Expats Advised to Know Before You Go

Would-be expats are still not doing enough research before they up sticks and depart for pastures new according to research by the Foreign & Commonwealth Offfice’s Know Before You Go Campaign, which shows that Brits embarking on a life abroad still consider the weather as a more important factor than practical issues such as learning the language, finding out about the country, health services or finances. However, these are the issues, according to Phil Lord, Consular Publicity Officer at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, that will help expats avoid getting into problems. He says that while people see the standard of living overseas as a major draw, by not paying enough attention to the practical issues, expats can often experience a lower standard of living than they envisaged. Lord says the research is backed up by reports from local embassies in locations such as Dubai where many expats are currently suffering financial difficulties, as well as ongoing problems in Spain. However, Lord says the Foreign & Commonwealth Office has achieved some success in helping expats in Spain. To find out how, listen to Hannah Beecham’s podcast interview with Phil Lord here.

In addition, would-be expats and existing expats can find a wealth of information on the FCO’s Know Before you Go website. Information includes top tips on the practical issues, a list of local embassies and how to register with local authorities.