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December 2013 Expat News Archive
Archived Daily Expat News from the Expats Blog Newsdesk...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Purchasing your expat dream home can be a nightmare
If you’ve had enough of Brexit, the weather, floods, rising prices and the UK government’s antics over the past three years, buying a property overseas might well be the answer. For the vast majority of non-working expats, two issues form the spur for leaving the UK on a permanent basis – the rising cost of living and the fall in an...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Expat investors concerned over property fund suspension
Expat investors are showing concern over the recent suspension of the M&G Property Portfolio fund. Following a surprise block on expat investors attempting to withdraw from the troubled fund, financial giant Prudential locked the entire £164 million portfolio, with a spokesperson stating the company had been lowering its exposure to...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Oman woos expat investors with incentives and guarantees
New Omani investor laws are aimed at expats as well as foreign nationals living outside the country. Guarantees, privileges and incentives are on offer to foreign investors and expats living and working in Oman, with the new rules due to start on Thursday. Aimed at encouraging economically feasible investment projects funded by foreign...
30 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Belgium struggling with soaring property prices
If you’re considering buying property in Belgium, perhaps now is not the time! Belgium is a popular choice for expats who’ve saved for a generous pension once retirement kicks in, but the development of its property market over the past decade doesn’t bode well for incomers. As this decade ends and another begins, Belgian property...
30 Dec at 6 PM
Kuwait to consider sacking all expat oil and gas professionals
Sources in Kuwait are warning oil and gas expat professionals’ glory days may soon be over. If you’re considering Kuwait as your next career advancement move, it might be wiser to think again as the regular attacks on oil sector expat professionals now look to involve sacking them and replacing them with formerly unsuitable locals....
30 Dec at 6 PM
Managing the transition to expat from dissatisfied human
Making the initial decision to emigrate depends on a number of personal choices. Given that emigration is a major and often life-changing decision, it pays to evaluate the reasons behind your dissatisfaction with your present circumstances. The same applies if you’re already an expat but are increasingly unhappy with your job and...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats in Europe reassured over their transition period status
British expats in Europe are being reassured their status will remain as it is, at least until the end of December 2020. Effectively, the situation as it is now means there’s no change to any expat entitlements including free movement as their status is covered by former PM Theresa May’s negotiations. In addition, once the year’s...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Spanish police warn lone expat females over online romance scam
British expat women living in Spain are being warned over an online social network scam. Spanish National Police are warning women expats in the country about a scam targeting Facebook users. Over the past few months, police have become aware of multiple cases of an online-based scam aimed at single female expats as well as local women....
27 Dec at 6 PM
Gibraltar to refuse post-Brexit trade deal giving Spanish control
Gibraltar’s chief minister has stated unequivocally the Rock won’t sign any EU trade deal giving Spain control. Adopting the same stance as is Scotland, Gibraltar will not be trapped into conceding control to Spain by signing a post-Brexit trade deal. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo is now making it very clear he’s prepared to walk...
26 Dec at 6 PM
British expat wins against dodgy developer after a 15-year battle
One expat’s persistence has finally paid off as a Spanish court awards him over €150,000 paid as a deposit against the cost of his unfinished home. In 2004, the unnamed British would-be expat had paid €150,000 to a developer as a deposit on his dream home in Benhavis. One year later the property still wasn’t finished, and the...
26 Dec at 6 PM
UAE wins praise for its flexible immigration and residency rules
A recent report is claiming the UAE has the world’s most flexible immigration rules. According to a report by the International Institute for Management Development, the UAE ranks at global number one for the flexibility of its residency rules. The World Competitiveness Report measures the willingness of over 60 world countries to use...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Would-be expats in Dublin will enjoy the Overseas Property Show
If you’re within easy access of Dublin and are considering emigration, the upcoming Overseas Property Show is for you. January 11th and 12th mark the return to Dublin of the Overseas Property Show, a must-visit for would-be expats looking to spend the next several years planning and making the move overseas. For locals, although it’s...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Prague traditional Christmas celebrations loved by expats
Being away from family and friends in the home country can be tough at any time of year, but at Christmas it can lead to severe homesickness. Many expats prioritise going home for Christmas for at least a few years after their relocation, but those working in professions such as medicine and tech may not get the chance. Especially in...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Kuwaiti private sector now denied promised longer holidays
The Kuwaiti government has now scrapped a proposed scheme which would have been beneficial to expatriates working in the emirate’s private sector. The original plan increased the numbers of annual days off from 30 to 35 and was welcomed by expats employed in the private sector, but has now been scrapped as only a few Kuwaitis in the...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in UAE celebrate Christmas in diverse denominations
As Kuwait’s new government takes its seat, the UAE as a whole is now gripped by the Christmas spirit. Given that expats in general are far more numerous in the UAE than locals, it’s no surprise that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in the emirates. Churchgoers are singing the old favourites such as ‘Silent Night’, choirs are...
24 Dec at 6 PM
Vietnam is now favourite for expats giving up on Thailand
Vietnam is now an all time favourite for expats, whether they’re looking to retire, start a small business or teach English. Unhappiness and insecurity about swinging changes to Thailand’s visa requirements as well as a general feeling of being no longer welcome has sent Thailand plummeting in expat survey rankings against Vietnam’s...
24 Dec at 6 PM
Police warn UK expats in Spain over Correos postal service scam
Expats living, working and retiring in Spain are now being warned about a financial scam using the Correos postal service. The scam first came to light when expatriate and local victims began reporting unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts. A police investigation then revealed links between the withdrawals and an already active...
24 Dec at 6 PM
Survey reveals expat confidence due to Dubai Expo 2020
Dubai expats are now optimistic about 2020 personal finances and jobs. A new survey released last Monday reveals 80 per cent of expatriate professionals in Dubai now feel optimistic about their job prospects and personal finances, with 32 per cent considering the emirate’s jobs situation will improve considerably over the coming year....
24 Dec at 6 PM
Expat in UAE gets life-saving help from bystanders after heart attack
A UK expat in Abu Dhabi would have lost his life due to cardiac arrest if knowledgeable bystanders hadn’t rushed to help after calling emergency medical care professionals. UK expatriate architect Leigh Lenaghan collapsed in an Abu Dhabi car park after suffering a heart attack, but quick action by bystanders saved his life. One started...
23 Dec at 6 PM
British expat vigilante group set up in Spain to deter street crime
Following a spate of muggings, British expats in Spain’s Costa Blanca have been forced to form a vigilante group to patrol the streets. A number of concerned expat parents are now tackling the increasingly violent muggings in their home town by taking matters into their own hands and forming a vigilante group. The original idea came...
23 Dec at 6 PM
Tears of joy at Dublin Airport greet returning expat wanderers
Irish expatriates spur family tears of joy when they return to the home country for Christmas. Over the weekend, Dublin Airport’s arrivals hall saw tears of joy from families awaiting the return of their expat loved ones for the Christmas holiday. Over the holiday season, the airport is a reuniting hub for long-stay expats and their...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Verhofstadt comes out in favour of guaranteed expat post-Brexit rights
As Brexit creeps nearer, a leading member of the European Parliament is demanding British expats in EU member states be given guaranteed rights along with their counterparts in the UK. EU Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt has come out strongly in favour of protecting British expats in EU member states as well as EU citizens living and...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Long stay Britons in EU finally get a lifetime vote
UK long-stay expats overseas are to finally be granted the right to vote after a 15 year absence. Howls of 'too little, too late' and snarls of 'political manipulation' are expected from long-stay British expats awaiting their post-Brexit fates all across Europe. Ever since the referendum result was announced, the hated 15-year...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Expat landlords to be hit by new law changes
Should expat landlords be worried about the Johnson government’s new policies concerning the landlord/tenant relationship? Given that the Conservative Party’s victory in the UK’s general election has seen a small recovery in the sterling exchange rate as well as surging share prices, have expat buy-to-let landlords any cause for...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Prague Christmas celebrations perfect for homesick expats
For expats who can’t make it back to the home country during the festive season, Prague’s celebrations and events can keep homesickness at bay. Christmas and the New Year can be a difficult time for expat professionals who’ve to keep working over the two weeks’ celebrations. Keeping in touch via Skype and social media helps, but...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Health Insurance scheme denied to expats in BVI
Local politicians in the British Virgin Islands aren’t happy about newly-arrived expats accessing the territory’s National Health Insurance plan. One Opposition representative has raised the issue in the BVI parliament, voicing his objection to newly-arrived expats having access to the scheme after just one month whilst locals are...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Taipei reverses expat ban on YouBike rentals
Following an expat outcry after renting bikes was banned, Taipei is now backtracking and reversing its decision. The decision early this week to ban expats in Taipei from the hugely popular YouBike bike-renting scheme caused a massive online protest and a swift backtrack by the city’s government. The new ruling required the provision of...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Kuwait cleaning up after massive rainstorms and floods
Following massive rainstorms which turned the desert into a flood plain, Kuwait’s infrastructure is still struggling to recover. Expats and locals alike are suffering the after effects of huge storms which left the city struggling to contain the resulting floods. Worst hit was the city’s international airport, with a year’s worth of...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Spain warned over influx of deadly pine processionary caterpillars
Expats in Spain’s Costa Blanca region are being warned about an upcoming danger from highly poisonous caterpillars. According to a local expat entomologist, next month will see the start of an invasion of deadly caterpillars capable of killing pets and injuring children if touched. The toxic pine processionary caterpillar has poisonous...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Taiwan now banned from renting bikes
Expats living in Taiwan are angry about being banned from renting bikes. A recent change in YouBike’s rental policy has angered a good number of expats living and working in Taiwan as they’re now banned from using the popular bike-rental service via there EasyCard smartcards. Furious foreigners who’ve regularly used the convenient...
