Veedushi Bissessur

Kasia was born in Poland but moved to Canada with her parents at the age of 8. After growing up in Canada, she travelled to Australia in her late 20s and stayed there for 15 years, and worked in the Asia Pacific region for 6 years before going back to Canada. Today, Kasia is an International Leadership & Career Coach who helps expat entrepreneurs become the leaders of tomorrow.

Alone but not lonely. Solo female expats are on the rise, and as the world is striving towards gender equality, many women show that their ambitions have no geographical limits. Deciding to start a journey in a new country has all the elements an adventure needs: adrenaline, excitement and even a healthy amount of fear. If you are ahead of a similar journey, you should consider some safety dos and don'ts in order to make your new experience joyful and smooth. 

Originally from Philadelphia, Sara has quite an interesting story to tell. On travelling to Mexico for the first time when she was 18, she immediately fell in love with the country. Today, she lives in Veracruz with her multicultural family. From an English teacher before the pandemic, she converted into a publisher and is enjoying being an entrepreneur.

Originally from Ecuador, Andrea is a mom and lawyer who has been living in the Netherlands for nine years now. After the country introduced a travel ban for family members from outside the European Union, she started a campaign for helping expat children in the Netherlands reunite with their parents and grandparents. But in May 2021, the government finally lifted this entry ban under certain conditions. Andrea talks to Expat.com about the impact of this campaign and expat children's rights in the Netherlands.

It's been more than a decade since Marcie, a US expat, has been following her spouse around the world for his career. The COVID-19 pandemic has got her stuck in California as her husband prepares for a solo move to Shanghai. Marcie talks to us about her adventures around the world and a book she recently wrote about marriage and compromise for trailing spouses.

For Sarah, an American expat, being a trailing spouse is far from being a boring life. She is an art director, designer, illustrator, photographer and all-around creative guru based in Austria, where she relocated in October 2020. She talks to us about her new life in her host country amid the pandemic.

Lin is originally from China. She relocated to Belgium in 2009 on a student exchange program and fell in love with the country. In spite of the language barrier and cultural challenges, she made it and shares her expat experience with Expat.com.

It's been more than a decade since Laura, who is of Spanish origin, relocated abroad. She currently lives in Australia, a country she fell in love with during a trip from New Zealand. Today, Laura is a Purpose Coach & Expat Mentor in Sydney. She talks to us about her new expats adventure amid the pandemic.

Alexandra is a Romanian expat who followed her spouse to Berlin for his career, but that doesn't make her a trailing spouse. A diplomatic spouse rather, who is always busy volunteering, writing books and articles, and taking care of her family. She talks to us about her reality.

A new increase in the number of cases of COVID-19, Janssen vaccine considered for children and a new anticyclone in the region ... Here's what's happening in Mauritius in this last week of July.

Joanna is a Pole expat who has had a great passion for travel for many years. Today, she is based in Qatar, following her Tunisian husband, who had a job there. She talks to us about that turning point in her life and the lifestyle she really enjoys in Qatar.

Opening a bank account is one of the first things you'll need to do in Cyprus. Thankfully, the banking system in Cyprus is very sophisticated and friendly towards expats. Opening a bank account is straightforward and hassle-free, and you can choose between numerous local banks or one of the many international bank branches you will find on the island. What is best, you can even begin the banking process before you even arrive in Cyprus.

If you plan to live, work or do business in the Maldives, you will need a bank account. Is it easy for expats to open bank accounts in the country? What are the related procedures and expenses? Find out in this article.

New expats in Kenya will wish to open a bank account, necessary for receiving wages from your employer and for making local purchases. The process to open a new account in Kenya is straightforward and easy to do, or many international banks also have branches in Kenya- check with your local bank before relocating to see if you can access their services in your new country.

If you are moving to Tanzania, it is likely that you are going to want to set up a bank account, especially if you are locally employed. The African country is renowned for having safe and secure banking procedures, ensuring utmost privacy and facilitating high-security transactions. This article will explore the area of banking and finance in Tanzania, and will provide useful and practical tips for getting your finances in order when you enter the country.

