Features
Leisure
Are you a solo expat, and you don't know what to do in your host country during the festive season? Or maybe you are just not keen about the phone calls and wishful thinking messages you might be getting from anxious relatives, especially with their night-time videocalls. Anyways, don't panic! Here are some ideas for spending the holiday season alone abroad with stars in your eyes.
Leisure
Christmas and New Year's Eve are just around the corner! For many expats, this means returning to their home country to spend this traditional time of year with family and friends. As a matter of fact, every year, airports around the world are packed with expats, with their luggage full of gifts for their loved ones.
Everyday life
With the oil crisis consequently affecting the price of kerosene, a critical factor for air travel, in addition to inflation and new environmental standards, air ticket prices have been soaring to unprecedented heights this year. The situation is as bad around the world, leading to rises in air ticket prices for the end-of-year holidays. To avoid saturation and stress a few days before Christmas, here are some tips to make the most of your flight.
Work
Many digital nomads came back to their countries during the pandemic, and some have been hit harder than others by the new economic realities, particularly those with work related to or directly centered around travel. But how do digital nomads deal with leaving their lifestyle? Are they willing to return to their home countries?
Everyday life
When invited to a dinner party, some questions will inevitably come to your mind. Should you arrive on time, early or late? With or without a gift? Will you be sitting on a chair or on the floor? Shall you eat with your hands? In silence? What to say, what to do, when, how, and in what tone? Presented in this way, a simple meal with all the daunting etiquette that goes with it can become a real brainteaser.
Everyday life
Are you planning to study abroad and are not going alone? What status should you and your dependents have? How to plan your move abroad? From choosing a country to sorting out aid organizations and visas, here's a review of all the aspects you need to consider before your move.
USA
Is the world's leading power still appealing to foreigners? The answer is yes! But ever since Trump was elected in 2016, the mood has changed dramatically. In his determination to reduce legal immigration, Trump signed into legal measures that discouraged prospective expats, and COVID made matters worse. It was only when Joe Biden took office in 2021 that some of these controversial Trump laws lapsed.
Everyday life
There is so much to talk about when living in wartorn countries and those affected by political instability, inflation, job loss, and other crises. At the end of a year that has been particularly marked by such conflicts, members of the Expat.com community share their experiences of living in such countries.
Visas
The uptick in international travel, exchange programs and remote work after nearly three years of the pandemic has made the popularity of Working Holiday Visas (WHVs) skyrocket. Bilateral agreements exist between multiple countries to allow young people to gain work experience while discovering a new culture. Here is a comprehensive list of these programs.
Work
Relocating to a new country as a single person and as a person with a family can be two whole different deals. You will need additional costs and adjustments for your family members' visas, accommodation, healthcare, education and transport. It's important to do research, negotiate with your employer or prospective employer, and plan well to make your family's transition as smooth as possible.
Germany
Has Germany become the new hot spot for international students? The country is gaining in popularity among international students who wish to pursue their studies abroad. Indeed, despite the health crisis, international mobility is on the rise again. International students are even keener to move, and more and more of them are choosing Germany. What's is driving them there and what are the benefits of studying in Germany?
Work
Canada has always been popular among foreigners, and the government intends to take advantage of this. Determined to welcome some 500,000 immigrants per year by 2025, the government is launching a new communication campaign and rolling out the red carpet to candidates for expatriation. Age, degree, languages spoken, and professional experience are the new grail. But what are the best profiles for immigrating to Canada?
Work
Some countries' defense forces allow the recruitment of foreign nationals, generally under some conditions. These conditions can be permanent residency, citizenship in a limited number of allied countries, language proficiency and/or previous military experience. In many cases, military service provides a fast track to citizenship.
Leisure
More than a week after the kick-off of the 22nd edition of the World Cup, tension mounts as teams struggle to secure their place in the Round of 16. For some, it is already the end! Others have made sure to get through their final group matches. Here's how expatriates and visitors in Qatar are experiencing the "World Cup" vibes.
Leisure
When we talk about the holiday season, we certainly think of the sumptuous European Christmas markets where the magic happens. Although their origin is not precisely known, they are often associated with Northern European countries as it is estimated that the first ones appeared around the 14th century in Germany and Alsace. Here is our selection of the most popular and anticipated Christmas markets in Europe, some of which start much earlier than you think!
Everyday life
Moving overseas is an enriching experience that many Europeans seek every year. While some prefer to stay in Europe, others choose to go on a great adventure on the other side of the world and sometimes even stay there for good. Which are currently the most attractive non-European countries for Europeans?
Accommodation
Property prices are soaring! The effect of these surging prices was already being felt before the health crisis and has since become more pronounced. While real estate is considered a strong safe haven, especially in times of crisis, all indicators are in the red. The situation is particularly critical in China and is tending to cause havoc in other markets around the world, in North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. Between overheating and running out of steam, the real estate crisis is sending contradictory signals to the entire business world. Let's decrypt the situation in some of these countries affected by the real estate crisis.
Everyday life
One thing is for sure! Everyday life has become very challenging since the Covid pandemic. Furthermore, the energy crisis and inflation have only made things more stressful for international students. Finding a job to meet the increasing expenses has become essential. But how does one deal with the balance between studies and work? How does work fit into the life of an international student?
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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