What Are the Most Common Mistakes Expats Make?

Moving into a new country as a digital nomad or a remote worker can be stressful enough on its own, but then comes a wide variety of things that can go wrong. Suddenly, the movie can seem very overwhelming. With that in mind, we put together this short list of four mistakes that ex-pats make when moving to a new country.

Many people have a perfectly rational fear of not enjoying the same products in the country of their choice as they do at home. This is true. Most places will have products sold by different brands or won’t even exist in the country at all. However, this won’t be solved by taking too many things with you. Part of getting to know a place is searching for ways to adapt your life to a new space. Accepting that there are things you might not get is simply part of the process – and hey, maybe it will help you try out something new. This does not extend to medication or other such essentials, but everything else should be more or less replaceable.

Many people pay for rent on their new mid-term rental, pay for the flight ticket, and that’s it. But there are a lot of hidden expenses for just about any move. There’s the obvious stuff like banking account fees, healthcare bills and so on but also things like uncancelled subscriptions or overpriced insurances.

Each country might also provide you with some benefits towards your public transportation, taxes, or other expenses, and it will take you some time before you find those out. Similarly, buying inexpensive food shops just because they’re near is another way to lose a lot of money at the start of one’s stay. So it pays off to always have a little bit more money with you than you think you’ll need.

Some ex-pats are shy or nervous about meeting the locals. Many don’t know how to start a conversation and when they do, they quickly realise there is a gap between their own experiences and the experiences of the locals. And even though this may often be just a difference in culture, it still makes it difficult for some people to embrace their new surroundings fully.

Another reason you should have some local friends is that they may explain or help you out with your new country of choice. But a similar mistake does not have any ex-pat friends at all. The experience of an ex-pat is as unique as the local experience, and each will give you a different side of the story when it comes to living in the country of your choice. Make sure you have both locals and ex-pats in your life to understand your new home best.

People often move to a new country without really knowing how anything works. This can end up badly, depending on how unlucky you are. Not paying your taxes, not having the proper insurance, or even just not knowing when your visa ends are all things that can make your life go downhill fast. Make sure you understand what insurance you have, that you have all the contracts signed, all the taxes filed, and all the authorities informed. This may seem like a hustle, but it will save you in the long run.