How to Move Abroad in 2027

You can feel it deep down in your soul, that persistent pull toward a life with more sun, more space, and freedom to just be. You’d pack up and move abroad right now if you could. I’ve been there and I know that turning a deep desire into something for your family can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin?

I want to make one thing clear from the start: there is no single “right” way to navigate this journey. After eight years living abroad and creating a life across 14 countries, I know firsthand that making your dream life a reality isn’t about having everything figured out on day one, what you need is to commit to creating a clear plan and taking intentional consistent action.

It took us three years of focused action to make our dream a reality. Today though, I’m going to breakdown how you can move abroad in 12 months. I do want you to be mindful though that your journey might take more or less time depending on your circumstances, and both are completely fine. Consider this blog post the practical guide I wish someone had handed me, 1 clear step at a time.

Start Here: The Mindset Shift You Need

In 2018, we left the UK with a 9-month-old baby, a healthy dose of fear, and the fresh relief of having just cleared £20,000 in consumer debt. We were not rich and there’s nothing overly special about us (though my husband would disagree). We were an ordinary family with a vision and the determination to keep moving forward even when the world tried to convince us it wasn’t possible.

Moving abroad is as much about the internal growth as it is the physical relocation. Before you write a single word in your notebook, I need you to lock in these four mindset shifts:

You are not too old, too broke, or too late.
It’s easy to assume this life is reserved for “other people.” It’s not. Give yourself full permission to redefine what success looks like for your family. Incase you didn’t get the memo, we no longer subscribe to patriarchal expectations.
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Fear is natural when you’re stepping out of your comfort zone in such a major way. Everyone who moves abroad feels nervous; the ones who make it simply choose not to let fear hold them back. Feel the fear and do it anyway has been my motto I’ve lived by since 2015.
The Universe is your playground, dream bigger. Trust me when I say you can dream bigger. Your current goals are likely a miniature version of what you’re actually capable of achieving. Give yourself permission to dream big and get it out of your head. A plan written down will always beat a scattered Pinterest board, the science says that you’re five times more likely to achieve a goal when it’s clearly documented.
Consistency unlocks momentum.
Twelve months is plenty of time if you stay consistent. You don’t need to do everything at once; you just need to do the next right thing for your family. Move at a pace that works for your life, but keep moving. One step at a time, that’s how we did it. We committed to taking 1 small action every single day for 3 years.

Now, let’s get into it.

Month 1: What’s Your Why?

Before you start researching destinations, sit down with a notebook and answer these four questions honestly:

Why do you want to leave? (Cost of living? Better weather? Space to breathe? Quality time? Get specific.)
What does a great day look like for your family three years from now?
Who is coming with you, and what are their specific needs?
What are you most afraid of, and what would make you feel secure?

Your answers are going to become your everything. When motivation dips around month five (and it will), your “why” will keep you grounded and focused.

Once written, share your goal with one person you trust. Saying it out loud makes it real. If your folk don’t quite get it yet, don’t even sweat it, it’s not their dream anyway and you’re about to connect with an entire community of families doing the exact same thing.

Month 2: Design Your Dream Lifestyle

There isn’t just one way to live abroad. You are the architect of your life, so design a setup that genuinely serves your family. Here are four common options:

The Full Move: Relocating to a single country to build a long-term home base. Best if you want deep roots, neighborhood community, and local schooling for the kids.
The Snowbird: Living six months abroad and six months in your home country. Ideal for keeping close family ties or property back home while enjoying a lower cost of living and warm weather during the winter.
Nomad, Then Settle: Spending a few weeks or months at a time getting a feel of as many countries as possible. You’ll quickly get a feel for different cultures and environments before deciding where to call home. Ideal if you’re completely open minded to experiencing many countries first or you’re just interested in exploring.
The Slomad: Moving every three to twelve months. Being a nomad is an incredible adventure, but constant moving can take a lot out of you. The Slomad may work better for those with children who need a bit more routine and/or the extended time to fully immerse yourself in a place.
The Adult Gap Year/Sabbatical: Take some extended time off work, maybe 6 months to 1 year, trying one, two or three target countries on a sabbatical before making a long-term commitment. Then you can return to work having gained enough experience to know what you truly want to go for. It takes the guesswork out of picking a country.
A Mix of The Above or something new: You don’t have to pick any of these, do whatever suits you best. Try a combination or do something completely unique. Your the captain of this ship, what you say goes.

