The magazine for expats

Why megacities are losing their appeal for expats

Just a few years ago, living in a big city seemed to be a direct association with success. And so was moving to a big city. And a lot of expats, when relocating, were more driven towards big cities for this reason too. But things seem to be changing. If social media is to be believed (and yes, this is very debatable), a lot of people now prefer, given the choice, to settle away from the noise of a big city. Smaller sustainable communities are starting to emerge.

Children

Where is home for expat children?

We often talk about how difficult relocation can be for adults. You lose connections with friends and sometimes even family, you suffer from language fatigue, you need to adapt to a completely new way of life. This can be really hard on adults. But then what about children?

New Zealand

New visas for international graduates in New Zealand

As part of a sweeping overhaul of its post-study work visa system, the New Zealand government has announced two major changes: the introduction of a new temporary work visa and an expansion of the post-study work visa. Both measures are expected to come into effect in late 2026.

Expat news

France

France to remove housing aid for non-European students

This measure has largely gone unnoticed, but it will affect many international students in France. From July 1, 2026, non-European international students in France, without a scholarship, will no longer be eligible for housing assistance (APL).

France

Flat tax in France rises to 31.4%

The 2026 Finance Law raises the flat tax to 31.4%, up from the previous 30%. What should expatriates expect?

Spain

AI, healthcare and construction lead hiring in Spain

Thinking about moving to Spain for work? With economic growth projected at +2.5% in 2025 (according to the OECD), the country is positioning itself as an attractive destination for international talent. Here is a closer look at the sectors and professions expected to offer the strongest opportunities this year.

See all

Content from our partners

Features

Work

Why young graduates are struggling to find jobs worldwide

Labor shortages in some sectors are playing out alongside unemployment rates that, depending on the country, remain stubbornly high. Young people are particularly at risk of failing to find work in their field or anywhere else. So, how are young professionals thinking about moving abroad in this climate?

Everyday life

Why expats will be affected by the global energy crisis

In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated that the current energy crisis is "worse than those of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined." Compounded by the war in the Middle East, the crisis is pushing governments to fast-track their energy transition policies, from fuel taxes and vehicle use restrictions to incentives for remote work. Should expats brace for lasting disruptions to their daily lives? And how can they adapt to this new reality?

Costa Rica

Costa Rica: What if happiness was waiting here?

It is the 4th-happiest country in the world. For the first time, Costa Rica has broken into the top 5 happiest countries on the planet, and it is the first Latin American nation to reach the upper ranks of the list. This strong showing mirrors Costa Rica's reputation among expats: the country consistently ranks among the best places to live abroad. So what makes Costa Rica so appealing? And how do you go about settling there as a foreigner?

Work

Key mistakes to avoid when starting a business abroad

Starting a business abroad and turning a profit. Between the two lies a series of steps to get right, and pitfalls to steer clear of. Culture, cash flow, investment… Here's an overview of the most common mistakes to avoid when building a successful business overseas.

Tax

When should expats file their income taxes?

Tax season is just around the corner. While most people refer to it as "filing taxes," what you're actually doing is declaring your income. This process can quickly become complex when you live abroad: which fiscal year applies to you? What is the filing deadline? And what happens if you move overseas partway through the tax year?

Schools & studies

Study abroad: Choosing the right degree

When planning to study abroad, most people focus on choosing a destination or comparing universities. Yet these are only part of the picture. Other factors deserve just as much attention: how resilient your future career is to market shifts, the long-term value of your degree, and the level of competition from locals, fellow expats, and new graduates. Here's what you need to consider.

See all

Expat interviews

Everyday life

Why the Short family from the UK chose Mauritius for a new life

When Adam and Tara Short from Sheffield visited Mauritius last November, they didn't expect it to change their lives. But one afternoon on the beach in Grand Baie, they realized this was where they wanted to raise their family. Adam, who runs a car and fishing business, and Tara, who owns a hospitality supply company, wanted a simpler, safer, and more outdoor life for their two sons, Spencer (9) and Xander (4). Just months later, they turned that dream into reality. In this interview, the Short family shares what it's really like to swap the busy streets of Sheffield for island life, from choosing schools and settling in, to discovering their favourite local foods and making Mauritius home.

Spain

Building a life in Mallorca: Doug Underwood's story of work, community, and home

For many, moving abroad is a leap into the unknown. For Doug Underwood, arriving in Mallorca in 2019 turned into a journey of building community, adapting to island life, and finding a true sense of home. What started as a work opportunity grew into something much bigger, from professional projects to co-hosting Curiosity Night, a monthly gathering for expats and locals alike. In this interview, Doug shares the rewards and challenges of expat life in Mallorca, his advice for newcomers, and what makes the island such a unique place to live.

Everyday life

Resilience and belonging in expat life: Roberta Maretti's journey

Moving across borders is never just about changing your address — it's about reshaping your identity, navigating new beginnings, and learning to find “home” wherever you are. For Roberta Maretti, author of Where the World Took Me, the expat life began as a teenager in Tokyo and soon became a lifelong journey spanning continents, cultures, and countless reinventions. From raising children in Asia and the Caribbean to returning to Europe after years abroad, her story is one of resilience, curiosity, and the search for belonging. In this interview, she reflects on the challenges and gifts of a globally mobile life, the friendships and food that anchored her along the way, and the lessons she hopes to share with other expats carving out their own paths.

