Features
Work
Whether in the public or private sector, not all jobs are available to foreign workers. This can be because of national defense or to protect the state's interest or simply to boost local participation in particular sectors. Sometimes, bans for expats on certain jobs occur after expats are already working in these positions. Here are how some of these situations have played out around the world.
Schools & studies
Denmark's Ministry for Immigration and Integration recently announced that the number of immigrants and first-generation Danes in higher education has increased exponentially in the past decade. Notably, the enrolment of Middle Eastern and North African students rose by 16% between 2011 and 2021. What about Denmark appeals so much to international students?
Everyday life
According to a media report by BBC Africa, the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, recently condemned attacks on foreign workers in the country. Workers from other African countries in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra are experiencing escalating violent attacks on themselves and their businesses. They fear a repetition of the xenophobic 2008 riots, when 62 people from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe were killed and over 600 wounded.
Work
Recent research by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows immigrants in the US are more likely to start businesses than native-born Americans. The study takes a wide-ranging look at registered businesses across the country.
Work
In a globalized economy, finance professionals can gain a lot from moving to an international financial hub. It will give them invaluable work experience and add a competitive edge to their CV. Some cities, like New York and Singapore, have a long-standing reputation as financial hubs, while others like Luxembourg are only now emerging as top destinations.
Everyday life
While some parts of the world suffocate, Australia and Brazil experienced a record cold only a few weeks ago. Due to global warming, these climate variations directly impact expatriates.
Everyday life
Many expats are looking for a calm place away from the city and some end up moving to islands. Their expectations are high: they want a cheap, quiet and beautiful place where they can have the advantages of the metropolitan area while enjoying good weather and nature. But is that a myth or reality?
Everyday life
What drives individuals to move abroad? For some, it's a desire to improve their everyday life or boost their career overseas through a professional opportunity. For others, it's all about making a dream come true. But expatriation can also be an act of activism.
Work
Have you ever considered doing an internship abroad for a unique and enriching professional and personal experience? It can be an excellent way to enhance your skills. However, proper planning is the key to success, as in the case of any move abroad.
Work
Remote working, which was not so popular a few years ago, has been quite widespread since the Covid pandemic and successive lockdowns. Many countries even had to make it mandatory due to health restrictions. In 2021, with massive vaccination and the easing of barrier gestures, most companies reopened. Still, remote work has become the new norm for many employees. Some are even willing to work remotely from abroad, adding pressure to companies' operations and costs.
Everyday life
Schengen Visa Info reported in early July that Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP), which is part of the ruling coalition, is proposing to make English a second official administrative language in all offices and agencies. The goal was to facilitate immigration procedures. However, the proposal has been opposed by the German Civil Servants' Association, which believes that two administrative languages will create legal confusion and excessive bureaucracy.
Tax
Short-term expatriates move abroad for several reasons: studies, work, volunteering, etc. Although they might believe after getting their visa and paper done when needed, that bureaucracy is over, some countries might require them to pay taxes. When can that happen?
Work
Nationalization policies, which have been in place for many decades, are being reintroduced or reinforced in several Middle East countries. The objectives are simple: to revive the economy and promote the recruitment of locals. What is the importance of such policies and what are the long-term consequences? How are expatriates experiencing it, and what jobs are open to them?
Everyday life
Dual citizenship is accepted in most countries, but it's not an option in the Netherlands or China, for example. Others, like Finland, accept dual citizenship under certain conditions. So what should you do if you're an expat in a country where you're not allowed to have dual citizenship? Does it mean that you have to give up on your nationality?
Work
Faced with labor shortages, countries and companies worldwide are compelled to review their recruitment policies. The newly introduced measures include salary raises, improving work conditions for expats, more straightforward visa processes, reorganization of work, work-life balance, and protection of mental health and well-being. These are expected to attract and retain foreign talent.
Everyday life
Millennials are keener on moving abroad for a better life. These young adults, mostly aged between 25 and 40, have experienced it all, from economic crises to the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and other geopolitical conflicts.
Everyday life
With Brexit, expats from the UK are having to go through a lot of red tape to update their documents, such as having a passport renewal. Modifications that seemed to be a smooth process are transforming into a real nightmare for Brits who live in countries without a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK.
Work
Repeated economic crises, including the Covid pandemic, plunged the world into one of the worst recessions in its history. This caused major upheavals in work structures and the rise of remote work and digital nomadism. So, where do expat packages stand amid all this?
Other Types
France
This quiet reform barely made a ripple in France's political debates, yet it slipped through largely unnoticed and will tighten the rules for those who combine work and retirement.
France
A decree published on April 25 in the Official Gazette updates the rules allowing foreign workers to apply for the European Card or register on the "list of jobseekers."
France
E-invoicing (and e-reporting) was previously voluntary. From September 1, 2026, it will become mandatory for businesses to issue and receive electronic invoices. So who exactly is affected?
United Arab Emirates
The UAE's Golden Visa program has been updated. The reform, focused on simplification, aims to further cement the United Arab Emirates' position as a top destination for foreign investors and entrepreneurs.
Formalities
A new fee for expats. Quietly slipped into the 2026 Finance Act, this measure has very real consequences for foreign drivers in their everyday lives. Starting May 12, exchanging a driver's license will no longer be free.
United Arab Emirates
The emirate of Dubai is rolling out a new strategy to keep attracting wealthy expats. A minimum investment is no longer required to qualify for a two-year residency visa.
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