Becoming an Expat (Moving & Living Abroad for Extrepreneurs)

Clarifies the course scope by stating what it is not about. Avoids topics like starting a business, freelancing, or finding love, focusing on the expat community.

Explore how freelancers, entrepreneurs, and employees transfer work and life to a new country, manage possessions and social circles, and choose where to live abroad.

I share my journey from Switzerland to Korea and on to Shanghai, Taiwan, and Italy, showing how remote work and translation enable an expatriate lifestyle and visa-aware living abroad.

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Price arbitrage explains moving to cheaper places like Indonesia or Bolivia to stretch earnings from current clients, while considering whether dollars go further.

Moving to a new area can boost your online business by attracting local clients, even if you don’t speak the local language, since English often serves as the lingua franca.

Leverage people you know in your destination by reaching out to former classmates, friends, or coworkers ahead of moving to get recommendations, meetups, and support.

Learn to assess safety across destinations by evaluating place and area safety, timing of travel, and potential bank account risks, while considering tourist safety.

Navigate visa requirements when choosing where to work abroad, evaluating citizenship advantages and ease of obtaining permits to simplify life.

Becoming an expat requires recognizing that travel and living abroad differ, with bureaucracy and day-to-day logistics like mail and electricity shaping life.

Learn how to manage your home before moving abroad. Rent out or sublet, use Air B and B management services, and enlist a trusted friend to check mail and security.

Explore options for your car before you depart: rent it out or sell it for liquidity. If possible, loan it to a friend or start it up once a month.

Store select items to keep them out of the way, or sell through Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, and garage sales. Avoid shipping, since it's expensive, time-consuming, and risks damage.

Explore how employees can pursue internal transfers by targeting branches in their desired city. Stay marketable with language and finance skills and track intra-company postings.

Explore practical strategies to work remotely, including midweek remote days, proving performance from home, and leveraging relocations or new branches to sustain flexible work.

Consider a leave of absence or sabbatical for six months to a year, often unpaid, to search for a new job or start an online venture.

Quit your job and find a new one before moving abroad to gain international experience, while evaluating multiple options and a potential step up in your career.

Plan and schedule housing viewings before you depart, aiming for about three appointments per day to explore neighborhoods, check online listings, and get the lay of the land.

Plan your transportation by evaluating public transit, walking options, and car sharing like Zipcar; decide whether a car is needed, especially if traveling in Europe or city centers.

Plan payments and cash access in the first weeks abroad by securing cash, opening a local bank account, and using expat groups for options like PayPal or Skrill.

Ensure wifi access anywhere via coffee shops, portable mifi, or airports, connect with expats through online groups and meetups, and plan for double time and money with ample cushion.

Check if you need a visa for your stay length and purpose, then explore options like tourist, student, or visitor visas with embassy guidance.

Explore how to use online expat groups to connect with foreigners, ask questions, and get recommendations when moving abroad, with tips for English-speaking communities in Taipei and Lugano.

Learn how to navigate visas and renewals for expat life, including strict renewal deadlines, embassy guidance, and proactive planning to avoid penalties.

Get health checkups and dental cleanings before you depart, secure travel health insurance, and pack a first aid kit with an emergency fund; consult locals for care options.

Learn how to secure work for a company abroad by navigating time zones, using local and international job sites, and tapping expat networks, alumni, clubs, and chambers of commerce.

Prioritize safety first when traveling after coronavirus and travel only when necessary. Adopt a paranoid approach to systemic pandemic risk, as described by Nassim Taleb.

Before leaving, pack old clothes, masks, gloves, wipes, hand sanitizer, a water bottle, and dried food, and stay mindful of airport terminal risks and jerks, while following social distancing.

Arrive at the airport wearing a mask, keep it on during check-in, and stay mindful of hand movements. After check-in, spray sanitizer and store your passport and ticket until boarding.

Minimize touching surfaces at the airport, avoid handrails and doors, and sit away from crowds. Place all flight items in a plastic bag and use hand sanitizer and wipes.

Board early, wear full gear, and use disinfected wipes to sanitize your seat area including armrests, screen, remote, headrest, and table, then consider moving to empty areas for distancing.

Wear a mask at all times during the flight, except when eating or drinking. Keep your glasses on and continually use hand sanitizer to reinforce protection throughout the flight.

Learn safe meal practices while traveling: bring your own food or decline airline meals, wipe down wrappers, sanitize, and choose cooked items to minimize risk during the flight.

Be mindful in airplane bathrooms as close, high-touch spaces; wear protective gear, circulate air by opening the door, and wash, disinfect hands, and minimize contact using sleeves or towels.

Keep using hand sanitizer throughout the flight and drill the habit seriously, prioritizing sanitization now, even if your hands dry and you address irritation after landing.

On landing, wait for others to exit before rising to keep distance, then in the terminal wash hands thoroughly and step outside as soon as possible.

Upon returning home, wipe down your luggage with disinfectant, shower to remove airplane residue, and decide whether to discard old travel clothes or wash them immediately.

Upon arrival, secure shelter, transport, and access to money, then test your work setup with reliable wifi. Embrace improvisation, adaptation, and overcoming obstacles as you learn from missteps.

Sign up for language classes when moving abroad to learn the local language, meet newcomers, and network through meetups or start your own if needed to access resources.

Apply a professional title when booking travel and accommodations to potentially receive quieter rooms or better service. This anecdote weighs ethical considerations and possible placebo effects.

learn to compare car rental deals using aggregator sites like Kayak, evaluate total prices and inclusions, and document vehicle condition to protect yourself and understand international driving requirements.

Outline an Airbnb plan with a local on-the-ground manager, balanced pricing with surcharges, and reliable cleaning, laundry, and issue handling for guests. Use a management partner with deposits and insurance.

Declutter before moving abroad to minimize luggage and aim to fit belongings into one suitcase or two, respecting airline baggage allowances of up to 23 kilograms (50 pounds) per bag. Do not pack electronics in checked luggage; carry on your laptop, external hard drive, and iPad, and use photos of your luggage and a tracker to locate it if lost, while exploring options like Seoul’s train-station check-in to speed through immigration.

Exchange cash on arrival for immediate funds, use ATMs or cards for better rates, and avoid timing the market; focus on fees and local bank transfers.

Plan two weeks to a month for your initial housing, and secure temporary options like Airbnb, extended-stay hotels with kitchens and loyalty points, or local house sharing while you settle.

Discover how to lock in cheap hotel and Airbnb prices using Booking.com, leveraging mobile-only price deals and the free cancellation option to secure the best price and flexibility.

Upon arrival, jog near a body of water to explore the city, then visit local coffee shops and join meetups or language classes to connect with locals.

Plan road trips with meaningful stops along the way, turning travel into multiple destinations. Listen to podcasts or audio books to make the journey engaging.

Navigate Google Flights to find affordable round-trip fares by exploring flexible dates, tracking price changes for email alerts, and understanding US-only price guarantees.