Features
Everyday life
#alsjeblieftnederland is a new campaign launched by a group of expatriates in the Netherlands. In just a few days, the hashtag has gone viral within the expat communities. Expats are calling out to the government and the European Union to lift travel restrictions for family members from third countries.
Visas
The United Arab Emirates is looking to become a hub for creativity in the coming years and is letting no stone unturned. Dubai, the most popular Emirate, recently launched a cultural visa which is valid for ten years!
Everyday life
The figures are alarming! Mexico currently has a death toll of over 204,000 and more than 2.2 million COVID-19 cases. Still, the country has never closed its borders since the start of the crisis and keeps on welcoming expats from around the world. What's so special about Mexico amid the global chaos?
Everyday life
This surprising announcement came as a relief for a lot of working women in New Zealand. Thanks to a new law, those who have had a miscarriage will be entitled to paid bereavement leave. This is another way for the country to support and empower women. But what about bereavement and parental leaves elsewhere in the world?
Everyday life
Safety is a key issue to consider if you're contemplating a move abroad, whether as an expat or as a remote worker. Here are some tips from our guest blogger Jerry Nelson to help you choose your next destination.
Everyday life
We're currently in the Holy Week until Easter celebrations this Sunday. This holiday is celebrated in many countries around the world, but with different traditions. The COVID-19 crisis is affecting celebrations for the second year in a row, but this is what Easter looks like in normal times.
Everyday life
For the 4th year in a row, Finland has been named the world's happiest country. This comes as no surprise since the country has excellent systems at all levels, be it health, social, education, governance, etc. But what does happiness mean for expats around the world?
Health system
In many countries, mass vaccination has already started. While many still have negative thoughts, others are left in limbo. Expats who are not eligible for vaccination in their host country might have to go back home. This is what we know up to now.
Everyday life
Living abroad offers enriching experiences of growth, broadened perspective, enhanced cultural understanding. Yet its transition-rich, change-driven, cross-cultural nature can place considerable demands, leaving us stressed, disconnected, our identity in flux.
Work
Findings from a report published last week by the Boston Consulting Group and The Network are quite interesting. Today, less people are looking to move abroad for work compared to 2014. Still, there is hope.
Banks and finance
As expats, we often tend to ignore the fact that the national budget of the country we live in does have an impact on our lives too. In fact, many decisions and new measures can affect our daily life in various ways.
Banks and finance
As an expat in Argentina, it is essential for you to be aware of the exchange rate of the American dollar to Argentine pesos. Here is what Jerry Nelson, our guest blogger, has to say about it.
Work
Last week, Shanghai announced a series of measures to attract foreign professionals to boost its economy following the COVID-19 crisis. With these measures, highly qualified expatriates will be able to stay in China for up to 10 years.
Work
South Africa is on its way to becoming the new hub for remote workers. In fact, the list of countries offering remote work visas is growing, with most countries around the world facing high unemployment rates. What are those visas all about, and what are the pros and cons of having such visas?
Everyday life
To facilitate travel within the European Union, the European Commission is considering the introduction of a Covid passport. But Europeans and expatriates, in particular, have mixed feelings about this proposal. They shared their views with us.
Work
Citlalli has been living and working as a biodiversity scientist in Ecuador since October 2015. After completing her master's and PhD studies in the UK, Citlalli moved to Ecuador to work on a conservation project she had developed during her PhD research at the University of Sussex.
Work
Camilla is from Vienna, Austria, and for the past 2,5 years, she has been living with her husband and three children (six, five, and four months old) near Bilbao in the north of Spain. Camilla started her expatriation journey when she was 18 — first as an undergraduate student in the UK and then as a graduate student and professional in Spain. She met her Spanish husband upon repatriating to Austria, and ever since, she has been following the trail of his international career, which has taken them to Munich, Madrid, Vienna, and now Bilbao.
Work
Barbara is a two-times expat and a forever devotee of travelling and getting out of her comfort zone. The first time she became an expat was in 2006 when she followed the love of her life and now husband to Brazil, São Paulo.
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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