Moving abroad looks exciting from the outside.
Sunshine, new cafés, cheap rent, better weather.
But behind the glossy Insta images, the story is more complicated.
I’ve seen people burn through savings, get stuck in endless paperwork, or feel lonely in a city they thought was paradise.
Most of the time, it wasn’t bad luck, but preventable mistakes.
What we’ll talk about today are three of the most common ones.
The trap of believing Instagram over reality.
Why the visa is just the beginning, not the end.
How skipping tax and legal prep can blow up later.
By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of what matters before you pack the bags.
Mistake #1: Falling For Glossy Social Media
Scroll through Instagram or YouTube and you’ll see the same story: rooftop pools, ocean views, laptops on the beach.
It makes moving abroad look like a constant vacation.
The problem is, daily life doesn’t always look like that.
Social feeds don’t show the bureaucracy, the long rainy season (e.g. September in Bangkok, where I am), or cultural differences that have to be overcome.
And they certainly don’t capture the loneliness of being new in town with no community around you. When people move with only the highlight reel in mind, disappointment is almost guaranteed.
Takeaway: Social media is a trailer, not the movie.
Example: A couple I know moved to Cyprus because everyone online seemed to be thriving there. Later they learned most of that content was just people promoting their own services.
They couldn’t find steady work, ran through their savings, and eventually had to return home.
Another point here, and this is important.
When you see something on social media, always ask what the intent behind the post is.
Are they selling you something?
Do they have a conflict of interest?
Or are they simply sharing because they’re genuinely happy?
Everything is possible, but knowing the difference helps you avoid being misled.
Takeaway: Always check the intent behind the post before you take it as truth.
Mistake #2: Treating The Visa As The Finish Line
For many people, the hardest part of the move seems to be securing the visa or residency.
Once they get the stamp, they think the big challenge is over.
But the reality starts after that.
Daily life relies on things that a visa doesn’t (always) guarantee:
Opening a bank account
Signing a good lease
Finding reliable healthcare
Building a circle of friends
… and many more.
Without those, even the best residency card can feel useless.
Takeaway: The visa is the entry ticket, not the full experience.
Example: Banking is one of the biggest hurdles. I’ve seen people celebrate their new residency only to learn that local banks refused to open accounts for them.
Fintech options can help to some degree (I’ll link my fintech article here), but it’s not a perfect solution. You need to be informed and prepare ahead of time so you don’t get stuck.
Mistake #3: Skipping Tax And Legal Planning
Taxes and legal structures are boring to think about compared to beaches or apartments.
That’s why so many people ignore them until it’s too late. The problem is that governments don’t ignore them.
If you leave a country without checking tax obligations properly, you will run into big problems. And if you move without checking local reporting rules, you could face surprise fines.
Takeaway: Tax and legal planning (towards your home country and the new destination) has to be part of your move.
Example: People often ask me about my UAE residency and say, “Cool, so you don’t have to pay taxes with that residency.”
My response is always the same: I pay taxes in Thailand, because I live there. Just because you hold a residency card from another country doesn’t mean the country where you actually live won’t tax you.
A residency card is not a “get out of tax free” card like in Monopoly.
Conclusion
That’s it.
Your key-takeaways:
Social media shows highlights, not reality. Always ask about the intent behind what you see.
A visa makes you legal, but it doesn’t make you feel at home. Banking, housing, and community matter more.
Tax rules follow where you actually live (and sometimes where you’re from), not just the residency card in your wallet.
So, before booking the ticket, check 3 things:
Are your expectations based on reality, not just social media posts?
Do you know how you’ll handle banking, housing, and community once you arrive?
Are you clear on where you’ll actually pay taxes?
Answering these questions upfront will save you from (some) of the biggest mistakes people make when moving abroad.
Thanks for reading and being part of this journey,
— Ben
P.S.
If you don’t want to figure this out alone, I offer 1:1 support.
We start with a free discovery call and build a tailored strategy around your passports, income, and goals.
You can book a free call here, or read more at theclubcitizen.com.