I was lucky enough to take my first international trip just before entering middle school. We went to England with our church and I was immediately taken by the quaint streets of the small towns and the bustle of life surrounded by history in London. Through several other trips, my love of traveling abroad grew from a passion to a desire to move abroad. In college, I decided to study abroad in Dublin. While I had a rocky start, by the time the semester was over I was devastated to be heading home. As I finished out my degree in the States, I knew I wanted to find a way to live abroad again. I researched ways to move abroad as an American after graduating, but my top choice was too costly as someone with little savings and a pile of student loan debt.
That desire never went away though, and while I spent much time researching different ways to make a move, I was given the chance of moving to Germany after no consideration or research. My partner was offered a position abroad with his company, and without hesitation, I knew it was something I would love to do with him. It also helped that my grandmother happened to grow up twenty minutes away from where we were moving, making it even more special. The path that followed had a lot of ups and downs, but ultimately ended with me finding work with his company as well in Germany.
As I’ve done a lot of research through the years and made the transition to life abroad now myself, I felt it was time to finally write a guide to share with others ideas on how to move abroad. I am by no means an expert on the subject, but I wanted to share opportunities I’ve looked into over the years, things I know that other people have done, and share the highs and lows of my own move. It’s also important to note that these are done from the perspective of how to move abroad as an American citizen and that things are always changing, especially with the current situation. Hopefully, some of these ideas and tips will help guide you on your own journey.
Ideas for How to Live Abroad
Teach English
This is probably the most popular way to experience life abroad, and I’ve had several friends go this route and have great experiences. It’s harder to do in popular European countries, as most have English as a part of the school curriculum, and private classes are less common. Choosing spots like eastern Europe, or almost anywhere in Asia, will likely amass many more opportunities. I was recommended to look at i to i, which can help with the certification needed to teach and finding a job.
Australia’s Working Holiday
Australia (and a few other countries) offers a unique working holiday visa, which can last 6 months to a year, perhaps even longer given the job you find while there. This is a program I looked pretty extensively into after graduation - unfortunately, I didn’t have sufficient savings as required for the program. I also know a few people who have gone this route and loved it. As mentioned it does require a good amount of savings and can also be tough to find a job once there, but is a relatively easy route to make a move for a limited time.
Education
One of the easiest ways to make the leap abroad is by heading back to school. This can be costly in many places, but others offer extremely cheap or even free tuition, like Germany. Make sure they offer the degree in English, as that is often the catch - many schools in Germany required a working knowledge of the language. That being said, Germany also offers a visa to move and learn the German language. Be warned that it is a very difficult one to learn!
Volunteering
Mission trips, WWOOFing, Workaway, and ecotourism allow you to travel and give back, often with perks like meals and free accommodation. Many offer ranges of a few days to a few months. As an American, you can stay in Europe for 90 days cumulatively every six months (last I checked), so you could hop around as needed. One of my friends spent a month in Italy working in the countryside with yoga retreats - it sounded pretty amazing in exchange for a little help in the kitchen. Other programs like the Peace Corps, Doctors without Borders, and more can offer similar experiences.
Freelancing
Germany has a special freelance visa that I looked quite extensively into. It requires a lot of work and planning but can be an easy way to work for yourself (allowing more time for travel) and live in Germany. One of my favorite bloggers, Helene in Between, did this and offers a comprehensive guide on the process. If you freelance, you can also hop around the world while you work and try living in many different places. I know someone who did this through Remote Year, which helps with accommodation and activities.
Find a Job Abroad
This one can be extremely tough - I searched for opportunities like this for years. Your best bet is to work for a company with international offices and see if there is a chance to transfer after a few years. You can of course always search for opportunities on LinkedIn in your desired city, but it is often hard to find companies that will offer sponsorship for a work visa for a new hire.
Government Work
With embassies around the world, working for a US government agency or office is a good way to find jobs abroad. Of course, the military is another great way to get the chance to move abroad - I happen to listen to the local army base radio station daily here to get my morning news in English.
Au Pair/Nanny
If you like caring for children, this is an excellent way to move abroad. It’s also a great way to fully immerse yourself in the culture, as you most likely live with the family you work for.
As mentioned, these ideas just come from my own personal research, and if you choose to look into one of these ideas more in-depth, I highly recommend doing additional research and reaching out to someone who has gone through it and can offer advice. It’s not an easy process and there’s a lot of paperwork, but the experience is truly unforgettable, and if you have the chance, I can’t recommend it enough. You’ll often find that the hardest part comes once you make the move, as you can find more on my personal journey here.
