Work and live abroad
Discussion
Always wanted to live and work abroad just to experience a different culture and way of life. Should have done it in my 20s. Now in my 40s with kids, I have looked at it a few times but it looks a monumental effort in terms of finding nice schools and not completely screwing my kids over
Work in UK financial services in sales/commercial leadership which I know is very country specific (highly regulated and not that many multi-national employers)
Current employer is entirely UK focused
Looked at Australia(we have friends there) but it looks like Im now too old. Never fancied Dubai
I could get a EU passport through grandparents
Just wondered if anyone ever done similar or whether it’s just another thing I need to put on my list of great idea never gonna happen!
I realise it’s incredibly hard finding jobs in the UK let alone abroad
Work in UK financial services in sales/commercial leadership which I know is very country specific (highly regulated and not that many multi-national employers)
Current employer is entirely UK focused
Looked at Australia(we have friends there) but it looks like Im now too old. Never fancied Dubai
I could get a EU passport through grandparents
Just wondered if anyone ever done similar or whether it’s just another thing I need to put on my list of great idea never gonna happen!
I realise it’s incredibly hard finding jobs in the UK let alone abroad
Work is probably too late, especially as you are in a very U.K. centric role with skills that won’t transfer easily to another legislative system. Live is a definite option in retirement, but I d be getting that EU grandparent citizenship claim in as quickly as possible. With it, you will have easy options, without it a lot of hurdles to overcome.
Moving countries brings a lot benefits but its long and difficult process. For me multicultural experience is a great development point for every person.
Moving kids might be risky for them. Unless company pays for very good school and you have time to set up social circle for them, I dont recommend. Not saying it would be bad, Im saying its risky. They are vulnerable when young. So you will need to keep close eye on them.
You can achieve cultural enrichment for them through summer camps and long road trips. I mean, if all voters for restore/reform today visited auschwitz tomorrow these parties are completely irrelevant, know what I mean.
Once you are older and no dependents perhaps you can take sabatical try it out.
Get eu passport yday! Also for kids
Moving kids might be risky for them. Unless company pays for very good school and you have time to set up social circle for them, I dont recommend. Not saying it would be bad, Im saying its risky. They are vulnerable when young. So you will need to keep close eye on them.
You can achieve cultural enrichment for them through summer camps and long road trips. I mean, if all voters for restore/reform today visited auschwitz tomorrow these parties are completely irrelevant, know what I mean.
Once you are older and no dependents perhaps you can take sabatical try it out.
Get eu passport yday! Also for kids
I lived in the Cayman Islands for a couple of years. There is a large ex-pat community there, mostly working in financial services. It seems like it is the kind of gig to do for a few years and then go to another financial centre in order to avoid being pigeonholed as just an offshore specialist.
I'd agree that getting an EU passport should be your first priority. I'd also agree that uplifting your children, especially with an uncertain work prospect, might be premature. What you can do though is travel extensively and find places you like.
I was fortunate in that my employer helped with admin and schooling so I enjoyed regular moves abroad and now live in Europe. It's possible, but don't under-estimate the challenges.
With all that said, I'd still encourage some research and dreaming; who knows where you might end up...?
I was fortunate in that my employer helped with admin and schooling so I enjoyed regular moves abroad and now live in Europe. It's possible, but don't under-estimate the challenges.
With all that said, I'd still encourage some research and dreaming; who knows where you might end up...?
Get that passport sorted ASAP. I am dual nationality GB/DE, travel a lot for work and it’s a real advantage.
I’ve lived on and off abroad for 34 years, the last 26 years full-time, and have really enjoyed it. Unless you’re a squillionaire there will always be pros and cons, but that’s a discussion you need to have with your nearest and dearest.
I’ve lived on and off abroad for 34 years, the last 26 years full-time, and have really enjoyed it. Unless you’re a squillionaire there will always be pros and cons, but that’s a discussion you need to have with your nearest and dearest.
Not sure if having a Euro passport will help much as your kids probably won't automatically become whichever country you choose.
Others may know better.
I got an Irish passport after Brexit through my grandad. So it stops with me and doesn't help my kids.
If I were to have kids now, that would be different.
Met a guy the other day where he had it the other way round. Lived in Sweden for umpteen years, had kids there but never got citizenship because we were all one big happy Euro family.
He moved his family back to the UK for work, then Brexit happened.
Kids have Euro passports, but he only has a Brit one. Speaks fluent Swedish and wants to go back there, but it won't be easy.
Good luck with it all, I'm sure there'll be a way if your children aren't grown up.
I was going to move to Spain (may still do) and only my youngest could have moved with me but now he's 20, that window is fast running out, as I would have to be a resident before he hits 21.
Others may know better.
I got an Irish passport after Brexit through my grandad. So it stops with me and doesn't help my kids.
If I were to have kids now, that would be different.
Met a guy the other day where he had it the other way round. Lived in Sweden for umpteen years, had kids there but never got citizenship because we were all one big happy Euro family.
He moved his family back to the UK for work, then Brexit happened.
Kids have Euro passports, but he only has a Brit one. Speaks fluent Swedish and wants to go back there, but it won't be easy.
Good luck with it all, I'm sure there'll be a way if your children aren't grown up.
I was going to move to Spain (may still do) and only my youngest could have moved with me but now he's 20, that window is fast running out, as I would have to be a resident before he hits 21.
