The nature of the transition into exile ranged from precipitous flight through to orderly departure. This included journeys on foot but also sea journeys to other continents.

The routes which came into question depended on the time and the point of departure as well as on bureaucratic aspects. Nationality, occupation, age and financial situation were key factors. Many countries began to tighten their conditions of entry, meaning that it was not always possible to move to the country of choice.

The destination, once reached, frequently offered no lasting security. The aggressive expansion of the Nazi sphere of influence from 1938 turned countries such as Austria, Czechoslovakia, and France into dangerous traps. The route for most now lay overseas. Increasingly, illegal escape routes also had to be considered.