See all

Insights from professionals

Argentina

Argentina to launch South America's first Citizenship by Investment program

As an expat who has made South America's Southern Cone my home, I explained last year why Latin America is the new frontier and how to get residency here. This year, I've been spending a lot of time in the new Land of Opportunity: Argentina. After taking a chainsaw to inflation, President Milei has set his sights on citizenship by investment as the next lever to pull.

Everyday life

Five mistakes couples make when moving abroad (And how to avoid them)

Expat life is often seen as an exciting adventure: a new country, new opportunities, and a rich cultural experience. Moving abroad represents, for many, a major life project — one filled with hope and the promise of a fresh start. When you make that move as a couple, it can feel even more reassuring. You're not going it alone; you have each other, with the shared belief that this change will bring you closer and create lasting memories together. And it truly can. But living abroad also brings profound upheaval: the loss of familiar landmarks, constant cultural adjustment, distance from family and friends, and sometimes a complete professional reinvention. All of these factors can unsettle not only your individual sense of balance but also the foundation of your relationship.

Everyday life

Challenges of raising a child abroad: How to find support?

There is an African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” But what happens when there is no “village”? Bringing a child into the world or raising one far from home means facing the expectations of family and one's social group while choosing a solitary path. It is a path marked by loneliness, where we confront the ongoing exile of being a foreigner, even as we create a “symbolic, bodily, and mental territory of belonging to that other being who has come into life.”

See all

Expat stories

Work

How to build a business abroad with your partner

Starting a business with your partner sounds like a dream, Palm trees, shared goals, flexible schedules, maybe even long lunches in the sun. But here's the truth: building a business and maintaining a healthy relationship takes intention, grit, especially when you add the stresses of doing it in a new country. I have done it with my husband—and we're still talking to each other!

Everyday life

How to know if you made it abroad

Many aspects of life today are shaped by constant judgment and evaluation—annual reviews, performance indicators, goal assessments, skills audits, and more. But should we apply the same lens to an international relocation? Living abroad is a rich and complex experience, which raises an important question: how—and why—should we evaluate it? Is it to strengthen an application for a new role and better reflect the value of our intercultural experience? To gain clarity about future goals in an international setting? Or perhaps to make sense of the reasons behind a return?

USA

Entrepreneurship in the USA: The E2 visa amid the Covid-pandemic

As the year 2021 comes to an end, we're hoping for this very stressful period for expatriates all over the world to be over. Expats living in the USA on an E2 visa have been faced with a particularly complicated situation. In addition to the pandemic's impact on their businesses, they will also have administrative difficulties obtaining visas or even their renewal.

Everyday life

Life as an expat in South Africa

From October 1, 2021, South Africa moved to Alert Level 1 after multiple Covid-19 peaks, and life is slowly getting back to normal. Hannah, an expat from the UK, was lucky enough to relocate to Cape Town in September following her husband's intra-company transfer. She shares her views about expat life in the country she now calls home.

Everyday life

Opinion: Does being an expat mean I'll always be the outsider?

Does being an expat mean always being the outsider? Not quite at home in your host country and a little bit of a stranger to your home country. Stephanie discusses how she navigates this identity as a Brit living in Paris.

Moving

Please, don't ask me these expat-related questions again

Expatriation started as a necessity when I was looking to progress with my academic studies of a Master's degree in England. However, it was earlier in my life, when I began travelling for leisure, that I figured out moving countries is a lifestyle I would like to revel in. Since 2007, I have lived and worked in five countries in Europe, Africa, and East Asia, and I am currently preparing for my next expatriation project. I may find it easier to board a plane and start all over again than deciding what to have for dinner, but the journey is not anxiety and sorrow-free. So, if you are interested in how a life away from everything you take for granted is, please don't ask me (or any other like-minded expat for that matter) any of the following questions — here's why.

See all

Expat of the month

Everyday life

Expat life in the UK between the Brexit and the pandemic

Angelica is originally from Verbania, Italy. It's been nearly ten years since she moved to the UK, hungry for independence and new experiences. She has also spent a year in Germany for her studies before going back to the UK and is currently in the process of obtaining British citizenship. She talks to us about living in London as an expat between Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

See all

Articles from our local editions

Mauritius

Mauritius to regulate smartphone use in schools

Mauritius is about to join a already lengthy list of countries that have chosen to act. More than 60 nations have enacted laws or policies restricting smartphone use in schools. Among them are France, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Italy, Finland, Canada, and the Netherlands. The island, according to some observers, has been slow to follow suit. "Mauritius was too slow to react," say various stakeholders, who point to the antisocial behaviors that have proliferated in schools in the wake of mobile phone use.

Mauritius

From expat to expert: Anaïs Honorez's journey in Mauritius

Moving abroad often starts with a feeling, a vague desire for change that gradually takes shape. For Anaïs Honorez, the plan came together step by step, through travels across Asia and the discovery of Mauritius, where she settled in 2018. Since then, she has turned her personal experience into genuine expertise, helping dozens of expats each year navigate their move to the island. In this interview, she looks back on her journey, shares the realities of life in Mauritius beyond the postcard clichés, and offers practical advice for a successful relocation, from preparation through those first months on the ground.

Mauritius

Mauritius announces Golden Visa to attract wealthy investors

Mauritius is taking its attractiveness strategy to the next level. Announced at the Cabinet Meeting on April 10, 2026, a Golden Visa Scheme is currently in the works, alongside a dedicated concierge service for ultra-high-net-worth investors. Behind the announcement lies a clear and deliberate ambition: to capture capital on the move, and fast.