Making the decision to leave your life in the UK and move abroad sounds easier than it is. It is not always a simple yes or no decision, there are family members and friends to consider; can you bear not seeing them all the time? There is also the decision to take any pets with you, what are the restrictions, if any, and is it worth the cost?

The next thing you will need to look at is finances. Can you afford the move? What is the cost of living like where you are going? Will you be able to find employment when you get there? You might think these are obvious things to consider, but many people don’t consider the fact that it is not easy to get work in many countries, or that the cost of basic things is much higher than what they are used to.

Depending on where it is that you are planning on moving to, you will have to decide whether to have your belongings in the UK shipped or flown to your new destination. The cost will vary depending on the distance and the most common way is to ship them in a container. This can take several weeks so be sure to get the arrival date in writing from the removals company.

If you are moving outside of Europe it is likely that you will need a visa to stay for more than a select time in the country. But getting a visa is not always easy. If you are planning on moving to America, it is very hard to get permanent residency unless you marry an American. If Australia or New Zealand is the place for you then you will need to qualify for a visa through your skills and experience in a particular field. Have you checked to see that you can qualify, and if so, will the rest of your family be allowed to move with you to the country too?

With so many things to think about, you may feel at times that you cannot cope and that the stress of the move is going to take over. If and when this happens it is important to remain calm. Make a list of the positive reasons for the move and this will help you to re-focus and regain the excitement about the move.

By focusing on the reasons why you want to move abroad, and the better life you will have, you will be able to overcome feelings of anxiety and stress. Amongst the generic questions you need to ask yourself (such as can you afford the move), there will come more unusual questions which at first, you may not have thought of at all. If you have pets, will they be going with you? Are your children all going with you? Sometimes those reaching 17 or 18 years of age will prefer to remain in the UK, especially if they are nearing the end of school and plan on going to a university in the UK. It is important to have the best interests for each family member in mind.