Anne-Lise Mty

The Expat.com survey was carried out in June this year and revealed that an estimated 62.9% of British expats have indeed received the COVID-19 vaccine. Most of them had received either the Oxford-AstraZeneca or the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

Yes, the beaches are closed. And yes, it is a little cold. But no, not everyone has access to a warm personal pool. Here are some places you can go for a swim while the beaches are still on lockdown.

With beaches closed, you might be wondering how to keep busy and keep exploring the island during your weekends. How about seeing the island from above? We're talking… hiking! Here are Mauritius' most iconic mountains.

Nicola is a British expat who relocated to Mauritius to reunite with her Mauritian fiance last October when the borders had reopened. She talks to us about living on the island amid the pandemic, between two lockdowns.

Being locked within the four walls of one's house with very limited social interaction and physical contact is undeniably hard for a lot of people. So, how will you take care of yourself during these uncertain times?

Including a workout in your routine will definitely help maintain mental and emotional balance during these uncertain times. Inka Goodwin, a Personal Trainer (PT) living and working in Mauritius gives us a few tips on keeping fit during the lockdown.

Mauritius is a week into its second lockdown, exactly a year after the first COVID-19 outbreak. How is the second outbreak evolving in Mauritius and what do you have to bear in mind for the rest of this lockdown period?

Would a global pandemic stop Sarah Hofbauer from living her dream of studying in Mauritius? Not a global pandemic, not the tedious procedures, not the uncomfortable flight and definitely not the two-week quarantine. The young Austrian student started her course at the University of Middlesex this week.

We're bringing to you this week, a rather rare mauritian creole expression, but definitely an interesting one. Here what it means and how you can use it.

Catherine is originally from South Africa. In 2019, she was one of the lucky few to be admitted to Calgary through the Express Entry System, along with her husband and their twin daughters. Catherine talks to us about the challenges of raising expat kinds in Canada.

Molly comes from Nottingham, UK. Following a job offer, she moved to Spain in 1998 and stayed in Barcelona for 9 years before relocating to Granada, a beautiful city in Andalucia. The past 22 years and her blog helped her build her image as an influencer and expert about Spain and the UK. Today, she talks to us about how her views about the country changed over the years, especially in 2020, which was a challenging year for everyone.

If you are thinking of moving to Cyprus, then understanding how the healthcare system works, and if you are entitled to healthcare, is crucial. The healthcare system in Cyprus underwent a complete overhaul in 2013 to be more in line with EU standards and has improved drastically since then. However, many people still prefer private healthcare especially expats.

Healthcare in Chile is modern and affordable and is rated as the best in Latin America; yet, it is not without its problems. Data collected by the World Health Organization ranked Chile's health system 33rd out of 190 countries.

Whether you are travelling to the Maldives for a short or long term, staying healthy and having access to quality medical care will surely be on the list of your priorities. Wondering about health care quality and cost in the Maldives? Learn about the countrys hospitals, social security and insurance in this article.

Kenya is a country of great disparity, especially when it comes to healthcare. Access to clean drinking water, proper sanitation, and basic health services are problems for millions of Kenyans, especially in rural areas, as the public healthcare system is overburdened. However, wealthy Kenyans have access and means to purchase private health care and receive better quality treatment. Here is an overview of Kenyas healthcare system.

Hungary's healthcare system has many advantages. It is easy to get in the system (happens automatically once you start working for a Hungarian company) and the amount of money you actually have to contribute is very little, making public healthcare quite affordable. On the flip side, the quality of services can vary greatly depending on which city youre currently in and the fact that there are not enough doctors means you should be prepared for significant delays.

In contrast to other countries such as Finland, where the healthcare system is municipal, Estonians have opted for a solidarity-based social insurance system. This means that healthcare services in Estonia are for everyone according to the individual needs. It also means that you can expect the same kind of quality treatment to be available across the country, no matter which region you're currently in.

