Expat news
Work
The Health Service Executive (HSE) of Ireland, the country's public healthcare system, has announced that it will now offer relocation packages worth over €4,000 to foreign health professionals who want to move to the country. This is the latest in a series of measures to solve the labor shortage in Irish public healthcare.
Work
China has been losing foreign investment and expat talent since 2020 when the country imposed strict lockdowns and border closures which are still ongoing in 2022. Meanwhile, in the last two years, other Asian destinations have proved themselves to offer excellent conditions for expats: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, the Indian city of Bangalore and, to a lesser extent, Singapore.
Visas
In an attempt to boost immigration numbers, the Canadian government has announced a new series of measures to encourage temporary foreign workers and international students to convert their residence status to permanent. On September 20, the Immigration Minister unveiled these measures in a “five-pillar plan.”
Tax
The sunny autonomous community of southern Spain, Andalusia, has scrapped the wealth tax that used to be levied on assets. It wants to attract expats and boost the economy with its tax attractiveness. Other autonomous communities, Galicia and Murcia, are following suit, while the central government plans on adopting measures that will cancel out the advantages of Andalusia's fiscal reform.
Work
Like many countries, Ireland has been suffering from a labor shortage since the pandemic. This situation is aggravated by a rapidly aging population and a brain drain of the young Irish. In response, the government has implemented new measures to attract global talent. Why does brain gain co-exist with brain drain in Ireland, and what are the state's new measures?
Work
Here's some great news for all prospective immigrants to Spain. On August 16, the country finally passed new laws concerning immigration. Spain is currently facing a labor shortage. Some industries are particularly affected. By inviting foreign workers, the country wants to revitalize its economy. Below is an explanation of the main features of these legal amendments.
Everyday life
In March, the German government announced that it would be disbursing a one-off relief payment of 300 euros to help households face the rising cost of energy. This relief payment was meant to be debited in September and originally concerned everyone. But since then, things have changed. Not all people residing in Germany will be eligible for the relief payment. So who is currently eligible and under what conditions? Are expats concerned?
Visas
To solve the country's labor shortage and visa backlog, the Canadian government has recently introduced new reforms in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department to speed up immigration, residency and citizenship processes. The reforms cover exemption from medical exams as well as the digitalization of visa/permit applications, interviews and status trackers.
Visas
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower has announced a new 5-year Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) for top talent who earn at least 30,000 Singaporean dollars (21,400 USD) a month or have exceptional achievements in business, the arts, sports, academia, science and tech. This visa aims to attract the cream of the crop of expats after the economic impact of the pandemic. It is needed to solve the country's labor shortage, drive economic growth and bring down inflation.
Visas
On 3 September, Australia increased its permanent migration cap for the first time in 10 years. This financial year (June 2022-June 2023), the country will welcome 195,000 instead of 160,000 new permanent residents. This measure aims to solve the acute labor and skills shortage that Australia has been facing since it closed its borders during the pandemic.
Work
Estonia, Croatia, Germany, Costa Rica, Cap Verde, Brazil, Ecuador, Cyprus, Mexico, Portugal, United Arab Emirates, etc. The list of countries issuing digital nomad visas keeps growing. While these new workers kept a low profile some years ago, they are now revolutionizing the labor market. Covid has propelled them, and thousands of workers are now moving abroad to combine a comfortable lifestyle with their professional careers. But who benefits from this new way of working? Locals are clenching their teeth as they face what they call “an invasion.”
Visas
On 22 August, the British Home Office announced a new scale-up visa to attract foreign workers with sought-after skills. This visa, which is different from the existing Skilled Worker Visa, allows approved “scale-up businesses” to recruit professionals from anywhere around the world. These professionals will get a 6-month job offer. At the end of this period, they can switch to another job without any sponsorship.
Schools & studies
International students are officially allowed back into China after more than 2 years of autarky. Is this a tangible sign of a return to normality? Be careful, though. For even if the official announcement was made on August 24, borders haven't reopened for everyone.
Everyday life
Rising inflation is very likely to be a pain to households and families in Europe.” On Friday, August 26, the Chair of the Federal Reserve System (FED) of the United States, Jerome Powell, warned of a difficult future for millions of Americans – difficulties that are also threatening Europe. For now, a full-blown recession has been avoided. But ominous signs keep cropping up. Winter will be cold, and we're not only talking about the temperature. Moreover, the deterioration of European economies is raising fears of a slide into recession. This is raising significant concerns among expats and prospective expats.
Visas
New Zealand has recently increased the number of working holiday visas for the year 2022/2023 as a temporary measure to deal with its skills and labor shortage. Since Covid, some sectors like tourism and construction have struggled to recover their workforce. An additional 12,000 working holiday visas will allow foreigners to fill the labor gap in these sectors, at least in the short term. The terms of the Accredited Employer Work Visa have also been relaxed to attract foreign labor.
Visas
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is continuing its extensive immigration reform. After the introduction of new categories for the Golden Visa, the relaxation of residency rules for expats, the extension of the grace period after a visa's expiration date, and the creation of unemployment benefits for locals and expats, the UAE has just announced new immigration reforms applying to tourists and expats. But not any of them. The UAE is targeting international talent and wealthy foreigners. What are the new visas offered and their benefits?
Tax
Its borders have reopened, but tourism is struggling to come back to life. Two years into the pandemic, Cyprus is again facing a summer with very few holidaymakers. A bad sign for the economy, which is battling against inflation and the repercussions of Covid. The government believes it has found a solution: attract more expats, especially well-off ones. Cyprus is luring foreigners with new tax breaks. What's changing for expats? Why is Cyprus counting on them?
Cost of living
Since the 1970s, the private sector of Gulf countries has been relying on expat labor. However, as Arab Times and the Jerusalem Post report, expats are now leaving massively because of the pandemic's impact on both the oil and non-oil sectors, the lack of subsidies for non-citizens, and job nationalization. The most affected are middle-class expats, who rarely receive a support package from their employers.
Other Types
Everyday life
Are retirees really the "wealthy elite" they're often portrayed as? In reality, retirement incomes vary widely, and so do living standards. For expat retirees, the picture is even more complex. Beyond everyday expenses, they must also navigate inflation, hidden costs, rising healthcare bills, and policy changes that can all have a significant impact on their budget.
Accommodation
Buying your own property is a major milestone, and for many expats, an exciting new chapter. But purchasing a home abroad involves more than finding the right property. Your relationship status can have a significant impact on your rights as a buyer and the legal protections available to you. Whether you're married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, are you equally protected when buying property overseas?
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JJ Associates
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.
Work
Imagine that after months of frustrating job search, you finally get an offer that can change your life. Not only is it the perfect match for your skills and experience, but it is also coming from a different country. The pay is great, and relocation expenses are covered. You are excited, you are making arrangements to leave. And, most likely, you are not at all ready for one of the following scenarios.
Work
Parenting is one of the most (if not THE most) life-changing experiences one can go through. But as much as this responsibility is shared, it is often the mothers who experience this change tenfold. And if you experience motherhood whilst working abroad, this transformation can feel even more profound. And for many expat women, motherhood in a foreign country marks a professional turning point.
Everyday life
Europe is sweltering under record-breaking heatwaves, Canada is battling increasingly frequent wildfires, and parts of Asia are lurching from extreme heat to devastating floods. Once considered exceptional, extreme weather events are becoming a defining feature of daily life across the globe.
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