Expat news

The United Kingdom, a dreamland for many international students, is introducing a new visa to bring talented graduates to the country. On the other hand, the new policy targets mostly expats from high-level universities in the north of the globe. 

On Saturday, May 14, the G7 Ministers of Foreign Affairs agreed to a further extension of economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia. These leaders firmly believe that the solution is to free their countries from Russian power. Pressure is also building up against states that are supporting Russia, such as China and Belarus.

With the end of the pandemic in most parts of the world, many organizations have been requiring hybrid roles and a partial return to the office. But many employees do not want to say goodbye to the cherished freedom of remote working, and ideally, some would like to work from holiday destinations. 

Since May 1, British expats living in Spain for more than six months are facing chaos due to the invalidity of the UK driving licenses in the country after negotiations failed to reach a post-Brexit agreement. 

Are there lessons to be learned from the recent riots in Sweden? Yet, the country is renowned for its good quality of life, especially for expatriates. There were clashes in many towns in Sweden during Easter week as the far-right political party and rioters challenged the police. Since then, the situation seems to have calmed down, but Swedes are left with many unanswered questions. Where has the integration of immigrants failed?

Bargain £10 flights to Australia are brought in for Brits this month, and that can increase tourism in the country, but also expats looking for a long-term experience in Oceania. According to key Australian Government findings from 2020, there are 7.6 million migrants living in Australia. This means that 29.8% of the population was born overseas.

Ireland is very international as it has 650,000 foreigners in a country of 5 million people. In general, expats going to Irish lands are looking for good quality of life and job opportunities and are attracted by its open culture to immigrants. That has been highlighted recently after the Covid-19 recovery as the country has expanded eligibility criteria for multiple-entry visas. 

The number one city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai stands out in terms of immigration. Its economic prosperity has left everyone speechless. After a sudden demographic drop in the early days of the pandemic, Dubai started welcoming new immigrants in the fall of 2020. So how has this city become a favorite expat destination within the past two years?

From May 5, Covid tests will be mandatory for accesss to many public places such as transport, cultural sites, sporting events, restaurants, etc. According to this new regulation, anyone who wishes to attend a sporting event, for example, needs a PCR test of less than 48 hours and a vaccination certificate. From May 3, PCR tests will be made available free of charge to the population, but this doesn't sound convincing. Expats in China wonder whether they should leave or stay in such conditions.

Determined to put an end to real estate speculation, the Trudeau government announced a ban on real estate transactions for foreign buyers. Housing has been declared a "great national cause" by the government, which aims to create 400,000 new social housing units per year, compared to 200,000 today. This massive project is expected to support the country's economic growth, faced with multiple crises.

After nearly 2 years of restrictions on international travel, Malaysia has finally decided to reopen its borders. With fully vaccinated travellers now allowed to enter the country, the government is making plans to restabilise the economy - starting with addressing the issue of the migrant labour shortage.

After more than two years, Covid-19 seems to have become part of our everyday life. Canada has just encountered its 6th wave, and the situation doesn't seem to be improving. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and France still have high contamination rates. After Israel, many countries have introduced the 4th dose, the 2nd booster dose, for some categories of people.

After two years of crisis and uncertainty, many countries have reopened their borders and started welcoming visitors and expatriates. Since remote working has become the new norm in pandemic times, governments are considering making entry more flexible for digital nomads. Italy has also announced the introduction of a digital nomad visa to attract foreigners. 

While Hong Kong is experiencing an exodus of foreign workers, Saudi Arabia started to reverse the trend after a year and a half as the economy recovers from the pandemic and oil prices rally. The private sector added more than 250,000 jobs for expats in the country, according to the kingdom's General Authority for Statistics. 

As fuel prices rise to record highs, governments look for solutions. Retail petrol and diesel prices marked record highs in many countries across the world, including Brazil and France, which are considering elevating subsidies or cutting taxes to protect consumers from the financial strain.

Your thoughts about moving abroad are becoming more frequent, but balancing the needs of your children, your family, and yourself is challenging. Embarking on expatriation alone is daunting. How can you manage it as a single parent?

Yes, it is indeed possible to work abroad with a disability, and yes, there are obstacles, whether the disability is visible or not. However, these barriers do not jeopardize the expatriation plan—far from it. Here are some practical tips for moving abroad with a disability.

You've fallen in love with a home that's incredibly affordable but needs renovation. As an adventurous expat, you're brimming with ideas to turn a modest house into a mini-castle. But what should you consider in this type of negotiation? How can you ensure your dream doesn't turn into a costly nightmare?