17 Dec at 6 PM
Scottish National Party independence vote supported by expats in UAE
Scots expats in the UAE are urging a second vote for independence as Brexit seems now inevitable. Scots across all expat destinations including the UAE are now calling for another independence vote after the Scottish National Party won a massive victory in last week’s general election. Confirming the election result as a new mandate for...
17 Dec at 6 PM
Brexpats in Spain leader tells it like it is
Anne Hernandez, head of the campaign group Brexpats in Spain, told the media she was hugely disappointed with last week’s general election result. Comparing the Tory victory with Margaret Thatcher’s 1987 result, she said the vote must have represented what the majority of Britons thought they wanted, but added she finds this fact very...
17 Dec at 6 PM
UAE and Dubai now pushing massive training schemes for nationals
The UAE is creating a massive, three year training and job creation scheme for Emiratis in order to reduce the state’s reliance on expat talent. Following the announcement last September by the Dubai ruler that 20,000 jobs were to be created for Emiratis over the next three years, the UAE is now planning to train 18,000 nationals over...
16 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expat pet owners in EU fear Brexit loss of pet passports
A Spanish vet is warning British expat pet owners over post-Brexit travel with their pets. Dependent on which format becomes the ultimate Brexit result, Britons living, retiring or working on Spain may have to allow at least three months in advance of a travel date if they want their furry friends to travel with them. According to the...
16 Dec at 6 PM
UK expats in UAE overjoyed about end to Brexit confusion
Brit expats living in UAE are happy Brexit confusion is now ending due to the decisive election result. British expats living and working across the UAE are now expressing their relief that three full years of political uncertainty over Brexit now seem to be over. Many believe it will now be possible for the UK parliament to prioritise...
16 Dec at 6 PM
Pattaya property scam aimed at expats nets 45 million baht
Expats and locals have lost a total of around 45 million baht due to a Pattaya property fraud. Property scams targeting expat buyers and renters are known to have taken place all over Southeast Asia, but this Pattaya example shows how easy it still is to get duped by crafty business owners. Local Thai police are now hunting down a former...
13 Dec at 6 PM
British expats in Spain crushed by shock general election result
British expats living all across Spain as well as the leader of the Bremain in Spain campaign are calling out today’s General Election result as ‘mass suicide’. Sue Wilson, leader of the Bremain in Spain group, told the English language media Johnson’s victory was a shock, saying she can’t believe what the electorate have done...
13 Dec at 6 PM
British expats in Andalusia facing reversal of ruling legalising properties
The Spanish government is reputedly considering reversing an Andalusian legal ruling allowing over 300,000 illegally built homes to receive AFO status. The scandal of thousands of expats duped into buying or having built properties connected to electricity and water but illegal under Spanish law had a disastrous effect, not just on those...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Will Brexit affect expat British state pensioners’ winter fuel allowances?
Now that Brexit in one form or another seems certain, what will be the fate of the UK’s winter fuel payment? Given that the winter fuel payment made to British expats living in some EU member states is possibly the least of British expat concerns at this moment, for those intending to stay in Europe and who are receiving the payment...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Expats trapped in Kuwait for not paying hospital bills
Kuwait is now issuing travel bans to expats who’ve not yet paid their hospital bills. The above headline will be all too familiar with expats in Thailand who’re also being accused by the junta government of leaving without paying medical charges, an accusation roundly rejected by the expat community. Kuwait’s reaction to unpaid...
12 Dec at 6 PM
UK and EU expats’ treatment is shameful history for Britain
As the UK’s General Election gets underway, civil society activists are launching a manifesto for citizens’ rights to apply to EU expats living and working in the UK. Named the Citizens’ Rights Manifesto for the 5 million, the document is calling for the new government to allow EU expats to be given UK rights in primary law via the...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Expats and Chinese fleeing Hong Kong have now discovered Portugal
The Portuguese capital of Lisbon is preparing to welcome increasing numbers of expats fleeing the Hong Kong riots. As the protests in Hong Kong continue and the chance of Chinese military intervention increases, expatriates as well as Hong Kong nationals are looking for ways out of the mess. Although Portugal is well-known as a retirement...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in UK getting more bangs for buck due to sterling crash
The impact of the UK’s Brexit chaos on sterling as well as the cost of living has resulted in boom time for foreign professionals working in London as the shrinking pound continues to provide gains for expats paid in their local currencies. Expatriate professionals living and working in the capital are getting an increased amount of...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Majorcan hospital now allowing visits by patients’ dogs.
Patients receiving treatment at a Majorcan hospital can now have visits from their much-loved dogs. As long as a doctor and a veterinary give approval, expats who’re missing their canine best friends will be able to arrange visits as they’re considered helpful in reducing the anxiety of being in hospital. The visits, allowed for...
11 Dec at 6 PM
British expats in Malaga warned over earthquake risks
British expats in Malaga are being warned over the city’s high seismic risk. According to experts, the Spanish city of Malaga is at high risk of an earthquake and has developed an emergency plan as a result. The increased risk of seismic activity in the Costa del Sol region was highlighted in a seismic map released in 2015 by Spain’s...
10 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Beijing fearing pneumonic plague outbreak
For ambitious expat techies, the past few years have resulted in sizeable communities being established in all China’s major cities, with Beijing the most popular. China’s image over the past decade has changed from that of a Communist threat to the rest of the world to a safe, welcoming haven for expat professionals in many fields....
10 Dec at 6 PM
British citizens in EU now demanding a UK Minister for Expats
British expats in Spain are now calling for a UK Minister for Expats. As a result of losing their voting rights after 15 years as expats, many Britons in Spain are calling for the cancellation of the hated 15 year disenfranchisement ruling. Just a small percentage of Britons who chose either to live their retirement years or start their...
10 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats in Shanghai hold debate over election and Brexit
A debate held by a group of British expatriates living and working in Shanghai reinforced the strength of feeling held by UK citizens overseas. Brexit is still of critical importance to British expats in China, even although they’re many thousands of miles away from home. Last Sunday’s debate in Shanghai was dominated by this week’s...
9 Dec at 6 PM
Why VPNs are essential for expat digital nomads
For those who never leave their home country, using a VPN may not be a priority, but for expats it’s a necessity, no matter where they’re located. Nowadays, living and working overseas is a fairly straightforward procedure once the correct visa is obtained, but internet access can be less than straightforward, dependent on your...
9 Dec at 6 PM
What to avoid when heading for Thailand as an expat or visitor
If you’re a determined digital nomad planning on a stopover in Thailand or are visiting for the first time, there are a few things best avoided as part of staying safe. The so-called Land of Smiles has a lot to offer those wishing to stay for a relatively short visit whilst travelling and earning, but there are a number of activities...
9 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats in Portugal at risk from deteriorating healthcare services
Expats in Portugal are worried about risks now evident in the country’s healthcare services. Crises, deaths and delays in private as well as public hospitals are being reported, not just in the Portuguese capital Faro but also in medical care centres across the country. The situation first came to light when the capital’s major public...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Expat parents overseas saving money on UK private education due to sterling fall
Whilst British expat retirees on state pensions are struggling to deal with the drop in purchasing power caused by the plunging pound, expat parents with generous salaries in dollars or yen can buy cut-price British private education. British private boarding schools are regarded as the world class gold standard for education, as are the...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Irish expats in Taipei admit to missing Irish weather
As Taipei is voted best expat city in the world, its Irish expats are missing their home country’s weather. For the second year running, the Taiwanese capital is now ranked as the world’s best expat professional destination. Expats in the large community feels safe and happy with their quality of life and are avid fans of the city’s...