Some good points made here. Moving with a family is a huge endeavour and needs a plan that everyone agrees on. Maybe all-in for a fixed period and then go home, unless at the end of that period there is consensus about staying on. Or all-in indefinitely, but that would usually be in a place you have visited many times already and collectively enjoy.
If you take a suck it and see approach, it's possible some of you will never let go of home enough to be fully engage, and at the same time won't have an end date to work towards if youre not enjoying it.
Depends how old the kids are, what people's work expectations are, how much contact you have with your parents, in-laws etc. Some people don't realise how reliant they are on extended family until they're thousands of miles away.
If you take a suck it and see approach, it's possible some of you will never let go of home enough to be fully engage, and at the same time won't have an end date to work towards if youre not enjoying it.
Depends how old the kids are, what people's work expectations are, how much contact you have with your parents, in-laws etc. Some people don't realise how reliant they are on extended family until they're thousands of miles away.
You might want to look at Cyprus. Finance is the second biggest sector there after tourism and they offer some favourable incentives to those wishing to relocate there. It's a commonwealth nation which smooths the inward path quite nicely for Brits. The downside is that in many ways, it's like Britain with more sun - the cultural differences are not as great as if you were to go to SE Asia, for example. Unless that is you locate yourself in the north of Cyprus.
A work buddy of mine did that for three years. He's a Brit but based in Sofia and was leading on a project in Cyprus and moved his family there. His kids went to a private school there which was better than similar offerings in Bulgaria and they enjoyed their time there enormously.
A work buddy of mine did that for three years. He's a Brit but based in Sofia and was leading on a project in Cyprus and moved his family there. His kids went to a private school there which was better than similar offerings in Bulgaria and they enjoyed their time there enormously.
StevieBee said:
You might want to look at Cyprus. Finance is the second biggest sector there after tourism and they offer some favourable incentives to those wishing to relocate there. It's a commonwealth nation which smooths the inward path quite nicely for Brits. The downside is that in many ways, it's like Britain with more sun - the cultural differences are not as great as if you were to go to SE Asia, for example. Unless that is you locate yourself in the north of Cyprus.
A work buddy of mine did that for three years. He's a Brit but based in Sofia and was leading on a project in Cyprus and moved his family there. His kids went to a private school there which was better than similar offerings in Bulgaria and they enjoyed their time there enormously.
The Republic of Cyprus, which is the only true country in Cyprus is much, much harder to get into than you’re making out. Post Brexit the rules became much tighter, the Commonwealth comment is totally misleading. Brits are third country nationals now and treated the same as any other non-EU immigrant in terms of paperwork and income requirements. A work buddy of mine did that for three years. He's a Brit but based in Sofia and was leading on a project in Cyprus and moved his family there. His kids went to a private school there which was better than similar offerings in Bulgaria and they enjoyed their time there enormously.
The Occupied Area isn’t recognised as a country other than by Turkey. It is viewed as part of the Republic of Cyprus that has been illegally occupied since the invasion in 1974 and remains a very contentious area. It’s OK for holidays and short visits, living there would be quite a challenge though.
Apologies for the thread hijack but does anyone have any info./insights re. working in Portugal specifically?
I was reading a post on LinkedIn the other day (so caution and pinch of salt applied accordingly) about English speaking jobs in Portugal and working Visas/citizenship being easier to obtain there Vs. many other European countries.
Browsing the job ads on LinkedIn it certainly appears that there is an obvious distinction between those written in and requiring English language (plus other/s in some cases) and those presented in Portuguese.
My experience of Portugal is purely social but it certainly seems like a country/culture/climate I could adjust to!
I was reading a post on LinkedIn the other day (so caution and pinch of salt applied accordingly) about English speaking jobs in Portugal and working Visas/citizenship being easier to obtain there Vs. many other European countries.
Browsing the job ads on LinkedIn it certainly appears that there is an obvious distinction between those written in and requiring English language (plus other/s in some cases) and those presented in Portuguese.
My experience of Portugal is purely social but it certainly seems like a country/culture/climate I could adjust to!
Opapayer said:
StevieBee said:
You might want to look at Cyprus. Finance is the second biggest sector there after tourism and they offer some favourable incentives to those wishing to relocate there. It's a commonwealth nation which smooths the inward path quite nicely for Brits. The downside is that in many ways, it's like Britain with more sun - the cultural differences are not as great as if you were to go to SE Asia, for example. Unless that is you locate yourself in the north of Cyprus.
A work buddy of mine did that for three years. He's a Brit but based in Sofia and was leading on a project in Cyprus and moved his family there. His kids went to a private school there which was better than similar offerings in Bulgaria and they enjoyed their time there enormously.
The Republic of Cyprus, which is the only true country in Cyprus is much, much harder to get into than you re making out. Post Brexit the rules became much tighter, the Commonwealth comment is totally misleading. Brits are third country nationals now and treated the same as any other non-EU immigrant in terms of paperwork and income requirements. A work buddy of mine did that for three years. He's a Brit but based in Sofia and was leading on a project in Cyprus and moved his family there. His kids went to a private school there which was better than similar offerings in Bulgaria and they enjoyed their time there enormously.
The Occupied Area isn t recognised as a country other than by Turkey. It is viewed as part of the Republic of Cyprus that has been illegally occupied since the invasion in 1974 and remains a very contentious area. It s OK for holidays and short visits, living there would be quite a challenge though.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff