Features
Work
Family planning abroad can be quite challenging, especially if both parents are working full time. In general, expecting expat parents are entitled to parental leave just like any other citizen of the country where they live. However, not all countries have a mandated policy. Paternity leave, for example, isn't granted everywhere in the world. Expat.com takes you through the countries that provide the best parental leave policies to their workforce.
Leisure
Ask an expat in Europe what is their favourite thing about being on the continent, and it's very likely that they will talk about their proximity to a plethora of cultures. In Europe, you are a stone's throw (or a short plane ride) away from another culture that awaits you to discover it.
Formalities
Retiring abroad has become a trend, and it's not likely to go out of style anytime soon. Living costs, climate, quality of life, safety, accessible health care, and the need for adventure are only some of the reasons to retire abroad. Expat.com brings the best places to move and retire in 2017.
Accommodation
There are several ways to feel at ease in the new country you have decided to move to — finding a place that you can settle in and make it homey is maybe the predominant one.
Everyday life
In a world that continues to deliver bad news day after day, it seems there is just no getting away from it. With violence on the streets, political upheaval around the world and societies growing seemingly more and more frustrated – and with no signs of any of this looking to cease any time soon – the question arises for those of us who want a more peaceful life for ourselves and for our families, just what can we do?
Everyday life
How many times has the language barrier stopped us from developing a relationship, expressing ourselves, or resolving a misunderstanding? The English language is our best choice when it comes to integration and cross-cultural communication in diverse settings. But it is also a passport to a global network of successful and helpful people and enticing professional opportunities abroad.
Health system
Are you moving abroad? You have probably already considered the career opportunities, the housing, quality of life, and cost of living. But what about the cost and quality of healthcare? To help you make the best decision for you and your family, and to give you a heads-up on what to expect in your destination, Expat.com offers an insight into the countries with the best healthcare systems in the world.
Schools & studies
Most popular destinations for expats have seen a growing inflation of international schooling prices. Some expat destinations can offer alternatives through local curriculums but some not. With no access to the local education system for some or the need to maintain their native language and curriculum for others, putting your children in international schools can be financially challenging.
Work
The world is becoming more and more interconnected, and there is no reason why your career shouldn't be a part of this global trend. It will do you one better, in fact, your career will probably skyrocket and reach new peaks when you chose to live and work abroad, at least for a while. Here are six reasons why moving abroad is the best decision for your career.
Work
While many are moving abroad to take their career to the next level, earn higher wages, and secure a better quality of life, others are merely driven by curiosity and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and new experiences. Besides exposure to a global labour market and access to an international network, a job abroad will also boost some of your personal skills – creativity, patience, and flexibility. So, don't get discouraged if you cannot find a job abroad that matches your profile. If you are taking off for the adventure and self-development, why not consider one of the following five jobs we recommend.
Work
While Brexit negotiations have already started, thousands of Britons living in the European Union worry about their future – especially about losing their rights regarding access to work, health care, and education. According to the latest figures presented by the Office for National Statistics on January, nearly 900,000 Britons are living with uncertainty and might have to consider a backup plan.
Canada
In an effort to boost its worldwide commercial interests and lift its domestic economy, Canada has committed to increase the number of international students in the following years. But international students don't need to be pushed to choose Canada – its top universities, reputation as the best place to live in, strong job prospects for graduates, diversity, and natural beauty are good enough reasons for young people who want to invest in their education. To top it all, Canada is now granting international students with the opportunity to obtain the Canadian citizenship.
Everyday life
If you are looking for the ideal country to move to, there are many factors you should consider, and one thing to remember: There's no perfect land. At the end of the day, you will have to be ready to give up some things in order to get others. But what are your priorities when choosing the right destination? Are you interested in a country that has career prospects, is family-friendly, has rich social life, is secure, or equally distributes wealth and power?
Schools & studies
Prospective students, we understand your agonies, enthusiasm, and confusions because we have gone through the same journey. What course to study, where, and how will you benefit from it in the future — are just a few of the questions hanging. But before you start filling in the application forms, be reminded that learning doesn't shut in the classroom — it's an ongoing process that takes place in the bar, the cafe, on the streets, the galleries, the concert halls, and the parties.
Everyday life
While the whole world has been criticising America's electronic voting system since last November's presidential elections, the Catalan parliament may successfully introduce it, and enable Catalan citizens abroad to vote in the forthcoming elections — including the independence referendum in September. At the same time, over 1,7 million French people living abroad will be able to vote in June's legislative elections through electronic voting.
Work
As the new year starts, Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain have already announced a few measures that are likely to have an impact on the lives of expatriates – rising taxes, decreasing subsidies, new fees, among others. Expat.com gives you an insight into these measures if you are planning to move or you have already settled there.
Schools & studies
Youth is the carefree time of our life when we are fervidly off to new adventures that include traveling, meeting new people, and discovering foreign cultures. If our passion for the world and our studies can go hand in hand, then it's even better. For the past 30 years, Erasmus, the exchange program for European university students, has helped over five million young people to live abroad while continuing their studies. Join us in a vivid discussion with the Erasmus generation on Erasmus' 30th birthday!
Work
We are sorry to have to break the news to you, but the global unemployment rate is expected to rise in 2017, meaning that 201 million people will be out of work according to the International Labour Organization's latest report. If you live in a country with alarmingly high unemployment, you could consider to work abroad — a move that won't only boost your career, but also your personal growth and success.
Other Types
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If you've been searching for a stable, profitable, and strategically located country to grow your business or diversify your investment portfolio, Panama should be at the very top of your list. Panama is not just a country with a famous canal. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America, a regional financial hub, and a proven gateway for companies looking to expand across North and South America. With a dollarized economy, a territorial tax system, world-class logistics infrastructure, and investor-friendly immigration policies, Panama offers a unique combination of advantages that few countries in the world can match.
Everyday life
Moving abroad is often associated with adventure, discovery, and new opportunities. While it can be a deeply enriching experience, there is often a less visible reality behind the excitement of starting a new life abroad: exhaustion. In my consultations, expats sometimes describe a fatigue that never seems to lift, unusual irritability, a sense of disconnection, or the feeling that they are no longer quite themselves. What I have also observed is that this distress is rarely confined to one person. In expat families, when one parent begins to struggle, the entire family often has to adapt. Partners may feel isolated or lose their sense of direction, while children can pick up on their parents' stress, worries, or emotional fatigue, even when these feelings are never openly discussed.
New Zealand
Since June 1, foreign workers seeking certain work visas in New Zealand have been subject to new English language requirements. The government says the changes are intended to improve migrant integration and help prevent workplace exploitation.
Sweden
Since June 1, Sweden has tightened its work permit regulations. The new rules introduce higher salary requirements, stricter conditions for seasonal workers, mandatory health insurance in some cases, and increased scrutiny of employers.
Belgium
Belgium's latest reforms, which took effect on June 1, bring greater flexibility to the labor market in an effort to support job creation. At the same time, the government has introduced stricter requirements for non-European students.
United Arab Emirates
Foreign residents in the United Arab Emirates should take note: under UAE regulations, residence visas are generally canceled if the holder remains outside the country for more than 180 consecutive days. In most cases, affected residents must apply for a new visa before returning. However, several categories of expatriates are exempt from this rule and can retain their residency status despite an extended stay abroad.
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