7 Dec at 6 PM
UAE camel trek opens up vast deserts and Bedouin culture to expats
For a few lucky expats in the UAE, the journey of a lifetime is on right now. Deserts, the Bedouin heritage and camels are the hallmark of the Arab States’ long, fascinating history involving journeys across seemingly unending vistas of sand. Many of those who’ve read about the region’s earlier days can’t begin to imagine how the...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats fearing further sterling falls if election brings hung parliament
British expats living overseas could see yet another sterling crash if a hung parliament is the result of the upcoming general election. UK expats living on their state pensions in Europe and other favourite retirement destinations are having a tough time since the pound fell against a basket of other currencies including the Euro, the US...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Favourite expat retirement haven in Mexico now invaded by drug cartels
As British expats fearing the Brexit effect in Europe explore other world destinations, one favourite retirement haven is being invaded by drug cartels. Mexico has long been the choice of American retirees, with the charming town of San Miguel de Allende home to a large expatriate community. Recently, British expats in EU member states...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Global warming now threatening expat lives in Spain
Expats in Spain are now being warned severe weather events due to global warming will become the norm. Floods, severe droughts, heatwaves and mega-storms are set to become the norm in Spain due to the looming climate crisis. This decade is due to go down as the hottest on record, with Spain’s popular expats' and visitor regions hard hit...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Oz property prices bad news for incoming expat professionals
Would-be expats are in favour of both Melbourne and Sydney, but soaring house prices are causing financial issues. Now that just about anywhere on the planet can turn into a favourite expat destination almost overnight, would-be career boosters and upscale digital nomads are making their choices on the basis of property prices. Australian...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Expat SMEs in Hong Kong feeling the pinch as protests continue
As expats in Hong Kong brace themselves for the next protest, the authorities are pinning their hopes on throwing money at the issue. The past six months of increasingly violent protests as well as the Trump/China trade war have eaten into Hong Kong’s economy to the extent that many small and medium sector companies are facing a lack of...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Expat and local SMEs move to Kowloon as Hong Kong closes down
As bankers and top expat professionals sit it out in Hong Kong, expat and local SMEs are planning backup offices across the harbour in Kowloon. Small businesses located in hotspots where the protests have been most violent are now looking to relocate to cheaper, safer Kowloon premises. Landlords of cheaper offices across the water are the...
3 Dec at 6 PM
New studies show Switzerland as world’s safest expat destination
As the political world becomes more and more unstable, expats considering relocation are concentrating on countries regarded as safe, secure and likely to stay that way. It’s not just political instability which threatens expat prospects and even their lives, as worldwide crime rates are on the upswing, terrorism is affecting countries...
3 Dec at 6 PM
UAE expat professionals furious over Skype ban
Expats in the UAE are furious at the emirate’s banning of Skype. Both locals and expat professionals living and working in the UAE are furious at the government’s banning of the popular VOP Skype. Residents are making their views very clear via social media outlets and the Microsoft-owned company is calling the ban a ‘frustrating...
3 Dec at 6 PM
British expats fear Costa del Crime is back with a vengeance
Over 120 mafia-style international gangs are now operating across Spain’s Costa del Sol. Once infamous as a safe haven for British crooks, Spain’s Costa del Sol is now home to a huge British expat community, most of whom are retirees looking for a peaceful life in the sunshine. Tragically, over the past two years, the region has again...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Dublin property prices dropping due to Brexit concerns
For would-be British expats considering a move to the Republic of Ireland, Dublin’s residential property prices are falling at last. Following the 208 global financial crisis, the Irish capital’s real estate prices increased rapidly to heights not seen for many years, discouraging both locals and expats from taking a chance on a...
2 Dec at 6 PM
British expat-run Czech dog shelter needs more volunteers
A British expat-founded animal shelter in the Czech Republic is calling for more expat volunteers. Almost a year ago in the Czech town of Kamenice nad Lipou, local authorities found and closed a puppy farm holding 212 adult dogs and puppies, including a partially blind terrier who’d been kept in a tiny cage. All the dogs were relocated...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Expats and South Korean locals join in multinational charity event
Last Friday, the expat community in the South Korean city of Incheon held a charity market aimed at benefiting the local Haesung orphanage. The aim of the event was to bring together both locals and expatriates living and working in the city via the sharing of talents and raising of donations to help promote inclusivity in society as a...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in UK living more cheaply due to Brexit
According to a new study, expatriates living and working in the UK are getting more for their money due to Brexit. London is now one of Europe’s cheapest capital cities for expats receiving their pay in euros, due to the Brexit effect on the value of the pound sterling. It’s also a bargain destination for tourists. Formerly,...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in UAE warned over scam social media investment offerings
Expats in the UAE are being warned not to fall for fake investment scams on social media. Warnings about fake investment schemes promising quick returns at high rates are being given out by Kuwait’s Capital Markets Authority and its Ministry of Commerce. The enticing offers are found on social media and are phrased in such a way as to...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Are Brit expats in Spain better off than those who’ve repatriated?
Brexit has been described as a pantomime, but is no laughing matter for those caught in its net. The expat community in Spain is overwhelmingly British and mostly comprised of retirees who decided to abandon the UK for two good reasons – the weather and the cost of living including housing. It wasn’t an easy decision for the majority,...
28 Dec at 6 PM
Settling in as an expat in Russia can be problematic
Although Russia might well be last on the vast majority of would-be expats’ list of preferred destinations, its history is as fascinating as its winter weather is appalling. Surveys take in everywhere these days, including Russia, with just under half of the replies to the latest InterNations expat study saying the welcome received by...
28 Dec at 6 PM
Expat musicians to be denied entry to the UK unless earning £30,000 or more
Foreign musicians are to be banned from entering Britain post-Brexit unless they earn over £30,000 annually. A new white paper released by the British government will dash the hopes of talented expat musicians wanting to perform with established bands as well as stifling the UK’s music sector. Foreign musicians will need to prove...
28 Dec at 6 PM
The reality of forcing expats in Thailand to buy expensive private healthcare insurance
As the possibility of all expats in Thailand being forced to buy private health insurance or have their visas cancelled sinks in, one local online English language newspaper publishes its survey results. The long-stay expat community in Thailand is split between those working in Bangkok companies, those running their own small businesses...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Kuwait to build six bachelor cities for single expat males
Kuwait is mulling the development of no less than six ‘bachelor cities’ aimed at single, male expats living and working in the emirate. Kuwait municipality’s Director General Ahmad al Manfouhi recently informed local media about a plan to build six ‘bachelor cities to house male expatriates. Construction is expected to be funded...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Iberia at risk of losing domestic and European routes post Brexit
A no-deal Brexit could become a nightmare for domestic flights across Spain. In the event of the UK failing to ratify the Brexit withdrawal agreement, Spain could be left with no domestic flights. A no-deal break with the EU could leave the country’s national airline Iberia without an operating license for both flights within Spain and...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Thailand’s soaring private healthcare costs to be ministry-controlled
The soaring cost of treatment in Thailand’s private hospitals may soon be placed under government control. The days of cheap heathcare in Thailand’s reputable private hospitals are well and truly over, as commercial interests continue to drive up charges for everything from medicines through consultations to treatment including...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Protecting your financial freedom as a relocating expat
Expats on relocation or reassignment may well be the brightest and best as regards their jobs, but money management is another matter. yourself in a strange city along with a career boost and salary you’ve long dreamed about can be an exciting experience, but if you’re financially illiterate the glow soon wears off. Expats must make...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai racks up its heathcare insurance coverage for cancer and Hep C
Expat holders of Dubai’s Essential Benefits Plan basic insurance package are to get unlimited coverage for cervical, breast and colorectal cancer as well as Hepatitis C. According to an advisor to the Dubai Health Authority’s newly formed Dubai Health Insurance Corporation Saleh al Hashemi, the new insurance cover will start on...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Expats deny international media reports of China Christmas ban
Beijing expats are rubbishing reports in the international media that the Chinese government has banned Christmas. China was accused by a number of highly-regarded international media outlets of cracking down on Christmas celebrations across the country. Once the news broke it went viral on Twitter, with expats decrying articles and TV...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Vietnam enjoy Christmas in Ho Chi Minh City
Expats across the world celebrate Christmas in their own ways, with Vietnam's community no exception. Whatever religion is practised by expatriates the world over, Christmas is a time for getting together with friends and family at parties and celebrations. The multinational expatriate residents of Ho Chi Minh City’s Ruby Home’s 34...
