Have you noticed that some lucky people seem to live all over the world? They haven’t won the lottery, and they’re living normal lives- they’re just doing it from a different country every 1-2 years.
So how do these people manage to live all over the place without living off an inheritance? By doing whatever they can to make it work. Here’s how you can be a permanent expat too:
Go where the visas are
Many countries have reciprocal visa programs. That means that you may be able to get a visa for a year or more to study or work in a new country. Canada and the United Kingdom allow people from Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries to stay for up to two years. Many other countries make it easy for you to get a long term visa or to continually renew a tourist visa as well.
Make money remotely
If you want to be able to live anywhere, you’ll need to be able to make your money from anywhere as well. There are many options for this. You could start a website and monetise it with sponsored posts or affiliate marketing. You could try online gambling and check out websites like M88 or FUN88. You could learn how to code or begin freelance consulting or writing.
Whatever it is, set up a steady stream of income before you move overseas so you can ensure that you can pay your bills from anywhere.
Choose destinations wisely
If you’re low on cash, you’ll need to choose destinations where your money will go further. That means heading to places like Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, or Central America. If you’ve got more than enough to keep you afloat for a while, you can head to Western Europe, Oceania, or North America.
Make friends on the ground
It’s a lonely life if you’re an expat in a new country and have no friends. That’s why it’s a good idea to begin making friends before you arrive. Most cities will have groups dedicated to expats on Facebook, so you can arrange to meet up with some new people before you arrive. You’ll also find plenty of meetups and events for foreigners, and you can also integrate with some of the locals by taking language lessons and then hanging out where they hang out.
Be wise
Remember, if you’re planning to live overseas at some point, you’ll need insurance. While there are short-term options like Worldnomads, it can be worth seeing if you can get local insurance to cover you for any emergencies or visits to the doctors. The last thing you need is to get sick in a foreign country and be uninsured as you could be out a lot of money.
Are you a permanent expat? Do you have anything to add to these tips? Leave a comment below.
