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There’s a lot to think about when moving overseas. Will you need health insurance? What identity documents will you need to apply for? And of course, where will you live and work?
We’ve been there, and we get it! That’s why we’ve put together this list of 8 things to consider before moving abroad. Let’s take a look:
If you plan to move abroad for more than six months, you might need a visa to live, work or study. So before making any travel plans, you should visit your destination country’s immigration website to ensure you’re eligible for a visa – and understand all the requirements. Many governments, for example, require applicants to take an approved English language proficiency test like PTE Academic to study or work in the country.
If you’re looking for visa support, you may also decide to hire a registered migration agent. These are immigration professionals and can complete your visa application for you, help prepare documents, and provide advice throughout the application process.
You can more about specific visa requirements on these government websites:
You might be interested in reading our article: Should you hire a migration agent to move to Australia?
Just because you’ve been granted a visa to live in a country, doesn’t mean you have the right to work full-time.
Many student visas put a cap on how many hours people can work. For example, in Australia students are allowed to work up to 40 hours every two weeks during the school term. In the UK, students are able to work 20 hours per week during the semester. And in Malaysia, students can also work up to 20 hours a week, but only during school breaks longer than eight days.
If you’re not on a student visa, it is likely you’ll have permission to work full-time. However, many countries require you to apply for a social insurance number – or something similar – before you can.
In Canada, for example, permanent and temporary residents need to apply for a social insurance number after they land in the country, and it can take about 20 days to arrive.
Before moving to a new country, you should have some savings. In some cases, depending on your visa type and the country you’re moving to, you might be required to show proof of savings with your visa application.
Day-to-day living costs may also be more expensive abroad, and it could take you longer than anticipated to find a job – so it’s important to have money put away to help you settle in.
If you’re a student planning to move to Canada or the UK, we’ve put together some detailed guides that outline the living costs in each country:
Many governments offer cost of living calculators online, which can be a great resource for new immigrants. Take a look at New Zealand’s cost of living tool, for example.
When you arrive, you’ll also need to open a bank account. This can often be done online. Some banks even have accounts specifically designed for newcomers and offer credit cards to help build credit history.
Looking for accommodation can be one of the most exciting parts of moving abroad. Once you find a place to call home, you’re able to really imagine what your new life will be like – you get to explore Google Maps from afar, check out neighborhood restaurants online, and plan where you might socialize with friends.
If you’re moving with a work visa, your new workplace might be able to help you find temporary accommodation. Likewise, if you’re moving abroad to study, your institution should offer housing options for international students – such as on-campus apartments or other homestay partnerships. It’s also a great idea to join local housing Facebook groups, where people post their apartments or houses for temporary or long-term rentals.
You might be interested in: How to choose international student accommodation in the UK.
Once you know where you’ll live, you can figure out how you’ll get around. Is your apartment close to public transportation? Or have you opted to live outside a city center, and will need to get around by car?
You could be able to drive with an international driver’s license right after landing abroad. But after a few months, lots of countries will require you to apply for a local driver’s license instead. If you’re moving to a country where it snows, it might also be a good idea to invest in driving lessons to learn how to drive safely on icy roads.
You might not be automatically eligible for health coverage in your destination country, even if it offers universal healthcare to citizens.
In Canada, for example, each province administers its own publicly-funded healthcare. That means, if you’re a student, your eligibility for healthcare will depend on where you study. If you’re not eligible, your university should offer you insurance.
On the other hand, if you’re on a work visa or permanent resident visa, you may be able to apply for publicly-funded healthcare. But, there might be a waiting period before you’re able to have access – so it’s important to buy insurance to make sure you’re covered beforehand.
Always check with the local government in your destination country to see what your rights are regarding healthcare. It’s also important to research the mental health services that may be available once you arrive. If you’re a student, your university may offer counseling services on campus.
Travel regulations change quickly, so it’s essential to keep up to date on what you’ll need to do before – and after – arriving at your destination country.
Always consult the health authorities in the country you’re traveling to ensure you follow public health guidelines – and you’ll be allowed to enter the country.
