Is Your Family Onboard?
The decision to explore an expat lifestyle should be a collective one. Ensure that everyone, including your partner, kids, and even pets, is on board with the lifestyle change. Understand from the get-go that there will be lots of questions, deep dives, and real talk ahead—long before anyone can say they are (or aren’t) on board with becoming an expat family.
What Are Your Long-Term Goals?
Consider your long-term goals and how becoming an expat family aligns with them. Are you seeking more flexibility, adventure, or financial freedom? How do you want your life to look a year from now?
Five years from now? How do you want it to feel? What role does living abroad—or not—play in your vision? Clarifying your objectives will help guide your decision.
Can Your Finances Support It?
Assess your financial situation and determine if you have the resources to support a digital nomad lifestyle and what your plan will be to continue supporting it once you make the move.
Consider factors such as housing costs, travel expenses, and healthcare needs. These will largely be influenced by where you move to, what you intend to do for work, and the lifestyle you plan to live once you’re there.
What Are Your Remote Work Options?
Start by evaluating whether your current job allows for remote work. If it does, consider negotiating a remote work arrangement with your employer.
If it doesn’t offer remote work possibilities, explore alternative sources of income that are conducive to remote work.
This could involve freelancing, starting a remote-friendly business, or pursuing remote job opportunities in your field. The silver lining to the events of the past few years was the widespread acceptance and adoption of remote work. Many companies have embraced remote work as a viable option, opening up new opportunities for digital nomad families.
Have You Researched Potential Destinations for Living Abroad with Your Family?
Researching potential destinations is a huge piece of planning your digital nomad lifestyle. Consider factors such as cost of living, safety, healthcare quality, and educational opportunities for your children. These vary greatly from country to country and continent to continent!
Look into visa requirements and restrictions for each destination, as well as the availability of amenities such as co-working spaces and reliable internet connectivity if that’s important for work. Take the time to explore different regions and countries to find the perfect fit for your family’s needs and preferences.
Are You Prepared for the Challenges of Moving Abroad?
Recognize that the digital nomad lifestyle comes with its unique set of challenges for adults and kids alike. Things like feelings of loneliness and isolation, cultural differences, and logistical hurdles such as language barriers and navigating unfamiliar environments.
Consider how you’ll address these so you can start developing strategies for coping with them. Building a support network of fellow digital nomads, talking to folks who have made this kind of life shift, practicing self-care techniques, and maintaining open communication within your family—these are all going to be key.
How Will You Handle Education for Your Children?
Deciding how to handle education for your kids is a significant consideration for all parents, and especially for folks considering moving abroad. It’s important to look at the schools in any area you’re considering. It might also be worth exploring options such as homeschooling, online schooling, or co-ops.
There are many education resources and curriculums tailored to the digital nomad lifestyle, so be sure to take the time to do some deep dives to consider how each option aligns with your family’s educational philosophy and goals. And be prepared to adapt your approach to education as you travel and encounter new opportunities and challenges along the way!
Have You Considered Health Insurance and Safety Nets?
Not the sexiest topics, we know, but health insurance and safety nets are essential for protecting your family’s well-being while living a nomadic lifestyle and can’t be overlooked! Ensure that you have comprehensive health insurance coverage that includes medical care and emergency evacuation services in your destination countries.
You may also consider establishing an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses and explore options for additional safety nets, such as travel insurance and contingency plans for medical emergencies. The more ducks you can get in a row now, the fewer headaches later!
Are You Ready for the Unpredictability?
This is something that many folks don’t realize, but those of us enjoying the expat lifestyle actually enjoy the unknown! Whether you settle in one place or opt for a digital nomad structure, embracing unpredictability is going to be huge when it comes to whether or not it’s a good fit for you.
Figuring it out as you go, last-minute changes, unexpected challenges, and the need to adapt to new environments quickly—these are all part of the game you’re considering signing up for. So if that frustrates or terrifies you more than it excites you, then this is an area you need to spend some time considering.
Is It the Right Time?
Finally, consider whether it’s the right time for your family to embark on this journey. You can be a perfect candidate for expat living, and the timing may not be quite right.
Things like your children’s ages and learning needs, your career stage, your partner’s situation, the health of your family, your pets, and any other personal or professional commitments—these all have to be taken into account when deciding whether the digital nomad lifestyle is for you right now. And remember: ‘no’ doesn’t mean never; it can simply mean ‘not right now.’
We get it! You’re considering a major life shift for your family and it can feel like a lot to process. There are so many things to consider. Remember, the digital nomad lifestyle is not for everyone (even though the media sure makes it seem that way these days!), and that’s okay.
There are plenty of ways to bring adventure and mindful travel into your everyday family life! The most important thing is determining if becoming an expat family aligns with your family’s values, goals, and desires. Whether you decide to take the leap now or in the future, trust your instincts and embrace the adventure ahead. Safe travels, and here’s to the exciting journey of becoming a digital family!