Expat news
Visas
Last Wednesday, the Portuguese government launched a new visa for job seekers. This is one of Portugal's latest measures to attract foreign workers as the Portuguese labor market gradually recovers from the consequences of Covid. However, rising inflation (more than 8%) and labor shortage remain major issues.
Tax
Last January, the Belgian government introduced two new tax regimes, some of which are expected to affect expatriates. On May 6, a long circular was issued, providing details on these two regimes. This reform was initially supposed to be simple, ending some types of tax benefits and supporting low-income families. How does this affect expats?
Work
"Australia needs to fix its image." With these words, Anthony Albanese (nicknamed "Albo"), the new Prime Minister, turned the page on 9 years of political history with the Conservatives. On May 21, Labor won the legislative elections and quickly got back to business regarding immigration.
Everyday life
On Tuesday, May 31, Yoshihisa Furukawa, the Japanese Minister of Justice, announced the end of the temporary work permit for certain foreigners. This exceptional permission was introduced in 2020 to allow foreigners having work visa issues to work part-time.
New opportunities for non-citizens residing in Mauritius, new parameters to the Premium Visa, a Silver Economy Festival and efforts to better regulate the Offshore sector. Here are a few budgetary measures that could be of interest to expats living in Mauritius or wanting to move here.
Work
Nordic countries often targeted by professionals who are willing to move abroad. However, the immigration process is usually very challenging. Last June 1st, Finland has enabled a fast-track procedure that allows high skilled expats and entrepreneurs to enter the country as soon as they have been granted a residence permit, which expats used to receive upon entering the country.
Accommodation
Although Spain is known by expats for being one of the most affordable countries in Europe, it has been facing rising property prices since last year. The rise, as experts say, is a consequence of higher demand and lower supply due to the lack of resources as raw materials for new builds.
Everyday life
Menstrual leave is a paid or unpaid absence due to a woman's inability to go to work because of painful menstruation. Some countries around the globe have already considered it, and recently Spain has approved a bill that grants paid medical leave for women who suffer from severe period pain, becoming the first European country to advance such legislation.
Tax
The Dutch government is currently undergoing the lengthy process of putting together a spring budget statement, labeled “voorjaarsnota”, which outlines the new cabinet's finances and budget plan. Reports suggest that various tax benefits—including the 30% ruling for expats in the Netherlands—could be scrapped under its changes as part of the government's plan to make up for additional energy and defense expenditure.
USA
On Tuesday, May 24, at 11:32 a.m. in Uvalde, Texas, Salvador Ramos, 18, shot 21 people at a primary school. A horror scene where 19 children and 2 teachers were reported dead. Three days after the tragedy, the people there are still shocked and deeply terrified, as is the rest of the world. A few days earlier, on May 14, ten people, mostly Americans of African origin, were killed in a racist shooting.
Work
Work permits issued to foreigners increased by 25.3% last year following a recovery in the job market after the relaxation of restrictive Covid-19 measures in Kenya.
Visas
In the process of reopening its borders, New Zealand faces a shortage of labor. Although the country will permit international travelers only on July 31 and visas in October this year, it has announced major reforms to immigration settings, 'the green list', to "increase the available pool of labor, while also speeding up our tourism recovery", said the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier this month.
Visas
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.
Everyday life
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.
Work
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.
Formalities
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.
Everyday life
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?
Australia
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.
Other Types
Schools & studies
There is so much more that goes into the choice of a university today than even a decade ago. International students especially have the whole world to choose from. And while before students were more focused on the theoretical benefits of a certain degree, today, with so many less traditional options for learning (online, via social media, private tutoring, etc.), there is a lot more a traditional institution has to offer, especially given the price of formal education.
Banks and finance
If you are like most expats looking to purchase a home overseas, you will probably need a mortgage. This typically means applying to a bank or lender in the country where the property is located. The process can be different and more complex than in your home country, especially for non-residents, as financial institutions are cautious about lending across borders. In some places, the route from application to approval is relatively straightforward, but in others it can be much more challenging.
Work
You may be dreaming of managing your team abroad or opening or taking over a business overseas. But already, a thousand questions are challenging you. Are you really cut out for a leadership role, especially in another country? Here's some practical advice to build your confidence before embarking on the expat project that's right for you.
Work
More young professionals than ever are choosing to start their careers abroad. Driven by the rise of digital nomadism, economic uncertainty, and the promise of new opportunities, they are increasingly willing to cross borders in search of a better future. But what do young expats really expect from their first job overseas? And how do their career goals compare with those of earlier generations?
Paraguay
A new investor residency rulebook landed last month, and for anyone weighing Paraguay as a place to actually live, the numbers are surprisingly friendly. If you've been quietly researching Paraguay as a possible new home base, for the taxes, the cost of living, the easy residency, or just because the rest of the world feels increasingly expensive and complicated, this one is for you.
Tax
Postcard-perfect beaches, luxury villas, sports cars and a jet-set lifestyle: social media often paints expat influencers and content creators as financially free and permanently on vacation. Behind the filters and sponsored posts, however, lies a much more complex reality. As more freelancers, influencers and digital creators move abroad to optimize their lifestyle and income, tax authorities around the world are increasing their scrutiny. So how can content creators relocate overseas legally, optimize their taxes, and avoid crossing the line into tax evasion?
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