getting on with!

@firstmentat

Outside of English speaking countries, you can also consider other countries with a significant English speaking expat population, where you might establish a client base. Spain with British pensioners, Dubai with corporate expat types etc.

I know a couple of non-English speaking beauticians in London, primarily catering to women from the same diaspora. I tend to use them, and they seem to be doing very well, definitely able to afford a mortgage etc.

I wouldn't include Dubai as not easy to get visa for child as a single parent and working hours in hair and beauty are long.