Veedushi Bissessur

Relocating to Peru is a big move for many expats, and undoubtedly requires advance planning. One of the big concerns will be finding accommodation, once you know where in Peru you're planning to relocate to. In most cities and major towns, the local rental market is quite developed, providing many housing options for foreigners, from small studio apartments, to large family homes, with both furnished and unfurnished options available. Here are some useful tips to help with finding accommodation in Peru.

Once you have settled in Peru, particularly if you want to stay in the country long-term, you may consider investing in the property market whether buying your own home or looking for an investment to rent. In general, foreign nationals are allowed to buy property in Peru.

Relocating to Lima is a popular choice amongst expatriates moving to Peru. As the Peruvian capital, Lima is home to a population of approximately 8 million people.

Located in the north of Peru, Trujillo is the capital city of the Peruvian district of La Libertad and the country's third biggest city. It is known to be a very dynamic and modern city, and very productive with agriculture, construction, and tourism fueling the economy and offering many employment opportunities for locals and expats alike.

Located in the South of Peru, Arequipa is Peru's second largest city, a beautiful colonial city lovingly nicknamed the ‘white city' for its use of white volcanic ‘sillar' stone.

Peru is a real haven for foreign investment, which greatly contributes to the economy. Many foreigners have successfully managed to set up a business in Peru thanks to several incentives and simplified procedures. Because of this, Peru has become Latin America's most business-friendly destination.

Lima, as the capital of Peru, is the country's industrial and financial centre and also a major Latin American economic hub. Lima generates two-thirds of Peru's industrial output and is home to most of the tertiary sector. Many national and international companies have headquarters or offices in Lima, making it a great source of potential jobs for expatriate considering living and working in the city.

Located in the north of Peru, Trujillo is the third biggest city in the country. The capital city of La Libertad, Trujillo, once a colonial fishing town, is now one of the country's main economic centres. The city is powered by agriculture, construction, and tourism, providing many professional opportunities for expats considering relocating to Trujillo.

Arequipa, Peru's ‘white city' named for its beautiful white colonial architecture, is the second most industrialised and commercialised city in the country. The capital city of the region bearing the same name, Arequipa can be the ideal destination for foreign nationals in search of new career prospects in a Latin American city.

Peru's diversified and growing economy means there are many opportunities for foreign students and young graduates looking to acquire professional experiences through internship programmes.

Before travelling to Peru, it is best to research travel formalities and conditions. For citizens of most countries, you don't need a visa for short visits as a tourist and will be granted entry for up to 183 days. However, some other countries do require a visa. It is recommended to check with the Peruvian diplomatic representation in your country to find out whether you need a visa. If you intend to stay longer or permanently relocate to Peru, you can apply for a temporary visa or a resident visa. Read on for more information.

Upon moving to Paris, whether it is after an expatriation or a business mission, one of your main objectives will probably be looking for a place to call home. The process of finding accommodation in Paris can take a lot of time. In addition, without any proof of residence, you may encounter difficulties in progressing with other administrative procedures, such as enrolling children in school.

This article paints a brief picture of Ecuador, a small but complex and diverse Andean country. Although a small country in size, Ecuador boasts a great deal of variety: geographically, politically, culturally, politically, and economically.

Tomsk is a perfect choice for students with a tight budget and who long for a 100% Siberian experience! The city appears in the world's top 10 universities for affordability in the QS best student cities ranking and is ranked 91st in the QS best student cities overall ranking.

The third largest city in Russia and economic heart of Siberia, Novosibirsk is a rapidly developing city full of employment opportunities for young graduates. Students often have a tight budget and Novosibirsk can be the perfect compromise between life in a buzzing city and one in an expensive city, whilst still studying at a prestigious university.

Renamed successively Petrograd, Leningrad, and finally, Saint Petersburg, the city of Peter the Great was Russia's capital city for over 200 years and remains its cultural heart. Often nicknamed the “Northern Venice”, Saint Petersburg's unique cultural and architectural heritage make it one of the top destinations in the world. 

There are 3 types of visas for foreigners who wish to live in Colombia. If you are planning to stay in Colombia for less than six months for tourist purposes, you may need to apply for a tourist visa. 

Transportation in the cities around Taiwan is convenient. Once outside the cities, it can get tricky with infrequent buses and taxis. For expats living in smaller cities or suburbs, it is recommended to get a driver's license and a scooter or car.

Visitors from most North American and European countries don't need a visa to visit Taiwan, and will be granted a 90-day visa-free stay upon arrival.

While more and more Americans are tempted to move abroad, the USA still keeps attracting expatriates from all around, including professionals and trailing spouses, for various reasons. Our top five bloggers in the USA share their experience and talk about what the life of an expat looks like in the USA and what they like the most about their new city.

Learning a new language is often part of the challenge for expats seeking to move overseas. If you're feeling apprehensive about how to adapt, engage in conversations comfortably, and deal with all the paperwork, why not consider moving to a country where English is widely spoken? Expat.com gives you an insight into the best destinations for English-speaking expats.

