What Is The Best Age To Move Abroad? | UPakWeShip EU (2024)

Before we get a lot of angry comments from people of all ages, we want to make it loud and clear right here, right now:

You are NEVER too old to move abroad.

And we’re here to basically tell you why that is the case.

Because whatever stage of life you’re in, single or with a family, we strongly believe, that you should never let your age put your off fulfilling that dream of moving to another country.

However, there are also some things to consider. Because although we actively encourage people to take the leap (we’d be out of business if we didn’t), we also know there are some limitations depending on your age and the stage of life you’re in.

There are different visas for different ages

The biggest international restriction of moving abroad for any reason is the required visa. Those countries which offer a working holiday visa, for example, have an expiry age of 31.

However, there are ways to get around this if you’re over the hill that is 31 – an age which in reality, is not very old – so don’t worry just yet.

One of the easiest ways to get a visa for those who are beyond the WHV age is to have a specialist skill which is highly desired in your destination country. In America and Australia for example, it is possible to migrate, but you need to prove what you are bringing to the country to make it a better place. And that usually requires a specialist skill, or, evidence that you are in the top percentile of what you do (an academic, a professor, or someone at the top of their field).

An alternative to this is if you have immediate family who are already in the country. Your children, siblings, grandchildren, and parents are all viable options for a visa.

And finally, there is the golden ticket of all long-term, free travel. Being an EU member. If you hold an EU passport, you are able to live and work in any country of your choice within the EU, without a visa, and with very little limitations to those which you’d have back home. Those with dual-citizenship are also entitled to this right, however, if that dual-citizenship happens to be British, we definitely recommend starting the process ASAP, because, with Brexit, the option may not be on the table for too much longer.

If you’re American, find out more about how Brexit could impact you.

So, why should you consider moving abroad?

There are hundreds of reasons to move abroad, but we’re going to restrict them to ones which are not obligational, AKA, jobs or family members.

One of the most obvious reasons to move abroad when you’re older is to retire. Many older people choose to retire in warmer destinations, which is completely understandable. If you’re lucky enough to have family somewhere around the world, you could end up somewhere outside of Europe. We hear all the time about people who have learnt new languages, met new friends and had a whole new lease of life after moving abroad to retire. Frankly, if you do it right, you’ll feel younger than ever!

If you’re a couple interested in moving abroad, then it could be the most rewarding thing you do to your relationship. Moving is admittedly, a stressful process, and whilst we endeavour to make it as smooth as possible, moving abroad can put a strain on relationships. However, if you and your partner successfully move to another country, find new jobs in a strange place, make friends with locals and create a whole new life for yourselves, it’s going to make or break you – and we like to think it will be the former!

For younger people, with no ties and nothing concrete keeping you at home, why move to the big city of your home country… when you could do it in Australia? Or America? Or New Zealand? When you can experience a whole new environment, meet new people, and have the time time of your life. Every country has a different work/life balance, and living abroad for a period of time is a fantastic employability trait if/when you decide to return home!

The truth is, there’s no ‘perfect’ time to move abroad. With hundreds of different reasons and plenty of different opportunities, you may find the timing isn’t as you planned. But it’s a risk which may turn into the best decision of your life. And honestly? If you truly, absolutely hate it, there’s always your home country awaiting your return.

If you’re thinking of moving abroad, we have offices in America, Europe, the UK and Canada, to help you ship your belongings affordably and securely. UPakWeShip is a self-packing international moving company, offering over 30 years of advice and experience, and a no-hidden-fees price.