Features
Everyday life
On March 16, at 11:36 p.m. local time, tremors of a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale were recorded in Japan. The epicentre was 60km deep, under the Pacific Ocean, off the province of Fukushima. A tsunami alert was immediately given, bringing back the painful memory of the 2011 events with a death toll of 18,500.
Hong Kong
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong has introduced strict entry conditions like a three-week quarantine on arrival in huge quarantine centers and hotels requisitioned by the authorities. Meanwhile, residents are finding their living conditions even tougher living conditions, being isolated since a fifth wave hit the city. According to EU representative Thomas Gnocchi, 10% of Europeans have already left Hong Kong last February, and figures have been rising ever since.
Everyday life
Time passes and looks alike in Shanghai. As in the rest of China, life seems to have come to a standstill since March 2020. The government isn't ready to abandon its "zero Covid" policy while most countries around the world have reopened their borders and eased their health restrictions. The Chinese population is desperate, and so are expats in Shanghai who are more than ever ready to relocate overseas and escape their suffocating everyday life.
Everyday life
In most countries, people seem to have got used to living with the Covid. In fact, most of us yearn to get back to a normal life. Still, Covid cases start rising again as soon as we drop the mask. There are many causes of this situation, such as people refusing to get vaccinated, non-respect of barrier gestures, carelessness, etc. Many experts believe that normal life will no longer be what it used to be. In some regions, people have started wearing masks once again, fearing new contamination.
Work
"The Great Resignation" is a phenomenon that has shaken the United States for more than a year now. The latest peak was reported in November 2021, with more than 4.5 million resignations. Fortunately, this trend hasn't spread to Europe, but entire sectors are currently facing a labour shortage. At the same time, more and more workers are looking for a change of career within a company having values that match theirs. So what if The Great Resignation was questioning the whole world of work? How important should company values be for expats?
Everyday life
The rise in oil prices around the world is affecting all economies, starting with the transport sector. Pessimistic experts are forecasting an increase to 200 dollars per barrel by the end of the year, but this would be an unrealizable disaster scenario for others. Since the early days of the pandemic, airline companies have been warning of a possible rise in flight ticket prices. Repeated crises bear a cost that they cannot fully absorb. Unfortunately, consumers at the end of the supply chain have to take the brunt. How does all this affect moving abroad plans?
Work
Medical workers are in demand in Europe, Asia, on the American continent and have decent wages. With an exceptional medical education, a list of successfully passing exams like NCLEX-RN, and experience of 2 years or more, it is possible to get a job as a nurse abroad.
Everyday life
Things are pretty uncertain in Hong Kong following the new Covid wave in March 2022, added to social and political tensions, increasingly significant influence from China, etc. International media have constantly been reporting a brain drain and an expat exodus over the past year. How do expats in Hong Kong feel about this situation?
Everyday life
Living abroad as a Muslim expat should not be a challenge, even if your host country does not historically and culturally include, for example, Ramadan in its way of life. As we are currently in the first week of Ramadan, here are tips for preserving your religious traditions as an expat in a non-Muslim country.
Tax
If expats are thinking about moving to another country to get away from financial and administrative responsibilities, they have to be careful and have a thorough look at their home countries' red tape rules. There are many countries where expats have still to declare their income even if they're no longer a resident.
Formalities
Expats' profiles can vary -- there are the ones who do know and love to organize their moving abroad paperwork alone, and there are the expats who have never been through this process and need assistance for immigration. Although it might seem a perfect idea to have a hand, immigration agencies or agents can deceive expatriates and ruin their dream of moving abroad.
Cost of living
In our globalized and interconnected world, the economy, which is just recovering from the pandemic impact, most countries are facing the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The cost of living for expats and nationals has been increasing in many countries as the UK and US, with the escalation of inflation, while wages and benefits fail to keep up.
Everyday life
The war in Ukraine with Russia shelling in urban and rural areas all over the country has obliged nationals and expats to seek asylum for their security. But, the humanitarian crisis that has already been challenging for locals has put a spotlight on alleged discrimination. The concern: immigrants from Africa and other people of colour are facing hate at the borders.
Everyday life
Hong Kong is an extremely active megalopolis with around 7.482 million inhabitants. Unfortunately, following a new Covid-19 peak in mid-February, the number of new cases has broken all records. To date, more than 200 deaths are being reported every day, and as of mid-March, more than 10,000 people are tested positive per day.
Everyday life
Would you rather move to the other side of the world or to the country next door? Intra-continental immigration has always been a step ahead of long-distance relocations, and the Covid pandemic has only reinforced this trend. Which are the easiest countries for intra-continental immigration, and what are the benefits?
Everyday life
The pandemic has impacted expats with international partners, as travel restrictions imposed long-distance relationships for many of them. Being apart led some couples to end their relationship or to strengthen by managing to see each other through digital tools and social media. Australia and New Zealand were some of the most strict countries in terms of Covid-19 travelling measures to control the disease. Now they are opening their borders between them and for expats overseas, and couples feel relief.
Work
This sounds like one of the best news for 2022. According to the latest economic growth figures, unemployment in Europe is on the decline. Faced with a labour shortage, the leading economic powers in Europe are looking for global talent, just like the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Australia. In Europe, too, there is a skilled labour shortage in all sectors. How are European countries dealing with the situation?
Germany
Germany's approach to contracts is known for being un-customer-friendly. It usually takes consumers three months to be able to cancel services, for example. But, the German Federal Parliament, Bundestag, has passed through a new law that seeks to reduce minimum contract terms and shorten notice periods to facilitate consumers' lives.
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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