Features
Australia
Expats living on the Southern Australia coast must be very scared. The New South Wales coast has been hit by dangerous weather with heavy rains and strong winds in the last week leading to severe floods on the Australian coast. The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia has expanded its warning zone for towns and communities, stretching Coffs Harbour south towards the Victorian border. The NSW State Emergency Service has warned of dangerous conditions and asked for evacuation at large parts of the coastline, including Sydney.
Work
Even in their own country, women already face a glass ceiling and several difficulties for getting opportunities in the labour market, especially in higher positions, due to gender stereotypes and sexism. According to the latest Women in Work Index by PwC, 70% of women in OCDE countries are part of the labour force, against 81% of men. Besides, women are less hired for full-time roles, with only a 76% presence, while men have 91%.
Schools & studies
International students who want financial independence abroad have to work during their studies. Moreover, some must work to pay for their studies since not all of them have financial support from their families. And even for those who do, their budget might not be enough for enjoying their host country at the most.
Work
The percentage of female expats is rising, but it is still far away from gender parity. Did you ever ask yourself why that is? Till the 80s, researchers are stating that there is a global glass ceiling similar to the corporate glass ceiling, making it more difficult for women to pursue a career abroad. In this article, you will learn about the global glass ceiling and how women who broke through this glass ceiling experienced life on the other side.
Everyday life
When companies send their employees abroad, it is usually still the men who are asked for these projects. Despite ubiquitous discussions, it is still mostly women who leave their own job and follow their partner abroad for his job.
Everyday life
Most countries currently have their borders open to people vaccinated against Covid-19. To contain and fight the pandemic, they also require quarantine, PCR tests, tracing applications, health declaration, etc. Still, no country is safe from another epidemic outbreak - which is why other vaccines (against hepatitis, rabies, etc.) remain essential for travellers.
Work
Travelling and living as an expat is a passion for all genders, although women might not feel as safe as men for the massive violence cases all around the globe. But, on the other hand, that reality is changing. According to Harvard Business Review 2019, the number of women travelling alone has increased by more than 230%.
Children
Are you an expat or planning to move to one of the following countries while considering to start a family in a non-traditional way? Adoption is another way to create a loving family by welcoming a child that couldn't be raised by its birth parents. However, many are disheartened due to the lengthy and expensive adoption process. Expat.com has made a list of the countries that encourage international adoption and support applicants in every step, making the process smoother and less costly.
Everyday life
Thursday, February 24, 2022, will be a memorable day for Ukraine and the rest of the world. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipro are attacked by the Russian military forces. The Russian president decided to ignore the warnings of the UN Security Council (convened to resolve the crisis between Ukraine and Russia) and announced the beginning of a military operation while the Ukrainian president called for peace. The rest of Europe condemn an unfair war started by Russia. Locals and expatriates in Ukraine are plunged into uncertainty and fear. One week has gone by, and the population prays for peace. Here are some testimonies from members of the Expat.com community.
Work
Too old to travel? Too late for a new adventure? Why would it be? Too late to settle down? Never! This is a message for all the aspiring expats doubting if age is a limit to their possibilities to move and pursue their career overseas. The real answer is: it will be a limit only if you want it to be.
Tax
Remote working and digital nomadism have been on the rise since the beginning of the pandemic. More and more people are starting a new life abroad without necessarily being aware of the tax rules and requirements in their expat country. Taxes are far from being their primary concerns. And yet, tax residency is a crucial factor, considering that there are tax treaties between your expat country and your home country, and depending on your personal situation. How can expats be in line with tax rules?
Everyday life
Love is one of the strongest feelings in the world. It is a game where heroes show that they are stronger than time, distance and adversity. This occurs every day, even if we don't know it, but now it happened on a large scale as a consequence of the pandemic. The closed borders and the difficulties to see our loved ones made this situation almost unbearable for many, but the protagonists in this story, nothing less than heroes, work hard to overcome the difficulties and are here with their valuable testimonies.
Everyday life
An ultimate weapon to constrain countries, embargoes affect all spheres of the economy. While most negotiations are done between central economic and political authorities, little consideration is given to the population, including expatriates. Yet, they are direct victims of these measures that often result in a lack of resources, shortage of raw materials, medical emergencies, insecurity, etc.
Everyday life
"Expatriate", "immigrant", "migrant". These words are intriguing for foreigners who live abroad for various reasons: crises – migratory, economic, political – adding more tensions. How do we define an expat and an immigrant? What about those who have moved abroad indefinitely? And why is this topic debated with such passion?
Everyday life
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted expats lives around the globe, and it still has implications on the plans of people who are planning to move abroad. If travel conditions and visa processes were not very fun, it can currently cause a lot of distress and even make some give up on their plans. Still, there are things to consider before moving abroad during the pandemic.
Work
Cross border workers are people who live in a country and work in another, and they might as well be expats. When you live near a border, you might have to travel and work in another country for various reasons (better career opportunities, more attractive working environment and wages, etc.). In Europe, hundreds of thousands of people cross borders every day to work in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy or Spain. While it is a well-established system, it wasn't spared by the Covid pandemic.
Everyday life
January 20, 2021-January 20, 2022. Since Joe Biden swore in as the new President of the United States, he has faced a lot of challenges, both nationally and internationally. Trump protested against the results and had his supporters' back. After the invasion of the Capitol, Joe Biden promised to reunite Americans. Today, Biden has engaged to unravel Trump policies, bring the population together, revive the economy, among others. While his ambitions are high, the opposition is strong too. Add to that a never-ending pandemic, inflation, etc. What should expats expect from Biden for 2022?
Everyday life
For decades, societies have conveyed the image of women as trailing spouses, but things are changing worldwide. More and more women are travelling and moving abroad alone, as a couple, as a family. Indeed, women no longer have to hide their ambitions in a patriarchal world. Today, more and more men are encouraging their spouses to follow their dreams and careers, sacrificing theirs. Who are these men, and how do they get along with their new role as trailing spouses?
Other Types
Sponsored
JJ Associates
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.
Open a bank account that suits you
Discover the best international banks to manage your money securely.
"