Out of 195 countries all over the world, it’s understandable why you may be finding it hard to choose a country to move into. This is most especially if you plan on staying there permanently or just for a long time.
Your new country will be your home, the location of your work and/or business, and that is also where you will find new friends. Easy to say, the country that you will choose will play a big part in how your life will turn out.
That said, it’s just right that you put a lot of thought into choosing where you will migrate. To help you with this, we have provided some pointers that you can go through in the following sections.
1. Take the Language and Cultural Barrier into Account
If you want a country that you can easily settle into once you land, then one of the first things that you should look at is the possible language and cultural barrier between you and the country.
As a rule of thumb, if you already know how to communicate in English, you can already live in more than 50 countries, hence your best option. If you want to start learning, then you might as well start with the said universal language.
You should also consider the existing culture of a certain country if you find it particularly hard to adjust to extreme changes. Each country has its own, so when choosing, you can consider those with similar beliefs as your own home country.
2. Consider Ease of Acquiring Citizenships
If you plan on acquiring citizenship from the country you’ll move to in the future, then you should also take their requirements into account. See if the whole process will come off significantly easier than others, and decide from there.
For recommendations, Canada, Peru, and Argentina are some of the countries that top the ranks when it comes to citizenship generosity.
Apart from checking citizenship requirements, make sure to also check the availability and ease of applying for a visa. This is most especially if you will be getting a rather complex type, such as a visa for family members, sponsors, and likes.
3. Figure Out Which Country Will Serve Best for Your Future Plans
Each country has its own field that it excels in. Some take pride in their workforce, others prioritize their business centers, and some focus on their people’s benefits and wellbeing.
That said, it’s just right that you figure out your plans and decide on a country that has the best offers according to your needs. You can easily know which one it is with just a few taps on your keyboard. Don’t forget to specify the search for immigrant-specialized benefits, so you can land accurate results. Talking to locals and fellow immigrants in a certain country will also help you have a more precise answer to your questions. Seeking help with immigration will help you too as professionals can give you better advice in terms of moving from your comfort zone to another country.
4. Take How the Country Treats Immigrants Into Account
No matter how good a country is, it won’t be a good choice if it doesn’t treat immigrants well. This applies to all aspects, specifically their people, amendments, and overall treatment. You have to make sure that you won’t have to face issues like discrimination, loss of opportunities, peace-deprived life, and likes.
Another thing, you should check if a country has specific laws that protect expats like you from the issues we talked about previously. This is where a lawyer or any legal professional will come in handy.
5. Make a Checklist of All Your Needs and Preferences
Since figuring out if a country will be able to cater to both your needs and wants, consider making a checklist consisting of all the things and qualities that you’re looking for in a country. You can do this way before you screen every country that you’re looking into, so you can have a clear view of which one passes your standards and which ones don’t.
Summary
To sum it up, you need to have a clear view of your wants and needs before finalizing the country that you want to move to. You should also take the suggestions of the people that you will be moving with into account.
Note, though, that your responsibility doesn’t stop by just choosing one country. You still have to process your travel documents, such as your passport, visa, entry requirements, and likes, in your local immigration office. Make sure to work with a professional immigration lawyer throughout the process, so you can ensure that you won’t be able to skip a step in your migration needs.
Written by Lara Harper
