In years gone by, midlife and our later years were often seen as a time to wind down and take things easy. In modern times, many of us arrive in midlife ready for a new adventure, perhaps in a brand-new location.
But how easy is it to relocate abroad in later life? Particularly since Brexit. And what should we consider before taking the plunge?
The benefits
Moving somewhere new in later life can be a wakeup call for body and mind – and do us the world of good. ‘When we’re somewhere familiar we can live on autopilot and stop taking things in. In a brand new place, we become more conscious, mindful and aware,’ explains psychotherapist Kamalyn Kaur.
It can also be beneficial to learn new things, something that doesn’t always occur as we get older. ‘Learning a new language, or about a new culture can reactivate part of ourselves. When we’re younger, everything is new and amazing. We lose that sense of wonder when we get older, but moving to a new situation can give us new appreciation.’
Making the choice to relocate may also mean you can choose an area or country with lower property prices, enabling you to free up capital, buy that dream house or land yourself a bigger garden. And then of course there’s the weather…
Finally, making this kind of move later in life may make financial sense – it’s a time when many have fewer dependants making it possible to downsize or try something new career-wise.
Is it still actually possible after Brexit?
In short, yes it is, but it’s not as easy as it was. Every country will have different criteria for allowing you to live there, but mostly the rules are around being able to support yourself. Basically, other countries don’t want you to retire or move there, and draw on their money pots. So a lot of places will want to know how you plan to fund your existence, and may refuse you if you don’t have enough money either saved, or reliably coming in via work or a job.
If you’re thinking of retiring abroad, you can still draw your UK state pension if you move overseas, although that’s rarely enough to live particularly well on. With individual or private pensions you should still be fine, but it’s worth checking with your provider. Having some savings or capital to fall back on will definitely make most immigration offices look at you more favourably.
For more information country by country, take a look at the Gov site section, Living in Country Guides.
Things to consider
While there are numerous benefits to relocating, as with all big life changes, it’s important to consider potential drawbacks. ‘We’re creatures of habit,’ explains Kaur. ‘This means the practicalities of moving and starting again can seem overwhelming, particularly in later life.’
It’s also important to consider what it might be like to move away from family and close friends. ‘Often people at this life stage will have grandchildren – there can be a strong bond. Disrupting this can be difficult.’
It’s also worth bearing in mind that while still possible, learning a new language may be more of a challenge as we age.
What to remember
However well we prepare, changing location can be a challenge and there are bound to be some teething problems. Preparing for the ups and downs most people encounter initially can help us to settle in and adjust to what is an enormous upheaval in a mindful and measured way.
‘As human beings, moving out of our comfort zone naturally triggers feelings of anxiety as we don’t feel ourselves to be in control,’ says Kaur. ‘But remember, just because you’re feeling anxious doesn’t mean you’re making a mistake. Nerves can be overcome. Overthinking is natural as your brain tries to keep you safe. You can mitigate these feelings by focusing on the things you do have control over.’
Our Stories
Karen Corbridge 58, Normandy
I fancied a change of scene – so emigrated to France
My husband Michael, 61, and I moved to France in 2019. We’d had a tough couple of years in our personal lives and felt like a complete change of scene – France seemed like a great place to go as it’s not too far and as I have older family members that we wanted to be able to visit regularly. At the time I was a senior project manager at a FTSE 100 company and Michael was a vehicle examiner for the DVSA.
We chose a house in Normandy that needed renovation, and took a year updating and improving that, then began to look for work. While we knew we wouldn’t be able to get similar jobs to the ones we had in the UK, we hadn’t realised just how hard it would be to get any type of employment.
I got a temporary job just before Covid, and we spent some time cleaning gites. However, I don’t think that our trouble finding employment had anything to do with our age – more our language and the fact we weren’t French nationals.
Finally, in 2023, we got jobs working for a museum on the D-Day beaches. It’s amazing, but it can be tiring at times.
Despite the initial struggles, I’m glad we made the move, and I’d tell anyone thinking about emigrating to go for it! But choose where you live carefully and make sure you have funds behind you especially if you’re buying something that needs work. Do your homework and try to learn basics of language before you go.
Gill Chapman, 58, Norfolk
We had five years in France, but have settled back in the UK
My husband Jess, 58, and I decided to move to France in 2018. He had his military pension, and I had a little money from inheritance so we thought ‘why not?’ Let’s get out of the rat-race and move somewhere new. We settled on Limousin in France for the beautiful scenery and very affordable house prices.
At first we really enjoyed our life there. We’d chosen a large house with land and woods in a small hamlet and enjoyed fixing it up, with the intention of running a holiday let in our additional space. However, just as we were ready to open for business, Covid hit and our plans were put on hold. By the time it was viable again, we’d realised we could survive on our existing income and didn’t have the impetus to get things going again.
With our plans to run a holiday home shelved, we thought we’d move to somewhere smaller, on the edge of a small town. Isolation had begun to get a little too much and we wanted amenities! We moved in 2022, but after two years in our new location, began to yearn for ‘home’.
What prompted the move back to the UK for me was the lack of things to do. The town we moved to was lovely, but shops were often closed and in the winter months it felt as if there was nothing to do. We tried to learn the language, but it was a struggle, and there wasn’t often the opportunity to practice. Neither of us really like clubs, and although we explored the countryside and saw some amazing places, life felt a bit empty.
We moved back to Norfolk in February 2024 and although we haven’t lived here before, we’ve found it easy to settle in.
We’re lucky to have lived in France and experienced another culture and I don’t regret the five years we spent there. I don’t think our age really affected how well we settled in, or settled back. It was more of a personal thing – living there was a great adventure, but it didn’t suit us longer term.
Tips for a smooth move:
Natalie Trice, author of ‘How to Relocate’ shares her advice:
Relocating requires careful planning and consideration to ensure that your new life is built on a strong foundation.
- Lifestyle: Consider whether the new location will offer the lifestyle you desire, whether it’s urban, rural, or coastal living.
- Cost of living: Evaluate the financial implications, including housing costs, taxes, and everyday expenses as this will help you determine if the new location is economically viable for you.
- Career opportunities: Look into job prospects in your field. If you have your own business, think about new networks, co-working spaces and WIFI!
- Family and social connections: Consider the impact on your family and social life. Moving can be challenging if it means leaving behind close relationships, but it can also offer opportunities to build new ones.
- Quality of life: Factors such as climate, healthcare, education, and community amenities can greatly influence your decision, so as much as you can ensure your ideal new location meets your expectations.
