Features
Health system
The persistent presence of winter viruses serves as a reminder that health risks are still very much part of our reality. Additionally, COVID-19 remains a concern and is under continuous monitoring by health authorities. How can you safeguard your health as you prepare for expatriation? Here's a guide to the viruses currently under watch and tips for expatriates.
Work
The September 2024 report from the OECD highlights a stronger-than-anticipated economic recovery, evidenced by rising salaries, particularly in the service sector. This development poses the question: Is this an opportune time for moving abroad? Due to persistent labor shortages, key expat destinations increasingly rely on economic immigration, even amid stricter immigration regulations. What does this mean for prospective expats in terms of potential salary gains?
Everyday life
Wildfires are relentlessly sweeping through Southern California. In Los Angeles County, one desolate scene follows another. Expatriates recount their harrowing experiences, still reeling from the shock.
Health system
Language barriers and communication challenges may be small inconveniences in some aspects of expat life, but in high-stakes contexts like health communication, they can pose serious, even life-threatening risks. If you're not fluent in the local language of your expat country, how can you ensure your health concerns are accurately conveyed to the doctor and that you fully understand your prescriptions and discharge instructions?
Everyday life
Retiring abroad is a growing trend, as data from various countries shows. This shift also suggests a rethinking of the boundary between active life and retirement, which today is more fluid than ever before. What can we expect, and which destinations are the top-rated in 2025?
Everyday life
If you follow the news (especially the news on YouTube), you may have heard about several instances of foreigners being deported, arrested, or vehemently criticized for behaving inappropriately abroad. In this context, the discussion about cultural sensitivity takes center stage. And this is what we will be looking into today.
Everyday life
Living abroad offers a distinct and enriching experience, but it often comes with the challenge of maintaining relationships with loved ones, including our closest friends. This includes friends from our hometown as well as those we meet during our travels and previous stints abroad. The question arises: how can we keep these long-distance friendships alive and prevent them from diminishing over time? Is it feasible to sustain genuine friendships when face-to-face interactions are rare? In this article, expats share their insights on navigating these challenges.
Work
In the face of demographic decline and ongoing labor shortages across essential industries, top destinations for expatriates are increasingly welcoming skilled and highly skilled immigrants. Meanwhile, the scope of artificial intelligence is broadening, encroaching on numerous professional sectors. Here's an analysis.
Everyday life
You vividly recall the day you announced your big news: you were moving abroad for an incredible adventure. You can still see the astonishment, the envious glances, and mixed heartfelt and obligatory congratulations. "You're so lucky!" your friends and family often exclaim, almost excessively, making you feel as if you truly possess something special. You're an expatriate. But what do people think when they elevate an expat to such heights? Between dreams, misconceptions, and realities, does being an expat make you cooler?
Everyday life
The holiday season offers more than just the chance to unwrap gifts and enjoy festive treats—it's a crucial time for expatriates to pause and reflect on their journey far from home. Amid the celebrations, this period can be transformed into a meaningful personal development ritual. Let's explore how to make the most of this festive season for growth and reflection.
Everyday life
As 2024 draws to a close, it has been a year filled with new discoveries, challenges, and unique adventures for expatriates globally. Adapting to different cultures, establishing new routines, and experiencing both doubts and joys, each journey of expatriation stands alone. We have captured the voices of those who opted to live abroad.
Everyday life
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is often called "seasonal depression" – and sometimes more lightheartedly – "winter blues". Whichever the name we go with though, SAD can be a real problem. It can make you feel like you are upset for no particular reason, have no energy for anything, and cause a variety of other disruptions in your life. For expats, SAD gets even more complicated – as you are probably already dealing with a rollercoaster of emotions that comes with living abroad. So, how do we deal with it?
Leisure
As snowflakes drift down in the Northern Hemisphere and twinkling lights decorate the streets, the festive season gently arrives. Meanwhile, in Mauritius, flamboyant trees bloom with vivid red flowers, marking the year's end. For expatriates worldwide, this time offers a chance to explore how the end of the year is celebrated beyond traditional Christmas festivities. Join us on a captivating journey through the diverse and enchanting celebrations that illuminate the final months of the year!
Leisure
The holiday season transforms expatriates worldwide into logistical experts as they plan their much-anticipated trips home. For parents, this often feels like an "expert"-level project management task. The challenges are many: an aunt who insists on an early morning welcome, a grandmother who meticulously plans every meal, and children meeting some family members for the first time. Here are some tips to help you turn this high-stakes mission into a truly successful vacation.
Leisure
When the first Christmas decorations appear in the streets, a familiar lump might form in your throat. This mix of nostalgia and excitement, with a dash of apprehension, is common among expatriates. How do you capture the holiday magic when you're thousands of miles from family? The answer is simpler than it seems, and there are plenty of ways to recreate the festive spirit.
Everyday life
Over the past 15 years, social media's expansion has birthed numerous new professions, notably content creators. These creators are a fixture across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Many have professionalized their content creation, becoming influencers for top brands or sharing their expertise. Others engage in content creation as a hobby, driven by passion and inspired by daily experiences.
Leisure
The holiday season is a magical time, evoking childhood memories with the comforting aromas of chocolate and roasted poultry. However, for expatriates, recreating these traditional dishes can be a challenge when ingredients like capon are scarce and chestnuts are unheard of at local markets. Fortunately, there are several clever ways to adapt and still enjoy the festive flavors of home.
Work
According to research by various international mobility management consulting firms, 75% of "trailing spouses" are women. While some secure employment overseas, 35 to 50% either do not resume working or begin professional reconversion. Moving abroad frequently serves as a period for professional contemplation. What motivates these women to pursue a new career path, and how do they navigate this transition?
Other Types
Everyday life
Moving abroad is often associated with adventure, discovery, and new opportunities. While it can be a deeply enriching experience, there is often a less visible reality behind the excitement of starting a new life abroad: exhaustion. In my consultations, expats sometimes describe a fatigue that never seems to lift, unusual irritability, a sense of disconnection, or the feeling that they are no longer quite themselves. What I have also observed is that this distress is rarely confined to one person. In expat families, when one parent begins to struggle, the entire family often has to adapt. Partners may feel isolated or lose their sense of direction, while children can pick up on their parents' stress, worries, or emotional fatigue, even when these feelings are never openly discussed.
New Zealand
Since June 1, foreign workers seeking certain work visas in New Zealand have been subject to new English language requirements. The government says the changes are intended to improve migrant integration and help prevent workplace exploitation.
Sweden
Since June 1, Sweden has tightened its work permit regulations. The new rules introduce higher salary requirements, stricter conditions for seasonal workers, mandatory health insurance in some cases, and increased scrutiny of employers.
Belgium
Belgium's latest reforms, which took effect on June 1, bring greater flexibility to the labor market in an effort to support job creation. At the same time, the government has introduced stricter requirements for non-European students.
United Arab Emirates
Foreign residents in the United Arab Emirates should take note: under UAE regulations, residence visas are generally canceled if the holder remains outside the country for more than 180 consecutive days. In most cases, affected residents must apply for a new visa before returning. However, several categories of expatriates are exempt from this rule and can retain their residency status despite an extended stay abroad.
USA
Another blow for foreigners in the United States. On May 22, a memo from the US immigration services introduced a new rule aimed at limiting legal immigration. Apart from a few exceptions, Green Card applications will now have to be filed from the applicant's country of origin. What is the current situation?
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