Living abroad: the realities of moving to a new country

Moving to a new country for studying could be an amazing experience yet challenging in terms of new culture, location, climate, lifestyle and daily routine waiting ahead.

While expat life offers new adventures and experiences, it can also come with though challenges. In this light, respecting all the regulations imposed by the new home country may be one of them.

Many expats do not realise until after the move that their local policies do not work abroad, and sometimes it could be an expensive mistake. Each country has its own documentary requirements that individuals are expected to know and, in some cases, obtain prior to entering the country. Depending on one’s home country, when travelling to Europe, he or she may be referred to as EU or non-EU citizen. Although it might seem just a descriptive way to call someone, based on his/her nationality or citizenship, it comes with several aspects that need to be carefully taken into consideration. For instance, EU students deciding to live in Italy, are not obliged to apply for a residence permit. Nonetheless, it is mandatory for them to request the registration certificate, after three months of living in Italy, which is issued by the municipality of usual residence. On the other hand, in the case of non-EU students, they have to apply for a residence permit within eight working days of arrival in Italy.

No matter what, living abroad is an incredible opportunity. While it’s not for everyone, it’s something one should be proud of and enjoy. And remember: these difficulties of living in a foreign country are all easy to overcome, and none of them last forever.