Making a move abroad is a decision that many take months or even years to make. If you have decided that the Baltic States is the place for you, then where do you begin to start your research into things such as laws, visas, language, costs, etc?

I suspect that the majority of your initial research will be done by scouring the internet, which is no bad thing. The internet is a wide ocean of information and it is also really quick! There are many forums where expatriates talk about their experiences of moving overseas; and you can post a simple question if you can’t find the answer anywhere and be guaranteed to have various comments from people hoping to provide the answer you are looking for. I have also seen many expats offering a chat and a coffee to others when they arrive in their new country, so you won’t find it hard to make friends.

There will be lots of people to talk with on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace so don’t rule out the power of a quick message to somebody can have. Friends of friends who have been through the experience or who know the Baltics are also useful and can put you in touch with various services, such as translators, solicitors etc.

It may be a good idea to browse through overseas magazines which feature Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania, and you can also sign up to websites to receive news feed about the country in question. This will help you stay aware of any significant current affairs, changing of laws etc.

It is not just online that you can find a great deal of information, a good old fashioned book is also great to have with you when you’re out and about and can make an excellent reference guide; you will also be able to write notes and reminders in it too.

When you feel ready to start researching areas and properties to live in, it might well be worth a trip to your local estate agent as they will most likely be able to put you in touch with overseas agents, or better still, they may have their own overseas portfolio, in which case you have the benefit of finding a property overseas with an agent in the UK.

Rightmove, the online property portal also has an overseas section, showcasing properties from around the world. What better way to search online and see what sort of property you can get for your money. Rightmove’s overseas section can be found at www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas-property.html