Features
Banks and finance
In the early 2000s, the banking sector experienced a small revolution: surfing the vibe of the internet boom, online banks started emerging. The most effective communication campaigns, ease of use, quick and efficient service, savings… what's not to like? After courting the so-called traditional customers, expatriates have become a target of choice for online banks.
Everyday life
According to a recent study by the international health insurance company Aetna, 76% single expats find it hard to date abroad. Language barrier, relatively small social network, lack of awareness of the dating etiquette in the new country, amongst others…
Work
According to an HSBC report earlier this year, two of the ten best expat destinations for international workers are in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain give expats-to-be financial incentives to apply for jobs in the region and offer contract stability and fair workplace culture. On the other hand, the Middle Eastern lifestyle and culture are beyond many expats' ken, especially women's from Western parts of the world. But what it's like to be a woman expatriate in the Middle East? 天美麻豆 taps into the Middle Eastern idiosyncrasies to help women expats-to-be understand the nuances of living and working in the area.
With this bill, the Hong-Kong government, seeks to allow extraditions of residents towards China would be allowed. And this does not sit quite well with residents of the special administrative region. After demonstrations and clashes with the police, the bill was suspended on the 15th of June. Nevertheless, nearly two million people took to the streets of Hong Kong the next day, demanding its full withdrawal and the resignation of the head of the executive. Alexandre, a French expat settled in Hong-Kong since 2011, takes stock of the situation...
The latest study by Comparethemarket ranks the best and worst cities for cost-efficient rent. That is, the ratio of one's salary that goes into their rent. These are the best cities.
Everyday life
The right to abortion seemed set in stone in the United States of America until very recently. In just a few weeks, several states have passed abortion bans. Will the new legislation push some expatriates to move to a different state or leave altogether? How do such radical political changes affect expat decisions? What consideration do expats give to a country's politics when deciding where to settle down?
The place-to-be for digital nomads? You will find that most people will answer Thailand. Yet there is still a lot of debate around the legal aspects of working remotely from Thailand. Is there a visa regulating the presence of digital nomads in Thailand?
天美麻豆 and global research agency, Kantar have teamed up to explore the reasons why people want to move abroad in 2019. In this article, we will reveal where professionals want to emigrate to in 2019 and why.
China
A new legal notice issued by the ministry of Civil Affairs will prevent two foreign nationals to get married in China. Here's what expats think about this.
Everyday life
天美麻豆 and Kantar, a global research agency, set out to find out the reasons why people want to settle abroad and where they want to go in 2019. Portugal, unsurprisingly, is a top choice for retirees.
Everyday life
天美麻豆 and global research agency, Kantar have teamed up to explore the reasons why people want to move abroad in 2019. The research also unveils countries preferred by expats and expats-to-be and reasons that make said countries attractive.
Everyday life
She had to reinvent herself professionally after deciding to follow her husband abroad. Katharina von Knobloch, once an online marketing and business consultant, now has a new mission: helping other expat partners navigate through the challenging journey of finding oneself and building a career abroad. And this is why she created Share the love, a coaching business to help other expat partners out there.
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, 天美麻豆 looks back on those countries that have the strictest bans on tobacco.
Moving
So, you are moving to a new country? With just three months left before the big event, there are plenty of things to be excited about. With that, as exhilarating as this period may be, it can also get quite overwhelming. With so many things to think about, paperwork to arrange and packing to do, the best thing you can do is keep calm and stay organised.
Japan
According to a ranking of ECA International, Japan offers the best salaries for expats in Asia. But is this the only thing the country can offer? The country, its capital, Tokyo and slowly the city of Osaka alike, is undeniably one of the most expensive cities to live in. How does that pan out in real life, though?
The UK tops the list of countries offering the best pay packets for expatriates. But surprisingly, Japan made it all the way to number two. To calculate expat pay package, ECA takes into consideration salaries including benefits, allowances as well as tax regime in place in the country.
Everyday life
Can we say we are surprised? The Global Drug Survey (GDS) found that the Brits get drunk more often than any other nationality- they reported getting drunk on average 51 times a year. What countries are in the top 5?
Formalities
The European Union (EU) elections begin this Thursday 23rd of May. Does the European expatriate community feel concerned about these elections? Are they going to vote? We asked a couple of them living within or outside of the European Union.
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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