Find friends as an expat

How to Make Friends as an Expat in your Late 20´s

The day I migrated to Germany, my life re-started. I packed all my belongings in a 20 kg bag, leaving behind my family and friends from childhood. All that was known to me disappeared.

The hassle of constructing a new life goes from registering in a municipality to finding a house and, on top of that, creating a support system. How to make friends as an expat in your late 20´s? Which is the best way to integrate with people from multiple nationalities?

Nobody told me how hard it was to integrate or make new friends as you age.

When you migrate to study, the possibilities of making friends are endless. In every class, you meet new wonderful people and socialize all the time. In my case, I migrated due to love. I was 28 and very lonely. 

The only people I knew were my husband´s family and friends. However, as harsh as it sounds, my partner’s friends were not mine. They were lovely people who talked to me because of my partner.

If you struggle to find friends in a new country but still want to do your best to make quality connections, this blog is for you.

I have compiled multiple activities and organizations to make meaningful friends based on personal interests and goals 10x faster. I have tried all these options in various countries, and I can assure you they work!

How to make friends in your 30´s

How to Make Friends as an Expat

Making friends can be easy, but as you get older, new barriers arise. Still, the only way to find a new community is to socialize and leave your comfort zone.

Before finding the right friends, it is essential to understand what you like (as a personal taste) and what you would like to achieve. Whether you are introverted or extroverted, I compiled the following actions for you to find people with the same interests as you:

  • Join Facebook groups. 
  • Find clubs and volunteers in your new city. 
  • Go to language exchange programs. 
  • Join apps like Bumble with the BFF version.
  • Subscribe to classes and learn a new skill. 

Throughout the blog, I will provide you with exact activities and places to make friends as an expat ten times faster. I want to invite you to let go of expectations. Of the ten people you meet, 2 or 3 might become your friends. 

Facebook Groups / Meta Groups 

When I first migrated to Germany, the first group I joined was Latinas en Alemania. For many of us, starting in a new country feels scary, and it is even more unnerving to socialize with people utterly different from us. 

As Latins, we are used to kindness in the street. Then, when you arrive in the middle of winter, it shocks you how people seem not to notice each other. This situation will differ depending on the country you migrate to and your language.  In my case, it was easier to connect with people from my community.

Go to Facebook and look for groups with people from the same nationality or background. These communities are unique because they provide easy access to information about the migration process, language, and personal advice. And who knows, you could meet a great friend. 

Tip: Go to Facebook Groups and look for (your nationality) in (the place you migrate)— for example: Latinos in The Netherlands. 

  • Girl Gone International (GGI) is an excellent resource for women. It is a large community with many groups worldwide. 
  • Latinas en Alemania is one of my favorite Facebook groups. If you migrate to Germany, this is one of the communities where I felt the most supported. 

I have moved out for a few months to Mexico, Valencia, and long-term in The Netherlands, so I highly recommend that you look at the expat groups. Use the keywords: Expats in (country of destination). Some groups I have joined: 

Clubs or Volunteer

If you live in the Netherlands, you should know that Dutch people love clubs. From Hockey to painting, the best way to make friends as an expat in this country is to join a club. 

My question for you is: What do you like to do? Think about your hobbies and what you wanted to do back home and search for them. Do not hold yourself to the language barrier; focus on the activity you enjoy. 

Another way to make friends is to volunteer for any organization. Join a volunteer activity and get to know more organizations and people who like to work for a social cause. 

Language Exchange Programs

How to make friends as an expat will depend on what you are looking for. If learning a language in your new city is relevant, I suggest language exchange programs. Those are an easy way to practice and meet new people. 

If you want to find more ways to learn Dutch, read here.

One of our best assets is our mother tongue. At least in Europe, people often like to learn new languages. Use your mother tongue in your favor. 

  • Dutch Language Café is a great place to integrate and meet new friends. Often, there is a language exchange between Spanish and French or board game nights.

Apps: Bumble BFF

Are you more introverted and prefer to get online contact first? Bumble is an application often used to find a partner. The cool part is that they also have a friends version, where you can look for people of your same gender and interests. 

On this app, you can identify each other’s interests. Knowing beforehand who you are talking to makes it easier to match with people like you.

Learn a New Skill

Learning a new skill always forces you to try new things. Sometimes, we avoid exploring new activities in our hometown, but I genuinely believe in the sentence: new place, new you!

Think about it: Which skills would this new me love to try? Even if you do not like it, at least you gave it a go. Are you interested in painting or dancing classes?

Do not be afraid to begin a new chapter in your life. 

Some of the activities I have done have introduced me to great friends.

  • Pandora Studio: Ideal if you want to learn artistic skills with the community. 
  • Volks Universiteit: It offers many activities, from painting to photography. There is something for every interest. 
  • Salseros: I met one of my close friends while taking Kizomba & Bachata lessons for only women.

There are hundreds of options for making friends as an expat, but the most important is understanding what you like to do.

Making friends has been one of my biggest frustrations every time I have migrated. Sometimes, it takes time to realize that friendship is like a relationship: you must get the time to nurture and have uncomfortable situations to bond with new people.

Finding friends worldwide is fun, but it also comes with challenges. Have you experienced cultural differences with your friends? Share your experiences in the comments!

Hi, I’m Juliana, a Colombian migrant living in the Netherlands. I have moved more than four times to different places, and now I want to share how you can best integrate into a new society.

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