So You Want to Migrate? Even MORE Reasons to Seriously Consider It (Part II)

Very few people willingly want to move out of their comfort zone. There is always a driving force that compels a person to take such a huge step. People have been migrating from their homelands for centuries. Some are forced to flee because of unfavorable circumstances, some are drawn to the charm of a new place and some take a leap of faith in hopes of leading a better life.

In the previous blog, we discussed about some of the main reasons people choose to settle abroad. It involved finances, scholastic opportunities, and asylum. But that’s not all… We have come up with some even more compelling reasons that you may want to consider if you are toying with the idea of emigrating.

In case, you missed the first part, click here to catch up!

7. To Obtain Citizenship

Won’t it be amazing to travel throughout the world without the requirement of a stamped passport? Imagine you are free to explore the dense Amazon jungles, visit the Niagara Falls and explore the mysteries of the world whenever you desire. Only if world peace was a real thing. Sigh!

Well, you can’t have free access to all the countries, but you can get dual citizenship! Many countries allow their natives to take foreign citizenship without needing to renounce their nationality. I know a handful of people who have migrated to foreign countries to take advantage of multiple nationalities. For instance, Italy allows citizenship by descent as well as dual nationality. It can enable people to fly back and forth without a hitch, and it open gates to various business opportunities.

The strength of a passport, allowing visa-free access is also a great advantage to many wanting to move to greener pastures. But hey, these laws are quite complex. Please do your homework before flying away!

8. Work-Life Balance

In Sweden, when a baby is born, or a child is adopted, parents are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave. Could it be more family-friendly? It is a dream come true for parents – especially single parents who have a hard time juggling between work and home. Before our son was born, my husband and I were working overtime.

After his birth, it is just my husband as it was getting difficult to look after the baby, and nannies charge a hefty fee. I still feel a little guilty but there is no way around it. In many places, there are no strict guidelines when it comes to keeping a work-life balance. People work overtime and their children go to bed without even meeting them. And they have to work, because how else will they afford to pay all the bills and school fees? Many people choose to emigrate in hopes of living a more balanced life.

9. Following Relatives – Chain Migration

Your brother moved abroad, and you hear that he is doing really well. He tells you that life is way better here and it would be great if all the family could be in one place. So, you emigrate. That’s chain migration – when you decide to follow your family and relatives who have already settled in a different country. Some people may also follow their spouses to a new location after marriage.

It has its benefits. When you come to a new destination, there is someone to guide you through the initial struggle phase. Most of your loved ones are around you and the foreign country doesn’t feel so strange anymore.

Being ‘sponsored’ is a real route to emigration, however, as with all cases, it is important to look in to the legal aspects and ensure that your decisions are based on facts that are current. Immigration rules in different countries often change on an annual basis and it’s important to ensure that you are up to date with the latest before you pack up your house and your bags.

10. To Gain Cultural Opportunities

Certain cultures offer you a wide range of opportunities to live your life to the fullest and the way you desire, while others can put plenty of restrictions and limit your life. Even in this era, child marriages, honor killings, gender inequality and biases against caste systems are quite a common problem. It can be suffocating to live in a caged system where you have to sacrifice your personal freedom because of what the society thinks or expects. When people have had enough of it, they might decide to settle abroad to live freely. Many people from South Asian countries move to the western side of the world to escape these restrictions.

Other than that, it can be other cultural factors that can cause you to emigrate. People who have a passion for literature, languages, historical sites, art, nature, and landscapes might decide to settle into a different country to pursue their interests.

Apart from that, people often opt to move to their cultural and religious homeland. For instance, a devout Muslim may feel more at home residing near Mecca, a significant religious landmark. Similarly, a Jew may feel more spiritually connected in Israel.

11. For Welfare Benefits and Healthcare

Some countries offer free healthcare and child tax benefits that may seem attractive to people. In Canada, immigrants are entitled to these benefits including a language training, free access to Canada’s national health care and other social welfare programs. They can put a claim on them as soon as their PR card arrives. However, conversely, you may have to pay a higher amount of taxes on your income in comparison to your home country.

12. Following Your Dreams

Have you ever wanted to live in the Big Apple or perhaps in a quaint house under aurora borealis? You love your country, but you also want to seek the buzz you have been longing for. When you have an irrepressible desire to move to a location you love, you naturally consider emigrating. Before you embark upon the journey, do keep in mind different factors such as job demand, housing, and cultural differences. People also migrate to follow their dreams of making money. Many medical professionals and software engineers move to European and North American countries as the job markets there offer better pay-scale.

Equally in this age of infinite opportunities and cheap travel, digital nomads travel the world, seeing and experiencing food, lifestyle and culture all over the world. While the traditional idea of migration has been to move and settle ‘permanently’ in a new country, there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored/

Well, are you ready to pack your bags and fly to your new abode? At first, it won’t feel like home. You may miss your country, your own people and culture, how easily it was to communicate in your mother tongue, and let’s not forget about the food. But over time, you will begin to grow fond of the strange land you chose over your home country, you will learn to adapt the new rules, and the foreign language eventually won’t be so hard anymore. Yes, there are some pretty good reasons to seriously consider emigration, but you must also weigh up its pros and cons.