25 Dec at 6 PM
All expat medical professionals in Kuwait to be vetted by EPIC
The Kuwaiti government has authorised a non-profit organisation to verify expat doctors’ qualifications. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health along with the emirate’s Kuwaiti Medical Association have hired global non-profit organisation EPIC to check and confirm all expatriate doctors’ certificates and qualifications. The Ministry itself...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Dubai celebrate with real live Christmas trees
Of all the memories of Christmases past, the pine fragrance of a real, live Christmas tree is one of the most evocative. Expats moving to Dubai could be forgiven for believing a plastic Christmas tree will have to do, but they’re in for a magical moment when they realise the real thing has been available in Dubai for over 25 years!...
24 Dec at 6 PM
British expats in Spain caught by investment scammers
The latest financial scam perpetrated on expats living in Spain is estimated to have lost the victims millions of euros. The scam, run by Palma-based GWD Forestry and involving investment in so-called agro-plantations, is the latest of its type to trap unwary expatriates living and working overseas. So far, some 40 victims have registered...
24 Dec at 6 PM
Good news at Christmas for UK expats in Iceland
British expatriates living in Iceland can enjoy Christmas and have a happy New Year as their post-Brexit residency is guaranteed. According to UK Ambassador to Iceland Michael Nevin, the post-Brexit residential status of UK citizens in Iceland and their counterparts living in the UK is now secure. Covered by the agreement are some 17,000...
24 Dec at 6 PM
Irish expats reluctant to return home due to high taxes and poor health service
Irish expats are uncertain about repatriation due to high taxes and a failing health service. Following an appeal from the Irish government urging expats to return home and fill the skills shortage, Irish professionals working abroad are listing the reasons why they’d rather stay overseas. Key barriers include Ireland’s high levels of...
21 Dec at 6 PM
WHO report warns expats Thailand roads are still deadly
The latest report issued by the World Health Organisation indicates the popular Southeast Asian expat and tourism hub is still plagued by a lack of effective road safety measures. Whilst this year’s rate of 32.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants is slightly lower by around four percent than last year’s totals, Thailand’s notorious road...
21 Dec at 6 PM
‘Eco-protest’ Gatwick drones wreck family Christmases for UK expats
British families as well as expatriates going home for Christmas are all stranded at Gatwick and Spanish airports due to the ongoing drone drama. As of now, all flights from Britain’s second busiest airport are either cancelled or suspended as there’s still one mystery drone circling over the runway in the European flight hub’s...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Would-be British expats rejecting financial advice before they leave
Financial advice on how to plan for expatriation is being rejected by three-quarters of those planning to leave the UK. According to a YouGov survey commissioned by a leading financial advice firm, only 27 per cent of respondents had taken financial advice before planning to leave the UK on a permanent basis. When asked why they’d made...
20 Dec at 6 PM
British expats in Mijas warned over tech-savvy gang robbing cars
An enterprisingly tech-savvy gang of robbers are cloning car keys and robbing vehicles’ contents. Operating in Mijas on the Costa del Sol, a gang of youths have found the perfect way to steal the contents of cars without having to break in. They’ve discovered an inexpensive Chinese-made gadget easily available from internet...
20 Dec at 6 PM
EU no deal exit plans bad news for Brit expats
Following the total chaos which passes for British politics during this Christmas season, the EU has instigated its own plans for a no-deal Brexit. The European Union today triggered its emergency plans to deal with the expected chaos following the UK’s falling off the Brexit cliff without a deal. Brussels has announced 14 measures to...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats in Gibraltar furious over exclusion from EU no-deal contingency plans
The EU’s just-announced plans to mitigate certain effects of a no-deal exit from the EU will not include Gibraltar. According to EU leader Jean-Claude Juncker’s plans for a no-deal Brexit, flights between the UK and EU member states are certain to be ‘interrupted’ once Britain leaves the EU. Any efforts made to ease the situation...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in UAE keen to learn Arabic
Expats living and working in the UAE are showing a deal of interest in learning the local lingo. Some 80 per cent of the UAE’s entire population comprises expatriates, the majority of whom are non-Arabic speakers, with the English language the predominant business language in the emirates. However, an increasing number of expat...
19 Dec at 6 PM
UK now cheaper for expats due to Brexit effect on sterling
A recently released new survey has revealed the UK is now one of Europe’s cheapest countries for expat workers. Expat professionals living and working in London have seen a welcome drop in the capital’s cost of living due to Brexit, with the city dropping 81 places to 127th in the latest worldwide cost of living survey. Formerly one...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Irish skills shortage prompts calls for expats to return home
Due to its present-day booming economy, Ireland is now short of skilled workers in a number of sectors. Irish recruitment agencies are having a hard time filling vacancies in the IT, construction, healthcare and financial sectors due to high levels of professionals leaving the country during the economic downturn after the 2008 financial...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Omani government promises better online news access for expats and the dis
Oman’s government has announced it’s working on ways to improve online news access for readers with disabilities and non-Arab speaking expatriates. According to the Omani minister for information, providing efficient internet access for those with special needs should be a priority for businesses, the government, public authorities...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Malaysia still cheap for expats in spite of cost of living increases
The latest cost of living survey aimed at expats shows Malaysia is still an inexpensive country for expats in spite of its cost of living hikes. Unsurprisingly, Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s costliest expat hub, rising 24 places in the survey to 188 in the world city rankings, with Penang and Johor Bahru also seeing significant rises. KL...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Spain/UK agreement to give UK and EU expats voting rights
After Spain’s foreign minister Josep Borrell had stated British expats losing their local voting rights was ’collateral damage’, the two countries agreed to plans for a bilateral treaty upholding the right to vote for both groups. As it stands at present, the 115,000 Spanish expats living in the UK and their 280,000 British...
17 Dec at 6 PM
Plot thickens around British expat drug smuggler couple
As the saga of the British drug smuggling expat couple continues, it seems they had lived a life of crime for some years and may not even have been married. Appearances can be deceptive, but it seems the dodgy pair had a history many had suspected but no-one could prove until Roger and Susan Clarke were arrested in Lisbon along with nine...
17 Dec at 6 PM
Oz and Brit expats can get UK pensions retirement bonuses due to Brexit chaos
Britain’s Brexit chaos has opened up a loophole which will give anyone who’s worked in the UK for over three years a useful retirement windfall. The loophole will exist until the end of the current financial year, and will apply both to expatriate Britons as well as to Australian and expatriate workers of other nationalities....
17 Dec at 6 PM
What to do when expat divorce is the only option?
It may be the last thing on would-be expat couples’ minds, but divorce can be a direct result of emigration. Quitting the home country and settling in an unfamiliar culture can put a strain on the happiest of marriages, especially when previously working wives have to give up their careers to boost their husbands’ chances of success....
14 Dec at 6 PM
Retired Brit expat drug smuggler rushed from Portuguese prison to hospital
The British retired expat arrested for cocaine smuggling along with her husband has been rushed from jail to a nearby Portuguese hospital. Sue Clarke has been rushed from Lisbon’s Tires women’s prison to hospital after she suffered a hypertension crisis feared to have caused organ damage due to abnormally high blood pressure. She and...
14 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai-based expatriate eco-warrior lives life without plastic
Expat eco-warrior Nila lives in Dubai and is getting by very well without using plastic or any of its derivatives. Nila is committed to proving plastic isn’t necessary for life a we know it, and she’s a magnificent example of the way to lead a totally sustainable lifestyle in the midst of Dubai’s luxurious ambience. As a child...