The country that offers the opportunity to people from all over the world to become e-residents and create their own business without setting foot on its soil could not possibly trouble herself with such mundane issues as going to an actual bank, or withdrawing cash from an ATM. In fact, most Estonians have never seen a bank cheque in their lives -- and in 99% of the cases, they use their debit cards instead of cash. It's no wonder then that LHV, one of the four major commercial banks in the country, just doesn't deal with cash at all. Here's how to navigate your banking needs in this entirely digital world.

In Finland, as is the case in all Nordic countries, the card is king. Debit card, that is. Finns use them to pay for goods and services in shops and almost everywhere -- with the exception of petrol stations, where cash is mysteriously still preferred. Indeed, cash is secondary which can be easily surmised by the lack of ATM machines in most banks (instead, look for the OTTO machines throughout the country). The good news is, you can get your own debit card very easily and without excessive documentation.

Slovenia has a strong banking industry. National and international banks are located throughout the country, along with a large network of ATM machines in most towns, and withdrawals are available from local or international bank accounts. Major banks are more likely to have English-speaker tellers to assist with opening an account, and some banks have websites in both English and Slovenian.

Macau is one of China's most developed regions and a big financial centre. Thus, when residing in Macau, banking should not be a problem. Read on to find out about different banks as well as how to open and manage your bank account in Macau as well as conduct daily financial operations.

Nigeria has a quite developed financial system based on a raft of commercial banks, but expats should be wary of financial fraud when banking in Nigeria, as it is a significant concern in the country.

Guatemala has endeavoured to clamp down on money laundering by implementing stringent control over international capital flows, which has resulted in mounting difficulties for foreigners to open bank accounts and perform basic financial transactions in the country. Find in this articles tips and advice on how to proceed.

On moving to South Africa, whether to work or set up a business, opening a bank account will probably be one of your main concerns. This should not be complicated as the country hosts several banks that provide various services to expatriates. You can choose from 11 national banks such as ABSA, FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank and Capitec, as well as some 50 international banks.

Scotland has a long history when it comes to banking — going back more than 300 years. As such, the country's banking system is highly refined and offers unique advantages, like not paying banking fees if you remain within credit on your account. There is a variety of account types to choose from, depending on services offered but also depending on how long you've been in the country for. The process of opening a bank account can be challenging or costly depending on your nationality.

Looking forward to open a bank account in Egypt? Find out how to proceed in this article.

Can foreigners open a bank account in Poland? What are the relating formalities? Find out in this article.

What are the banks operating in Ivory Coast? How to proceed to open a bank account? Find out in this article.

As a foreigner living in Cambodia, opening a bank account is relatively straightforward and can save you quite a few hard-earned dollars in the long-term.

Do you wish to open a bank account in Bulgaria? Find out how to proceed in this article.

The community of expats in Romania is becoming more and more numerous. Therefore, opening a bank account is mandatory when planning a long stay in this country. The procedures are not that complicated but differ from bank to bank. Here are the general formalities expats need to know, along with the benefits of banking in Romania. 

Do you wish to open a bank account in Algeria? Find out useful information on related formalities in this article.

Procedures regarding the opening of a bank account in Cameroon vary from one bank to another. We are providing you with the details.

If you have decided to settle in Russia, you will probably want to open a bank account, particularly if you are working there. Opening a bank account will not only allow you to receive your salary but also to settle your monthly bills by direct debit. The formalities for opening a bank account in Russia are not too strict and the whole process should not take more than thirty minutes. However, you can give the bank of your choice a ring to find out how long an appointment will take.

A few years back, an expat would just breeze into an Ecuadorian bank, flash their passport and a bank account would be opened for them. Alas, things are not quite as simple anymore due to the many banking regulations. However, you should still be able to open a bank account if you follow our advice below.

