Expatriation is a unique and enriching experience that can bring a lot on a human level. You’ll have the opportunity to meet new people, discover a new way of life, boost your career… However, expatriation isn’t something you can improvise. You need to prepare your expatriation in detail. Here are the main points to bear in mind.
Learn about the culture of your host country
Before leaving, we often think about learning the language of the new country. But making a success of your expatriation also means knowing the culture of the country you’re moving to. Numerous studies show that underestimating cultural differences is one of the main causes of expatriation failure. Preparing for your expatriation will help you reduce misunderstandings at work and in your private life.
Moving, a key stage in a successful expatriation
Whether you’re moving for a short or long time, there are a number of steps to follow for a successful move. First of all, it’s best to use a qualified removal company when moving abroad. You can also use the more economical but also more time-consuming container shipping services. Ask directly to a transport company.
Taking your pet abroad
You have a pet and would like to take it with you on your expatriation. You’ll need to plan months in advance. You’ll need to fill in the required vaccinations, the conditions for transporting the animal and the necessary travel documents. In Europe, pets have been required to have a European passport since July 3, 2004, in accordance with Regulation (EC) 998/2003 of the European Parliament. Since January 1, 2009, the passport has become the only official document certifying rabies vaccination. For countries outside Europe, you should contact the diplomatic or consular services of the destination country. This will enable you to obtain the sanitary conditions for the entry of pets.
International or local driver’s license?
Another important point is the driver’s license. You need to check whether, under the local laws of your future host country, you can continue to use it, or whether you need to exchange it for a local permit. In some cases, the country requires drivers to take a full driving test. For your vehicle, if you keep it and do not keep an address in your country, you will need to modify your registration and choose a co-holder whose address will be linked to the car.
Informer votre banquier et résilier vos abonnements
Contact your banker to inform him of your expatriate status. You’ll be in the clear and familiar with all the formalities involved in moving.
A few days before departure, you’ll need to take into account the subscriptions you’ll need to cancel and those you’ll need to take out in your host country (water, gas, electricity, internet and telephone). Finally, when it comes to mail tracking, international final forwarding allows all mail to be returned to the new home address, for a period of up to one year.
Anticiper l’inscription des enfants à l’école
When it comes to schooling expatriate children, you have several options:
- une école 100% locale pour une immersion totale dans la culture,
- une école bilingue votre langue- la langue locale,
- l’école à distance…
In all cases, you must have all the necessary documents (report cards) to register your children.
Pensez aussi à vos proches pour bien préparer votre expatriation
As an expat, you may be going abroad with your family. The expatriate’s accompanying spouse and children are often forgotten in this preparation. Research into expat life clearly shows that failure to take into account the expatriate’s follower spouse, and in particular the expat’s wife, is another major cause of expatriation failure. Children, too, are often forgotten before going abroad. We often think of bilingual schools, but we forget to prepare our children for the changes, and in particular for the distance from their friends. This is often a source of conflict, especially when you’re moving abroad with teenagers.
Construisez votre réseau d’expatriés sur place
Ready to pack your bags and embark on your expat adventure? Don’t forget to contact expatriate welcome groups as soon as you arrive to find out what’s going on in the city and get your bearings. On the other hand, as soon as you get the chance, take an interest in the locals! Try to get out of the group of people of your own nationality so that you can experience the adventure to the full and benefit from the good advice of the locals to help you fit in as well as possible!
Assurance expatrié et sécurité lors de son expatriation
Are you an expatriate for a few months or a few years? In any case, unforeseen circumstances, such as accidents or hospitalization, can be very costly. Taking out international expatriate health insurance will enable you to leave with peace of mind and take full advantage of your new environment. Mondassur offers you GoldExpat insurance. The latter can be taken out by anyone living outside their country of nationality, expatriating abroad or outside their country of origin, for any length of time. Whether you’re self-employed, an artist, a corporate executive or a craftsman, you can benefit from GoldExpat expatriate insurance.
Préparer son retour après une expatriation
We often tend to think of expatriation from the point of departure, but preparing for your return is just as important, and can’t be done at the last minute. Returning to one’s country of origin involves a whole host of formalities. Expatriate status lasts only for a short time, and professional reintegration into the company is not to be neglected. To prepare your return from expatriation, you need to cultivate it on a regular basis by keeping in touch with the company, keeping yourself frequently informed of any departures or arrivals in the company… As far as work is concerned, you need to prepare your return as soon as you leave. You’ll need to discuss this with your employer when you draw up your expatriation contract, and keep abreast of any opportunities that may be of interest to you.
Réapprendre à vivre dans son pays d’origine
Finally, relearning how to live in your country of origin is just as important. You’ll need to prepare yourself internally for your return home, to get ready for “a new expatriation”. The feeling of being a stranger in one’s own country after experiencing a new way of life is a common one. Rehabilitating and re-establishing social ties is therefore essential.
Don’t forget to take your first administrative steps at least six months in advance (notifying change of address, collecting pay slips, forwarding mail, registering children at school…).
