Moving abroad

[shazza292022]

Hi all!

I really want to live abroad for a few months, maybe 6 months or so! It's something I have wanted to do for quite some time but didn't think I could now because I have a young family. However, l have realised that life is too short and if I have an opportunity to do something like this, I should. Obviously I have my kids to take into consideration so what I'm hoping to do is speak to other people in my situation that has done the same thing. What has been your experience? For context, my kids are 3 and 5, I'm married and I work from home so I would be able to carry on this work wherever I go. My partner on the other hand would have to search for work or take a sabbatical. I would love to hear of people's experience of doing this!

It’s not as easy as it seems since Brexit. You can’t spend more than 90 days in Europe in a 180 day period. You also can’t work in Europe, even if you visit for 90 days and doing it online does not matter, it’s illegal. Your work may also not allow you to work from another country, even if you found a country that would let you stay for 6 months. Most employers won’t allow it due to safety concerns. They may also have VPN’s and similar would completely block working anywhere bar the UK.

Starting points would be to look at the countries outside the Schengen zone, see if you’d like to spend 6 months in any of them and if it’s a nice place to spend time with your family, then approach your employer and ask if you can work from there.

Well, what languages do you speak?

Most employers won’t allow it due to safety concerns.

And tax reasons. Having an employee working abroad changes tax status in that country and your company would have to be authorised to have a business in that country.

With two children six months is a very short time. There would be so much to organise you might be better aiming for a couple of years. Your biggest hurdle would be working visas and childcare. Do you or your husband have skills that are in demand, links to a particular country or speak any languages?

Six months seems like a very awkward period, too long for a vacation and not long enough for anything else.
I think a summer sabbatical might be easier on everyone.

Work may not be possible, your company will have a tax issue on their hand and you don't have a permit to work abroad, there is a lot more than just opening a laptop.

What languages do you speak? How do you plan childcare if you and your husband work (if permitted)?

I think it may be better saving and then taking a sabbatical for travelling if you think you can take your children out of school. Their age may be of an advantage as I think catching up in Y1/2 is easier than when they are 9/10.

Working from home with bored kids is not easy. It will be harder to find a childcare place when you are somewhere as a tourist.
Consider time of year if thinking about Europe. Being in Italy in November is very different from being in Italy in May,
For 6 months, I would go exotic. Something drastically different. More relaxed. Look at visas requirements. You can live without a visa in Belize for example.

With a 5 year old you would be taking them out of school and back in again. Do you live in a over subscribed area could they return to their school or would you need to move them back to familair areas and then change school?