8 steps to prepare you for a job move

1. Decide where you want to move

Every city and country has its pros and cons. Write down the criteria that are important to you, and think about which areas best meet these requirements. Items can be:

• Ease of moving.
• Unemployment rate.
• cultural features.
• Prospects for obtaining citizenship.
• The cost of living in the country.
• The need to learn the language.

For example, to move to Georgia, Russians do not need a visa - they only need a passport. But there is no shortage of personnel in this country, so it will be difficult to get a job in a local company. It is possible to work in the Netherlands as a programmer or a specialist in a private company oriented to foreigners without knowing the local language. And being fluent in English is a must.

If possible, visit the city where you want to move to in advance. Of course, you won’t be able to study all the subtleties, but you will feel whether you are comfortable there. Chat with the locals and find out what they think about life here. Ideally, you need to live in a new city for at least a month, and better - during the non-tourist season. For example, in some countries there is no central heating, and this fact will have to come to terms.

2. Share plans with loved ones

If you are going to move with your family, discuss this with your loved ones even before the offer. It is possible that your partner has his own career plans. The interests of children should also be taken into account. For a three-year-old baby, the move will be as smooth as possible. And a teenager who already has friends and hobbies may take your idea negatively. Describe to him the advantages of the new place. If you plan to live in a new city before you move, take your teenager with you. He will no longer be so afraid of the unknown.

3. Check out the company

If you contacted an employment agency abroad, they must beOn approval of the Regulations on licensing activities related to the provision of services for the employment of citizens of the Russian Federation outside the territory of the Russian Federation, and the invalidation of certain acts and certain provisions of certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation / Normative acts for accountant license to do so. Specify what documents you will be issued - you only need a work visa, not a cultural or tourist one. Before signing the contract, find out the details of the company, your duties, salary, conditions of moving and living. Do not give the original passport to potential employers - a copy is enough to apply for a job.

If you are self-employed, look at information about the company in open databasesOpen databases of foreign countries / Federal Tax Service. Check reviews online. You can look for former employees of the company and ask them to share their impressions of the work.

4. Estimate costs in a new location

Even within the same country, living expenses will vary. In the metropolis, salaries are higher than in the provinces, but housing rent is also more expensive. For example, rent a one-room apartment in Moscow canLong-term rental market: more choice - lower rates / CYAN on average for 43.4 thousand rubles, and in St. Petersburg - for 28.4 thousand. In the US for a studio apartment at the beginning of the year paidAverage monthly apartment rent in the United States from January 2017 to February 2022, by apartment size / Statista 1092 dollars. And in France last year the rent of one-room apartments costAverage monthly rent for rental housing in France in 2021, by property size / Statista 564 euros. Of course, here you also need to take into account that prices largely depend on which region of the country you are in.

Consider also upcoming household expenses. Let's say in Finland one person on average spendsCost of Living in Finland / Numbeo 818 euros per month, and in Spain - 633Cost of Living in Spain / Numbeo. In addition, you will need money for moving - paperwork, visa fees, transport. The company sometimes covers the cost of housing or medical insurance for skilled workers - check if your employer has such an opportunity.

5. Prepare documents

At a minimum, you will need a passport, a medical policy, a social security card. Take a work book, marriage and birth certificates, driver's license, diplomas and certificates, extracts from medical records.

The package of papers for immigration will be wider. As a rule, you need a passport, visa, bank statement, documents on marital status, certificate of no criminal record and tax delay. It is better to renew your passport in advance if its period is coming to an end. Try to pay off all debts on utility bills, fines, consumer loans. Documents must be apostilled - an international stamp that certifies their authenticity. If you are moving with animals, check the import rules. Many countries require a microchip, an international pet passport and a rabies vaccine.

6. Decide where you will live at first

It will most likely be difficult to rent an apartment for a long time remotely. It is better to rent a house for a day and start looking for a permanent one right on the spot. Apartments in the suburbs are usually cheaper than in the city. But check if the transport infrastructure is well developed - if you have to get to work for several hours, it may be better to look for housing closer to the office.

Find out the amount of utilities, whether they are included in the rent or they need to be paid separately. Discuss with the landlord who will compensate for the cost of minor repairs, what you can and cannot do indoors.

Be sure to sign a rental agreement - when renting an apartment without legal registration, you can at one moment be left without a roof over your head. The contract will spell out the terms of employment, payment procedure and other important things. If your knowledge of the language is not enough to delve into the details, it is better to use the services of an interpreter.

7. Gather your things

Think in advance how you will take out furniture and appliances, what you will take with you, and what you will get rid of. You can deliver things to another country with the help of an international carrier by car, train, plane or sea vessel. The choice depends on the direction and your budget. For example, when air transportation, things are delivered within a few days. But it will cost more than a car.

When transporting, you need to make a complete list of things and issue it at customs. If you do not want to deal with the documents, contact the company that will prepare the necessary papers. It is better to take essential things with you in a suitcase.

8. Find people you know in a new city or country

Before moving, search social media for people who live in the city you are going to. As a rule, most diasporas create groups for communication. They will give advice on many everyday issues and suggest interesting places. And after a personal meeting, virtual friends can turn into real ones.

When you are already in place, you can look for people who share your hobby. Join a book club or take dance lessons. Communicate more with colleagues and do not refuse meetings after work. Or you can do something new that you have long wanted to try, such as yoga in the park or enrolling in a diving course. The more often you get out of the house, the more likely you are to make new friends and minimize the stress of moving.