So you’ve had enough and it’s time to pack up the family and bugger off to another continent, or maybe you’ve been made an offer overseas that will elevate your career to new heights.

Congrats, we’re happy for you. Just don’t tell the #ImStaying Facebook group.

Whatever your reasons for moving, there are a number of factors to consider, not least of which is the cost of taking your family with you.

BusinessTech spoke to Moovguide, a company that helps people move by providing them with accurate relocation costs.

High net worth individuals are able to move abroad with relative ease because they have the resources and networks, but for people without these advantages, moving is a complex and expensive business. It places a lot of strain on families, emotionally and financially.

If you and yours are considering moving to New Zealand, Australia, or the UK,  Moovguide worked out how much it would set you back to relocate your family.

The total costs calculated below are just an estimate based on the visa costs for a family of four including various government fees, medical and language tests, and visa agency costs (which vary depending on location).

Australia

Australia has a skills shortage in a number of unique fields at the moment, so finding work could be easier than ever. Over the past two years, the number of South Africans enquiring about Australian visas has more than doubled.

Once you’ve secured employment, here’s what it will cost you to move your family to Oz.

• R220 000 if you plan on leaving all of your belongings behind.
• R300 000 if you plan on taking your belongings and a pet with you.

New Zealand

New Zealand is the country that proudly announced that it had found a way to make sheep fart less last year. It’s also a popular destination for South Africans looking to start over, elsewhere.

The people migrating to New Zealand are typically highly skilled or have the resources to start a business. If you fall into that camp, here’s what it will cost to move the family:

• R190 000 if you plan on leaving all of your belongings behind.
• R280 000 if you plan on taking your belongings and a pet with you.

United Kingdom

The UK is scrapping its dual EU and non-EU visa system in favour of a more streamlined immigration and work visa process, in the aftermath of Brexit. The new immigration system now will see South Africans given access to work visas and, in some cases, a path to permanent UK residence.

As of June last year, the UK was looking to improve their stock of civil engineers, graphic designers, medical practitioners, chefs and other skilled workers in a range of other professions, so there are plenty of opportunities for those looking to move to not-so-sunny Britain.

If the UK is your new country of choice, this is what it will cost you to jump the pond with the family:

• R180 000 if you plan on leaving all of your belongings behind.
• R270 000 if you plan on taking your belongings and a pet with you.

Remember that the costs outlined above are estimates – there are often a number of hidden costs that you might not have factored in, but that could leave you at a bit of a deficit if you don’t plan for them.

Finally, Moovguide has some sage advice worth noting, no matter which country you plan on moving to.

Moovguide’s founders caution that while visa and other relocation costs are important, clients should focus clearly on understanding their destination country and its culture and assess whether they will be able to successfully integrate into their new society.

South Africans need to recognise that their current lifestyle is not easy to replicate elsewhere.

We have many good things going for us – natural beauty, great weather, excellent food, and a decent sense of community.

Keep that in mind before assuming that the grass will be greener elsewhere.

[source:businesstech]