Features
Australia
Thirty-six professions, including professional footballers and tennis coaches, were added to the Medium and Long-Term Skill Shortage List. 18 have been added to Regional Occupation List and 27 have been removed from the Short Term Skill Shortage List.
Health system
World famous for its outstanding cuisine, Spain is not just about paella, gazpacho or tapas. Did you know that today Spain is the world's healthiest country according to the 2019 edition of the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index? While the local cuisine contributes – without any doubt – to the nation's health, here are five good reasons why moving to Spain can be the best decision you have ever taken in your whole life. According to the Spanish Ministry of Interior, over 28,000 new arrivals are recorded every year.
Work
It was meant to come to an end this year, but the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has been extended to 2021. The Canadian authorities are hoping this will attract 5 000 more expats to work in the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Whether you are going to be fasting through Lent or you are just looking for an excuse to drink up and feast on fatty food… today is the day where you can let loose. Mardi Gras is celebrated the day just before Lent begins and is celebrated in many countries and regions across the globe. But it might be difficult to feel the cheer of the Mardi Gras if it is not a celebrated in your host country. So here's a few ways you can rev up an otherwise boring school night…
Everyday life
Maybe you've landed yourself a job in an English-speaking firm abroad but English is not widely spoken in your new country. You might not have had enough time to dedicate to learning the language. Perhaps, you're retiring in a country without having learnt the language. Or maybe you've just arrived and you have realized that you are having a hard time understanding the accent even though you know the language. We have asked members of the Expat community some language hacks for expatriates and this is what they answered…
Canada
What will happen to the 18 000 visa applications threatening to be cancelled by the Quebec government? Earlier this month, the government announced it would scrap 18 000 visa applications in order to clear the backlog. But following the approval of an injunction request by an association of immigration lawyers, the ministry of Immigration of Quebec will continue processing applications.
Germany
Until 2060, Germany will need 260 000 foreign workers a year of which 56% will come from outside the European Union.
Canada
Two new programs announced on the 23rd of February will allow caregivers who want to move to Canada to bring their families along and apply for permanent residence.
Schools & studies
15, 880. These are the official numbers obtained from the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). They show that 33% more Chinese students have applied for university in the UK this year than the year before. A record! But it does not stop here, there has also been a 9% rise in the number of admissions from international students.
Formalities
Will New-Zealand reopen the parent visa category? The New-Zealand government could be making a decision in favor of this very soon. Indeed, according to the NZ Herald, there is a backlog of approximately 6000 applications dating back to 2016 when this category was closed. What is a parent visa and where else in the world can you apply for one? Let's find out.
Singapore
It could become much harder for expatriates to find a job in the Singapore services sector. It was announced on the Tuesday 19th of February during the annual budget speech session in Parliament: by 2021, the percentage of foreign workers making up a company's workforce will need to be reduced from 40% to 35% in the services sector, the sector which employs the most expatriates. This has been announced in a attempt to promote training of the Singaporean workforce to suit the demands of the industry and upgrading of positions available on the market. But what does it mean for expatriates living in Singapore today? And for individuals seeking to move to Singapore?
Accommodation
Every year, Knight Frank- a leading global estate agency, residential and commercial property consultancy firm releases its Global Affordability Monitor 2019 at the beginning of February. The Affordable Housing team earmarks 32 “global cities” and analyses the house price to income ratio, the proportion of an income which makes up the rent and also compares the real house price growth to the real income growth. Here are the most affordable “Global cities” shortlisted by Knight Frank.
USA
The change was announced last december by the American government. Holders of a masters degree from an American institution are more likely to get a work permit than other applicants. This would mean, as the number of H-1B on offer is capped at 85,000, that other applicants would have lower chances of seeing their H-1B applications accepted.
Japan
The Japanese government is targeting Fourteen industries. Indeed, in December last year, the government has announced a series of measures designed to attract skilled workers to cater to the shortage in 14 sectors in Japan. By 2024, the government hopes to have welcomed 340, 000 foreign workers in these sectors. Starting April this year, a new visa category will be enforced, and skill tests will be carried out on candidates for the nursing, restaurant and construction sectors. The decision comes after the Japanese government have been trying for years now to find a solution for labour shortages resulting from the declining population.
United Arab Emirates
It's official. Starting this month, according to the Government Portal of the country, the United Arab Emirates are accepting applications for 10-year and 5- year residence visas. The decision was validated by the UAE Cabinet in November 2018, and honorary visas have already been assigned 20 academics who are already living and working in the UAE. The two new visa categories were set up in an attempt to attract and retain highly skilled individuals to the UAE. Entrepreneurs, investors, highly specialised talents and even outstanding students will be eligible for these 10-year and 5-year visas. But what, exactly, does it take to be able to bag yourself a long-term residency permit in the UAE? For the next five years there will need to be:
Everyday life
Spending your free time exploring a new country, understanding its culture and mixing with the locals sounds like a dream, right? You have always dreamt of retiring abroad, but you are not ready to spend your lifetime savings on relocating. Understandable. International Living has compiled a list of the five cheapest places where you could accomplish your retiring abroad dream.
Children
You are all about the expat life and have always wanted to move abroad, but now that you have children, you have a lot more to consider before making the leap of faith. You cannot just leave it to chance. If you are looking for countries where your children will benefit from quality education and childcare at a reasonable price, HSBC Expat Explorer has put together just the list you need.
Work
Besides being a cultural melting pot, Asia can boast of its conducive business environment which has been attracting foreign investors in large numbers. Benefits of investing in Asia are many – including fast-growing economies, strategic location and access to a vast consumer market. If you're looking to launch your startup in Asia and thrive, here are some of the most promising countries for foreign investment.
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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