Features
Everyday life
Why should you choose big city life over living in a small town? The choice might not be obvious if you're considering relocating abroad, whether alone or with your family. Over the years, many expats have found it easier to live in a big city for various reasons. Find out, with Expat.com, why you should move to a big city, regardless of your motivations.
Accommodation
It's wise to buy a property abroad if you're looking to make an extended stay or becoming a permanent resident. You can as well make it profitable by letting it to other expats. However, take the time to analyse the dynamic global property market before concluding. Here's an insight into the most affordable places to buy property according to the Global Property Guide.
Everyday life
Adopting the local way of life is one of the steps to a successful move abroad, regardless of the purpose of your stay abroad – whether it is for work study, setting up a business or retiring. Many expats have chosen to go local for a more authentic experience in their new home. If you're not convinced yet, here are five good reasons to switch to the local way of life.
Cost of living
For years, many global reports have unveiled some of the world's most expensive cities for expats, regarding rent, leisure and daily expenses in particular. If you're looking to move abroad on a budget, whether you're planning to study, work, set up a business or retire, have a look at some of the world's cheapest cities according to a study by Nomadlist.
Everyday life
As a new year has just begun, you might be tempted to fulfill your dreams and projects, like moving abroad to reunite with the love of your life. Long distance relationships are a hard thing, whether you have met your soul mate online or during your travels or a semester abroad. However, before taking the leap of faith, make sure to find the answer to all the questions that you might have. To help you choose wisely, let's have a look at some of these questions together.
Everyday life
From breathtaking firework shows and lively street parties to live music and parades, New Year's Eve across the globe is about finishing off the year in high spirits. Here, we have put together a list of the best destinations in the world to start the new year countdown. As clocks will be striking midnight, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you the best of success with your 2019 expatriation projects!
Everyday life
December is all about excitement, anticipation, and high levels of energy, which are required to get us through all the shopping and cooking frenzy of the festive season. Then, Christmas Day comes and along with it the pick of our happiness. Wherever we are, and whoever is surrounding us, we are doing our best to make our Christmas special. But the day is over, and on the 26th we wake up underwhelmed. If we have spent the holidays in our host country, far away from family and close friends, this is usually a day of nostalgia and heavy symptoms of homesickness. Don't shut your emotions down, but do small things instead to boost your spirits again. After all, you have the New Year to get you going.
Everyday life
You have so many options for your Christmas shopping — from bursting department stores and cosmopolitan shopping streets with spectacular festive window displays, to local boutiques and the internet, of course. However, for fairy-tale-like Christmas shopping experiences, we encourage you to head to the closest Christmas market, where you will find anything from handcrafted toys and ornaments, to fashion items and food (so much food!). Let the sounds of Christmas carols and the aromas of warm mulled wine, gingerbread, and roasted chestnuts guide you to one of our favourite European Christmas markets, and indulge into the holiday spirit!
Everyday life
Gender equality might not be one of your main concerns if you're looking to settle and work abroad. However, it's a crucial issue for women who are planning to work or study, adapt more easily, and even join politics. Have a look at some of the world's best countries for gender equality according to the latest World Economic Forum report.
Work
The end of the year is an exciting opportunity to assess your career and all that you've done in the past few months and to take new decisions regarding your future. Moving abroad, whether for work, studies or setting up a business, might be one of those decisions. Here's an insight into some cities around the world where you can make the most of a range of opportunities according to a study by Movinga.
Work
Digital nomadism isn't just about flexible working and travelling around the world. Some factors like the cost of living, access to coworking spaces, internet speed, as well as integration have to be considered. Have a look at some of the best destinations for digital nomads according to a recent study by Spotahome.
USA
Entrepreneurship isn't just a man's thing in the USA. In the past few years, many US cities have seen women entrepreneurs thriving for various reasons, so if you're planning to move to the USA, why don't you try your luck? Below is an insight into some of the best cities for women entrepreneurs to get you started.
Everyday life
Solidarity and generosity say a lot about a country's population, society and environment that expatriates are going to experience. During the past year, which nations have made the most significant efforts in helping the needy by either volunteering, donating money to a charity or helping a stranger? Since the holiday season also means supporting and sharing, let's have a look at the world's most generous nations according to a study by the Charities Aid Foundation.
Work
Choosing your new city is a crucial step if you're looking to move abroad, whether alone or with your family. Regardless of your motivation – for work, studies or setting up your business – the society, environment and economic opportunities will have an impact on your stay. The Sustainable Cities Index 2018 by Arcadis assesses cities around the world according to the quality of life, job and business opportunities and the environment they provide to their inhabitants. Let's have a look at these sustainable cities.
USA
As one of the most popular expat destinations in the world, the USA is an ideal place to work or start a business in. Besides a wide range of economic prospects and fair working conditions, what employees seek is a healthy and happy workplace where they can stay motivated and be productive – and that should speak to employers as well. Let's have a look at what defines a happy workplace in the USA.
Work
As we're getting closer to the end of the year, you're perhaps among those who are assessing their career and planning for the future. If you're looking to enjoy a higher standard of living and higher wages, moving abroad can be the answer. Below is an overview of the European countries offering the highest salaries.
Work
London is without any doubt a favourite destination for those looking to live, study, work or set up a business in the United Kingdom. However, life in the UK doesn't revolve around London since many other cities – some of which you might not have considered till now – provide a range of opportunities for expats, regardless of their long-term plans. Have a look at the most dynamic and promising cities in the UK according to the Good Growth for Cities 2018 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Everyday life
During the World Cup this past summer, Stefanie, a Belgian/Australian dual national (a "Belgalian" or "Austrelgian" if you will) had to divide her time and support to, not one or two, but three countries. Now living in France and married to a Frenchman with two little ‘Fraussie' children, the challenge of being a citizen of more than one country was no longer limited to the football fan-zone. Stefanie tells us some of the challenges of dual nationality that span beyond choosing which team to support.
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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