Another issue is when you are a (not legally married) couple, it becomes very hard to move from one place to another. There is a challenge for getting a job for one person, it becomes even harder when you are two… individuals.

The “money in bank” is a luxury that not many have. I’m not saying it is not doable, but it can become a very hard challenge. Even more if the type of job you will get after the move is not generating a lot of revenues, making it even easier more difficult to move.

I would rephrase the item 2. Indeed being light is cool. Some people are already super light, because they do not have money. The way I would phrase it is that it is all about a choice of life style. What you invest in physical property (aka object) is both a burden for your next move and less money for moving.

But at a high level, these are good guidelines.

K: – my feeling about visas is first figure out how to get into a country – typically on a tourist visa, then using the network of people who are on the ground going through similar experience – figure out how to stay. Its not that much of a leap of faith.

As most countries I am interested in moving to require you to either have a job or be entering school in order to get a visa to move to the country and then work there.
For example, I am a US citizen. I cannot just pack up and move to the UK without having either a job lined up or being enrolled in a school there, or marrying a UK citizen. Otherwise I can only get the 3 month visa.
Is this information wrong? Has anyone successfully relocated to the UK from the US without first having a job/school/partner there?

Dealing with health care and finances are by far and away the biggest issues I’ve encountered moving internationally (after visas). Anything that can be done that makes those two things easier is worth it.

You don’t have to move all at once, if you’re “testing the waters”. You can only move all you need for…a year, for example: clothes, documents, some books/papers/documents. The rest stays in storage, waiting for a second call from you: “ship [fill the blanks]” …
:)

#4 – get a multi-visa save passport pages. I really, really hate Kenya right and their full page single visas right now.

#6 – scan your passport critical documents and email it to your self under innocuous names. In many places like Mali, a photocopy of a passport and an official stamp at a local mayor’s office constitutes a legal ID. I’ve never had an issue with my Illinois Driver’s license though.

Some other tips:

- Do bring good kitchen knives and a quality frying pan or two if you like to cook. Maybe in Asia you can get this but in Africa your SOL.

- Digitize everything – music, photos, movies or just get it from the Internet later. It’s amazing how much you won’t miss.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by afromusing: New on Future Perfect: 10 tips for international relocation: http://wp.gd/tsTyW What’s yours? (via @janchip)…

(Well, give or take splashing out for expensive property when renting will do fine)

It’s undoubtedly the best way to get under the skin of a country, and to quickly shake off any temptation one might have to think one is a) still a tourist, or b) a closeted expat.

If lucky enough to be traveling with kids, their quick entry to a school also accelerates feeling like one is a stakeholder in the community. This is the one thing we *do* plan ahead.

Also I try in those first few weeks to capture – however best – as many things as possible that strike one as strange, quirky, or downright bizarre. After not very long even they can start to seem mundane.

(At least until the relatives come out to visit and you get to relive the craziness of what you’ve just done all over again, through astonished eyes… quite an enjoyble experience too, actually)

Me? England, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, India & Belize. Have fun in China – it sounds like you already are.

Open your eyes a little wider, notice the details, the nuances of your walk to the grocery store, the familiar face at the dry cleaner. After the novelty of your new destination wears off and the real transition begins, it’s nice to look back and remember all that you accomplished, discovered and learned in the last strange place where you made yourself right at home.