Features
Everyday life
Moving to a new place can be stressful. Juggling between a new job, the feelings of homesickness, a -sometimes difficult- integration to a new environment. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your mental health.
Are you thinking of spending your golden years outside your home country, but all the glossy brochures about retiring abroad are demonstrating unrealistic lifestyles for someone with your budget? We believe that finding your retirement heaven shouldn't be a privilege for the rich only. Many countries offer a good quality of life at a reasonable cost, and even if you don't have a ton of savings, you can still enjoy a happy retirement. Let's find them out (in alphabetical order)!
Tax
Tax incentives are an underestimated criterium in the relocation plans of expatriates. It is not necessarily ignored by expats themselves – rather, most of the agencies, companies, institutions, and media choose to ignore tax incentives in the particular country and focus more on marketing criteria such as quality of life, safety, living cost, and specific job opportunities.
Work
Some expat destinations score more than others when it comes to career opportunities, salaries, and perks. In this article we will discuss the latest expat pay packages trends as presented by consultancy ECA, an expert in global mobility data and solutions, and what you should be looking for when reviewing your contract and making the decision to accept or not a job offer abroad. So, before you jump into the first hefty salary that comes your way, bear in mind the wisdom behind the saying that every rose has its thorn.
Moving
Do you want to be an expat? Are you still on the fence about moving to a new country and away from family? Moving abroad can be intimidating because it would mean uprooting the life you have at home and heading off to somewhere completely unknown. It can make anyone anxious but here's the good news: The feeling goes away and once you have settled down the pros outweigh the cons. Here are some reasons why you should take the leap.
Health system
Birth control: definitely not the first thing you would think of when moving abroad. However, regulations around contraception are different in different regions of the world so it is important to know what to expect to be able to take the necessary precautions...
Schools & studies
Studying abroad is not only fun, it also promotes personal growth like no other experience does. It is more and more common for young people to study outside of their country of birth or the country where they have completed their primary and secondary studies. While there has been a democratisation, there is still a perception that studying abroad is a “rich people's thing”. Expat.com attempts to bust this myth.
Japan
The current legislation in Japan is of concern to some of the highest international authorities. So much so, that foreign embassies have even started warning expats wanting to start a family in the country. Indeed, in the case of a divorce child custody can only be given to one parent in Japan. This has given rise to several cases of “child kidnapping”.
Seasoned expats can adapt to any kind of change when it comes to environment and people but those who are new to this lifestyle can have a hard time coping with its difficulties. One of the most hardest parts of being an expat is the adapting part—New people and new environment in the absence of old friends and family.
Chile
The protests began when the government announced a rise in the price of transport. What started as a student protest culminated in a march on the 1st of November in which no less than one million people participated. Expat.com talks to an expat in Chile.
Everyday life
Freedom of expression is important for most of us. Being ourselves is important. And being able to express our opinions and thoughts freely is a right we hold on to. When moving abroad, however, this can change. Whether because of laws that prevent freedom of expression, or because of unwritten rules which confine one to certain norms… one's freedom to express oneself can change during expatriation. When relocating to a new country, the freedom of expression is closely related to the need for acceptance. The old patterns of identification with the home culture slightly dissolve, and new ways of behavior and thought arise. How do expats deal with this?
Children
Growing up abroad is one of the best childhood experiences kids can have. This will give them incredible skills that will shape them to be open-minded adults. How does one raise children from mixed marriages? How do you make sure that both cultures will be interspersed with their upbringing, along with their host country? Whether your child was born into your home country or abroad, here are a few tips...
Work
You might have just landed a job and you need to negotiate your salary. For the same job, salaries in two different countries can be very different. If you're not sure what to expect, you can find below a tour of average salaries around the world...
Banks and finance
Banks sell loans, and regardless of whether you are an expat or national, they want you — the customer — to buy these loans. Bearing this in mind will help you understand that getting a loan as an expat is not out of the question, and it is worth considering if it will ease your life as an expat. But where do you start when applying for a loan in a country whose banking system is not overly familiar to you?
Ethiopia
Last week, Ethiopia made history with Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, winning the Nobel peace prize for establishing a peace agreement with neighbouring Eritrea, challenging media censorship, fighting corruption, and increasing women's social and political presence, among others. But what is it like to be an expat in Ethiopia? Expat.com dives into Ethiopia's profile as an expat destination and speaks with a long-term expat in Addis Ababa for a first-hand insight of what expat life in Ethiopia is actually like.
Work
Australia has been grappling with ever increasing and challenging skills shortages in critical employment positions since 2008 and regarding some shortages as long back as 2004/2005. These shortages result because Australia does not succeed in filling vacancies from its own citizens. This is the case for Australia on a national and regional level where serious shortfalls are experienced in more than 200 professions found in its Occupation Skills Shortages List.
Canada
Canada, one of the most popular expat destinations, is set to elect their Prime Minister on the 21st of October. Expat.com chats to a short-term expat living in Canada at the moment as well as a long-term expat who has chosen to run in the elections.
Street food is a common global phenomenon dating back over centuries. It is found in the wealthiest and poorest of countries and serve multiple purposes varying from feeding the masses to enticing foreigners and visitors to indulge in Michelin Star dishes like those served at Tsuta Ramen street food stall in Singapore (this should be on your bucket list!). Street food varies in accordance with country-specific cultures, habits, local economic situations, access and availability of food resources, climate, etc. Street food ranking, in comparison to the long existence of the street food practice, is relatively new, dating back merely one decade.
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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