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Overseas Homes and Emigration

Almost one in 10 British citizens is living overseas, according to a recent study of people coming in and out of the UK and it is a trend that shows no sign of abating in the future.

Drawn by better climates, a better quality of life and overall standards of living, every year over 107,000 people are moving abroad permanently. A staggering 5.5m British-born people are now living abroad according to a recent survey by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

While Australia, Spain and the US are traditionally the top locations for migrating Britons, an increasing number are heading to major Asian economies. In all, 41 nations each have at least 10,000 permanent British residents. The majority of migrating Britons are young workers without families, followed by those seeking to retire overseas.

According to the IPPR's research, those most likely to leave the UK are young workers without families, along with those seeking to retire.

Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, co-author of the IPPR’s report, says that "Two-thirds of Britons who leave do so to seek employment abroad - and are replaced by skilled professionals from elsewhere in the world. Young people were the most likely to want to leave, with a quarter saying they were hoping to live abroad.”
Dr Sriskandarajah said the new figures indicated emigration would grow further.

"If current trends continue, we could expect as many as a million more British nationals to emigrate over the next five years," he said.
Lord Triesman, Foreign Office Minister for Consular Affairs, said he welcomed the report, which is the first significant study into British citizens who live overseas.

You want to move overseas, so what now?
For those who are looking to move overseas permanently, the first question is Where? And this is where thorough research can’t be underplayed. It is not enough to have enjoyed a two-week holiday somewhere to base a decision on something as important as where you will emigrate, although it is not a bad place to start. In truth, most people are drawn to a particular country prior to making the decision to move permanently, rather than just wanting to emigrate somewhere.

Make an emigration wish list
Your first and most important step is to define exactly what your motives are in moving overseas. What are you hoping to achieve, and what do you realistically hope will be different for you and all of those involved? An emigration wish list for each family member is a good place to start. This can cover those things that are essential and nice to have, as well as concerns and things to avoid. Once this is agreed by you and your family, the research begins in earnest!

What are the criteria for immigration in your chosen country / shortlisted countries?
If you know the country you want to move to or have a shortlist of possible countries, the first step is the Government website which will give you a background as to their immigration policy and what you need to do. From this you can quickly tell if you meet their criteria and you can explore the options further.

What you have to offer?
What are your skills and current experience and where will these best fit. For most countries, there will be employment websites where you can search for the type of opportunities you are interested in, or employment agencies that you can talk to. Important things to note are any differences in qualifications you may need and what you can expect to earn. Some visas are dependent on you having secured employment prior to moving, so this should also be considered.

Other factors to consider?
The list is endless and will be personal to you and your family members. Your emigration wish list will help you focus on the important areas to your family and are likely to include things such as: schools, property prices, living costs, language, sports, employment opportunities for both you and your partner or other people moving with you, location, facilities, lifestyle, accessibility to the UK for visiting relatives and friends.
Once you are armed with all of this information for your chosen country or shortlisted countries, it is time to pinpoint the region or city that is right for you. When looking at employment websites, you should have a good idea of the places that are looking for your skills. Tourism websites and regional websites can help you further pinpoint areas that will offer you your ideal lifestyle and pursuits. If you are finding this really hard, then forums or the use of a specialist emigration consultant can be of benefit.

Visiting your shortlisted location(s)

When you have narrowed down your options, it is time to visit the places on your shortlist to investigate further – if you are looking far afield it can be an expensive job, but better than regretting your decision further down the line. Try to set-up meetings with potential employers and property agents and talk to locals about their way of life wherever you can – even better if you can find British migrants to talk to. Again forums should be able to help you – or just a call to a few employment and property agents should uncover people they can refer you to. Once back home, how does each place match against your wishlist.

Your emigration checklist:
This section covers the costs of actually researching and realising your emigration desires as well as the whole range of financial and practical considerations you need to make provision for. This list is by no means conclusive and we would recommend you read up on the particular country you are looking to move to. Any good bookshop will have a wide range of reading material on moving overseas and it is worth looking at forums online for advice from those who have done it themselves.

1. Emigration budget - Firstly, you need to decide on your emigration budget. This will need to cover all of your research, including scouting trips overseas, plus any additional trips you need to make once you have decided on a location to view or buy property, engage in employment interviews or fulfil local qualification commitments. The use of an emigration consultant or fees for visa applications and official documentation will need to be factored in at this stage.

2. Foreign currency transfer – when moving substantial funds overseas, you can make significant savings by shopping around and discussing your requirements with a specialist at the outset. By protecting yourself against substantial fluctuations in currency markets you can maximize the rates of exchange and make your money go further. We recommend using the services of a foreign exchange company such as Mercury fx. www.mercury-fx.com

3. Tax and financial advice – each country will have different rules and regulations and it is important to understand the implications for your savings, pensions and investments. Using a financial advisor who specialises in migrant money matters will help you to ensure you have every angle covered. We recommend contacting the Homes Overseas Property Club who have a network of specialist advisors who work specifically in the overseas property market. They can also advise you on specialist mortgages and insurance products for overseas buyers. www.hopropertyclub.co.uk

4. Property – working out your property budget will help you refine where you can afford to live. Is it near the amenities you were looking for in your wish-list. And this is where Tailored Home can help. By giving us your brief on where you are looking to live, what budget you have and what property type you are looking for, we can help you to find your perfect property overseas. Our specialist knowledge of overseas and UK property markets mean we can match your requirements and secure your new home easily and efficiently. Let us help you find your perfect overseas or UK home. Click here to fill in the contact form now!

5. Health cover – what is the healthcare situation in your country-to-be. Not only will you need to take out travel insurance, but will you automatically be covered by a national health service on arrival? If not you may need to make additional provision for this through your insurance. The Homes Overseas Property Club have a wide range of specialist insurance products that have been tailor made for overseas property buyers. www.hopropertyclub.co.uk

6. Removals – whether you are taking everything with you or selling off and making a new start overseas, it is wise to plan your removals early. Most reputable specialists advise that you contact them three to sox months before you plan to move overseas. Bearing in mind that some goods can be in transit for up to four weeks, it is wise to ensure that all the things you need will be with you when you need them to be. Get this timing wrong and you could be seeing your possessions off before you plan to or waiting for them for a long time in your new home country. And if you have family pets who are also coming with you, consider that they may need inoculations or a period of quarantine to factor in.