Once you have an idea of which set up you like, start selecting two or three target countries and compare them on cost of living, family safety, community, education, visa accessibility, healthcare and whatever else is important to you.

Month 3: Create Your Budget

Money is a tool that may likely fund your freedom. It’s time to grab your bank statements and look at your current numbers with total clarity. No shame but it’s important your deal with the facts:

What are you spending each month, line by line?
What debt do you owe, and what is the realistic plan to clear or manage it?
What could you save over the next nine months by cutting fluff or downsizing?
How much do you need to move abroad?

Next you need to start understanding what your costs will look like once your abroad. This is challenging to get right because even using the most sophisticated tools online will only give you a rough estimate because you won’t truly know until you get there. But you can definitely get started by asking yourself:

What will your monthly expenses be in your new country?
Am I trying to maintain my current lifestyle?

If you have debt, it’s okay. We cleared almost £20,000 of debt in two years, and it started by looking at the numbers and really getting clear on what we were working with. Debt isn’t a flaw; it’s just a starting point.

By the end of this month, set three numbers: what you need to leave, what you need to land comfortably, and what you need to live on monthly.

Your monthly expenses abroad will reflect the life you intentionally design rather than the overhead you are escaping. You’ll need to, total your projected rent, local groceries, international health insurance, schooling or activities for the kids, and a buffer for leisure and travel.

Side note: Considering most people I speak to move abroad to enjoy a lower cost of living. I need you to bear in mind that living abroad can actually end up just as expensive as your current life if you’re not willing to make some adaptations to your lifestyle to ‘live like a local’and doesn’t that just negate the whole point of moving abroad? Sit with that.

📖 Deep Dive: Read the exact step-by-step framework we used: How We Cleared £20,000 of Debt to Move Abroad.

Month 4: Location-Independent Income

Location-independent income is what makes this lifestyle sustainable long-term. Simplify your choices down to one-two primary route for now:

Transition your job to remote: Pitching your current employer on a remote arrangement.
Land a remote-first role: Positioning your corporate or traditional experience to remote companies.
Freelance or consult: Offering skills you already have on a contract basis.
Build an online business: Creating digital products, content, or services from scratch.

I generally encourage people to pick at least 2 income streams because to me, one income is too close to none. Right now, you just need a viable income bridge to get you across the border. This can take time and is usually the main reason why people never leave at all so there’s a lot to consider here.

You can also find an in-country job but I don’t talk about that much because I don’t have any personal experience with it and I’m also always really mindful of trying not to take jobs from the local community who may need it more.

📖 Deep Dive: Explore income options with our blog 8 Ways to Afford Your New Life Abroad.

Months 5–6: Build and Secure Your Income

Now turn the plan into actual cash flow. Depending on your chosen route:

Have the formal remote-work negotiation with your employer.
Apply for remote roles consistently with a tailored resume.
Pitch and land your first two freelance clients.
Build a solid financial buffer fund to give your family complete peace of mind.

Aim to have income coming in that doesn’t rely on your location before you leave. Moving abroad hoping to figure out money later is an expensive mistake (ask me how I know). This is one of the most important steps so it’s not to be taken lightly and is often the reason most people never leave or end up returning sooner than they hope.

📖 Deep Dive: Learn How We created our Work From Anywhere Income: How To Make Money Online For Beginners

Month 7: Visas and Paperwork

Visa and immigration rules change frequently, so always verify requirements directly on official government websites.

For your top choice countries, confirm:

Available visa categories (Digital Nomad, Passive Income/Non-Lucrative, Freelancer, Residency).
Required income or savings thresholds.
Paperwork, background checks, and processing timelines.
Whether dependents and partners can be included on your application.

If your situation is complex, pay for a single consultation with a qualified immigration lawyer. It’s a smart investment that saves months of stress.