When moving abroad, we tend to focus on the big things – like housing, work, and healthcare. But there are lots of little things to think about, too! Remember to:
Close your utility accounts – like internet and hydro – before leaving home (and do it before the cut-off date, so you don’t get charged extra)
Unlock your mobile phone so you’ll be able to use a local SIM card, and get a power plug adapter for your charger if you need one.
Bring a few things that remind you of home and that you won’t be able to buy abroad. Something as simple as packing your favorite face wash or snack food can make a big difference when just starting to settle in.
Overall, getting a head-start on your travel preparations will help you to reduce stress and hit the ground running when you arrive.
PTE Academic is completed on a computer, including the speaking part of the test.
So make sure you are prepared by familiarizing yourself with the equipment you will use during your test. Reading these test tips and you will be fully prepared.
There are many ways you can improve your chances of gaining points in Part 2: Reading during PTE Academic.
To improve your reading skills, practice increasing your reading speed and comprehension at the same time. In turn, you will improve your writing, grammar and vocabulary skills.
To do well in this part of the test, you need to be able to read quickly, using effective reading strategies, as there is a limited time to answer all questions.
Speed reading tasks will help improve your reading speed. Practice speed reading every day and:
Aim to be reading at least 220 words per minute
Reading short articles of around 300 words
Read often for short periods of time
You can also try this as a challenge with your friends to help keep motivated. Once you are happy with your comprehension and speed, focus on chunks (groups of words) rather than individual words.
When your reading skills reach a level you are happy with, you will feel more confident to answer the questions.
In the Multiple-Choice, Single Answer question type, some test takers make the mistake of scan reading and matching the words in the text to the words in the answer. Generally, the words in the text are not used in the correct answer, therefore it is important to learn how to use synonyms and paraphrasing as it will be used in the test.
Learn how to improve your grammar in our Reading: Core Skills part 1 article.
In this question type, you will need more time than in the Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer question type, as you need to intensively read the stem (the part before the options) as well as the options, then scan read the text on the screen until you find the part of the text that contains information that was in the stem.
Read the options very carefully and match the meaning of the option with the text. Do not match the words – this is something test takers may make errors with.
You should also make sure not to choose all the options since you lose one point for each incorrect choice. However, you cannot score below zero.
To do well in the Re-order Paragraphs questions, you will need to have a strong understanding of cohesive devices and how they work. You will also need to understand how articles work, as well as the logical and chronological order of information.
In this question type, skim-read the text to get the ideas of the topic of the text. From there, you should read all the sentences carefully.
For both Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks question types, you will need to understand a range of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, pronouns, and cohesive devices, as well as being able to identify when plural nouns are needed.
You will also need to be able to skim read to get an idea of the meaning of the text, then read intensively before and after each blank. If unsure, you should guess based on the context.
Make sure you do not leave any spaces blank. You do not need to correctly fill in all spaces to get points.
To go back and review the question types within the reading test, we suggest learning more about the reading questions.
Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.
Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test
It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account
Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.
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Do you have your heart set on studying in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland? The UK is a wonderful place to live and learn, but you’ll most likely need to get a UK study visa before you start packing your bags.
This comprehensive guide covers who needs a UK student visa, the requirements for getting one, how to apply, how much it costs, and how long it takes.
If you’re an international student hoping to study in the UK, you’ll most likely need a student visa. The only exceptions are nationals of Switzerland and countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), who don’t need a visa to enter the UK. *
* Please note: The outcome of Brexit may alter this after 2020. Check the UK government’s website for up-to-date information about this.
There are several UK study visa requirements you’ll need to meet to successfully apply. These include:
You’ve been offered a place in a full-time course from an eligible university (i.e. the school must be a licensed Student route visa*Tier 4 sponsors)
You can understand English (both written and spoken)
You have enough funds to support yourself and any dependants, while also paying for the course.
These requirements apply to students from all over the world. This means the UK student visa requirements for Indian students and American students are exactly the same for Chinese students and Australian students (and so on).