14 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expat community in Mijas forms Brexpat association
British expatriates living in Mijas, Spain, have started a Brexpats group with regular meetings aimed at discussing their concerns and fears. In the Spanish Costa del Sol town of Mijas, almost 20 per cent of residents are British expats, drawn to the region by the sunshine and the dream of a peaceful retirement – at least until the...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Retired Brit expat couple caught with £2 millions’ worth of cocaine
An unsuspecting retired British expat couple in Spain were almost coerced into becoming part of a drug-smuggling plot by the promise of a free cruise. British expats Paul and Pauline Craven were living in retirement on the Costa Blanca when they were offered a free Caribbean cruise by Susan and Roger Clarke. Pauline was working as a...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Oz expat retirees on state pensions will need to prove they’re alive
Australian expat pensioners will be forced to prove they’re alive to stop the claiming by relatives of government pensions after their deaths. Oz pensioners living overseas will now have to provide certificates proving they’re still alive every two years, according to the Australian Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher. The move is...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in UAE taking advantage of sterling falls
It seems Brexit isn’t bad news for everyone, as expat professionals in the UAE are repatriating cash at great rates. As the pound sterling continues its path downwards, expatriates working in the UAE are laughing all the way to their UK banks as they remit currency at the best rates seen since the 2008 financial crash. Even so,...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Would-be expat couple lose everything due to minor mistake
One easily-made financial error has wrecked a retired would-be expat couple’s dream. Even with warnings plastered across expat-aimed online media sites about the risk of losing pension pots to financial scammers, it seems it’s also far too easy to lose a lifetime’s savings to a company fully registered with the UK’s Financial...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Where to go to make your expat New Year resolutions succeed
As the old year staggers to a close, where are the best destinations for fulfilling your New Year resolutions? New Year resolutions almost always mirror deficiencies in the previous year’s performance, whether in health, love, money, business, social life and relationships or the lack of them. From expat professionals through retirees...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats in France warned about festive season burglaries
British expats living in France are warned to make sure their homes are secure due to the increased risk of burglaries over the Christmas and New Year period. Expat residents and homeowners are being advised to take special care over the festive season as regards protecting their homes against burglaries. Traditionally, most people spend...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Expat and British top talent leaving the UK in droves due to Brexit concerns
In spite of May’s rights guarantee to EU expats in the UK, record numbers are exiting Britain due to the continuing uncertainty. Expat workers in the UK are giving up on hoping for a miracle and voting with their feet by quitting their jobs and leaving. Many came to the UK hoping to settle down and progress in their careers, but are now...
11 Dec at 6 PM
High Court judge dumps UK expats’ case for annulling the referendum result
Remain campaigners are devastated at the failure of their High Court challenge aimed at annulling the Brexit referendum result. This week may be the worst ever for the UK expats whose crowdfunding brought the case to Britain’s High Court only to see it thrown out before even a full hearing by a judge who deemed it ‘wanting in merit’....
11 Dec at 6 PM
Kuwait lawmakers approve draft law forcing expats to buy health insurance
Kuwait’s National Assembly legislative committee has approved a draft law forcing expatriates in the emirate to pay mandatory health insurance. The new bill comes as the Assembly and the Kuwaiti government approved a law establishing expatriate-only hospitals. Along with the compulsory private healthcare insurance, charges for...
10 Dec at 6 PM
Saudi expat fees to be reviewed as economy tanks
According to leaks, the Saudi government is discussing changes to its expat fee scheme as the charges have hit hard on businesses. It seems the controversial expat fee policy is now under review as businesses are feeling the financial strain and the expected cut in unemployment isn’t happening. Rising costs and an expat exodus are...
10 Dec at 6 PM
Irish expats and tourists hit by car rental scams at Dublin airport
Irish expats coming home for Christmas are being warned over car rental insurance scams. Tourists as well as expats returning to the Emerald Isle to spend Christmas and the New Year with their families are being warned to watch out for insurance issues with rental cars. According to victims, their ‘super cover’ insurance doesn’t...
10 Dec at 6 PM
British expats in Europe given new hope by EU court decision
The decision rendered Monday by the European Court of Justice states unequivocally that the UK can unilaterally end the formal process leading to Britain’s exiting the EU. The ECJ sided with advice given by its leading legal officer, who told the media late last week he believes Britain has the right to stop Brexit without referring to...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Fouchet files appeal on dismissed Shindler case, asks for expat support
The French barrister whose Schindler court case was dismissed by the EU’s general court has now filed an appeal. Fouchet’s argument that disenfranchised British expats unable to vote in the Brexit referendum are already being strongly affected by Brexit was rejected by the EU court, which took the position that, as Brexit hasn’t yet...
7 Dec at 6 PM
New warning estimates hundreds of thousands of returning British expats will wreck the NHS
Government officials are warning a no-deal Brexit will result in hundreds of thousands of British expats flooding back to the home country. According to the UK’s Office of National Statistics, some 800,000 British citizens are living in European Union member states, with 25 per cent over retirement age and around 60,000 aged 15 or...
7 Dec at 6 PM
FCA to take action over unsuitable pension transfer advice
According to the UK’s financial watchdog, less than 50 per cent of pensions transfer advice given to Britons is suitable for individuals’ circumstances. The findings of a Financial Conduct Authority study of advice given on pension transfers were released yesterday, giving cause for concern amongst Britons looking to spend their...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Omanization bites as expats leave, but Golden Visa scheme unlikely to succeed
The introduction of Oman’s visa ban and its recent extensions seems to have encouraged unemployed locals to get jobs, but Oman‘s new Golden Visa scheme doesn’t allow expat citizenship. The aim of the expat visa ban was to vastly increase available jobs for Omanis as the emirate’s unemployment figures were at an all-time high....
6 Dec at 6 PM
Is medical tourism worth the hassle for expats?
Given that private healthcare almost anywhere is far cheaper than in the USA and often a deal cheaper than in the UK’s failing NHS, is it really worth shopping around for necessary operations? In the USA, commonly-performed operations such as knee transplants cost between $35,000 and $50,000, with the UK equivalent costing from around...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Multiple Golden Visas now essential for the ultra-wealthy
Is global citizenship now a must-have for wealthy expatriates? Paying anything from a reasonable amount to a small fortune for a second passport, residency and citizenship in a country you’ve never even visited now seems to be the must-have accessory for expats as well as wealthy nationals of slightly politically unstable world...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Aussie expats take advantage of dollar fall to invest in upscale homes
The week Australian dollar along with the Brexit and Trump effects are being projected to merge into a perfect storm of upscale property purchases by wealthy expat Aussies. According to top-of-the-range real estate agents, the surge has already begun, with enquiries about prestige properties from Australian citizens living and working...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Finding accommodation in Kuwait is a nightmare for single expats
Relocating as an expat worker to a land with a totally different culture is never easy, but Kuwait’s rulings for singles accommodation can make the experience a nightmare. Finding rentals in Kuwait isn’t easy for married couples and those arriving with their families, but for single expats it can be almost impossible to find a...
5 Dec at 6 PM
New expat arrivals urged to beware of Amsterdam property rental scams
Expatriates in the Netherlands are being warned about property scams after the arrest for fraud of an estate agent dealing in rental properties. Owner of the Fam Makelaardij and Accurakey rental housing agents Farhan Malik was arrested last month for defrauding a number of expat workers out of their deposits and advance rents paid to...
4 Dec at 6 PM
Portugal housing bubble bad news for expat retirees
According to a major ratings agency, house prices in Portugal will keep on rising. Portugal is still considered to be a cheap destination for expat retirees as well as for start-ups and digital nomads, but its ever-rising cost of accommodation may take the shine off its formerly well-deserved fame. For several decades, Portugal’s Algarve...
4 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Saudi confused by so-called fake news
Business owners, real estate owners and expats in general are getting mixed messages about changes to the Saudi labour system. Several days ago, the kingdom’s newly appointed minister for labour and social development promised good news intended to ease the concerns of home owners, businessmen and expatriates living and working in Saudi...
4 Dec at 6 PM
UK consulates in Europe finlly gearing upp to help expats
One no-no as regards emigrating to Europe is the perception that UK consular officials don’t want to know about seemingly unsolvable problems experienced by UK expats. According to reports of a recent British Embassy meeting with campaigners for UK expats in the EU, the British consular service has been cranking up its services in a...
3 Dec at 6 PM
UK expats overseas urged to register to vote as Brexit chaos continues
Given the utter chaos in the British parliament over Theresa May’s Brexit deal, Brit expats in Europe are being urged to register to vote. Former Transport Minister and British MP Jo Johnson believes it’s quite possible May will be forced to agree to a second Brexit referendum and is urging UK expats living overseas to be prepared by...
3 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in China to take part in 'attractive city' survey
Expats living and working in China are being asked to take part in a magazine survey to determine the most attractive Chinese city. Organiser International Talent Magazine is asking the country’s significant proportion of foreigners to vote via ‘wetalent’, the publication’s WeChat account, with 42 cities selected as candidates for...
3 Dec at 6 PM
Gulf States infrastructure suffering from lack of expat expertise
Recent articles in the GCC Arab media suggest a reaction against getting rid of expatriate talent in the region. In spite of the various Omanization, Kuwatization, Saudization and other such programmes intended to rid the emirates of expatriates and give their jobs to locals, it seems an increasing number of nationals believe government,...
1 Dec at 6 PM
Brexit causing grief to French villagers as well as Brit expats
Brexit is causing grief to the French residents of Alet les Bains, a tiny village in the south of France. The Alet les Bains British expat community may only be 60-strong out of 440 residents, but locals love the way they’ve looked after and renovated their homes, made friends with the locals and integrated into the tiny community. As...
