Traveling or moving house? When you decide to make the leap! 

Traveling has never been easier these days; low-cost airlines are multiplying and even taking a plane to go to the other side of the world no longer costs a lot if you’re a bit flexible.

There is also no shortage of opportunities to travel Whether it’s out of a desire to travel around the world, as part of a tourist-work visa or an exchange program abroad, or to travel in a backpacker style, we are increasingly more people who are traveling the world! Moreover, traveling alone is no longer a problem and has largely democratized; in fact, it has become a real way of life that is encouraged especially in our Western societies where the culture of the individual is rising.

But our young people who travel the world, have an exchange in Europe or a mission abroad for a few months, how many of them return? Or rather, how many of them leave again? Because once they have experienced the adventure and the life of an expatriate, everyone agrees that it is often very difficult to adjust to their way of life in France. What was just an initiation trip, a way to open up to the world and to cultures, now becomes a real choice of life: moving to settle down and live abroad.

The number of French residents abroad is growing: in 2017 there were 1.82 million*, a figure that also only includes those registered in the consular register, estimated at between 2 and 2.5 million. This trend is sustainable, with a 30% increase recorded over the last ten years.

Whether it's moving to Europe or moving to the United States (still my second favorite destination!), Preparing for an international move is not something that can be done in a day.. It is indeed a choice that involves many consequences and a complete change of life; it is a project that must be carefully considered and well thought out, otherwise beware of disappointment!

Indeed, a travel project is often a limited experience in time where we will then return to our daily routine, our reassuring environment, our friends and our way of life. Leaving to live abroad is a completely different adventure that requires good adaptability and that also has a financial cost; it is therefore better to do it already being somewhat aware of the costs of an international move In particular. Finding oneself alone, facing the barrier of the language and the administrative difficulties, finding a job and integrating socially are not things that are easy and require good preparation so as not to give up everything at the first obstacle.

Nevertheless, we are increasingly more people who are taking the plunge to settle in another country. More than half of French people living outside France even emigrate for a period exceeding five years! So if you also want to try the adventure, here are some useful tips to start your project:

• meet other expatriates: sign up for the Facebook groups of French people living in the country you would like to go to, participate in meet-ups, browse the testimonies and blogs of expatriates, etc.;
• find out about employment opportunities: find out about attractive and sought-after profiles, French and international companies that recruit, the various visa or mission opportunities abroad (PVT, International Volunteering, Humanitarian Mission, residence permit, etc.); ;
• Administrative procedures: it is important to know the formalities that will be asked of you; the deadlines are also often long, and this will help you better build your project, verify its feasibility, and if your desire has survived all that paperwork and the headaches!
• the budget: finally, moving abroad at a financial cost that depends on your situation: if you are single with a few suitcases or if you are moving in with your family and you need to leave your current home, the budget will obviously not be the same. It is important to make an estimate of your costs and not hesitate to ask for help. request moving quotes to get a better idea of the prices and the service provided. It is also a valuable document to inform you about the many aspects and procedures required by the host country.

*Figures – government report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs