Working abroad – is it time to go home?

Every year, the expat community keeps growing: our world has become increasingly interconnected, and moving abroad is no longer a difficult decision. Between 1970 and today, the global expat population has more than tripled, and experts predict that by 2035, it will have surpassed 350 million. If you are among those living and working abroad, you might come to a point where you are thinking about returning home. If so, here’s what to consider.

Is it really time to go back?

When you first move abroad, despite the novelty effect of the new surroundings, you might feel frustrated and anxious at times. Finding a home, settling into a new job and facing various cultural barriers is stressful, and you might catch yourself reminiscing about the comforts of your home country. All this is normal, to the extent that thoughts of escaping don’t disrupt your daily life. There might come times, though, when you will need to seriously think about whether you should return.

Your contract or assignment has ended. If you had a fixed-term work arrangement, once it ends, you will need to decide whether you will stay on – and perhaps seek another opportunity in your adopted country – or go back.
You never got over your homesickness. No matter how settled you might be in the new country, if you are struggling to shake off feelings of nostalgia, loneliness, or despair, or if you are missing your friends and family to the point that you feel depressed, then it might be worth exploring the possibility of returning.
Health concerns or other unforeseen circumstances. An unexpected event such as an illness or a death back home might make you reconsider your decision to be away.
Better prospects. Sometimes, good opportunities will arise in the place that you once decided to leave behind for something better. A better job offer, for example, or financial considerations such as owning your house back home, are all valid reasons to consider going back.

If you decide to return

Returning to your native country might sound easy, but repatriation is still a process that requires careful planning. To better navigate the transition, consider the following:

Take care of the logistics. This includes packing and transporting your belongings, securing a place to stay, selling any property you might have acquired while living abroad, closing your foreign bank account and transferring your assets to a bank in your native country, and settling your bills and any debt.
If your reason for returning doesn’t involve a better job offer, you should at least have a loose idea of what you will do once home. Reach out to acquaintances and let them know you are returning. Ask previous colleagues to fill you in on what is happening in the local job market. Start applying for jobs ahead of your move, if possible.
Anticipate ‘reverse culture shock’. Some would argue that it is easier to move back than away from home, but moving still involves change, and change is challenging even for the highly adaptable among us. Maybe the people you used to know are at a different life stage now. Maybe you got used to living in a warmer country and you have to go back to the cold. Give yourself time to adjust physically and emotionally to your new (old) environment.
Meet new people, try new things, and give yourself the opportunity to evolve. Going back doesn’t mean staying stuck in the past. You can create a new, exciting life, even in your old surroundings.

EURES focuses primarily on intra-EU mobility, and this might sometimes look like returning to the home base. If you are considering going back home after a stint abroad, a EURES Adviser in your native country can help you through the process.

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