1 Dec at 6 PM
Brits expats still investing in buy-to-let
Brit expats working in Europe invest in London buy-to-lets whilst those working in the Middle East prefer North of England properties. Perhaps the aboveo is something of a generalisation, but the statistics come from a major UK buy-to-let mortgage lender dealing with British expat property investors across the world. Over the past few...
1 Dec at 6 PM
Is Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay about to be wrecked by developers?
Discovery Bay’s tranquil Hong Kong beachside suburb set on Lantau Island gives a welcome release from city life for its mostly expat community, but is now under threat by developers. Low rise properties sit in this mountainous, green island suburb of chaotic Hong Kong are favoured by expat professionals as well as locals as an escape...
29 Dec at 6 PM
Sharm el Sheikh ghost town still home for UK expat retirees
Formerly a haven for Brit expat retirees and British holidaymakers, Sharm el Sheikh is still beautiful, but it’s now all but deserted. Known as the jewel in the Red Sea crown and the ‘Pearl of the Red Sea’, Sharm is as close to being a ghost town as it’s possible to get. Once equally popular with UK expat retirees and British...
29 Dec at 6 PM
Relocating to France with your furry best friend
Planning ahead for a move to France with your dog isn’t as complicated as many would-be expats think, but certain rules must be obeyed. The heartbreak of leaving a beloved pet behind when you relocate overseas is one of the major negatives of emigrating, but the regulations for bringing dogs into France can be easily negotiated. The...
29 Dec at 6 PM
Dordogne villagers fear financial ruin if Brit expats leave
A charming small village in France’s southern region fears Brexit will be the end for its jobs and small businesses. The picturesque French village of Eymet is nicknamed ‘Little England’ due to its high number of British residents, and is now in a state of near-panic about the possible effects of Brexit on the entire community....
28 Dec at 6 PM
France not doing enough to attract skilled expat workers
An OECD study is criticising the French government for not working harder to attract skilled expat professionals. According to the report, France needs to improve and modernise its economic immigration system in order to make it easier for skilled foreigners to emigrate to the country. Immigration numbers of non-EU nationals are low in...
28 Dec at 6 PM
US expats leave for a better life rather than more money
US citizens leaving the country of their birth are doing so for a change in lifestyle rather than to earn more money. A surprising revelation in the latest InterNations survey states many US citizens are upping sticks and moving overseas for a better quality of life, irrespective of whether they’re earning more in their new countries....
28 Dec at 6 PM
Scots expats warned of higher bills for tax residents
The Scottish government is to bring in a new set of tax bands likely to affect Scots expats who've retained tax-residence in the home country. The move, expected to affect Scottish tax residents working overseas in the oil and gas industry, will be introduced in April 2018 and is certain to be bad news for many expats. From the start of...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Affordable Bucharest is a haven for UK expats
Is the city of Bucharest as inexpensive as its reputation suggests? Having enough money for a satisfactory lifestyle is a challenge for the vast majority of expats living in a foreign country. Researching the cost of living including renting a suitable property is easier now than in pre-internet days, but the downside of online reports is...
27 Dec at 6 PM
True Christmas spirit shown by Malaga expats and locals
Expats and local citizens in Malaga have donated the largest amount of food ever to the Gran Recoguda food bank. Residents of Malaga have demonstrated the true meaning of Christmas by donating a record amount of food to one of the region’s largest food banks. During the two-day appeal campaign, a massive 600 tons of food was collected...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Saudi Arabia expats brace for five per cent inflation in 2018
Expats in Saudi may well benefit from the upcoming changes in the kingdom, but inflation may be the undesirable result. Beginning with the introduction in the new year of VAT at five percent and including the new energy price reforms, inflation in 2018 is expected to soar to over five per cent. Tariffs due to be introduced on private...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Are Portuguese homes too cold for most of the year
If you’re thinking of retiring to sunny Portugal and buying a property, there’s one thing you’d be wise to remember. Granted, Portugal’s summers are a retirement dream, with sunshine and high temperatures banishing any traces of the cold-weather blues so common in the UK. However, if you’re thinking of buying a retirement home,...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Brit taxman to target expat landlords in new crackdown
Tax avoidance by expat landlords is next in line for an HMRC crackdown. As the number of expat buy-to-let property purchases continues to soar, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs office is taking aim at expat landlords in a new crackdown on tax avoidance. The new policy is aimed at shrinking Britain’s black economy as well as...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Kuwait Ministry of Finance refuses to recognise Bitcoin
In spite of reports of huge Kuwaiti interest in the cryptocurrency, the emirate’s Ministry of Finance has refused to recognise Bitcoin and has banned its trading. According to the Arab Times, an unnamed ministry source told reporters the Kuwaiti Central Bank is disallowing banks, financial institutions and affiliated companies from...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expat stuck in Spain following wrongful arrest
A young British expat is unable to leave Spain after a wrongful arrest led to his passport being confiscated. Scot expat Robbie McMillar is now demanding answers after he was arrested when police found marijuana plants growing on wild land at the back of his rented apartment. His passport was confiscated during the arrest last October,...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Vietnam thrilled by Da Nangs Got Talent contest
The first ever ‘Da Nang Expats’ Got Talent’ contest was a roaring success with locals and foreign residents alike. The event was the brainchild of the city’s Department of Culture and Sports and attracted contestants from across the entire expat community in the region. Performances were based on the individual cultural aspects of...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Brit pensioners in France hit hard by fallen pound
Expats’ lives in France have been severely impacted by the shrinking value of sterling since the 2016 Brexit referendum. The usual Christmas consumerfest is a fond memory for a good number of British expats in France now struggling to make ends meet due to the steep drop in the value of sterling. Over half a year into the negotiation...
22 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats in Canaries at risk from yellow fever and dengue
Both expats and tourists on the island of Fuerteventura are now believed to be at risk of contracting either dengue fever or yellow fever, according to local health officials. The Canary Islands archipelago is a favourite destination for Brit expats and tourists alike, but the recent discovery in Fuerteventura of mosquitoes carrying yellow...
22 Dec at 6 PM
New Zealand immigration demographics heading for shake up
For decades, New Zealand has been a favourite expat destination, with Britons and Australians making up a high proportion of new arrivals. New Zealand has always been a popular destination for UK citizens looking to retire, start businesses or enjoy a better quality of life, with Australian migrants making up the numbers on a regular...
22 Dec at 6 PM
Should long term expat professionals in Saudi be granted citizenship
In an ever-increasing world of prejudice, an opinion piece in a prominent Saudi newspaper calls for certain categories of expat professionals to be granted citizenship, as is happening in other world countries. The piece begins with other major world countries’ attitudes towards immigrant issues, stating Canada’s recent announcement...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Saudi Arabia gears up with tourist visas and strings of luxury resorts
Saudi’s leading tourist official has announced the kingdom will begin offering tourist visas in early 2018. The opening up of Saudi Arabia to tourism is yet another indication of the effect on the kingdom of the appointment of Saudi Prince Mohammad and his introduction of the Saudi2030 plan. According to top tourism official Prince...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Expats slam UK Embassy advisory video on drinking at Christmas
A cartoon-style video featuring LEGO characters issued by the British Embassy as an advisory against drinking too much and using bad language during the Christmas season in Dubai has been derided by expats and visitors alike as insulting and ridiculous. The embarrassing video is based on the Charles Dickens novel ‘A Christmas Carol’...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Expat spirit of Christmas alive and giving in Hanoi
In the midst of the modern Christmas’s commercialised beanfeast, a group of expats in Hanoi are playing Santa to the city’s homeless. Now in its second year, the expat-inspired Hanoi Christmas Kitchen is preparing to give hundreds of gifts inclduing hot meals to the homeless and less privileged in the city. From its small beginnings...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Expat investors in Saudi to be offered green cards
In a surprise announcement, Saudi’s Council of Economic Affairs is studying the feasibility of a green card issue for qualified expats. Although a spokesperson for the council declined to give details of the plan, the statement follows shared details on eligible expat investors from Shoura Council Financial Committee vice-chair Fahad...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Catalonia solidly against independence
According to a recent local survey, expats living in Catalonia are firmly opposed to independence, whatever the referendum result says. The survey, conducted by the expat owner of a Catalonian real estate company, involved almost 500 expat respondents, the vast majority of whom were firmly against the drive for independence by local...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Declining numbers of émigrés to Spain may signal end of Brit retirement dream
For decades, British pensioners sick to death of eternal sunless skies, freezing cold and ever increasing bureaucracy have voted with their feet and taken themselves off to sunny Mediterranean havens mostly located in the south of Spain. Assured of a warm welcome as well as warm weather, they bought homes, eked out their meagre state...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Home Office refuses visa due to fluent English of graduate applicant
The UK Home Office is in the headlines yet again for a decision so illogical it’s almost amusing. Indian would-be expat Alexandra Rintoul, the pregnant 22-year old wife of a Scot living in St Andrews, has been denied a visa to enter the UK due to her excellent command of the English language. Hoping to be allowed to live permanently...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Dos and Donts for female expat professionals in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is still a hotspot for expats from Western societies, but female expats will find it harder to settle in than will their male colleagues. Saudi Arabia is a land of diversity as well as opportunity for expats able to cross the cultural divide between Western society and the Arab world. Rules of behaviour for men aren’t as...
