By Allianz | June 13, 2025 | 4 Min Read
Moving Back Home After Living Abroad
Returning home after living abroad can be as challenging as relocating first was. From packing up your belongings to managing family life, there’s a lot to do and think about.
According to Expat Network, nearly half (48%) of all expats find it hard to return home, with their different beliefs, friends changing and reverse culture shock all contributing to this. Remember if you’re feeling like this too, you’re not alone. Here are our top tips for expats returning home and readjusting to life back home:
According to Expat Network, nearly half (48%) of all expats find it hard to return home, with their different beliefs, friends changing and reverse culture shock all contributing to this. Remember if you’re feeling like this too, you’re not alone. Here are our top tips for expats returning home and readjusting to life back home:
Table of Contents
1. Plan to move back to your home country well in advance
Just like moving overseas, moving back home after living abroad brings a whole set of new challenges – from making the initial decision to return home, the emotional turmoil of leaving your new friends, job, routine and lifestyle behind, to the practicalities of organising an international move.
With an administrative to-do-list including sorting out possessions, deciding what to bring back to your home country, as well as updating lots of paperwork, for expats returning home, the process can quickly become overwhelming. So, planning should begin long before your moving day arrives.
Many companies will offer support during the repatriation process, so it’s worth checking with your HR department to see what help or advice is in place when moving back to your home country, to help make the transition a little smoother.
2. Manage your expectations
Keep in mind that while things might have “changed” at home since you moved to a new country, most likely, you have too. Particularly if you are an expat returning home after many years, it will take some time to readjust to your old way of life; so be patient with yourself.
Even though home is very familiar to you, it might feel foreign for the first few days or weeks. Don’t rush the process; allow yourself time to readjust. Step by step, familiarity will settle in, and you’ll soon get that sense of connection to your home country again.
3. Be ready for re-entry shock
Just like moving away to a new country, moving back home will also seem strange at first. Everything you thought you were familiar with will feel different to you. This is known as reverse culture shock and it is a common phenomenon among many expats returning home.
Thinking that everything will be the same as before you left will only make your transition back home more difficult. You will have to accept that, just as much as you’ve changed during your time abroad, so too have your friends, your family and even your home country.
It’s easy to focus on only the good of the place you’ve left and forget the bad. Instead, try to focus on the positive of moving home to make the transition easier.
4. Reach out to old friends at home
Just like you worked at building a network of friends abroad, as an expat returning home, you’ll now need to work at reconnecting with old friends and family in your home country. Get in touch with them well in advance of your move back home so you are up-to-date on their lives. This will make it easier for you to adjust and also help ease those repatriation blues.
5. Explore your hometown
If you used to spend your weekends exploring your city abroad, you can do the same at home. Make a list of sights and attractions in your home town and invite some friends to accompany you on your expeditions. This is a fun activity to do when moving back home after living abroad.
6. Make new friends when you move back home after living abroad
Try making new friends or meeting other expats who have also returned home like you. Join a sports team or club, take up a new hobby, volunteer at a local charity or attend events you’re interested in. You will meet like-minded people and make new connections too, just like you did when you first moved away.
7. Stay in touch with people from your host country
And finally, continue to maintain regular contact with your friends abroad. Many expats lose contact with their overseas friends, especially during the upheaval of the first few months back home. These old friends can be a very useful support network while you work at reconnecting with your friends and family at home after moving back home from living abroad.
Don’t neglect your physical health when you make the move back home, protect yourself and your family's health and get the best treatment possible with comprehensive international health insurance.
Are you moving abroad?
Before venturing to another country, make sure you have a health insurance plan you can rely on.
Meet the author
Allianz
At Allianz Partners, Health, our blog is crafted by a team of experts dedicated to providing valuable insights and guidance on global health and insurance topics. With a focus on expatriates, international businesses, and individuals navigating healthcare abroad, our authors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every article.
We aim to deliver practical advice, industry updates, and actionable tips to help you make informed decisions, whether you're exploring international health insurance, managing employee health plans, or staying informed about the latest healthcare trends. Trust our blog to be your go-to resource for navigating the world of global health and insurance.
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