Belize was once known to be a real banking haven, a place where banking secrecy was guaranteed. The situation changed somewhat with new banking regulations coming out of the United States in an attempt to curb US tax evasion. Many Belize banking institutions are none too happy about the host of paperwork and reporting now required of them, so the Central Bank has been more hesitant to approve accounts locally, and several of the international banks have left altogether.

There are several branches of international banks in South Korea, including Citibank global network and HSBC. Before moving to South Korea, it is recommended to find out if there are any existing partnerships between your usual national bank and a South Korean bank.

India's banking system has undergone a significant change over the past few years. The banking network and its operations have become more inclusive, comprehensive and efficient. While the RBI is the supreme banking authority, issuing major economic and financial policies, there are several private sector and public sector banks for consumers.

Anna was born in Ireland but spent many years abroad, including in Europe and Asia. She currently lives in Botswana, where she followed her husband who got a job offer there. Anna talks to us about her life experiences and challenges of relocating overseas and adapting to a new culture.

Originally from Spain with German roots, Anja has been travelling since her early childhood. Growing up in Kenya, she studied in the UK before relocating to Chile, a country she had good memories from. Today, Anja von Dessauer is an Expat Life and Mindset Coach. She talks to us about culture shock and the challenges of making a new country your home.

Athul is originally from Kerala, India. After working for a few years in Bangalore, he flies to Italy for a business project. Years later, a new opportunity leads him to Belgium, where he currently lives with his wife and daughter. He talks to us about his journey.

For those planning an international relocation, quality of life is a crucial element to consider. But how important is it to you, and how do you know when it's time to pack your bags and leave? Expats and future expatriates have shared their thoughts with us.

Navine Eldesouki is the amazing soul behind Coffee with Expat Women, a group providing support to expat women around the world. As an expat woman who built her life and family in different countries, leaving Australia at the age of 20, she is more than aware of the challenges faced by expat women around the world. So she decided to create a space where they can express themselves, share experiences, and get support and advice. 

Helen is a happy wife and mum of two grown-up children and has always been passionate about travelling. But it's only in 2020 that she could make her dreams come true despite the pandemic. With her husband Adrian, he now lives in the rural countryside of Central Portugal.

The pandemic has made living abroad even more challenging for trailing spouses. Many of them are still struggling with their daily stay-at-home routine and lockdown restrictions, while their significant other is having an almost regular routine. Here's what Kate, an expat coach in the USA, has to say to trailing spouses.  

Andre calls himself a wanderer. His experience of travelling in more than 50 countries and living in some of them turned him into an author recently. He talks to us about his book and gives out some tips for growing into your best self as an expat.

Claudia is originally from Potsdam, Germany, where she was the chief editor of German movie website. Today, she is a relocation agent in Paris, the French capital that became her new home in 2014. Claudia talks to us about her love for Paris and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on everyday life, housing, etc.

Things seem to be getting worse for British expats within the European Union. Following the Brexit, many of them are losing jobs and are being denied healthcare, higher education and even bank accounts, according to international media. But here's what the Withdrawal Agreement, which came into force on February 1, 2020, says about all this.

Marina is an adventurous expat from Russia. Mum of two bi-cultural children, she has travelled and lived in many countries before relocating to French Guiana in January 2021, amid the pandemic. She talks to us about her quest for a better life for her family and herself.

Sheila, a young Mauritian, has always been passionate about poetry. A former teacher, she now works in finance in Toronto, Canada. Sheila recently released a new French single “T'es un homme exceptionnel”, and talks to us about being an artist abroad.

A former high school teacher from the US, Kelly recently went back to school to study marketing. Mum of two and married to a Dane, she currently lives in a small town in Denmark. Here's her story.

Shahin and Sarah are a young French couple. Their curiosity and thirst for new cultures led them to Iran, where they are currently studying calligraphy, poetry and the Persian language. Originally from Reunion Island, they talk to us about how and why they made Iran their new home.