Community Blogs

Madrid, Spain

• Aug 1

Reading Hemingway, you’d think the national pastime in Spain is bullfighting. It’s not. It is football, and in a big way. In fact, to all you American tourists...

Emily Johnson

Berlin, Germany

• Aug 1

There are a variety of primary schools within the German education system that you can enroll your child in. For instance, you can choose from local state...

David Miller

Vienna, Austria

• Aug 1

Dating in Austria can be as direct as a waiter telling you your order was a terrible choice, no sugarcoating, no mind games. While many Austrians are looking...

viennalife

Ottawa, Canada

• Aug 1

Because the options available to you in Canada, and the costs, outlook and tax rules, might vary a lot from your home country, it’s important to educate...

Nathan H

Moscow, Russia

• Jul 31

Russian student visas require university invitation, passport photos, medical certificate, and HIV test. Processing takes 20-30 business days. Costs approximately $50-160 depending on nationality.

natasha

Singapore, Singapore

• Jul 31

If you’re interested in working in Singapore and you’re not originally from there, you will likely have to obtain a work visa or pass. Having the proper...

sglife

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

• Jul 31

Over half of the families living in the Grand Duchy use some type of childcare after having a baby in Luxembourg. More than a third use a daycare crèche for...

Thomas W

Bangkok, Thailand

• Jul 30

So, you’ve sorted your Thai visa and found a great place to rent for the first few months of your stay. Now, your big move is looming, and it’s time to arrange...

Bern, Switzerland

• Jul 30

This guide breaks down what you need to know if you’re self-employed in Switzerland, from income tax rates and registration requirements to deductions, VAT and...

Ingrid

Tokyo, Japan

• Jul 30

Your move to Japan will be truly complete when you get a Japanese bank account (銀行口座) so you can enjoy paying your rent, bills, and other expenses. Luckily,...

tokyolife

Lisbon, Portugal

• Jul 30

Top Portuguese business banks: Millennium BCP (€6/month), Santander (€8/month), ActivoBank (€5/month, digital). Non-residents can open accounts but need Portuguese tax number (NIF).

Brussels, Belgium

• Jul 30

If you want a change of scenery, Antwerp (Dutch: Antwerpen, French: Anvers) ranks first on any alphabetical list of large cities in Belgium. And why not? This...

Sophie

Rome, Italy

• Jul 29

If you’ve been working in Italy and are heading towards retirement, you’ll likely be considering how to access your pension. Unfortunately, Italy’s pension...

Marco R

Madrid, Spain

• Jul 29

If you are thinking about starting a business in Spain, you will need to understand how the local tax system works. This will help you with everything from...

Emily Johnson

Vienna, Austria

• Jul 29

Festivals in Austria are among the most prestigious in the world, attracting millions of visitors from across the globe each year. But while these popular...

viennalife