Features
Formalities
Frédéric Varin et Valérie Marmey-Ravau, from The High Council of French Notariat, answer Expat.com's questions on the recent changes in how matrimonial regimes are regulated in Europe.
Everyday life
Theresa May will ask the European Union for a delay regarding Brexit. In the meantime, expats in the UK and British expats abroad clench their jaws, unsure what to expect.
Malaysia
The Malaysian government is phasing out the Employment Passes Category 2 and 3 and also changing marriage laws for expatriates.
Cost of living
For those looking to work and live in Europe, finding affordable accommodation can be a real challenge. In fact, most of the popular expat destinations in Europe are known for their high rent prices. However, to help you choose wisely – especially if you have a tight budget – here are some of the most expensive European cities to live in according to the latest study by ECA International.
Everyday life
According to 34 000 city dwellers interviewed by TimeOut, New-York is the best city in the world! Melbourne and Chicago come next! Ranking is based on residents' feedback on food, drink, culture, affordability, overall life satisfaction and a few other factors.
Australia
Thirty-six professions, including professional footballers and tennis coaches, were added to the Medium and Long-Term Skill Shortage List. 18 have been added to Regional Occupation List and 27 have been removed from the Short Term Skill Shortage List.
Health system
World famous for its outstanding cuisine, Spain is not just about paella, gazpacho or tapas. Did you know that today Spain is the world's healthiest country according to the 2019 edition of the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index? While the local cuisine contributes – without any doubt – to the nation's health, here are five good reasons why moving to Spain can be the best decision you have ever taken in your whole life. According to the Spanish Ministry of Interior, over 28,000 new arrivals are recorded every year.
Work
It was meant to come to an end this year, but the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has been extended to 2021. The Canadian authorities are hoping this will attract 5 000 more expats to work in the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Whether you are going to be fasting through Lent or you are just looking for an excuse to drink up and feast on fatty food… today is the day where you can let loose. Mardi Gras is celebrated the day just before Lent begins and is celebrated in many countries and regions across the globe. But it might be difficult to feel the cheer of the Mardi Gras if it is not a celebrated in your host country. So here's a few ways you can rev up an otherwise boring school night…
Everyday life
Maybe you've landed yourself a job in an English-speaking firm abroad but English is not widely spoken in your new country. You might not have had enough time to dedicate to learning the language. Perhaps, you're retiring in a country without having learnt the language. Or maybe you've just arrived and you have realized that you are having a hard time understanding the accent even though you know the language. We have asked members of the Expat community some language hacks for expatriates and this is what they answered…
Canada
What will happen to the 18 000 visa applications threatening to be cancelled by the Quebec government? Earlier this month, the government announced it would scrap 18 000 visa applications in order to clear the backlog. But following the approval of an injunction request by an association of immigration lawyers, the ministry of Immigration of Quebec will continue processing applications.
Germany
Until 2060, Germany will need 260 000 foreign workers a year of which 56% will come from outside the European Union.
Canada
Two new programs announced on the 23rd of February will allow caregivers who want to move to Canada to bring their families along and apply for permanent residence.
Schools & studies
15, 880. These are the official numbers obtained from the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). They show that 33% more Chinese students have applied for university in the UK this year than the year before. A record! But it does not stop here, there has also been a 9% rise in the number of admissions from international students.
Formalities
Will New-Zealand reopen the parent visa category? The New-Zealand government could be making a decision in favor of this very soon. Indeed, according to the NZ Herald, there is a backlog of approximately 6000 applications dating back to 2016 when this category was closed. What is a parent visa and where else in the world can you apply for one? Let's find out.
Singapore
It could become much harder for expatriates to find a job in the Singapore services sector. It was announced on the Tuesday 19th of February during the annual budget speech session in Parliament: by 2021, the percentage of foreign workers making up a company's workforce will need to be reduced from 40% to 35% in the services sector, the sector which employs the most expatriates. This has been announced in a attempt to promote training of the Singaporean workforce to suit the demands of the industry and upgrading of positions available on the market. But what does it mean for expatriates living in Singapore today? And for individuals seeking to move to Singapore?
Accommodation
Every year, Knight Frank- a leading global estate agency, residential and commercial property consultancy firm releases its Global Affordability Monitor 2019 at the beginning of February. The Affordable Housing team earmarks 32 “global cities” and analyses the house price to income ratio, the proportion of an income which makes up the rent and also compares the real house price growth to the real income growth. Here are the most affordable “Global cities” shortlisted by Knight Frank.
USA
The change was announced last december by the American government. Holders of a masters degree from an American institution are more likely to get a work permit than other applicants. This would mean, as the number of H-1B on offer is capped at 85,000, that other applicants would have lower chances of seeing their H-1B applications accepted.
Other Types
Paraguay
A new investor residency rulebook landed last month, and for anyone weighing Paraguay as a place to actually live, the numbers are surprisingly friendly. If you've been quietly researching Paraguay as a possible new home base, for the taxes, the cost of living, the easy residency, or just because the rest of the world feels increasingly expensive and complicated, this one is for you.
Japan
Conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made immigration one of the key issues of her term. Since October 2025, foreign professionals, particularly entrepreneurs, have had to deal with stricter immigration rules. Early surveys reveal a significant drop in the number of entrepreneur visa applications.
France
This quiet reform barely made a ripple in France's political debates, yet it slipped through largely unnoticed and will tighten the rules for those who combine work and retirement.
France
A decree published on April 25 in the Official Gazette updates the rules allowing foreign workers to apply for the European Card or register on the "list of jobseekers."
France
E-invoicing (and e-reporting) was previously voluntary. From September 1, 2026, it will become mandatory for businesses to issue and receive electronic invoices. So who exactly is affected?
United Arab Emirates
The UAE's Golden Visa program has been updated. The reform, focused on simplification, aims to further cement the United Arab Emirates' position as a top destination for foreign investors and entrepreneurs.
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