19 Dec at 6 PM
FCA puts stop to dodgy car park investment plan aimed at retirees
Britain’s Financial Conduct Agency is in top gear nowadays as regards shutting down dodgy and downright fraudulent investments affecting not just British residents but also UK retirees overseas. The FCA's latest target, Park First Ltd, was found to be giving financial advice related to its airport parking investment scheme without first...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Expats fight addiction and find new lives at Thai monastery
Rising drug addiction and alcoholism rates regularly hit international news outlets, but finding affordable, effective treatment seems to be beyond the skills of most Western health services. Whether it’s hard drugs or alcohol, the effects of addiction can be literally mind-blowing and frequently fatal, especially for those unable to...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Saudi women drivers to lose over a million female chauffeurs their jobs
Over a million female foreign drivers are expected to lose their jobs and be forced to return home once Saudi women start driving. An estimated 1.3 million expat women working as private chauffeurs for wealthy Saudi families are expected to lose their jobs and leave the kingdom after Saudi women finally get their driving licenses. Some 82...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Free movement essential for many Brit expat owned businesses in EU member states
The British in Europe expat rights group has put forward a set of three demands for its expat members as Theresa May moves to Phase 2 negotiations. British in Europe is the largest expats' rights group with some 35,000 members to date, with its chair Jane Golding reported as not being best thrilled about the May/EU agreement which closed...
15 Dec at 6 PM
Advantages for expat professionals working in Kuwait
Kuwait has lately been getting a seriously negative image as a destination for expat professionals, but a recent article in the Kuwait Times puts it in a far brighter perspective. Kuwatization, restrictions and extra charges, prejudiced lawmakers and blame for all Kuwait’s woes including its demographic makeup seem to be the norm...
15 Dec at 6 PM
Luanda now most expensive world city for expats
Although the vast majority of expatriates scattered across the world might not have heard of it, Angola’s capital Luanda is now the planet’s most pricey location for expat professionals. The Angolan capital has been slowly edging upwards through the five most expensive cities’ list, but now it’s number one – and it’s probable...
15 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Gulf States and Asia still rushing to buy UK property
Mortgage enquiries from British expats and investors living overseas have soared by 45 per cent over the present quarter, indicating the rush from abroad to purchase UK properties is far from over. The still-growing trend seems to totally negate expectations that the government’s change of its buy-to-let tax law would put the brakes on...
14 Dec at 6 PM
Expat dog lovers happy about change in Spanish law
Today, Spain’s civil laws are being changed to recognise the rights of dogs by declaring them as ‘beings’ rather than ‘objects’. British expat dog-lovers and their furry best friends will be celebrating the change in Spain’s civil laws which recognises dogs and other pets as ‘beings’ with rights of their own. The original...
14 Dec at 6 PM
Expat fitness fanatics in Shanghai get roadside exercise capsules
Shanghai’s residential areas will soon provide locals and expats with small, ‘intelligent’ fitness capsules giving the opportunity to work out anywhere at anytime. Fitness fanatics may well see the innovative idea as a dream come true, as they won’t have to set aside time to travel to a gym, pay a monthly subscription or even...
14 Dec at 6 PM
Kuwait reverses repeal of vehicle impounding for driving offences
Kuwait’s Ministry of the Interior has reversed its recent decision to repeal a new law which impounds the cars of drivers committing motoring offences. When the penalty was originally introduced, it drew strong protests from both the National Assembly and motorists, causing it to be rescinded shortly after it was brought in. However, the...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai to build two hospitals for expats on basic insurance deal
In a welcome nod to the majority of Dubai’s expat community, the Asten DM Healthcare group is to build two new hospitals catering exclusively for those on the basic insurance package. Some 70 per cent of Dubai’s resident expat community are unable to afford the more expensive options under the mandatory health coverage available,...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Brit householders in New Zealand falling foul of extortionate lease payments
British expats living in Waitara NZ properties built on leased land are facing financial hardship and the possible loss of their homes due to a massive land lease price hike. Waitara is home to a number of British expats who’ve purchased homes on leased land as part of their plan to stay long-term in New Zealand. Leases in the area run...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Brit holiday rental fraudster on the run in Spain
A female British expat is on the run in southern Spain after she was caught conning English tourists out of thousands of euros. The alleged holiday rentals scammer is now the subject of a manhunt centred on the Costa del Sol after victims of her online fraud complained to local police. Expat conwoman Paula-Louise Neale has been accused of...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Which US cities are the most expat-friendly
If you’re dreaming of the perfect job somewhere in America, researching for the most expat-friendly destination is a good start. As with every world country's major conurbations, USA cities may or may not be especially expat-friendly, but feeling welcome is an essential if you’re going to succeed in a challenging new job as well as...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Luxembourg Home from Home is foodie heaven for homesick British expats
A pair of former City of London brokers in Luxembourg are cashing in on the expected influx of moneyed financiers by provided the best of Britain’s favourite comfort foods. John Hefferman and his business partner Mark Hollis saw a gap in the Luxembourg food market and filled it fast with a specialist store selling British favourites to...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Guide to your first expat Christmas in Germany
Expats living and working in Germany find themselves at the heart of traditional Christmas with glittering pine trees, endless fun things to do, and lots of delicious mulled wine. It could well be said that Germany invented the traditional Christmas enjoyed by the entire Western world. Christmas trees, now considered the icon of the...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Kuwait abandon public hospitals due to charges
Public hospitals in Kuwait are experiencing an almost total dearth of expat patients due to recently introduced charges of at least KH10 per day. A Kuwait Times report highlighted the formerly busy Sabah Hospital, giving the example of a single patient in an eight-patient ward who was packing to leave as he couldn’t afford the charges....
11 Dec at 6 PM
Gibraltar excluded as expat campaign groups reject Friday agreement
In spite of the EU and UK seemingly reaching agreement over the fate of EU and UK expats, it seems the Rock may be excluded from any deal and its British residents left to face post-Brexit life without a transition period. Brussels bureaucrats appeared to state Gibraltar would need an agreement with Spain over the Rock’s future in order...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Expats alerted to increase in fraudulent bank transfer scams
Criminals are ramping up their bank transfer scamming activities, with expat investors warned to take care when making bank transfers to UK solicitors The UK’s Payments System Regulator has issued a warning over a sophisticated bank transfer payment scam which netted scammers over a million pounds in the first half of this year. Some...
8 Dec at 6 PM
Deadly Delhi air pollution spurs expat choice between health and wealth
Delhi’s continuing problem with deadly air pollution is causing expat professionals on high salaries to wonder whether it’s worth exchanging years of their lives for a booming bank account. For over a month now, Delhi’s toxic smog has blanketed the city, causing zero visibility in many districts. Elderly expat residents who can just...
8 Dec at 6 PM
Expats and nationals in UEA condemn Trump move on Jerusalem
Government officials, Emiratis and expats living and working in the UAE are all in agreement that Trump’s Jerusalem declaration is totally unwarranted and poses a strong risk of damaging the entire Arab region’s fragile stability. Official notices of deep concern came from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation...
8 Dec at 6 PM
Expat Christmases in Taiwan
The Christmas holiday is a good time to check out your chosen expat destination, as there’ll be lots going on and you’ll get a chance to blend in with the local expat community. Christmas is celebrated in some way in many Asian countries as it’s a time for being with family and gift-giving even in non-Christian lands. The Buddhist...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Expat professionals demanding return to gold plated relocation packages
New research is revealing more and more expat professionals are unhappy with cuts to their relocation packages and are demanding a rerun of the ‘good old days’. In spite of the growing trend in many former favourite locations towards employing local talent, experienced expats are digging their heels in for extensive lifestyle and...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Thousands of expat government jobs should be filled by Emiratis
During a meeting last Wednesday, Abu Dhabi’s Federal National Council members were told that 8,000 government admin public sector jobs at present done by expats should be given over to Emirati citizens. Council members expressed their concerns over the high rate of unemployment in the country to Minister of State for Higher Education...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Paralysed Brit expat trapped in Dubai by warped legal system
British pensioner Malcolm Munroe is paralysed following a stroke in 2013 and is being detained in a Dubai hospital until his unpaid business debts are settled. Monroe’s massive stroke left him totally paralysed and only able to more his eyelids. Since December 2013 he’s been in Dubai’s Rashid Hospital after being judged a criminal...
