Reasons to move to another country in 2024

There are plenty of reasons to move to another country, for better education, work, a better retirement plan, a better environment, etc. Or you don’t even need to have a specific reason but just always wanted to move overseas, and that’s totally fine too.

I’ve moved overseas since I was 15, firstly for an exchange year, then university, then now for work. It’s been around 10 years since I made this life-changing decision, it’s been amazing and I have no regrets about it.

For those people out there who have the question “should I move overseas?”, but can’t seem to decide as you can’t find a reason, I’m here to help you with that. To let you know all the good reasons to move to another country! And some people just need a little push 🙂 

Without further ado, let’s dive into all the reasons to move to another country, so you can decide whether you want to move overseas or not.

Why should I move overseas in 2023?

Should I move overseas
Should I move overseas?

For everyone who hasn’t been living under a rock should know there was a pandemic that kept many many people from traveling for the past 2-3 years. And even now it is still affecting many people’s lives, but most countries are opening up and looking for foreign talents.

So when’s a better time to move overseas than 2023, take your first step and everything else will fall into place! If you still need more reasons to move to another country, check out below!

Widen your view

Moving overseas means leaving everything you’ve built in your home country behind. It is scary but at the same time, you will gain so much more. You will start seeing things that you wouldn’t have staying back home, learn new things that you could not possibly learn back home, meet new people from different cultural backgrounds, etc.

Your view of life will shift, your idea of the world will change, and even your personality might change a bit as well. And all because you’ve widened your view by making the big decision of moving overseas. One of the very compelling yet scary reasons to move to another country, especially for those who’re afraid of changes.

Learn a new language

Different language

One of the greatest reasons to move to another country I believe. There’s no better way to learn a language than to surround yourself with the language. Of course, you can learn the basics from textbooks, online, videos, etc. But there’s so much more that you won’t learn unless you start using the language in real-life situations.

So the fastest way to learn is to move to another country that speaks the language you’re learning. By putting yourself in an environment that forces you to speak, and listen to the language. For me, being able to speak and understand is way more important than being able to read and have perfect grammar. 

The key to learning a new language when you move overseas is to NOT be ashamed or shy, SPEAK SPEAK SPEAK. You will learn much faster by making lots of mistakes, laugh it off and move on. Don’t be afraid and end up only speaking to those who have the same language as you, it kind of defeats the purpose of moving to another country to learn the language.

Meet new people

Moving overseas allows you to meet people from different countries, as being a foreigner in a country makes it easier for you to meet other foreigners. So the connection you make is not limited to the people from the country you move to. And this is one of the reasons to move to another country that will benefit you in the long run!

Each person you meet today has the potential to turn into your biggest support in the future, whether it is to your personal life, career, or your family. And you can gain so much more knowledge than you would be able to from reading a textbook. 

You’ll get to experience and learn about different cultures, backgrounds, and mindsets and realize there is a much bigger world out there. Once you’ve put yourself out there to make friends with people worldwide, you’ll become more open-minded and respectful of different cultures!

Better work opportunities

Many people move overseas for a better work environment, better pay, or wider career choice. It is one of the biggest reasons for adults to move to another country! It is a good opportunity for people looking to expand their careers.

And having work experience from overseas will also enhance your CV, and you would most likely acquire some different skills and perspectives; which will be super helpful and beneficial if you ever go back to your home country.

Also, working overseas at least once will most likely change the way you think, and adapt to different working environments and colleagues faster. This is a crucial soft skill that will be helpful for anything new you try, and any new environment you move to!

Better Education

Depending on what you want to study, there might not be enough resources in your home country to support that. Therefore, moving overseas to further your education becomes a big reason to move to another country! 

You will also meet students from different countries, lessons that are taught differently than in your home country, or a different learning environment. All of these will potentially make you a more innovative student who will stand out from the crowd, especially after you graduate and are looking for a job!

There are so many programs now that provide you the opportunity to study overseas, so grab it whenever you’re offered. Even if it’s only for a year, it will be a life-changing experience that you can take with you for life!

A good challenge

Moving overseas and leaving your life behind is the first step in stepping out of your comfort zone, it can be one of the biggest, and most challenging decisions one has to make. There are many challenges along the way that can shape your personality, strengthen your mentality, and eventually boost your confidence.

From culture shocks, and unfamiliar language to different lifestyles. Those are the things that you can only experience by stepping out of your comfort zones, it can be very hard for some people at first. But you will eventually get the hang of it, and appreciate every challenge that was thrown your way.

After you face the challenges, and conquer all of them; you will then realize how beneficial they were. When you look back, they are all going to be some great stories to tell 🙂

Become more independent and resilience 

Moving overseas is a big decision to make, and can be life-changing. Once you move overseas, meaning you will start everything from scratch most of the time. You have to make new friends, look for a new job, adapt to a new food, lifestyle, etc. And all these will make you become a more independent person with much more resilience.  

When you’re alone overseas, your family or friends won’t be there to help when needed. When you miss your home food, you’ll need to learn how to cook it; when you are sick, you need to look up to doctors or home remedies to overcome the sickness. For some people, it might be the first time they have to do their own laundry, take out the trash, etc. And they might seem like small things, but as the saying goes:

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”

Vicent Van Gough

All of these will become a lot easier once you’re settled in, but those soft skills you learn along the way will be with you for life. The independence, the resilience will allow you to make bigger decisions, and be less afraid of doing something new!

Final tips and advice

moving abroad map

If moving to another country has always been on your bucket list, then go do it. There’s really no right or wrong decision to make here, as you’d never know what will happen once you move to another country. Being thorough with your research is important, but if you overthink it too much; it will just unnecessarily freak you out.

It is true that moving overseas is not for everyone, there are difficulties living in a foreign country. But it’s very hard to tell whether it will work out for you or not by just reading about others’ experiences. Instead, try it yourself and decide. For me, knowing the worst is better than being left wondering.

It’s definitely not all butterflies and rainbows once you move overseas, and could be nothing as you imagine. But it’s something you just have to do to know, either way, there will be some valuable lessons you learn along the way!

Read More: How to overcome homesickness while overseas?