Features
Accommodation
Buying property abroad as an expat can require more research, and may involve more risks than buying in your home country. You should start planning the purchase well in advance, do some research on formalities such as visa requirements for buyers and mortgage conditions, and get expert advice when necessary. Expat.com has put together a guide to finding and buying the right property for you, whether it's an investment solution, a holiday home, or a permanent residence.
Everyday life
Moving abroad is often motivated by the quest for better living standards. Like every year, the Economist Intelligence Unit publishes its Global Liveability ranking based on a range of criteria including stability, education, healthcare, infrastructure, culture, and environment. To help you choose your next destination, Expat.com gives you an insight into six of the world's most liveable cities.
Work
International employees are usually assigned to manage a project abroad by their company back home, and this is how they find themselves undertaking the adventurous journey of expatriation. However, if you have decided to become a self-initiated expatriate because you wish to boost your career, gain new life experiences, or start over again in a whole new country, read below to find out how to create a game plan for your overseas employment.
Everyday life
You are fresh in the expat way of living, and you are still trying to find your way around an unfamiliar place, new work ethics, and strangers. And, to top it all off, your birthday is approaching; but the idea of celebrating it is only intensifying emotions of homesickness and nostalgia for what your life used to be when you were surrounded by family and friends. We encourage you to look for the silver lining of your situation, and focus on the potential beneficent outcomes of your expat adventure — believe it or not, celebrating your birthday abroad is one of them. Read below to find out how you can have an epic birthday away from home.
Everyday life
A country's attractiveness is defined not only by its economic growth and political stability but also by many other factors such as engagement, culture, education, and innovation, among others. The Soft Power 30 index measures the performance of 30 countries based on these indicators. Expat.com gives you an insight into the top five countries for soft power.
Leisure
The international travel and tourism industry largely contributes to the global economy, making for 10.2% (or about USD 7,6 trillion) of the annual global GDP. In 2016, the sector accounted for one in ten jobs on the planet, creating 292 million positions — a number which corresponds with the 1.2 billion international arrivals during the same year. While we have been used to North to North travel, outbound travel from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific is overgrowing. Here's an overview of a sector that generates high-quality employment opportunities, bridges people and cultures, and has the potential to promote the protection and restoration of our planet's ecosystem.
USA
Working parents in the United States are facing daunting hurdles to find high-quality and affordable care for their children due to the country's inadequate childcare system. Each state has a unique setting, but what all states have in common are the high cost of childcare and the difficulty to access a system whose priority is not the welfare of parents, children, and professional carers.
Everyday life
Usually, the clothes we wear tend to be appropriate for the occasion (e.g. a business meeting, a Sunday hike, a night out with friends) we get dressed for, and often express our mood or reveal our personality. But clothing isn't merely a personal matter; it's a national too. Traditional ethnic wear, which dates back to a certain period of time in history, represents the culture and identity of a specific ethnic group and is often linked to social and religious status. In most areas of the world, western dress codes have been incorporated, and traditional garments are saved for special events and festivals. However, in some places such as Bhutan, the ethnic wear is still worn in public by citizens.
Everyday life
It takes a lot of courage to move abroad, whether for personal or professional reasons. While moving overseas is an adventure in itself, safety is an essential factor to take into account, How safe are you in your host country? How would you react in case of any danger? Here are some tips on how to stay safe abroad.
Leisure
The world is full of beautiful places, and every country has natural resources, historical, or archaeological sites to be proud of. However, some countries are more charming than others — they host indigenous animal species, have some of the most impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites, and boast diverse ecosystems of land and water. The World Economic Forum has ranked 136 countries based on their landscape, natural parks, fauna, and availability of outdoor tourism activities. We pulled the top five countries from the WEF's list and present them to you. Well, aren't they beautiful?
Work
Prosperous economies, abundant career prospects, and great cultural diversity make Europe one of the best places in the world for work. In fact, the continent has been attracting foreign professionals from all around the world for many years. The Workforce View in Europe 2018 analyses current mobility trends and challenges faced by the European workforce. If you're looking to work in Europe, here's an insight into this report published by ADP.
Transport
If you have arrived at your expat destination without your vehicle, and your employer isn't providing a company car, you should research your options regarding your mode of transport. Owning a car may be the most convenient way of moving from A to B, especially if you have children, or you don't live in the city, but before you decide to buy a car abroad, keep in mind the following.
Everyday life
Whether you are a wholehearted urbanite, or you are about to move to a big city, here's a list of the top ten places in the world for a fulfilling city life. Time Out has surveyed 15,000 city-dwellers about the ways they have fun in their city, the cost of living, their lifestyle satisfaction, and the qualities of the people who surround them, and has composed a list of 32 inspiring cities. Expat.com is presenting to you the top ten most exciting cities to live in, where each day can be a new adventure.
Cost of living
A hefty salary doesn't necessarily mean that you can save a ton of money at the end of the month, or that you can afford big expenditure on leisure activities and luxury items. Cost of living has a direct impact on all of the above. Starting with the least expensive, we present to you America's ten most expensive metropolitan areas, where a six-figure annual salary for a family of three isn't enough for a comfortable lifestyle. After paying their taxes, debts, housing, and transportation, a family earning $100,000 a year is still struggling to get by in certain US cities.
Everyday life
Women's conditions around the world have always been a sensitive subject. In Saudi Arabia, women were only recently allowed to drive. In other parts of the world, many women still suffer from brutal violence and discrimination. Women's struggles for their freedom and rights have evolved considerably since the 1940s when they had just acquired the right to vote and wear skirts. However, the path to equality and safety for women is still being paved and has a long way to go. Nowadays, a wave of feminist movement militates for women's causes. Covering topics such as health, discrimination, traditional values, patriarchy, sexual violence, and human trafficking, this article sheds light on the ten countries where the condition of women is very alarming.
Work
Looking to launch an innovative startup overseas? Which are the most attractive countries for entrepreneurs and where are you more likely to thrive? To help you choose your next destination depending on opportunities available and support you will benefit from to set up your business, Expat.com gives you an insight into the world's most innovative countries according to the Global Innovation Index 2018.
Work
Today, the number of women seeking new career prospects overseas is on the rise even though some are merely content with being the trailing spouse or stay-at-home mum. Which are the place and importance given to women in the global workforce and where are they more likely to enjoy the same rights and benefits as men? Expat.com gives you an insight into the Women in Work Index 2018 published by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Moving
It's never easy to move abroad alone, leaving your friends and family behind, regardless of the reasons for your expatriation. Even though the idea might seem intimidating at first, being a solo expat has many benefits you perhaps have not even thought of. To help you get started, Expat.com lists some of the perks of being a solo expat.
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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