Features
Work
Agriculture is a field in need of short-term workers in various countries. Multiple farming jobs, notably fruit picking, don't require previous experience. These jobs are a great choice for young people looking to make some money while discovering the world or even older adults who want to take a sabbatical year. Canada, New Zealand and Australia are all in great need of permanent and temporary agricultural workers.
Everyday life
Any expat will tell you that one of the most important stages of settling abroad is usually the process of learning and understanding a new language. The truth is that full integration in one's host country requires that one manages to communicate verbally in the country's national language. However, some of these languages may be more challenging than others, which means that it may take some time and extra effort being to able to communicate in the language fluently. Let's find out about some of the languages that are the most difficult for expats to learn.
Work
The pandemic has accentuated labor shortages in many countries. In addition to trying to attract new immigrants, countries are also encouraging their citizens who are abroad to return home. Some of them, which have historically suffered from a brain drain, have been doing that since before the pandemic. They created favorable policies, such as tax breaks and entrepreneurship loans, to encourage returnees to use their skills and experience gained abroad in their home country.
Work
The MOOC-provider Coursera recently published its Job Skills of 2023 report. The report says that digital skills, especially in data science, together with soft skills in management and storytelling, are the best career skills to have in 2023. This should not be surprising in a marketplace where hybrid work has become the norm.
New Zealand
After 5 years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern resigned on January 19. She has since been replaced by her Labour Party colleague Chris Hipkins. While Ardern has cited burnout as the main reason for her resignation, it does come in the wake of her plummeting popularity in New Zealand. Her immigration policy, focused on making the system more selective, changed between 2017-2020 and 2020-2022.
Schools & studies
The new year has brought back moving abroad plans. Many students are having their revenge on the pandemic. Borders are now wide open, and the troubles caused by COVID don't seem to be affecting plans to study abroad anymore. So, what are the best places to study in 2023? How to prepare for your trip in the current international context? Here are some tips.
USA
In March 2022, the US government passed an act that allows standalone investors to remain legally in the US while their investment visa is still being processed. This de facto makes the EB-5 Investor Visa the fastest route to obtaining permanent residency in the US. It takes much less time than common routes like the H1-B and L-1 work visas.
Work
Will 2023 be the year of digital nomads and expatriates? In any case, the craze for working abroad is not waning. Since the health crisis, more and more people are choosing to move to another country to build a career, gain new experience, discover life in another country, fulfill a dream, take up a challenge, or acquire new skills. In fact, numerous reasons and benefits make people dream of moving abroad. So, what are the countries to consider for building your career abroad? What should you consider when planning your move? Here are some practical tips.
Work
There are many reasons for starting a business abroad. They can be related to a personal challenge, a professional opportunity, a new career, new ambitions, or a new life project overseas. Paradoxically, the health crisis has motivated many new entrepreneurs to start their own businesses abroad. Professional achievement is now just as important as a personal accomplishment. People want to fulfill themselves through their work and no longer be controlled by it. This urge for freedom is coming back for most entrepreneurs. But is the current situation conducive to launching a business abroad? What should be considered before starting a business abroad in 2023? Which countries are the best for entrepreneurship?
Everyday life
Behind every plan to retire abroad lies a personal motivation, whether it's to fulfill a dream, meet a personal challenge, be closer to loved ones, explore the unknown, or find a new way of living. And paradoxically, the current context seems to be conducive to achieving these late-stage dreams. As if in defiance of the economic downturn, more and more retirees are choosing to retire abroad. How can such a project be envisaged in times of global crisis? What are the benefits of retiring abroad?
Work
As crises keep popping up one after the other, expats seem to be rethinking their relationship with work. While the famous work-life balance concept is becoming increasingly important in the life of expatriates, the inherent value of work is being reconsidered. As a result, it seems that a new era is looming in the global labor market.
Work
All eyes are on the African continent. According to the World Bank, most of its inhabitants will be aged under 25 by 2050. It's a young and ambitious population that favors more and more investments in its local environment. Besides, African countries are also increasingly seen as true partners abroad, and foreign entrepreneurs who choose Africa are ready to cooperate with locals to contribute to the region's dynamism. In fact, this is one of the conditions for obtaining a financial grant. Here is an overview of the main types of assistance available to foreign entrepreneurs in Africa.
Everyday life
As 2023 rolls out, moving abroad plans are slowly resurfacing. With the world going through turbulent times since 2020, it looks like everything is working against travel ideas. But at the same time, other indicators suggest that the season of great overseas adventures is indeed picking up again. So, what's the point of moving abroad in 2023? Here are some thoughts and practical advice.
Everyday life
Moving abroad is an exciting decision to take, and it brings a lot of change to expats life: a new city, perhaps a different language and certainly another culture to discover. However, at what point are expatriates prepared to change their drinking habits and dive into another world? It can sound silly, but expats who are used to having their cocktails by the beach and suddenly find themselves with a glass of refined wine during a heavy winter can see the changing of habits as very challenging.
Everyday life
Retiring abroad is a dream for many. In 2022, Thailand, Mauritius, Spain, Morocco, and Portugal were some of the favorite destinations for overseas retirement. But living in another country entails some practical issues for which retirees are not always well prepared. What should you do if the situation changes? How can the home country help? What if the host country changes its laws regarding foreign retirees? Can you appeal to your home country?
Work
So you have decided to work abroad this year! But before starting your new expatriate life, it's essential to get the right information. Where should you start from? How are you going to seamlessly join professional circles? Here are some tips for finding a job abroad in 2023.
Everyday life
During the early days of the COVID pandemic, some were betting on the end of expatriation. Governments were taking steps to promote the employment of locals, as in Singapore, where companies were encouraged to favor nationals. Did that mean that foreigners were no longer welcome? Did that point to a place where local policies would dictate the future of national economies? Obviously not! Actually, moving abroad plans only changed their form. Digital nomadism, entrepreneurship, professional opportunities, and studying abroad are as many facets of post-COVID moving abroad plans. So, why should you move abroad in 2023, and how?
Leisure
There are many expat blogs on the Internet, but many have, in some ways, run out of steam over time. The reasons for this are numerous, including the lack of interest and inspiration, fewer visits, too much competition, or a return to the country of origin. Let's try to find an explanation as to why expat blogs have been on the decline lately.
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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