Community Blogs

Lisbon, Portugal

• Apr 2

Compared to many other countries, Portuguese schools have fewer school holidays throughout the year, but have a longer-than-average summer break.For more inform...

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Apr 1

The Intensive Dutch Course QuestionWhen I first arrived, everyone suggested I do an intensive course

Bangkok, Thailand

• Apr 1

The Thai banking system can be bewildering to both newcomers and born-and-raised citizens

Madrid, Spain

• Apr 1

With the state of the world as it is, you may want to shut the curtains, take cover under a blanket, and watch reruns of La que se avecina. But, unfortunately, ...

Emily Johnson

Brussels, Belgium

• Apr 1

Foreign nationals who want to visit or join a close family member living in Belgium can do so using the family reunification procedure. This procedure can be us...

Sophie

London, United Kingdom

• Mar 31

The UK remains a very popular place to look for work, especially in London, a booming national and international business hub. While competition can be intense...

Priya

Global, Global

• Mar 31

Ask a soon-to-be expat what they’re going to do for work when they first arrive in their new country and at some point you’ll hear someone say the following: “I...

The Expat Collective

Bern, Switzerland

• Mar 31

Thinking of buying a lakeside chalet or a modern apartment in Zurich? Unless you’re purchasing it outright, you’ll likely need a mortgage, and in Switzerland, ...

Ingrid

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Mar 30

Why Dutch Words Are So Amusingly LiteralAfter six years here, I've concluded that Dutch people name everything exactly as they see it, consequences be damned. I...

Singapore, Singapore

• Mar 30

With a great standard of living, low taxes, and an excellent healthcare system, Singapore is an attractive destination for pensioners and retirees. But if you’r...

sglife

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• Mar 30

Moving to Saudi Arabia means adjusting to a new culture, climate, and, unsurprisingly, an entirely different approach to taxes. But while many expats expect c...

Fatima Hassan

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

• Mar 30

Whether you are moving to Luxembourg for work or planning to start your own business there, familiarising yourself with the local business culture is vital if y...

Thomas W

Global, GLOBAL

• Mar 29

The Decision That Shaped Everything Before my first international move, I faced a choice: learn the local language or rely on English. I chose poorly-assuming E...

The Expat Collective

Madrid, Spain

• Mar 29

With its warm climate, vibrant culture, and sizable expat communities, Spain has long been an appealing place to retire. But what can you expect in terms of med...

Emily Johnson

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Mar 29

Expats can buy Dutch property without restrictions. Total costs: 5-7% above price + 10% deposit. €200K home = €212K total. Mortgage rates 4.31-5.04%, borrow 5x salary, 100% loan-to-value. Tax benefits make buying better than renting for 5+ year stays.