Insights from professionals
Formalities
For today's expat, mobility means freedom, security, and opportunity. A well-structured passport portfolio safeguards your movement and places you among global citizens who live, work, and invest across continents. Whether protecting assets or chasing global mobility, building a passport portfolio is a smart investment. Multiple methods exist: fast-track naturalization, citizenship by investment, descent-based claims, and birth tourism. Different pathways suit different goals and situations. This guide walks you through the ways to build a passport portfolio and shows you the most accessible options for acquiring new citizenships in 2025.
Work
Working abroad is often viewed as a privilege, a career-defining opportunity. The expat is seen as the adaptable, globally minded professional. Yet behind this polished image lies a more complex reality: a silent, internal pressure that can slowly erode mental health, often without being noticed. Preventing this begins with recognizing its presence, then finding healthy ways to manage it.
Spain
On Saturday, October 25, the Maritime Museum of Barcelona will open its doors to the annual gathering of choice for international professionals living and working in the city. Admission is free of charge. All you need to do is register on the event website. This year marks the 12th Barcelona International Community Day. Organised by Barcelona City Council, the initiative has become the leading event for welcoming, integrating and networking with the international community, especially newcomers to the city.
Health system
Travel insurance isn't an afterthought—it's the plan that pays when things go wrong. The right policy covers urgent care, evacuation, and the trip home; the wrong one can leave you with life-changing bills. This article shows what to disclose (including mental health), when to buy, the cover to insist on, and how exclusions work. One rule: tell your insurer everything, and buy as soon as you book.
Formalities
Latin America as a region has become one of the most popular hubs for expats, digital nomads, and international entrepreneurs. The escalating prices, the rising taxes, and stricter immigration laws in Europe and North America are forcing people to seek alternatives, and many are finding Latin America's relative affordability, vibrancy, and diversity an ideal combination.
Traveling with children—whether for a holiday or a permanent move—comes with unique health challenges. To better understand how families can prepare, we spoke with Dr. Natalie Prevatt, a Consultant Paediatrician and expert in travel and tropical medicine. Dr. Prevatt trained in London and at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and she has worked across Africa and the Pacific. She now runs NHS clinics in infections and immunity, and a remote travel clinic, The Children's Travel Doc, focused on children and pregnant women. As Chair for Paediatrics at the International Society of Travel Medicine, she helps shape global travel health guidance. In this interview, she shares essential advice on vaccinations, illness prevention, and planning for both short trips and long-term relocations.
Work
Unlike other Erasmus initiatives limited to those under 30, the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program has no age restriction. It offers a practical pathway to professional growth: the chance to explore new business cultures, gain vital skills, and expand your international network. You don't need years of experience to apply. What matters is a clear business idea, determination, and a strong desire to learn. In this article, Enrico, a young ambassador who benefited from the program, gives you insight into the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs initiative.
Everyday life
Grieving is never easy. But for expatriates, separated from family and the familiar rituals that usually accompany loss, the process can feel distant and muted. How do you come to terms with absence when life around you continues as if nothing has changed? Palliative care therapist Sophie Gidrol sheds light on the challenges of grieving from afar and offers guidance to help navigate this deeply human experience.
Everyday life
Moving to a new country won't solve your problems, but should you do it anyway? Well, it depends. It depends on you and your mindset. It is easy to imagine that relocating overseas will transform us into better versions of ourselves.
Work
The first day at a new job is always daunting. Stress, exhaustion, loneliness and nervous excitement are all common emotions but add on top of that, culture shock, language barriers and trying to settle your family into their new life abroad, it can all get overwhelming.
Everyday life
Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of discomfort for expatriates, not only because of the distance from their loved ones but also due to lockdowns and health restrictions. Emanuela Brusadelli, a Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Deputy Director of the Professional and Clinical Psychology Programs at Wollongong University School of Psychology in Australia, tells us more.
