We fix the card for five minutes, the pen hovering. The colleague is not just changing offices: he is changing time zones, languages, sometimes continents. Generic phrases (“Best of luck!”) sound hollow in the face of a departure that disrupts both professional and personal life. Writing a farewell message for a colleague moving abroad requires acknowledging what makes this situation unique.
Farewell message for moving abroad: what changes compared to a classic departure
When a colleague moves to another company in France, we know that a lunch together remains possible. A departure abroad removes that ease. The time difference, the daily language barrier, the administrative procedures in an unfamiliar country: all of this weighs heavily on the person leaving.
A good message recognizes the magnitude of the project, not just the job change. Mentioning the country, the city, or even the concrete challenge (learning a new language, enrolling children elsewhere) shows that we understand what this departure entails. We are no longer talking about a simple “trip,” but a life adventure.
Many departures today are not sharp breaks. Some colleagues move internally, maintain a contractual link with the company, or work hybrid between two countries. Adapting the tone of the farewell message for a colleague to this reality avoids the “definitive goodbye” aspect when the situation is more nuanced.
Three registers of text depending on your relationship with the colleague
You don’t write the same thing to someone you bumped into at the coffee machine as to someone with whom you’ve shared projects for several years. Before writing, ask yourself a simple question: what shared memory comes to mind first?
Professional and cordial register
For a colleague with whom exchanges were mainly work-related, a sober and sincere message is sufficient. Acknowledge their contribution, mention the destination country, and wish them success.
Example: “Your expertise on the [project name] project really made a difference. Knowing you are in [city/country] for this new mission is well-deserved. We wish you the best for this step.”
Warm and personal register
This is the register that leaves the most impact because it anchors the message in a shared experience. Cite a specific moment, an anecdote, a character trait that will be missed by the team.
Example: “We will long remember your Monday morning debriefs (and your croissants). [Destination city] is lucky to have you. Keep us a guest room; we’ll come check that you’re settling in well.”
Humorous register
Humor works when the bond is genuine. Forcing a joke with a distant colleague has the opposite effect. If you’re unsure, stick to the warm register.
Example: “We checked: the time difference with [country] won’t stop you from replying to our messages. You won’t escape us that easily. Jokes aside, this adventure suits you; go for it.”
Examples of farewell messages for an expatriate colleague: specific situations
Generic templates are everywhere. What follows targets specific situations that copied-pasted texts do not cover.
- Internal mobility (same group, different country): “You’re changing skyline, not teams. We’re still on the same Slack, the same time zone (almost). Can’t wait to see what you’ll build over there and to catch up at the next seminar.”
- Departure for a local contract abroad (sharp break): “You’re turning a clear page, and that takes courage. The memories we built here don’t change. Your new address in [city], however, we’ll note for future stops.”
- Departure of a manager or mentor: “You’ve set a framework that allowed us to progress. This isn’t just a phrase: [specific example]. We wish you to find equally dedicated collaborators over there as those you leave here.”
- Departure of a colleague with family (partner, children): “We understand what this departure means for your whole family. New school, new neighborhood, new references for everyone. We wish you a smooth settling in and many wonderful discoveries in [country].”
Card, email, or LinkedIn post: adapting the format to the channel
The choice of medium affects the length and tone of the message. You don’t write the same way on a card signed by the whole team and in an individual email sent on the last day.
The collective card remains the most common format for departures. Each signer writes one to three sentences, no more. A frequent mistake is to fill all available space with clichés. It’s better to have one genuine sentence than an empty paragraph.
The individual email allows for more depth. You can include a specific memory, a targeted thank you, and most importantly, your contact details to keep in touch. It’s also the right place to concretely propose staying connected (a quarterly call, a planned visit).
Feedback varies on this point, but a public LinkedIn post at the time of a colleague’s departure also serves as a networking tool. A short text mentioning the destination and the professional context helps the colleague become visible in their new market. It’s a useful gesture, not just symbolic.
Common mistakes in farewell messages for moving abroad
Some writing reflexes produce an awkward message without us realizing it.
- Reducing the departure to tourism (“Enjoy the beaches!”) when the person is leaving for a demanding position in a challenging context.
- Emphasizing the distance or sadness to the point of making the departing person feel guilty. The message should support, not weigh down.
- Using phrases so generic that they could apply to anyone. If you can replace the name with another without changing anything, the text lacks substance.
A successful message is a few lines long, cites a true detail, and leaves the door open. No need for poetry or length. The colleague who rereads it six months later, settled in their new country, should find a concrete echo of what they experienced with you.
