Planning Your Move Abroad, Part 1: Envision Your Future

(This post is the first in a three-part series on planning your move abroad.)

"Look before you leap." 

— John Heywood

Sitting in my Oakland, California apartment in the summer of 2022, I felt excited, uncertain, and a little overwhelmed. I had decided to move to Barcelona. Now I had to figure out a) whether my mental picture of life in Spain matched reality, b) if the move was feasible, and c) how to make it happen. 

Ten months later, I stepped on the plane and never looked back. The journey wasn’t just about packing my bags and booking a flight. It took careful planning across three key phases—each one essential for a successful transition:

➡️Envision – Defining your vision, assessing your readiness, and validating your assumptions.

➡️ Prepare– Securing visas, handling logistics, and making concrete preparations.

➡️ Acclimate – Adjusting to a new way of life, integrating into the community, and building a fulfilling life in your new country.

In this post, I will be focusing on the critical first phase: 

Envision Your Future Abroad. 

Begin by understanding your intentions and clarifying your expectations for moving to a different country. 

Maybe you spent a fabulous vacation somewhere and can’t stop thinking about the lifestyle, the culture, the food. You dream about what it would be like to live there. 

Or perhaps, you wish to change something about your current situation. You want a lower cost of living, a better climate, or a different political environment. 

Ask yourself why you want to move abroad. Are you moving to get away from something (e.g., I’m unhappy at work and want a fresh start) or toward something (e.g., I want to immerse myself in a new culture and learn the language)? 

Moving away from something is a valid reason but it won’t set you up to thrive unless it is paired with what you are moving toward. Think about what you want your new life abroad to look like. How will you spend your days? What will bring you joy? What kind of community do you want to be a part of?

Once you’ve painted a clear picture of what you want, it’s time to do a reality check. What sounds good in theory may not suit you in reality. Seek to fully understand what you are about to get into, whether it’s feasible, and whether it supports your priorities and goals.

This assessment requires evaluating the potential move from multiple angles:

✅ Mindset Readiness – What is your level of emotional resilience, cultural adaptability, and openness to change?

✅ Legal Considerations – What are the visa options and residency requirements? Do you qualify?

✅ Financial Preparedness – Is your move financially viable as you weigh your savings and income sources against the cost of living, moving expenses, and taxes?

✅ Practical Factors – Are you prepared to face possible language barriers? Do you embrace the fact that navigating the logistics of day-to-day life in a new country may present challenges?

Give this step the attention it deserves. Here are my recommendations for how to get the most out of your Envision phase:

• Do research. Read about local customs and day-to-day life in your target destination. Subscribe to online versions of area newspapers to read the latest news. Check out websites dedicated to renting or selling properties to get a sense of the housing market. Read articles and blogs by expats who have already made the move. 

  
  

• Reach out to experts. Identify key resources, such as immigration attorneys and tax advisers. Set up introductory calls. You may not need them right away but it’s good to know that you have resources you can tap into when you need them. (Trust me!)

  
  

• Talk to expats in your desired location. Connect with people who have already made the move. Leverage your network to find connections. Join Facebook groups or other online communities dedicated to current and would-be expats in your target country. (Just take what you read in these groups with a grain of salt and always verify the information shared. There can be misinformation. )

  
  

• Make a reconnaissance visit. Even if you’ve visited before, spending time in the area with the mindset of being a resident, is invaluable. Rather than tour famous landmarks and museums, explore residential neighborhoods, shop grocery stores, people-watch in the park... Envision yourself as a resident and navigate the place from that perspective—how will you get around, what shops and services will you need, what will you do for fun?

As you gather information and validate your assumptions, regularly ask yourself: Given what I know now, am I ready to make the move and will I thrive once I arrive? If not, what would I need to be ready?  

Try not to get too attached to a destination until you’ve done your due diligence. As they say in real estate: “Don’t fall in love with a house [or country] too soon.”

By taking the time to thoughtfully envision your future, you set yourself up for a more successful and fulfilling transition. If you feel confident in your decision after this process, it’s time to tackle the next big step: Preparation. I’ll be covering that in my next post—so stay tuned.

Ready to start planning your move to Barcelona? Download my Ultimate Barcelona Relocation Checklist to make sure you’re covering all the essential steps. And if you’d like personalized guidance, schedule a free intro call with me—I’d love to help you turn your vision into reality!

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Elizabeth Pinkerton is the founder of VidaNova Barcelona, which provides expert guidance to Americans moving to Spain. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she spent many years in the San Francisco Bay Area before making the leap to Barcelona. Now, she helps aspiring expats navigate the transition with confidence.

(Image by Freepik)