📖 Deep Dive: Looking for the quickest legal routes to living abroad: The Easiest and Cheapest Visas For Long Term Living

Month 8: Take A Trial Trip

If budget allows, spend two to four weeks in your top choice country. Don’t act like a tourist, treat it as a real-life rehearsal for your future:

Rent an apartment in a residential neighborhood, not a resort area.
Do normal groceries, use public transport, and find the local parks.
Work from a co-working space or café for a few full days.
Visit schools or neighborhood community spaces if moving with kids.

Pay attention to how living there actually feels day-to-day. A trial trip either confirms your vision or saves you from a very costly mistake.

Month 9: Tie Up Loose Ends

This is admin month. It’s less glamorous, but getting it done keeps your actual move seamless:

Put a clear plan in place for your home (selling, renting out, or ending your lease).
Declutter ruthlessly: sell, donate, or store your belongings.
Ensure passports have at least 12 months of validity remaining.
Organize key documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, health records) into a secure cloud folder.
Set up a reliable virtual mail forwarding service and inform your banks.

Month 10: The Final Logistics

Now the move becomes tangible. It’s time to book and schedule:

Book your flights and review baggage allowances carefully.
Reserve short-term accommodation for your first 30–60 days so you don’t feel rushed into signing a long lease on day one.
Secure health and travel insurance that covers your family globally.
Finalize short-term schooling, homeschooling, or childcare plans.

If you’re moving with young kids, build extra buffer time into your travel days. Planning around their routines makes departure day smooth for everyone.

Month 11: Create Community

Moving abroad can feel isolating if you try to do it in a vacuum. The families who thrive long-term are the ones who intentionally build community before they arrive:

Join local expat and family groups online for your destination city.
Reach out directly to two or three people who already live there.
Find local networks where your family feels seen, welcomed, and celebrated.

You don’t have to figure this out solo. Having a community walking alongside you turns anxiety into excitement.

📖 Deep Dive: Join our private online community: Finding Your Tribe and Community Abroad.

Month 12: Your Soft Landing

You made it to departure month. Take a moment to realize what you’ve accomplished!!!! You turned a once distant dream into a lived reality.

During your first few weeks on the ground:

Go slow. Resist the urge to unpack everything or solve every long-term task in week one. Rest, explore, and let your nervous system catch up.
Set up everyday essentials step-by-step: local SIM card, bank access, and residency check-ins.
Establish a familiar daily routine for the kids to keep everyone grounded.
Expect an emotional wobble around week three. It’s completely normal as the reality sets in, and it passes quickly.

Look around at your new surroundings. A year ago, this was just an idea. Today, it’s your life.

Get Started with Community Beside You

This post is your roadmap, but following a map is always easier when you have people walking the path with you.

If you want real-time answers, tailored guidance, and an empowering network of families on the exact same journey, join us inside the Beyond Borders Community.

👉 Join the Frofamily Community Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Can our family really move abroad in 12 months?

Yes. Twelve months provides enough time to build income, manage logistics, and prepare mentally without losing momentum. Think of twelve months as a clear, achievable target.

How much money do we need saved before leaving?

It depends on your destination and visa requirements. A solid benchmark is having moving costs covered, a 3 to 6-month buffer fund, and location-independent income already flowing.

Do we need to be completely debt-free before we leave?

Not necessarily, but you need a solid strategy. We cleared £20,000 before leaving to give ourselves full breathing space, but many families manage debt repayments comfortably while living in lower-cost countries.

Can I move abroad if I’ve only ever had traditional jobs?

Absolutely. Skills in management, administration, education, finance, and customer relations translate directly into remote roles, freelancing, or consulting. It’s about repackaging your experience, not starting over.

What if we move and it doesn’t work out?

Then you adjust, pivot, or return home with incredible experiences you didn’t have before. A move abroad isn’t a permanent sentence; it’s a choice that unlocks new possibilities.

Your Next Step

You don’t need to tackle all twelve months today. Simply complete Month 1: grab a notebook, get honest about your “why,” and write it down.

When you’re ready to take the next step, explore these popular guides on frofamilytravels.com:

How to Move Abroad in 2027