You’re allowed to want a fresh start even if you have a thin wallet. We get that it feels like a risky mix and probably more of a pipe dream than anything, but we’re here to show you how to break it into actions you repeat day after day.
This is how to move abroad with no money without pretending luck will sort you out. We’ll get it into details shortly, but it mostly boils down to:
- Cutting costs where you can
- Opening doors that let you earn early
- Building a routine that keeps you fed while you find your feet in a new country
Most importantly – you do not need a perfect plan. You just need a simple plan that can get you time and whatever cash you can raise. Let’s get started!
Ground Rules and a Steady Mindset
Start with the basics you just won’t be able to dodge:
- A ticket
- A place to sleep for the first few nights
- A phone that works on arrival
Then you want to trim some of your spending for a bit, which also means selling some of the gear you don’t really use (because each bit helps you save money before takeoff!).
You’ll also need to keep all your important documents in a folder you can reach fast. So that’s everything from copies of your ID and brief references to proof of skills and a short contact list. These matter way more than extra clothing!
You might already be doing this, but treat those final few days before departure as somewhat of a rehearsal for life abroad. This means cooking at home and practicing living on the budget you expect to have. Those habits carry over once you land and soften the shock of new prices and different rhythms.
Housing and work are going to be your main goals at this stage, since they both support each other. Free housing tied to entry level roles can bridge your first month, like a hostel that credits chores against a bed or a small cafe with a room above the shop.
You might even be lucky and find host families that open their doors during busy seasons in exchange for help with simple tasks. Work exchange programs take that idea further by trading a bed and meals for a few hours of effort each day.
You might be cleaning rooms or helping with harvests, for instance. Yeah, it’s not exactly glamorous, but the maths works because lower rent makes it easier to get set up in the long run.
Visas and Routes That Open Doors
A legal right to earn changes everything. A working holiday visa, for example, lets people try living abroad while picking up shifts. Of course, requirements will vary by destination country (and most countries set age caps or ask for proof of funds), so read the current rules rather than copy a friend.
If you fall outside those schemes, a targeted work visa can still make sense when an employee wants your skills. So just keep realistic expectations, and be ready to adjust as you learn how the system in that place actually runs.
And it’s not uncommon to start teaching English when you arrive in a country of non-native English speakers. In some markets, a bachelor’s degree helps, but chances are you can get away with just a short certification.
For example, South Korea tends to pay pretty well with this sort of thing – your payment also arrives on time and apartments often come with the role.
Other countries can work too if you choose towns that hire newcomers. Your language skills do not need to be perfect to start; you teach the language you already speak, while foreign language grows day by day as you shop and make friends, etc.
Money Tips That Keep You Moving
Needless to say, rent is usually the largest drain. So make sure you sort this out as early as possible. Look at hostels that let you handle reception or housekeeping in exchange for beds. It could even be a farm that includes bunk rooms. Furthermore, ask small hotels whether night audit shifts come with staff quarters.
The bottom line is, you’re going to have to get a bit creative if you truly don’t have a penny to your name you can spend.
The money side also looks a bit less scary when you handle the basics fast. So that means opening a local bank account as soon as the rules allow so employers can pay without any hassle – not everyone is going to be happy paying you in cash.
And until your card arrives, try to track spending money by day (not week) because small leaks add up.
Again, it’s also worth searching for some kind of side income that can soften the landing if you don’t have consistent hours at your primary source of income:
- Tutor kids in your native tongue
- Pour coffees on market days
- Take odd jobs that keep you meeting locals
Focus on work that teaches skills you can reuse, because your progress will compound when each shift makes the next one easier to win!
And if a trial goes well, thank the person who vouched for you and ask what would make you an easy yes next time. Your goal is basically to just find a rhythm you can live with rather than something that’s going to burn you out quickly and have you looking for a way back home.
A Simple Plan for Week One
You might not be able to control the money that you arrive in your new country with, but you are able to set up a simple plan that gives you a bit of stability:
- Book a flight that lands early in the day
- On arrival, message the contact for your placement
- Confirm the start
- Walk the route before your first shift
- If you arrive with a job lined up from a friend or a recruiter, keep your paperwork in one envelope and confirm hours in writing
- If that lead falls over, move to day work and keep asking managers when they hire
- Work exchange programs can bridge the gap while you seek a longer contract
- Keep learning as you go and treat each week as a short project you can finish and review
Chances are you’re not going to be met with instant success, but you will collect a few small wins that end up compounding over time. For example, your manager might add some hours, or your landlord extends your stay for a couple of weeks.
How Upscore Can Help
If you eventually want to secure a mortgage in whichever country you settle down in, sign up for Upscore’s Finance Passport! It gathers your key documents and helps you show income history when a landlord asks. It won’t buy your ticket, but it can reduce a lot of the friction with gatekeepers so more doors open while you’re getting settled into a foreign country.