Ask any Finn for the cure to whatever ails you, and they will all probably make the same suggestion; go to a sauna. Indeed, that Finnish invention may have something to do with the fact that life expectancy in this country is among the highest in the world. But what happens when you require something a little bit stronger than a steam bath? Finland's healthcare system is municipal, which means that the quality of treatment you'll be getting may vary greatly depending on the city you're in. If you're a Nordic or EU citizen you should have no real problems navigating it.

Slovenia has a nationalised public healthcare system which provides a high-quality level of care to citizens and residents. All employees and businesses contribute to the system through tax, and healthcare is available to all citizens and long-term residents. The programme is coordinated by the National Health Insurance Institute. Residents and citizens are given a medical card, which they show when undergoing treatment. Even under public care, some doctors and specialists may charge an additional out-of-pocket fee for some services. However, medical care for children is generally not subject to additional charges.

When planning a lengthy stay in a foreign country, the question of staying safe and healthy naturally comes up. If you are moving to Macau, you're in luck as the region has a well-developed system of public and private medical facilities. What's more, with Hong Kong just a short ride away, you will have even more options when it comes to healthcare.

Nigeria is exposed to a number of serious epidemics, and the national network of healthcare facilities exhibits uneven quality standards, hence the importance of well investigating the available healthcare options to best prepare your move to Nigeria. Health insurance is a necessity.

Healthcare is a primary concern for anyone moving abroad and future expats will be happy to learn about the excellent care available in Colombia. In fact, the World Health Organization ranked Colombia's healthcare system as number 22 in a review of 191 countries. Hospitals and clinics in Colombia's major cities have many bilingual doctors. The majority of expats (especially those from the U.S.) will find the cost of healthcare very affordable.

Guatemala's public health system benefits from a well-established legal framework, a long-standing institutional history, and dedicated and experienced health sector workers. However, the system is fragmented, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas, both in terms of level and of quality.

When relocating to South Africa, healthcare will be one of your main concerns. Since its advent to democracy, South Africa's healthcare system has become more accessible. Medical faculties of major, internationally rated universities offer sought-after and rigorous medical training. Additionally, many new medical centres have been set up across the country and you are likely to find more hospitals in large, urban centres and tourist areas.

Health care will probably be one of your major concerns about moving to the Czech Republic. Rest assured! The country has a modern and developed health care system comprising more than 25,000 hospitals, clinics as well as many private doctors. In fact, the country was ranked 13th out of 35 European countries according to the European Consumer Health Care Index. Access to health care is more or less easy, although there are fewer specialists compared to West European countries.

Scotland has a modern and developed health system from which you can benefit during your stay (provided you comply with existing conditions). For the most part, healthcare is free to everyone living in Scotland regardless of your nationality — although you will have to pay fees for specialised services. 

One benefit of living in Denmark is having access to the high standard of healthcare. Understanding the healthcare system in Denmark is a priority for expats – here is everything you need to know about the Danish healthcare system. 

Are expatriates eligible to health care services in Egypt? What are the relating conditions and formalities? Find out in this article.

Are expatriates eligible for free healthcare in Poland? What are the relating conditions and formalities? Find out in this article.

Wondering about the health care services available for expats in Sweden? Find the answers to your queries in this article.

Whether you are visiting Peru for a short time or planning to relocate for an extended period, it's important to understand the healthcare system. Good quality health services are easily available in the country, even to expatriates.

It used to be common advice for any foreigners in Cambodia to simply go to Bangkok or Singapore if they required medical attention. Fortunately, however, medical facilities in the Kingdom of Wonder have improved somewhat in recent years, and you can now receive reasonably good treatment for many conditions in private institutions.

Wondering about health care in Bulgaria? How to access to these and what are the fees applied? Find out in this article.

Moving to a foreign country needs documentation first, especially when it comes to major concerns, such as the health care program. Expats moving to Romania may already know that medical services here have suffered lots of lacking during the years, but slowly, they are aligning to the European standards. However, there are local hospitals and clinics that provide urgent medical consultations, as well as lots of private medical units. 

