Features
It's been almost two years since thousands and thousands of expats in Saudi Arabia started making their exit due to the Kingdom's newest Saudi Nationalisation Scheme (also known as Nitaqat). According to the saudization policy implemented by the Ministry of Labour & Social Development, companies must hire Saudi nationals and expats on a quota basis, which favours the former. Almost two million expats have left Saudi Arabia since 2017 within the scope of a 2020 National Transformation Program, with no signs of an end to the mass exodus.
Taiwan
More and more qualified professionals are betting on Taiwan as an expat destination.
The country seems to be coming out of the shadows making a notable entry into the top 20 countries that are attracting more and more qualified professionals. The study published last month, and conducted by the Institute for Management and Development (based in Switzerland), looks at the capacity of states to grow, to become more attractive, and to attract new foreign talent. How can we explain spurt of attractiveness of Taiwan to foreign professionals?
Health system
On 25 November, the Kingdom of Kuwait added diabetes, a non-contagious health problem, to its existing list of contagious diseases that prevents expats from living in the country. This, however, is not an unusual move. A lot of countries deny entry to expats having specific medical conditions...
France
They said they would so they did. December 5th, marked the beginning of a new general strike movement in France. Causing mayhem is the pension reform announced for the end of year. The government is following the case closely. A year after the beginning of the yellow vest movement, is it regaining momentum?
Germany
The "Skilled Worker Immigration Act", introduced earlier this year by the German Federal Government, will be coming into effect as from March 1, 2020. The aim would be to cut down labour immigration to Germany regarding third-country nationals. In short, not everyone will be able to move to Germany for work or vocational training. Profiles will be screen individually to meet the country's needs.
Everyday life
Food has always been one of the most important and most common means of exchange between people. It is a never-ending trend as it borders between necessity and pleasure. Food represents comfort and a moment of happiness, as some even say that “love comes through the stomach”. Our fond memories of tastes and smell enable us to travel through time and space and to feel what we felt in one moment of bliss.
Perhaps second only to country of choice, one of the most important decisions we make as expats is whether to rent or buy a property. For temporary employment overseas, this is rarely a consideration, but for those relocating permanently, whether for retirement, lifestyle-change or some other reason, deciding whether to rent or buy is a major decision.
Everyday life
Denmark has just launched a six-month programme to help expatriates integrate. Indeed, leaving everything behind to settle in an entirely new country is never an easy thing to do. Just like Denmark, some countries seek to make things a little easier on expats by providing them with integration courses. Here are the countries that do and the different forms these programs take.
If you're planning to move abroad, driving conditions in your destination is not likely to be a decisive factor (or it might be, who knows?). Either way, it is always interesting to know what to expect. Here are the best and worst cities for drivers according to the Driving Cities Index 2019.
France
Lyon is France's oldest and second largest city, a leading silk producer in Europe and was also known for its printing presses and mercantilism. To this day, this French city is still a financial and business hub as recognized by Arthur Loyd Law Firm when it ranked it top most attractive city in France for the third year in a row. For expats searching for a place to settle, Lyon is an excellent option to work and reside.
Canada
Recent developments suggest that Canada has not only already established itself as another Silicon Valley but is actually also promoted and acknowledged by major technical giants as a good alternative to the existing Silicon Valley in the USA.
Everyday life
Turn on a television, open a newspaper, click on social media and it feels as though everyone is talking about terrorism. As the Institute for Economics & Peace releases its Global Terrorism Index 2019, we take stock of the situation and we ask the question: “Should the prospect of terrorism deter anyone from settling abroad?”
Everyday life
Moving to a new place can be stressful. Juggling between a new job, the feelings of homesickness, a -sometimes difficult- integration to a new environment. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your mental health.
Are you thinking of spending your golden years outside your home country, but all the glossy brochures about retiring abroad are demonstrating unrealistic lifestyles for someone with your budget? We believe that finding your retirement heaven shouldn't be a privilege for the rich only. Many countries offer a good quality of life at a reasonable cost, and even if you don't have a ton of savings, you can still enjoy a happy retirement. Let's find them out (in alphabetical order)!
Tax
Tax incentives are an underestimated criterium in the relocation plans of expatriates. It is not necessarily ignored by expats themselves – rather, most of the agencies, companies, institutions, and media choose to ignore tax incentives in the particular country and focus more on marketing criteria such as quality of life, safety, living cost, and specific job opportunities.
Work
Some expat destinations score more than others when it comes to career opportunities, salaries, and perks. In this article we will discuss the latest expat pay packages trends as presented by consultancy ECA, an expert in global mobility data and solutions, and what you should be looking for when reviewing your contract and making the decision to accept or not a job offer abroad. So, before you jump into the first hefty salary that comes your way, bear in mind the wisdom behind the saying that every rose has its thorn.
Moving
Do you want to be an expat? Are you still on the fence about moving to a new country and away from family? Moving abroad can be intimidating because it would mean uprooting the life you have at home and heading off to somewhere completely unknown. It can make anyone anxious but here's the good news: The feeling goes away and once you have settled down the pros outweigh the cons. Here are some reasons why you should take the leap.
Health system
Birth control: definitely not the first thing you would think of when moving abroad. However, regulations around contraception are different in different regions of the world so it is important to know what to expect to be able to take the necessary precautions...
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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