Your move is part of your story, not a footnote
Many newcomers play down where they are from, or leave it out, worried it will put people off or invite clumsy questions. Usually it does the opposite. Having lived in more than one place makes you more interesting, and it gives people an easy, genuine way to start talking to you.
You do not need to tell your life story. A line or two is enough: where you grew up, what brought you here, what you miss and what you have come to love. That is plenty for someone to ask about.
Say where you are from and where you are now
Be clear about both. Someone who grew up in one place and has lived in another for ten years is in a very different position from someone who arrived last month, and the right person will want to know which you are.
You can mention how long you have been here, if you are comfortable with that. It helps people understand you: if you are new, the right match might offer to show you their favourite places; if you have been here for years, you can be the one who knows the city.
List your languages honestly
Languages matter more in dating than most people expect. A shared first language can make conversation effortless, and dating in a second language can be lovely too, as long as both people know what to expect.
List the languages you speak and be honest about your level. “Fluent”, “conversational” and “learning” are all fine. If you are learning the local language, say so: plenty of people find it attractive, and it is an easy opening for a conversation.
Be clear about your plans, not your paperwork
Whether you plan to stay, are not sure yet, or expect to move again affects what kind of relationship makes sense. You do not need to promise anything, but a short honest line, such as “here for the long run” or “not sure where I will be in two years”, saves both of you from surprises later.
What you should never put on a profile is your immigration status, visa type or anything about your documents. It is nobody’s business on a dating app, and it is the kind of detail people can misuse. Plans and intentions are what matter for compatibility.
Photos that help
The basics apply everywhere: recent photos, your face clearly visible in the first one, at least one that shows you doing something you enjoy, and no photos where people have to guess which person you are.
One thing newcomers often miss: check the background. A photo outside your building, at your workplace or with your street name visible tells a stranger more than you might want. Save those for people you know.
- A clear, recent photo of your face, smiling or relaxed.
- One full-length or activity photo, so people get a real sense of you.
- Something that hints at your story: a favourite dish, a place that matters to you, your new city.
- Nothing that shows your home, your workplace or your car’s number plate.
Write answers people can reply to
Profiles that say “I like travel, food and good vibes” are hard to answer because everyone says them. Specific answers give people something to pick up on. Compare “I love food” with “I am still looking for a bakery that makes bread like the one near my parents’ house”. The second one starts a conversation by itself.
Good topics for a newcomer: the thing you miss most from home, the first thing that surprised you here, a dish you can cook for someone, the place you go when you need to feel at home, or something you are trying for the first time.
Writing in your second language
If you are writing in a language you are still learning, keep sentences short and say things the way you would say them out loud. A few small mistakes are completely fine, and they are honest: the person who meets you will hear the same voice.
Be careful with translation tools. Running a whole profile through one can produce text that sounds nothing like you, or too formal, or accidentally strange. If you use one, check the result with someone who speaks the language, and keep your own words where you can.
What to leave out
A profile is public to everyone who uses the app, so treat it that way. Keep these for later, for people you have met and trust:
- Your exact address, your neighbourhood if it is small, and your workplace.
- Your phone number and other social media accounts.
- Anything about money, your income or what you own.
- Your immigration status or documents.
- Long lists of what you do not want; a line about what you do want works better.
Where ImmigrantsDating fits
On ImmigrantsDating your profile has a place for exactly these things: where you are from, where you live now, the languages you speak and what you are looking for. People see the reasons you might get on, such as a shared language, rather than just a distance. A person checks every profile, comparing a selfie with the photos, before it is shown to anyone.
If that is the kind of place you want to write your profile, create one or get notified at launch. Our guide to expat dating has more on being honest about timelines and plans.
Questions people ask
Should I say on my dating profile that I have just moved?
If you are comfortable with it, yes. It explains a lot about where you are in life and gives people an easy way to start talking. You do not need to give details beyond what feels right.
Is it a problem if my profile has language mistakes?
Usually not. Short, natural sentences with a few small mistakes read as genuine. A profile that sounds very different from how you speak can be more off-putting than a few errors.