Everyday life
You want to go abroad or have just settled there. You are wondering how to integrate well and most of all be able to communicate with the locals and other foreigners? Perhaps you are even looking for a job that requires speaking another language.. Learning the local language seems like the most natural thing to do. But a lot of us get discouraged really fast. In fact, after 2 years living abroad very few English-speaking people do speak the local language. For some of us this means, less professional and personal development opportunities. Personally this meant not being hired by anyone when I first moved to the German-speaking part of Switzerland. If you want to make the most of your experience abroad, you are going to need to avoid the 3 traps most expats fall into - including me a few years ago. For each of them I will give you an alternative and well as a concrete action you can take right now for immediate results.
Virginia Bastide is the co-founder of the Paris Institute of Childcare Training, and, most importantly, the mom of three bi-cultural children. She gives you her expert advice to ensure your children settle in successfully in their new school abroad.
Work
Marine's interest in journalism developed into a real passion during her stay in Vietnam as the co-editor of an online newspaper. Moving back to France, she decided to become an entrepreneur by launching her own news website. Marine is also a dedicated mom that juggles parenting and the responsibilities towards success.
Work
Looking for ways to integrate sustainability into your business and become part of the solution towards a sustainable economy is an excellent first step for a business leader to take. However, in this competitive sector, decisions aren't always obvious, and advice is well-received. Denise Delaney, director at SustainAbility, talks to Expat.com about sustainability in business, the current challenges companies face, and the benefits of leading a sustainable business.
Moving
If you are dreaming of becoming an expat, but you are overwhelmed by the research you have to undertake and the process of putting all the information on different countries together, Jeff Kontur — an author and aspiring expat — has the solution in his new e-book "The Move Overseas Checklist".
Work
Emerging markets represent a real potential for entrepreneurs and investors wishing to expand their activities abroad. However, venturing into an emerging market can be as risky as it is advantageous. Ian Herbison, CEO of Speyside, a consultant and emerging market specialist, talks to Expat.com about the strengths and weaknesses of key emerging markets.
Children
Are you wondering about the ins and outs of raising your children abroad with one or more new langauges? Chontelle Bonfiglio is an ESL teacher who is raising multilingual children after moving from Australia to Italy. She created 'Bilingual Kidspot' to help parents who want to raise their children as bilingual, and she talks to Expat.com about her experience.
Other Types
South Korea
Last March, the South Korean Ministry of Justice announced the easing of conditions for issuing certain visas in order to tackle the labor shortage. On May 12, the Ministry of Employment and Labor unveiled a new strategy aimed at boosting the employment of foreign workers, while also supporting that of local workers.
Work
More young professionals than ever are choosing to start their careers abroad. Driven by the rise of digital nomadism, economic uncertainty, and the promise of new opportunities, they are increasingly willing to cross borders in search of a better future. But what do young expats really expect from their first job overseas? And how do their career goals compare with those of earlier generations?
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.
Tax
Postcard-perfect beaches, luxury villas, sports cars and a jet-set lifestyle: social media often paints expat influencers and content creators as financially free and permanently on vacation. Behind the filters and sponsored posts, however, lies a much more complex reality. As more freelancers, influencers and digital creators move abroad to optimize their lifestyle and income, tax authorities around the world are increasing their scrutiny. So how can content creators relocate overseas legally, optimize their taxes, and avoid crossing the line into tax evasion?
Tax
Living in a country without paying taxes: a dream for many expats who choose their destination specifically based on its tax policies. But does a truly "zero tax" country for foreigners actually exist? And what hidden financial risks should you watch out for?
Transport
"Once this war is over, fuel prices will collapse," Donald Trump declared. The U.S. president believes he has "very good chances" of reaching a deal with Iran, while also stating he is prepared to take military action if talks fail. In the meantime, prices at the pump continue to break records worldwide, with variations from country to country. How are expats coping with this situation? How are they managing their daily commutes and travel? The Expat.com community shares its experiences.
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