Many people want to move abroad and many people do make that “journey” every single year. If you have decided you want to move abroad you will need to check that it is legally possible for you to do so. Whilst it is relatively easy to move to another EU country, if you want to move further, for example to Australia or America, work, property and visas can all put a stop to your plans.

If you are an EU national, then there are not too many restrictions and you are free to travel within the EU without the need for visa entry to each country. You can travel to most countries in Europe and stay for a maximum of three months with just a visitor stamp. After these three months if you wish to stay longer, you apply for residency. This must then be renewed every year for 5 years, at which time you can apply for permanent residency or even citizenship.

If you wish to move outside of Europe it will be a much harder, longer process. Australia and America are renowned for being difficult to get into for a long period of time. Skilled migrants are the most accepted, as the countries are happy to take people who have something to offer the countries economy. New Zealand and Australia work on a points system to dictate whether or not you would be eligible for a visa. The points are based on skills, education and experience. You must apply for a visa if you wish to live in any of these countries.

If you have your heart set on New Zealand or Australia then take a look at their list of skilled migrants, which has the jobs sectors which require workers. You could train as one of these professions solely to gain knowledge and experience that will benefit your application.

Many countries will only employ foreign nationals to do a job if they do not have one of their own citizens who are able to do it. There could also be language barriers, depending on where you are moving to, that could hinder your success in the local job market so bear this in mind if you will be relying on finding work abroad. By employing only their own people, countries such as Jamaica keep the level of immigrants down as not many people could afford to live there without a job.

It is always worthwhile hiring a registered migration agent to guide you through the visa application process. And when it comes to buying a property, an independent solicitor or lawyer, no matter where in the world you are thinking of buying, and no matter if the local language is English or not, should be a must. You always need legal advice to ensure the whole process is legal and also to make sure you are covered or every eventuality.

We all know how stressful it can be to buy a house, whether in the UK or anywhere else. There will be a lot of trust you have to give to the people around you; the lawyers, estate agents and mortgage brokers, not to mention the banks. Make sure the solicitor is not working on behalf of anybody else related to the property and that they have your best interests at heart. If there is even the slightest of language barriers then have all legal documents professionally translated so that you understand everything you are signing and agreeing to. Purchasing property has no standard routine and will vary from country to country, as will restrictions or laws. For example there are many countries that do not let foreign individuals purchase land, including gardens!

Either way, do as much research as you can when it comes to these three things, and always get legal advice when buying a property.

Start your hunt for a home abroad here…
If you’re searching for an overseas property, a good place to start is the Overseas Guides Company’s new property search facility. To start your search now visit http://www.emigrationguide.com/content/emigration-properties