Being a trailing spouse doesn't necessarily mean sitting at home, feeling bored. That's precisely what Paula, an Aussie expat, talks to Expat.com about. She has lived in Hong Kong for more than a decade, and now lives in Kuala Lumpur where she's enjoying a great life between her daily routine and weekend getaways.

As more and more women travel alone and move abroad for a solo expat life, there are many cultural aspects to navigate, including how women are treated elsewhere and what is generally acceptable and what is not. Expat.com takes some time to explore the Time's Up movement and how it impacts everyone around the globe.

Starting a new life abroad usually involves discovering new cultures, traditions, and way of life. For those who are keen to learn more about Western and Eastern cultural differences, here are our top five bloggers sharing their views about culture and their everyday life overseas.

Sarah is originally from Maine but spent five years in New York City, where she met her Colombian husband. They decided to move together to Bogotá pending his green card approval. Fascinated by the Colombian culture, especially the music and dance as well as the hiking opportunities, Sarah talks to Expat.com about her everyday life enjoying a pleasant family-oriented lifestyle and unique cuisine.

The world is getting ready for the New Year's Eve celebrations, and your social media newsfeeds are filled up with family reunions — but you are abroad, and you are alone. Don't let this ruin your mood; there are plenty of things you can do these days to celebrate with the rest of the world, as you deserve. Expat.com gives you five ideas for making this holiday the best of your life!

With an area of 8,514,876 km2, Brazil is the largest South American country and the fifth-largest in the world. Bordered by the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, it stretches deep into South America and encompasses the entire Amazon Basin, and boasts beaches, wetlands, and mountainous regions as well. Brazil shares a border with every other South American country except Chile and Ecuador. The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, while Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo are the most popular destinations for those visiting Brazil.

Finland is a good place to raise kids. With so much of its GPD going towards daycare and education, you know you'll have all the tools and resources you need -- as long as you have a municipality of residence, of course. Apart from that, the country also boasts an impressive network of international schools and private options for daycare, as well as processes that will make things as smooth as possible for you, if you're looking to adopt.

Finland is a country of contrasts. Its vast wilderness and majestic landscapes will make you want to hop on a pair of skis or a kayak and start exploring, though its harsh weather will make you want to stay at home. Thankfully, there are many leisure options in the city as well, from tasting local produce and attending some of the numerous festivals and performances, to just relaxing in a sauna.

Finland takes technology and connectivity issues very seriously. This is a country where broadband access is guaranteed, by law, to everyone, even in the most secluded areas. There are twice as many data subscribers as there are people in Finland, and “landlines” are a relic of the past no one uses anymore. Welcome to the future. After a while, you won't be able to fathom how you were able to live any other way.

International relocation is not easy. It requires plenty of research and thorough planning on your behalf -- and still, you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Nonetheless, Finland makes it as easy as possible for you to start your new life, With its relatively relaxed customs procedures, its many relocation services that can help you out in your first steps and its commitment to supporting diversity and equality, this country will become your new home with less hassle than you'd originally thought.

Driving in Finland is not without its challenges. Not so much because of the driving culture, which is mostly laid-back and friendly, or because of the roads, which are, for the most part, in perfect condition. The main problem is the weather and the lack of light -- which combined with the long distances of this sparsely populated country take some serious driving skills to navigate safely. The fact that people in Finland start doing so from a younger age (the age limit is 15 years old for mopeds and tractors) may seem disconcerting at first, but the thorough driving lessons and strict adherence to traffic regulations make sure that no unnecessary risks are being taken.

Winters in Finland can be harsh and can make even the notion of travelling from point A to point B seem daunting. But you don't have to worry spending most of the year stuck at home, as Finnish public transportation works well and can take you almost everywhere in this large country, on time. Of course, you can also opt to drive -- but you'll need to make sure to adhere to the country's sometimes strict traffic regulations.

Taxation in Finland, as in all Nordic countries, can be steep (up to 42% of your income in total, if you add social security and insurance contributions). However, it's also fair and the way it's structured actually gives expats the ability to not pay taxes right away. Add that to the fact that you don't really have to do anything manually, since the taxes are deducted directly from your salary each month, and you probably won't be complaining at the end of each month.

If you're an international student in Finland, chances are you'll be pleased with the education available. Finland's higher education system (touted as 'the best in the world' in 2016) offers great international connections, academic freedom and prestigious universities, 5 of which have been ranked among the world's best. Add that to the fact that you can choose between over 400 full-degree programmes that are available in English, and you can easily understand why Finland is such an attractive destination for students.

In Finland, it is actually more common to purchase a property instead of renting it. Finding good accommodation at a good price can be hard, especially in large cities like Helsinki. For the most part, the type of accommodation available for rent is apartments (houses for rent are very rare), usually unfurnished and rather on the small side. There is the more affordable option to get housing subsidised by the state, but this is not available to expats very often and, in any case, requires you to be on a long waiting list.

Regardless of your nationality, you may be able to work in Finland without a residence permit in some cases. For instance, if you've received an invitation to move to Finland, as part of a contract to work as a teacher, interpreter or a sports referee, if you're here to pick berries, fruit or vegetables, or if you are in the country as an asylum seeker with valid travel documents. In all these cases though, you may not exceed the three-month time frame. You must, however, have a valid visa for Finland, if you're not a Nordic citizen or a citizen of an EU member state.

