Features
Everyday life
Returning home after a long time abroad can be a truly rewarding and much-awaited experience. However, it can also pose several distinct challenges, from reverse culture shock to even a new language barrier. Let's see what can be done to make the transition easier.
Schools & studies
Should students wear school uniforms? The subject is once again being debated in France. In most countries, uniforms are much more than just a question of clothing. They play a key role in promoting equality, the sense of belonging to a group and combating discrimination. In some countries, on the other hand, they are failing to combat inequality. So, which countries have made wearing school uniforms compulsory, and where is it no longer the norm?
Schools & studies
If you're planning to study or work abroad, have you checked whether your diploma or program will be recognized in your target country? Diploma recognition isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to our mind when we plan to move abroad for work or study. However, the non-recognition of your diploma or degree can have a particular impact on your plans.
Formalities
Long waiting periods for obtaining your visa, a reply from the administrative services, or guidance to the correct department can be time-consuming and discouraging for prospective expats. Bureaucracy is a world apart, with each country having its own rules and contradictions, culture and way of functioning. It imposes certain restrictions on locals and expats, as well. But can excessive bureaucracy be a hurdle to moving abroad plans? We will try to answer this question in this article.
Work
Have you ever considered getting paid for cuddling pandas, playing video games, testing amusement parks and sweets, playing a friend for a day, or being a guest at a party? These are often called "the most exciting jobs in the world". They are so much fun that it's hard to believe they actually exist. But can expats take up such jobs?
Everyday life
Moving to a new country can be an exciting and challenging experience, with many opportunities to explore a new culture and way of life. One of the most exciting aspects of settling into a new country is discovering the local cuisine. Trying new foods and flavors is a fantastic way to immerse oneself in a new culture and create lasting memories. However, with new cuisines come new challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet.
Everyday life
Approaching a passerby on the street, speaking up in a business meeting, negotiating a promotion, going out at night, developing your business, and interacting with men are things that may seem normal for women, but they can be significantly different in a foreign country. How do expatriate women deal with these cultural differences and subtleties?
Work
Moving abroad is an adventure in itself, but it takes on an even greater dimension when it comes to building an unconventional career in a foreign land. Whether you're looking for a career change, pursuing a dream, or a personal challenge, here are some pointers to help you get started in a foreign country.
Health system
Is health insurance compulsory for expats? In principle, expats are covered by their host country's system, but some prefer to set up a special fund in their home country. At a time when health insurers are tightening their belts, this question is being debated in Switzerland.
Work
Work more to earn more? Just like the traditional weekend, whose definition and value vary from country to country, public holidays are sometimes less known. Many countries are slowly introducing the concept of working on holidays. However, if the law does allow working on holidays, the company must still comply with the legal framework. So here's what expatriates should be aware of when working overseas.
Schools & studies
The first few weeks as an international student in a new country involve many administrative tasks. You might also need to buy things that would have been difficult to bring in your luggage. What is the usual checklist of tasks for new international students?
Everyday life
Many destinations have programs in place that help expats adapt to a new life and better integrate into society. However, some countries go the extra mile to make newcomers feel especially welcome. Here are a few destination options if you are looking for that extra warm welcome.
Work
Digital nomads are reshaping the world with their dream-like, flexible working style. You could think they are living life to the fullest, with plenty of time for vacations and leisure. However, practical realities tend to put the ideal of digital nomadism into perspective.
Everyday life
Moving abroad is not necessarily a one-off experience; it can be done in several steps at different times, as long as you're able to adapt to life in your chosen destination. That's what a prospecting trip is all about. But how do you get started? Here are some tips and advice.
Work
After a challenging period during the health crisis, international mobility is back on track and even on the rise in many countries facing severe labor shortages. But does this mean that the Covid pandemic is now part of history? How are economies faring?
Work
In today's global work world, being engaged at work is really important for success. For foreign professionals who have moved to a new country to work, workplace engagement takes on an even more significant role. Imagine stepping into a new job in a new place with different customs, language, and work methods. Training helps you understand your role better, learn about the company's culture, and become skilled at using the tools and systems specific to that workplace.
Everyday life
Often, your eligibility for allowances and compensation depends on your place of residence, and therefore, they cannot be "exported" when you move abroad. However, expats can still enjoy certain benefits while living in their host countries. Here's how it works.
Health system
Healthcare costs are going up. A report from PwC says that in 2024, the cost of medical care is expected to go up by 7%. This is because of things like prices going up and not having enough workers. This affects not only people without good insurance but others too.
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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