Costa Rica has received international praise for its modern healthcare system, and both citizens and legal residents can enjoy universal healthcare. Read this article to find out more about the kind of high-quality standards at low costs that you can expect in the Switzerland of Central America.

Russia is known to have a two-tier healthcare system. There is a huge gap between those who can access to private healthcare services and those who depend on the public healthcare system. As a result, compulsory health insurance was introduced in 1996. Both expats and Russian nationals have to subscribe to health insurance which provides free healthcare. However, the Russian healthcare system still suffers from a lack of modern equipment and qualified staff.

Ecuador, as a fast-developing nation, has laws that are constantly evolving, but one thing is certain: the ongoing changes are almost always for the better. Here's an overview of how things stand at present.

Belize has a multiple layer healthcare system, including public and private hospitals, as well as regional and rural clinics. Before traveling to Belize, you should seek information on your specific health care concerns. You should also consider subscribing to an expat insurance before moving. Level one trauma care is not available in Belize, and medical evacuation alone is quite expensive.

If you are planning to move to South Korea, you are probably wondering about the local healthcare system. Doctors and hospitals in Korea are very developed and use the most modern technology just like in Western countries. In fact, Korean people take sicknesses so seriously that they even visit a local hospital at the slightest symptom of a cold. Quality healthcare is provided to locals and foreigners alike, and medicine and doctor visits are very cheap. Most doctors in South Korea also speak good enough English to assist you with your problems.

If you are planning to relocate to India, its healthcare system will be one of your prime concerns. There are several healthcare centres in India, including private and public hospitals and clinics. The quality of services may vary from one place to another. In major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi etc., it is easier and convenient for expats to find well-qualified practitioners and access to quality healthcare services.

Healthcare in Argentina is often very good quality and is considered among the best in Latin America. However, the level of care often depends on the social protection system you are covered by.

To celebrate Expat.com's 15 years of existence is to celebrate all the expats who make us who we are. Over the course of December, we shared with you a selection of interviews we had previously carried out. We got in touch with these expats to check up on them and to get a first-hand account of where they have been since they were interviewed.

Lauren loves life. You can even feel it in her writing. And it is not like she has not had a few challenges. Just this year, she has had it pretty hard being on lockdown with three children and her husband. But this expat mom, trailing spouse and writer is resilient. She tells us about life in Barcelona doing things that she loves.

At this very time last year, the whole world was waking up to a new disease and had no idea that we would need to come to terms with a whole new way of life because of it. The first few cases of COVID-19 were first detected in Wuhan, China. A year later, are things back to normal in this town? Looking back on 2020, what do expats living in China have to say?

It was a rather unfortunate turn of events that pushed Vernon and his wife, both American citizens, to move to Belize in 2001. But it was never a decision that they regretted. In fact, the couple put their time, knowledge and resources into helping others build a better life for themselves. First with inmates at the Belize Central prison and today with blind, unemployed young people in Panama. Here is his story.

With current travel restrictions and many countries locked down a second time, many expats will have to spend the end of year alone, far from their loved ones. If you're one of them, you might be feeling anxious or depressed by this situation. Gabriela Encina, an expat coach and psychologist, talks to us about the impact of the second lockdown on mental health and gives out some tips to get over this.

Bruno Antoine, an International Mobility advisor, speaks to Expat.com about the future of expatriation after the COVID-19. He specializes in several destinations in South-East Asia.

When you tell your friends and family that you're leaving everything behind to pursue your dream job abroad, they expect nothing less from you than success. And the truth is, you do too. But what happens when things do not quite go your way? Psychologist and expat counsellor, Gabriela Encina talks to Expat.com about Expat Shame.

It is nearing the end of summer for Europeans. Indeed, the June to August period is traditionally the holiday season for many European countries. So here are few tips for any expats having to go back to work after a holiday period particularly marked by the COVID-19 sanitary crisis.

Australians abroad are having a hard time being able to find repatriation flights to get back to their home country during the COVID-19 crisis. The government has capped the number of passengers to arrive at the operating airports and airlines are using this to significantly increase their flights. How are repatriation flights being arranged around the world? And what are they costing?