A theme I come across often in Facebook posts, is where people, after moving abroad, say that they are surprised by the weather/taxes/how people live, etc., in their new countries.

Research is SO important. I understand that you can google temperatures and weather and still be blindsided by what it really feels like. And I know that there are things you never consider because they’re simply not within your “realm of normal”. I get that.

BUT, a lot of surprises can be avoided by doing research.

Things To Research Before Moving Abroad

Here’s a list of the most important things that you need to research before moving abroad:

Weather

There are so many sites online that will show you daily weather for the last year, temperature averages, hours of sunshine per month, and rain days per month. You can compare different cities across the world with each other by annual average temperatures, by month.

Ask those who live there how they cope with the weather. If you are active and willing to try new winter sports you will, for example, be much more likely to adapt to longer, colder winters.

Housing

Use Google images, maps, street views, etc. to get an idea of what suburbs look like. Yes, in many countries houses are much closer (and in some much, much, much closer) than in SA.

It isn’t bad, it is just different to what we’re used to.

In some areas you will be able to get more space by living further out of the city or by living out in the country, but this may not be an option for you.

We rented a house in Ottawa for a year. It was convenient, close to the park, lovely neighborhood, BUT we knew that it would be temporary as we needed more space to “breathe”. So, we KNEW that my husband would have to have a longer commute to work. If this weren’t an option, we would have made the best of it until that could change.

Government

Read online newspapers, listen to radio stations, research the political system and understand how it works.

If you are very conservative in your political views, then going to a country that is very left-leaning will probably not be for you.

Education

Check the level of education, but also get an understanding of how the school system works.

If you are all for the South African “short back-and-sides”, strict uniform rules, etc., then you will need to be aware that it is unlikely that you will get that in your new country. You will have to adapt or pay for a private school that meets those needs for you.

Research if sports are part of school, or usually played in clubs outside of school.

Years ago, there was a letter written to Huisgenoot by “Mev Dr. in Koue Kanada.” She voiced her severe disappointment in there not being any cricket and netball for her kids in the rural prairie provinces of Canada. A little research would’ve gone a long way!

Sports

If sports is super important to you and your kids: Go to a country where they can play that particular type of sport.

Yes, rugby is growing in Canada, but if rugby is your passion there are probably other countries that are better. Or be willing to try something else

Yes, club sports is more expensive than doing sport at school. So, prepare to budget for that.

Cost of Living

The Numbeo website is excellent for researching cost of living. It isn’t always 100% correct (for us and how we budget and spend), but it is an excellent place to get a good idea.

Pets

Pets usually have to be in quarantine for a while after moving abroad. Find out what the cost of that will be.

Also check how pets live, costs, vet costs, pet insurance, etc., in your new country.

Medical Costs

Some countries, like Canada, provide universal health care. Other countries, like the US, do not, and health care and health insurance can be very expensive.

Find out if there is federal/provincial health care. Make sure you understand how it works, and what the costs are, etc.

Taxes

Find out not only about income tax, but all those other “hidden taxes”, like sales tax, property tax, etc.

I’m sure there are a million other things but those are the big things off the top of my head.

Where To Get Information

To do your research, hit up your favorite Internet search engine. But be careful. Try to verify information with official sources and watch out for scammers.

Ask pointed questions in expat groups on Facebook if you have concerns. What may be a concern for you, may not be an issue for someone else, so they may never mention that. If you’re considering Austin, Texas, join South Africans in Austin (Texas). Other good groups are South Africans living overseas share their good and bad experiences and Immigration USA.

Good luck to you. Moving overseas can be tough, but it can also be the best move you ever made!

From the many email inquiries that we receive at SA-Austin.com, one thing is clear… emigration is a topic that comes up in many South African households.

This is not a new trend. South Africans have been moving to other countries in droves for at least a couple of decades. Politicsweb published an article that put the number of South African emigrants at more than 588,000 in 2010.

People have many reasons for wanting to leave South Africa, and it is typically thought that such a step will remove those issues from their lives. Depending on which country they go to, for the most part, that is true.

However, nobody should be under the illusion that emigration is easy. It is of course not impossibly difficult, but it is not necessarily a walk in the park.

Here are some of the issues that will come up…

Emigration… Which Country?

The first emigration question to consider is which country to emigrate to. You must have some sort of idea about whether you think you can live there happily. For example, if you simply can’t function in cold weather, Canada would not be a good choice for you. Do some homework on what life is like in the countries you are considering.

Visas

Some people think that you can simply show up at your new country with a tourist visa and move in. Not true! You need a specific visa that allows you to live and work in your new country.

Sometimes these can be very difficult to obtain. The USA is notoriously difficult to get into. If you win a Green Card in the Green Card Lottery, you’re set. If not, you will have to a find a job with an employer that is willing to sponsor a work visa (H1B). If you have an established business in South Africa and you want to open a branch in the US, you can transfer yourself to the branch on a L1 visa.

However you do it, the visa is critically important and can be a deal-breaker. Despite your preferences, you may be forced to pick a country where you can get the right visa.

Wrapping Up Your Affairs

Assuming that you have the correct visa for the country of your choice, the next step will be to wrap up your affairs in South Africa.

This may include selling your house and/or possessions. Some people ship their possessions to their new country, but this may not be practical if you don’t have many valuable possessions or your new country has a different electrical system.

You will have to wrap up your income tax affairs with SARS. This will include closing your old bank accounts and obtaining a new “blocked” bank account, as well as obtaining a tax clearance certificate from SARS (a certificate that states that all income taxes have been paid).

Your Family

Here comes the potentially sensitive part… your family and how they feel about your decision to leave.

Some families understand and support the new emigrants-to-be, but others don’t. They might not share your sentiments about your reasons for wanting to emigrate.

You will have to break the news gently, especially to parents for whom it can be a devastating thing to see their children go off.

Departure

Brace yourself for some strong emotions on the day of your departure.

You will be anxious because you’re heading into the unknown. You will also be sad because you’ll be saying goodbye to your family, not quite knowing when you’ll see them again. Your family, and especially your parents, will be anxious and sad for the same reasons.

After 20 years in the US, and several trips to South Africa to go visit, I can tell you that the goodbyes at the airport are still not easy.

Arrival In The New Country

When arriving in your new country, you will probably still feel a little anxious because of the unknown-thing, but you will probably also feel somewhat excited. There you are, standing at the beginning of something new and exciting, ready to take on the world.

After a few days, that feeling will likely subside and the reality of what you have done, will kick in. That is not necessarily bad, but you might feel somewhat lonely.

This is why it is a good idea to try to connect with other South Africans in the area as soon as you can. They will help to give you back that feeling of belonging that you need. These days it is quite easy to connect with such groups. Many of them have websites (like this one) or Facebook groups.

[Update] As Jurie Korkie suggests in the comments, it is also important to make some friends with locals in your new community. When they hear your accent, many will be fascinated and interested in your story. Look for social events or clubs in your area, or if you are religiously-inclined, join a local church.

The First 2 Years

In my experience, you need to give yourself at least two years to make peace with the fact that you are now living in a new country. You will probably question your move and sometimes feel sad about it. You may even strongly consider packing up and moving back home. Give yourself at least two years to get over these feelings and to adapt to your new home.

If all this sounds negative, it isn’t meant to be negative… it is meant to be realistic. It is meant to help you understand what you will be facing when you emigrate. It is meant to strengthen your mind to take on the challenges that you will be facing and to become one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have made a success of their emigration.

If you are considering emigration, I wish you all of the best   

Do you have an opinion on emigration, or an experience to share? Let us know in the comments…