Russia's capital city has always conjured up some kind of mysterious fascination amongst foreigners. Despite all the stereotypes which have persisted over time, Moscow is a very safe and nice place to live and there is much more to do in winter than just hibernate in your flat!

A peninsula situated in Northern Europe, between Scandinavia and Russia, Finland acts as the symbolic border between Northwestern and Northeastern Europe -- and in its psyche, it carries a bit of both. The country of the Aurora Borealis and the Midnight Sun is also the most religious country in all Scandinavia, the first to introduce a basic universal income for the unemployed and the second best in the world for gender equality (as of 2017). After some brief financial difficulties from 2009 onwards, Finland’s economy is once again on the rise making this a very happy country to live in, despite the long winters and harsh temperatures.

Estonia has an extensive road system with a big emphasis on security. This is apparent in the strict regulations that are in place when it comes to driving under the influence, in the rules that make driving in cities as stress-free as possible, and the security precautions during wintertime (you are obliged by law to have your snow tires on from 1 October to 1 March). It’s also reflected in the fact that driver’s licences need to be renewed every ten years, and although the legal driving age is 18 years old, you need to be older to rent a car (sometimes you may need to pay a “young driver’s fee”). To maintain this system, Estonia encourages expats to exchange their non-EU driving licences for Estonian ones and, in some cases, retake the driving test.

In a country that is so digital, it’s citizens are actually very big on unplugging and spending stress-free time in nature — and Estonia’s untouched, almost mystical nature, can actually provide you with countless ways to do just that. As for the city life, there are way too many festivals and events taking place in cities such as Tallinn or Tartu. Your only challenge might be to make time in your calendar for all of them.

Remember that recurring joke in American movies and sitcoms, how parents felt they had to enrol their children in a good school from the moment the child was born to be able to get in? Well, it’s not so much of a joke in Estonia. With the country’s statewide services when it comes to parental benefits and childcare processes being top notch, and taking into account the fact that Estonia is still a small country, municipal kindergartens have such long waiting lists that parents put their children’s names in as soon as they’re born. But Estonia has thought of many ways to make your life as a parent easier.

Estonia is undeniably one of the most well-connected countries in the world; pretty much everywhere enjoys fast internet speeds and the number of cell phones per person is one of the highest in the world. But at the end of the day, Estonia is still a small country -- which means that the market is small as well (Estonia has three major cell phone providers and three major TV/Internet providers) and there’s a big competition on reasonably priced services. Here’s what you need to know in order to make the most of it.

Although these are great ways of addressing the big questions of moving to Estonia, you may still need some help with the more practical aspects of relocating and moving your stuff.

Estonia is a small, compact country, which makes travelling and transportation very easy. It may not have many big, dual carriageway motorways for instance, but its roads are always safe and cleared from the snow in winter time when the weather conditions can be extreme. The public transport is reliable and the traffic, thanks to clever apps and tools for finding and paying for parking space and avoiding queues at border checkpoints, never gets out of hand.

Paying taxes is, by definition, never an enjoyable process but Estonia manages almost to make it so. Welcome to the country where it takes three minutes to file your taxes online. The tax rate is 20%, standard for everyone, and deducted monthly from your salary. Also, there’s no such thing as inheritance or estate taxes in Estonia. Ready to re-examine everything you thought you knew about taxes?

With its wholly digitalised processes and lean infrastructure, Estonia is one of the best countries to expatriate to for work. But what happens when it comes to picking a place for your studies? Well, the prevailing horizontal work culture applies to studying as well, with small group sizes in classrooms ensuring you’ll have all the opportunities you need to absorb information and participate. Over 100 high-quality degree programmes in English, an affordable cost of living, and the possibility to stay in the country for six months after graduation, make Estonia a hotspot for international students.

Given the number of people that have been relocating to Estonia lately and the fact that key cities like Tallinn are rather small, it is understandable that you may need to move fast and put up a fight to find yourself a good apartment. You won’t be alone in this fight, and actually, you shouldn’t waste time trying to rent an apartment directly from the owner -- there are several real estate websites to help you with your search, and many real estate agency services that can do the work for you. Just be aware that the fee for the latter usually equals one month’s rent, and will come out of your pocket.

Estonia knows how to appreciate talent, and will make it as easy as possible for you to find a job. The country’s horizontal work culture is attractive to many expats, as it provides opportunities to climb the corporate ladder faster than in other countries. Work teams are smaller and more compact giving young professionals opportunities to lead. Add that to the fact that everything is digitised, which makes everyday work (and life) processes significantly smoother, and you will understand why so many expats are quickly relocating to this Baltic country.

A Baltic state in Northern Europe bordering Latvia and Russia, Estonia may not be on the top of a tourist's travel list. But it's a different story when it comes to digital nomads. Estonia is the first country in the world offering e-Residency to the travelling freelance community. The country has turned its hospitality towards digital nomads into a practical legal and business framework allowing digital nomads to set up and run their companies and banking digitally.