What It Takes to Turn a Love of Travel Into a Real Life Overseas

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Discover what it really takes to turn a love of travel into a real life overseas—from mindset and money to visas, work, and daily life abroad.

The vast majority of people see travel as a temporary escape. It’s a chance to step away from the same routine—work, sleep, and repeat—and do something that actually feels enjoyable and refreshing.

Traveling also helps people learn more about the world beyond their community. You get exposed to new cultures, different ways of thinking, and places you’d never come across if you stayed within your own community. In essence, it’s an enriching experience, but a fleeting one.

More often than not, many people feel a sense of joy and adventure when they’re exploring a city or country beyond what’s familiar to them. In some cases, these enthusiastic individuals love their experience so much that they want nothing more than to relocate from their original location to the new place.

If you fit that criteria, then you’re in the right place. It’s more than possible to make your dream a reality—but that being said, it won’t be easy. You’ll need to exercise a great deal of discipline and save up enough money to ensure that you have a practical foothold on your next move.

But with the right approach, living your dream life overseas can be a reality. This guide will help you transition into living overseas from your current way of life.

Let’s jump right into it!

1. Assess Your Personal Life Goals

Before making any major lifestyle decisions, it’s essential to assess your current situation and identify your individual goals.

Are you in a good place in life right now? What areas in your life do you feel you can solve by staying in your environment? And alternatively, what areas in your life do you feel could improve if you remove yourself from your current environment and choose to live elsewhere?

Answering these questions truthfully can help you establish your current lifestyle and happiness levels. Then, you can determine whether moving overseas is truly the right solution.

Often, we may feel compelled to make rash decisions because we’re comparing ourselves to others or seeing life through rose-coloured glasses. The truth is, every country, no matter how nice it looks from the outside, has its pros and cons.

This is why it’s essential to assess everything through your own idea of what makes a good life, rather than through biased or highly curated lenses like those you find on social media.

If you feel that you’re making a positive step for your future, and have the means to do so, then moving overseas could be a good solution to enter a new chapter in your life.

If you want to make the move but lack the means to do so, you’ll need to pause and reevaluate, as it may not be practical right now. Westpac’s guide can provide inspiration for career pathways to one of the most sought-after destinations for incoming migrants—Australia.

2. Identify Your Chosen Destination

Once you’ve clarified your personal goals, the next step is to choose a destination that aligns with the life you’re trying to build.

Many people pick a country based on how it felt when they were out on a holiday, but it’s essential to realize that touring a country isn’t the same as living in it—not even close.

As this is the case, it’s important to be meticulous and thorough when selecting a country that you’ll eventually call home base. This can be approached through a multifaceted lens.

One important detail to consider when selecting a country is its governance systems and immigration policies. Are they generally welcoming to inbound residents, or do they make the relocation process restrictive and difficult?

You should also identify your values and skill set before selecting a destination, as not every country will fit your preferred lifestyle. Some countries may value freedom of expression and liberty more than others.

Ideally, you should choose a country that strikes a balance between feasibility and alignment with your personal value code. You should also consider the country’s income opportunities and overall stability. By being methodical in your decision-making, you’ll lay the foundation for thriving at your destination more readily.

3. Research Visa Type Options and Entry Pathway

Once you’ve identified a suitable destination, the next step is the most arduous but important one: getting a visa and citizen recognition in your chosen country.

Many people idealize relocating overseas, but such dreams often fall short of reality because they don’t take the next step: securing a visa.

Before moving to a new country, you’ll need to apply for a visa to become a citizen in your chosen destination. There are multiple visa pathways available, and they can differ from country to country, so it’s essential to research potential options and the requirements you need to follow to get one.

For instance, if you have skills that your target country is seeking and a prospective employer, you can apply for a work visa. Then, after a couple of years, you can apply for a permanent residency visa to live in that country for an extended period.

Of course, there are multiple other pathways to consider, such as student visas, partner or spouse visas, business or investor visas, and, in some cases, working holiday visas, depending on your age and nationality.

Each option has its own conditions, but the process is often lengthy for all options, so just account for that fact in your timeline when planning your visa application process.

4. Secure a Stable Income Plan

One of the most essential considerations before moving abroad is securing a source of income.

Short-term travelers often rely on savings to support themselves abroad. However, if you plan to live abroad for an extended period and are not a student, you’ll need a reliable income to cover the cost of living in your new country.

Most people have a job lined up before they make a move overseas. In some cases, freelance work or a list of stable clients can also be enough proof for immigration officials to allow you to stay in the target destination without restrictions. If you don’t have either, then it can be downright impossible to secure a life abroad.

In any case, it’s important to have your income covered for both the short and long term. This way, you can secure financial stability and make your life overseas actually something sustainable for the foreseeable future.

5. Prepare Your Housing and Settlement Strategy

Housing is often one of the biggest and most stressful expenses when relocating overseas, especially if you’re unfamiliar with local rental norms and pricing.

Many landlords lock incoming tenants into long, restrictive contracts, demanding a high deposit and imposing penalties if you need to exit before the stipulated date.

This can be a restrictive set of agreements for a new resident. As such, it’s important to inspect and thoroughly assess the place you’re planning to move into to ensure that you’re making the right decision.

Evaluate the quality of the house or apartment and determine its overall livability. Is the neighbourhood safe? Are there nearby amenities and public transportation stops? Are there any hidden fees you have to take into account? Will you have housemates, and if so, what is the rental payment agreement?

By having a clear understanding of the place you’re moving into, you can minimise the frustration and hassle of rushing into a housing contract that’s riddled with its own set of issues.

Living Overseas

Turning a love of travel into a real-life overseas isn’t about chasing an endless vacation—it’s about building a sustainable, intentional way of living that fits your values, finances, and curiosity about the world. When you approach international living with clarity and preparation, the experience becomes richer, more grounded, and far more rewarding. If you’re dreaming of a life shaped by meaningful journeys rather than quick getaways, explore more destination inspiration, long-stay travel ideas, and practical international travel tips coverage on Wander With Wonder.

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