Features
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, Expat.com looks back on those countries that have the strictest bans on tobacco.
Moving
So, you are moving to a new country? With just three months left before the big event, there are plenty of things to be excited about. With that, as exhilarating as this period may be, it can also get quite overwhelming. With so many things to think about, paperwork to arrange and packing to do, the best thing you can do is keep calm and stay organised.
Japan
According to a ranking of ECA International, Japan offers the best salaries for expats in Asia. But is this the only thing the country can offer? The country, its capital, Tokyo and slowly the city of Osaka alike, is undeniably one of the most expensive cities to live in. How does that pan out in real life, though?
The UK tops the list of countries offering the best pay packets for expatriates. But surprisingly, Japan made it all the way to number two. To calculate expat pay package, ECA takes into consideration salaries including benefits, allowances as well as tax regime in place in the country.
Everyday life
Can we say we are surprised? The Global Drug Survey (GDS) found that the Brits get drunk more often than any other nationality- they reported getting drunk on average 51 times a year. What countries are in the top 5?
Formalities
The European Union (EU) elections begin this Thursday 23rd of May. Does the European expatriate community feel concerned about these elections? Are they going to vote? We asked a couple of them living within or outside of the European Union.
China
Shanghai's new visa strategy for entrepreneurs could be a real game-changer. In this article, Expat.com explores what could make the city a dynamic, innovative start-up hub.
Saudi Arabia
$200,000. This is what it will cost you to move to Saudi Arabia without a sponsor. Indeed, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved this measure last Tuesday 14th of May 2019. This measure should help attract wealthy and high-skilled expats according to the Saudi Gazette.
Germany
If you are a skilled worker residing outside the EU, you will now have it easier to move to Germany and work there. A new agreement on the immigration issue achieved last week aims to attract more professional workforce into the country. What are the specifics of the new law and how does it affect your chances of being employed in Germany?
Everyday life
What measures are being implemented to fight against global warming? Summer is closing in on Japan and its government is trying hard to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. From the Japanese "Cool Biz" to the Brazilian "green city", what are some of the best, most practical or most unusual measures around the world?
Everyday life
The Holy month of Ramadan started on the 7th of May. During this month, Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. Maybe you have just moved or are about to move to a Muslim country, and are not acquainted to the practices of the month of Ramadan just yet. Here are the basics of what you should and should not do during Ramadan.
Everyday life
The YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Survey found that the British were the European people the more open to immigration with 28% of those interviewed being of the opinion that the benefits of immigration outweigh the costs.
Oman
The expat visa ban was first announced in January 2018 with the aim to reduce local unemployment. Since then, it has been renewed once and extended to several other professions. It is being renewed for another six months.
Work
It's not always easy to start your own business. Imagine, over and above that, doing so in a foreign country. The administrative puzzle, the accounting and financial management are all steps that can be more complicated when we are not acquainted to the system of a foreign country. But creating your company abroad is also an extremely enriching professional and human experience. A fact that both Karim and Bertille, two expat entrepreneurs will confirm. This is their story.
Health system
Language barrier, cost or trouble being comfortable with practitioners in your host country... finding adequate healthcare abroad can be tricky. This new concept could, however, improve medical monitoring for expatriates: telemedicine. Expat.com tells you more about telemedicine and how it could change your experience with living abroad but also its limitations...
Work
The right to organize protests, to form a trade union or to join one or to safety at work… Workers rights are respected to different extents in different parts of the world. On this International Workers' Day, Expat.com revisits the 2018 Global Workers Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The ITUC ranks according their violations of workers rights. These are the five countries with the least violations to workers' rights.
Everyday life
The human resources consulting firm Mercer publishes every year a ranking of the cities with the best quality of life. In March this year, Vienna topped, for the tenth consecutive year. Expat.com explores how cities on the African continent rank in this year's indice. In all, 39 factors from socio-cultural environment, to quality of schools and accommodation were taken into consideration.
Accommodation
As of this year, French citizens will be exempt of tax when selling their main residence ahead of a move abroad. Selling or renting out one's property before moving abroad is no easy feat. So we've decided to compile a checklist to help you out.
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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