118: Before the checklist: 5 key decisions before you move abroad
The Decisions You Need to Make Before Moving to Europe
Before you decide to move to Europe, it’s easy to think you need a checklist, a timeline, or more information. In reality, most people feel stuck because they haven’t made the key decisions that come before any checklist actually works.
Many aspiring expats spend months collecting guides and saving links, yet still feel unsure. That’s because without clarity on what you want, where you’re headed, and how you’ll get there legally, every next step feels confusing or overwhelming.
This post walks through the most important decisions you need to make to decide to move to Europe with confidence—so that once those decisions are clear, the checklist finally makes sense.
Why Checklists Aren’t Working
Checklists assume you have clarity on the direction.
They assume you already know:
- Where you’re going
- Why you’re going
- How long you’re staying
- How you’ll support yourself financially (and whether that fits the visa eligibility requirements)
If you don’t have those answers yet, a checklist won’t help. Instead, it often creates more paralysis.
You can’t follow a checklist if you don’t know which version of Europe you’re moving toward.
Decisions Come Before Action
Moving to Europe doesn’t happen through one big leap. It happens through a series of decisions.
Each decision shapes the next step. Different decisions lead to completely different timelines, visas, and requirements.
When people make the wrong decisions early—or avoid making them at all—they often waste time, money, and energy going in the wrong direction.
Decision #1: Why you want to move abroad
This is the most important decision—and the one most people skip.
Are you moving for:
- A lifestyle upgrade?
- A career opportunity?
- Burnout relief?
- Lower cost of living?
- Healthcare, safety, or political stability?
There’s no “right” reason. However, your why determines everything that follows: the country, the visa, and the pace of your move. It also helps keep you on track if and when other people (ie your friends and family) question your move or when any road blocks come your way.
Decision #2: Which country and city you will move to
“Europe” isn’t one experience.
Southern Europe and Northern Europe offer completely different lifestyles. Pace of life, work culture, structure, and flexibility vary widely from country to country.
Before choosing a destination, you need to decide:
- Do you want a slower or more structured lifestyle?
- Are you prioritizing work or life outside of work?
- Do you need predictability or flexibility?
- Is the climate an important factor for you?
- Is the country’s language going to be a big determinant?
- Etc.
Decision #3: How you will legally stay (which visa?)
One of the biggest mindset traps is thinking, “I’ll figure the visa out later.”
In reality, you don’t choose a country first.
You choose a viable legal pathway first. Or you decide those two decisions side-by-side, rather.
Important decisions include:
- Work-based vs income-based visas
- Short-term vs long-term residency
- Whether you qualify now or need preparation time
Visa reality shapes where you can go, how fast you can move, and how stressful the process will be.
Decision #4: Your work and income strategy
Work and income affect almost every part of your move.
You need to decide:
- Will you work locally or remotely?
- Will you freelance, run a business, or stay employed?
- Is your income portable?
- Are you willing to pivot careers if needed?
These choices impact visas, taxes, cost of living, and day-to-day stress. Avoiding this decision is one of the biggest reasons people feel stuck.
Decision #5: Your timeline
Not everyone moves the same way—and that’s okay.
You need to decide:
- Is this a trial move or a long-term plan?
- Do you need a hard deadline or a flexible timeline?
- How much financial buffer do you want?
Some people thrive with certainty. Others need room to adapt. Either way, I’d suggest going to your calendar and add in your move abroad date. That way you’ve set a goal, have a date to work towards and can create a work back plan to figure out what you need to accomplish each month to be able to actually move abroad.
From Decisions to Checklist
Once these decisions are made, the checklist becomes easier because you know the direction you are going in.
Without decisions, checklists can create confusion.
With decisions made already, checklists can create momentum.
Final Thought
You’re not stuck because you’re missing information.
You’re probably stuck because you’re standing at the decision stage.
Once you decide what you want—and what kind of move you’re actually making—the path forward becomes much clearer!
Choose Your European Home & Map Your Move
Turn your dream of moving abroad into reality—discover your perfect European destination and map out the timeline that makes it happen!
👉 Episode 56: How to Choose the Perfect European Destination for Your Move
👉 Episode 58: Your perfect move abroad timeline
