Everyone tells you to pack light and learn the local language. Great… But where was the advice on finding an apartment without being scammed, not accidentally committing tax fraud, or surviving your first full-blown identity crisis in a foreign country?

Here’s the advice I actually needed — from someone who moved abroad mid-pandemic and figured it out by messing it up.

You’re not just going travelling — you’re moving.

This is also one you might have to repeat to your family… multiple times.

There’s a big difference between a long holiday or travelling and actually moving. I didn’t have an “adult life” sorted back in the UK — I was fresh out of uni, figuring out how to adult. Moving abroad wasn’t about booking flights and grabbing a backpack; it was about setting up a real life, which includes:

• Researching local tenancy rights

• Getting a SIM card with actual data

• Finding out how the bins work (seriously)

Get used to the endless questions

You’ll be asked the same three questions from basically everyone. “Why did you move?” (Because I can?). “Do you miss home?” (Occasionally, but it’s complicated). And of course, “How long are you staying?” (A question that haunts you because you don’t really know). Prepare your answers and the mental gymnastics of trying to explain your decision to people who can’t relate to it. These are some more I’ve had over the years…

• How long are you away?

• When are you settling down?

• But you’'ll come back eventually…?

• How could you leave your friends and family?

Cultural differences are real, but also really cool

When I first moved abroad, I didn’t get culture shock like you’d assume. I moved abroad alone, during a pandemic and UK lockdown, so honestly it was quite nice to experience a different life. I had also travelled quite a lot beforehand. The difference for me was I didn’t actually like Bangkok when I visited as a tourist.

It wasn’t just the language barrier; it was small daily differences that made things unexpectedly difficult. Learning to laugh at myself when I couldn’t figure out basic things like how to pay for a bus ride or get the right kind of coffee (don’t even get me started on the first time I ordered a ‘latte’ in Vietnam). But as much as you’ll mess up, you’ll also learn to love the weird quirks of your new home.

Get your paperwork right!

Visas, health insurance, rental contracts, vaccination proof — all this matters. And sometimes it matters before you board the plane. I moved during the pandemic, which added chaos, but what saved me? A folder with both paper and digital copies of everything. Without this I couldn’t leave the country. Obviously it’s very different now but it does depend where' you’re moving to!

Taxes are a thing… and if you’re gone long enough, you might not owe your home country

This one no one told me, and I had to figure it out myself. If you’re out of the UK for long enough, you may not have to pay UK tax. For me, this was a game-changer. Moving abroad during COVID meant I wasn’t sure of my status — but after digging into international tax rules (and speaking to an accountant), I realised I wasn’t obliged to pay UK taxes. Knowing these rules early can save you from major headaches and keep your finances in check. But it’s not automatic. You need to:

• Track how many days you spend in the UK

• Learn about the Statutory Residence Test

• Consider if you need to file a self-assessment anyway

Even if you’re not making loads of money, get familiar with the basics. Use TaxScouts’ accountants to find out!

Loneliness hits weird and hard — even when you're ‘living the dream.’

No one talks about how lonely it can feel to start again, in a place where no one knows your name. Making friends as an adult is hard. Making them abroad is harder. During a pandemic, even harder!! Prioritise community — fitness classes, co-working spots, WhatsApp groups, Bumble BFF (my personal fave).

You’ll lose your routine, identity, and sometimes your mind — but that’s part of it.

Moving abroad shakes up everything you thought was familiar — from your daily routine to your sense of self. At first, the freedom is exciting, but the lack of routine can feel unsettling. You are still you, but navigating a completely new world. It’s easy to feel lost, like you're slipping between identities, trying to figure out where you fit.

Those first few months can be mentally exhausting. I was weirdly okay because I was so excited and thrilled to be out of lockdown, but I’ve met so many people who struggled a lot, and that’s so normal! You forget what day it is, feel disconnected from old habits, and question everything. But this discomfort is part of the process. It’s how you break free from old patterns and discover who you really are when you’re not defined by your previous life.

The key? Knowing that the “lost” feeling doesn’t last. We are way more adaptable than we think. Eventually, you create new routines, reconnect with yourself in unexpected ways, and build a life that’s more flexible and authentic. It’s a process of reinvention, and though it’s tough at times, it’s where the real growth happens.

You’ll emerge stronger, more adaptable, and with a deeper understanding of who you are — both at home and abroad.

Home’ becomes many places

I thought “home” was a fixed concept. But after moving to Thailand, then Hoi An, and Sri Lanka, I realised home isn’t a place — it’s a feeling. Whether it’s the food, the people, or the daily routine that starts to click, you’ll find yourself weaving your new environment into your definition of home. That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy — it won’t — but trust me, you’ll get there.

Final Thought

Moving abroad isn’t about living the dream. It’s about life, just relocated. It’s not one decision. It’s a hundred tiny ones, every week. Some will be brilliant. Some will be chaos. But the advice you actually need? Expect it to be messy, and build your life anyway. It’s the best decision I ever made, and I have 0 regrets.

💬 Moved abroad and learned the hard way too? Thinking of moving abroad? Drop your best advice below or message me on Instagram — I might turn it into another post.