Crazy to consider moving to Europe?

[Anonymous]

I would move to Berlin in a heartbeat. Do you want me to come over and help you start packing today? What are you waiting for?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH works for a Swedish company and could basically put in to relocate to Stockholm, London, or Berlin at any point. Our kids are currently 5 and 2 years old. We've been throwing around the idea of moving to the EU since DH would already have a job, I own a small business and could easily work from anywhere, and the kids are not yet really established in the school district or with friends/activities. One major perk we discussed is if we stayed 5+ years and became dual citizens, the kids could go to college anywhere in the EU. Also, we're attracted to the work-life balance, opportunity to travel, healthcare, childcare available. If my DH moved to the European side of the company, he would get August off every year on top of his regular generous PTO. We do currently live within 15 mins of all the grandparents which would be a big change, but DH's parents are in the process of building their retirement home a few hours away. The kids don't have any cousins yet (Dh and I are both the oldest in our families).

Any thoughts or experiences?

100% yes. Any chance his company is hiring?

[Anonymous]

I would.

[Anonymous]

Carefully do your research.
DCUM likes to paint all of Europe like a utopia. I've known many who made the move and it's not all roses.

Read expat forums for the places you are interested in. Ask questions.

Research what it will mean for your business. Not just taxes, but communication, shipment, hours if you want to expand etc
As someone who lived permanently away from family it's hard. Love my life but you do become sort of an outsider and miss out. This becomes more of a factor as people age.and we only live cross country.

Also give yourself freedom to change your mind if you want something different in the future.

[Anonymous]

Check the rules about university tuition for UK. Even if you are a citizen, I think you have to be living there for some number of years immediately preceding applying to university to get the lesser tuition.

[Anonymous]

Um why aren’t you already there? Sounds amazing.

[Anonymous]

Without a doubt. Go.

[Anonymous]

Of course! I would have moved already. Can you as easily come back to DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check the rules about university tuition for UK. Even if you are a citizen, I think you have to be living there for some number of years immediately preceding applying to university to get the lesser tuition.

Her oldest is five. Even if the kid is six by the time they move, that’s plenty of time.

[Anonymous]

Is it really just that easy to get citizenship in 5 years?

[Anonymous]

I would go! I would probably choose Sweden or Germany since the kids would benefit from learning a second language and I could work on it. Although (having lived abroad in non-English speaking countries) I would look into what expat services your husband’s company offers so you’re not surprised by expectations for paperwork or having to fill out tax forms with Google translate open. The last time I had to deal with that kind of thing I knew the language in question before I moved (although nowhere near fluently) and enjoyed the challenge. Now that I have young kids of my own I know I wouldn’t have time for that. It sounds like it would be flexible too which is nice — you could move now and stay 3 years (or 5 if you decide to ensure the kids get their citizenship) and then return to the US if the culture shock was too much.

[Anonymous]

I would do it.

Ate grandparents healthy and able to travel?

[Anonymous]

*are* grandparents able to travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look very carefully at how you will need to file taxes on a small business you are running from another country. Just make sure you really understand the rules.

Thanks, I already briefly started to look into this. It's a service based business so theoretically I could either keep my American clientele or register it where we move and reestablish myself in our new country based on what would be more tax advantageous.

That isn’t how it works. You would have nexus in the new jurisdiction and would have to file/pay taxes there. You would also have to file in the US but depending on how much you earn you might not owe anything here

[Anonymous]

It sounds like an amazing opportunity but do extensive research on housing and schools first. If you're interested in dual citizenship for the EU benefits, you can scratch the UK off your list.