Expat news
Work
"Australia needs to fix its image." With these words, Anthony Albanese (nicknamed "Albo"), the new Prime Minister, turned the page on 9 years of political history with the Conservatives. On May 21, Labor won the legislative elections and quickly got back to business regarding immigration.
Everyday life
On Tuesday, May 31, Yoshihisa Furukawa, the Japanese Minister of Justice, announced the end of the temporary work permit for certain foreigners. This exceptional permission was introduced in 2020 to allow foreigners having work visa issues to work part-time.
New opportunities for non-citizens residing in Mauritius, new parameters to the Premium Visa, a Silver Economy Festival and efforts to better regulate the Offshore sector. Here are a few budgetary measures that could be of interest to expats living in Mauritius or wanting to move here.
Work
Nordic countries often targeted by professionals who are willing to move abroad. However, the immigration process is usually very challenging. Last June 1st, Finland has enabled a fast-track procedure that allows high skilled expats and entrepreneurs to enter the country as soon as they have been granted a residence permit, which expats used to receive upon entering the country.
Accommodation
Although Spain is known by expats for being one of the most affordable countries in Europe, it has been facing rising property prices since last year. The rise, as experts say, is a consequence of higher demand and lower supply due to the lack of resources as raw materials for new builds.
Everyday life
Menstrual leave is a paid or unpaid absence due to a woman's inability to go to work because of painful menstruation. Some countries around the globe have already considered it, and recently Spain has approved a bill that grants paid medical leave for women who suffer from severe period pain, becoming the first European country to advance such legislation.
Tax
The Dutch government is currently undergoing the lengthy process of putting together a spring budget statement, labeled “voorjaarsnota”, which outlines the new cabinet's finances and budget plan. Reports suggest that various tax benefits—including the 30% ruling for expats in the Netherlands—could be scrapped under its changes as part of the government's plan to make up for additional energy and defense expenditure.
USA
On Tuesday, May 24, at 11:32 a.m. in Uvalde, Texas, Salvador Ramos, 18, shot 21 people at a primary school. A horror scene where 19 children and 2 teachers were reported dead. Three days after the tragedy, the people there are still shocked and deeply terrified, as is the rest of the world. A few days earlier, on May 14, ten people, mostly Americans of African origin, were killed in a racist shooting.
Work
Work permits issued to foreigners increased by 25.3% last year following a recovery in the job market after the relaxation of restrictive Covid-19 measures in Kenya.
Visas
In the process of reopening its borders, New Zealand faces a shortage of labor. Although the country will permit international travelers only on July 31 and visas in October this year, it has announced major reforms to immigration settings, 'the green list', to "increase the available pool of labor, while also speeding up our tourism recovery", said the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier this month.
Visas
The United Kingdom, a dreamland for many international students, is introducing a new visa to bring talented graduates to the country. On the other hand, the new policy targets mostly expats from high-level universities in the north of the globe.
Everyday life
On Saturday, May 14, the G7 Ministers of Foreign Affairs agreed to a further extension of economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia. These leaders firmly believe that the solution is to free their countries from Russian power. Pressure is also building up against states that are supporting Russia, such as China and Belarus.
Work
With the end of the pandemic in most parts of the world, many organizations have been requiring hybrid roles and a partial return to the office. But many employees do not want to say goodbye to the cherished freedom of remote working, and ideally, some would like to work from holiday destinations.
Formalities
Since May 1, British expats living in Spain for more than six months are facing chaos due to the invalidity of the UK driving licenses in the country after negotiations failed to reach a post-Brexit agreement.
Everyday life
Are there lessons to be learned from the recent riots in Sweden? Yet, the country is renowned for its good quality of life, especially for expatriates. There were clashes in many towns in Sweden during Easter week as the far-right political party and rioters challenged the police. Since then, the situation seems to have calmed down, but Swedes are left with many unanswered questions. Where has the integration of immigrants failed?
Australia
Bargain £10 flights to Australia are brought in for Brits this month, and that can increase tourism in the country, but also expats looking for a long-term experience in Oceania. According to key Australian Government findings from 2020, there are 7.6 million migrants living in Australia. This means that 29.8% of the population was born overseas.
Visas
Ireland is very international as it has 650,000 foreigners in a country of 5 million people. In general, expats going to Irish lands are looking for good quality of life and job opportunities and are attracted by its open culture to immigrants. That has been highlighted recently after the Covid-19 recovery as the country has expanded eligibility criteria for multiple-entry visas.
Everyday life
The number one city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai stands out in terms of immigration. Its economic prosperity has left everyone speechless. After a sudden demographic drop in the early days of the pandemic, Dubai started welcoming new immigrants in the fall of 2020. So how has this city become a favorite expat destination within the past two years?
Other Types
Paraguay
A new investor residency rulebook landed last month, and for anyone weighing Paraguay as a place to actually live, the numbers are surprisingly friendly. If you've been quietly researching Paraguay as a possible new home base, for the taxes, the cost of living, the easy residency, or just because the rest of the world feels increasingly expensive and complicated, this one is for you.
Tax
Postcard-perfect beaches, luxury villas, sports cars and a jet-set lifestyle: social media often paints expat influencers and content creators as financially free and permanently on vacation. Behind the filters and sponsored posts, however, lies a much more complex reality. As more freelancers, influencers and digital creators move abroad to optimize their lifestyle and income, tax authorities around the world are increasing their scrutiny. So how can content creators relocate overseas legally, optimize their taxes, and avoid crossing the line into tax evasion?
Tax
Living in a country without paying taxes: a dream for many expats who choose their destination specifically based on its tax policies. But does a truly "zero tax" country for foreigners actually exist? And what hidden financial risks should you watch out for?
Transport
"Once this war is over, fuel prices will collapse," Donald Trump declared. The U.S. president believes he has "very good chances" of reaching a deal with Iran, while also stating he is prepared to take military action if talks fail. In the meantime, prices at the pump continue to break records worldwide, with variations from country to country. How are expats coping with this situation? How are they managing their daily commutes and travel? The 大咖福利影院 community shares its experiences.
Banks and finance
Online banks and neobanks market themselves as the perfect solution for expats: open an account in a few clicks, fully digital, accessible from anywhere… at least in theory. What are the real advantages and limitations of these banking options? And what should expats watch out for?
Everyday life
For decades, the traditional idea of retirement was simple enough. You work until a certain age, then stop. The assumption was that a workplace pension, a state pension, or a private pension, and perhaps a little nest egg, would provide sufficient income to enjoy a good quality of life. However, for some, the new retirement reality is much more complex.
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