6 Dec at 6 PM
All Hong Kong QROPS delisted by HMRC
British expats living in China as well as Chinese nationals with UK pension rights cannot now transfer their pension savings to a Hong Kong QROPS. In total, all 19 Hong Kong-based QROPS have been delisted by HMRC and are no longer included in the authority’s list of approved schemes. For expats living in China and planning to transfer...
6 Dec at 6 PM
British state pensioners have largest income drop of major world countries
It’s no wonder British pensioners have been queuing up to leave the UK for warmer, cheaper climes, as their state stipends are far below those of any other major world country. It’s official, Britain’s state pensioners are now at the bottom of the retirement league, with those unable to save for a private pension now undergoing...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Da Nang expats to strut their stuff at Expats got Talent show
As the formerly popular British X-factor spectacular finishes with more brickbats than compliments from fans and ex-fans, Vietnam’s Da Nang expat community is performing in its own show! Expats got Talent 2017 is the brainchild of the local Department of Culture and Sports along with a group of expats living and working in the...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Panama cashes in on wealthy retirees and expat investors
Over the past decade, the expat world has expanded to include far-flung destinations in every corner of the world. The latest haven for expats with a view to investment as well as the good life is Panama, home to the iconic Canal as well as a host of new updates and improvements aimed at attracting wealthier tourists, retirees and...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Amsterdam locals angry over influx of expat professionals
Amsterdam media outlets are reporting local residents' anger over the influx of expat professionals arriving as a result of Brexit. Dutch lawmakers were over the moon last month when Amsterdam became the destination of choice for the relocation from the UK of the European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam residents, however, were far less than...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Wealthy expats fleeing Britain in fear of post Brexit tax status
Reports show over 12,000 non-domiciled expat professionals have left the UK over the past year, with another 55,000 planning to leave. The mass exodus is focused on the City of London financial district with its specially orchestrated non-dom tax rules, introduced to encourage top financial talents to take temporary assignments in the UK....
4 Dec at 6 PM
Kuwait real estate association suggest banning expats from rentals
A recent request by Kuwait’s Real Estate Association has drawn strong criticism from real estate experts. Yet another hit at expat professionals living and working in Kuwait comes in the form of a proposal by the emirate’s Real Estate Association that expats should be prohibited from renting private homes. The suggestion was met with...
4 Dec at 6 PM
UK to tell EU it needs to stay in aviation safety body
In a slightly desperate move to keep UK-based airlines in the sky post-Brexit, UK negotiators have told the EU Britain needs to stay in the EU aviation safety body. The message will be given to EU negotiators Monday, and follows intense pressure from both European and UK-based airlines as well as from the US Federal Aviation Authority. The...
4 Dec at 6 PM
UK lawmakers urge both Brexit teams to ringfence expat rights
Parliament’s Select Committee on Exiting the EU is urging both sides of the negotiating teams to agree the rights of EU and UK expats should be ring-fenced. The select committee sees no reason why expat rights should be dependent on agreements concerning the Irish border or financial issues. Its position at this stage of the game is...
1 Dec at 6 PM
Reactions of Brit expats in France to Brexit threat
All 150,000 British expatriates living in France will ultimately be affected by Brexit, but the community as a whole is reacting in three specific ways. Rather than taking the same stance over the Brexit threat to their lives, the UK expat community across the channel has divided into three very different sectors – those actively...
1 Dec at 6 PM
Expats hoping Qatar blockade will be lifted soon
Expats working in Qatar are hoping the crisis between the country and the four Gulf States will soon become just a memory. The controversial diplomatic siege has been ongoing for six long months, with Qatar doing all it can to keep itself relatively stable and its population relatively happy. What it hasn’t done is to attempt to open a...
1 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Vietnam unhappy about compulsory foreign insurance
Vietnam is the new kid on the block as regards popularity with expats, but the new compulsory social insurance isn’t winning any prizes. Vietnam’s growth potential, its low cost of living and the friendliness of its people has attracted a good number of expats over the past few years, overtaking its Southeast Asian neighbours as the...
30 Dec at 6 PM
European expats and UK nationals bring fresh Brexit legal challenges
As February’s Article 50 invocation draws ever nearer, four anonymous challengers are adding fuel to the legal fire lit by pro-single market group British Influence. Thursday saw the introduction of new challenges aimed at consolidating Adrian Yelland and Peter Wilding’s case demanding separate approval by the British parliament be...
30 Dec at 6 PM
EU expats in UK being refused residency
The UK Home Office is under fire from frustrated EU citizens over its draconian refusals of permanent residency permits. The permanent residency process appears to be in chaos as long-stay EU citizens and experts are being told they must leave the UK due to minor paperwork problems. As a result, a recently formed campaign group is now...
30 Dec at 6 PM
Qatar expat residents forced to carry ID cards or face heavy fines
Expats living and working in Qatar are being forced to carry their Residence Permit ID cards with them at all times or face being fined QR10,000. An article in Qatar Scoop is reminding expats of the requirement to carry the documentation with them whenever they go out, irrespective of their home countries or cultures. Should those stopped...
29 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in African mining industry to get 2017 salary increase
Expats working across Africa in the mining industry can expect salary increases in 2017, according to a recent report. According to consultancy firm Globe 24-7, expat professionals in the continent’s mining industry can look forward to slightly increased salaries in the coming year. The report states the remuneration crash has now...
29 Dec at 6 PM
Is Brexit good news for expat final salary pensions
In the UK, workers approaching retirement are facing scare stories about Brexit’s effect on final salary pension, but expat retirees may find opportunities as a result of the referendum. Nowadays, a final salary company pension seems essential for a comfortable retirement given the pittance offered by the UK state pension. Increasing...
29 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Dubai rush to beat healthcare deadline
Dubai residents are struggling to find suitable healthcare policies before the cut-off date of December 31. Dubai expats faced with the emirate’s new requirements to purchase healthcare insurance are struggling to meet Saturday’s deadline in order to avoid the monthly 500 dirham fines and problems with their visa extensions. To date,...
28 Dec at 6 PM
UK expats in France unhappy with new street name
A far-right French mayor is causing annoyance to UK expats and pro-Europeans by his naming of a local road as ‘Brexit Street’ in honour of Britain’s referendum decision. Far-right Mayor of Beaucaire Julien Sanchez has caused resentment and controversy by his decision to ‘create a buzz’ by naming a road in an industrial estate...
28 Dec at 6 PM
UAE sends message of peace after year of world turmoil
Christians in Abu Dhabi flocked to St Joseph’s Cathedral’s midnight mass to send a message of hope and peace to the troubled world. Tolerance, peace and hope was the Christmas Eve message from the UAE Christian community to the rest of the world during an outdoor midnight mass in Abu Dhabi. The scene as the day drew to an end...
28 Dec at 6 PM
Medical check ups now compulsory for expats in Bahrain
As part of comprehensive new plans proposed in order to improve the country’s healthcare provision, expats will now be required to undergo mandatory health check-ups. The overall scheme as announced last week in a new health bill is expected to enhance the roles of local insurance companies and healthcare providers. At present, only...
28 Dec at 6 PM
Will New Year changes in France affect expat life
Traditionally, New Year’s Day welcomes many changes, with France no exception to the rule. Expats living in France will be used to minor changes in laws and rules arriving with the sunrise on January 1, with 2017 being no exception. However, most rile changes and price hikes are minor, and won’t disturb most expats’ daily regimes or...
28 Dec at 6 PM
Costa floods contaminate expat water supplies
The recent once-in-a-lifetime floods in Spain’s Costa del Sol have left the expat community in danger due to sewage contamination of the water supply. Heavy rain battered the popular Alicante area for four straight days, with flooded rivers inundating residential districts and destroying many homes. As communities struggled to recover,...
28 Dec at 3 PM
Expats choosing Utrecht for lifestyle and friendliness
The Netherlands is well-known as a popular destination for younger expats working in the tech industry, with Utrecht now coming to the fore as the new place to be. Most of the estimated 57,000 expats in the Netherlands are spread across the massive municipality created by the country’s four largest cities, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Spate of violent burglaries hits Cost del Sol expat communities
A gang of burglars are hitting expats homes during the festive season, using gas to knock out householders before stealing valuable possessions and Christmas gifts. According to the Olive Press, a number of expats living in the Costa del Sol region have been targeted by a gang of thieves using gas to disable homeowners before making off...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Expat woman escapes from Dubai rape situation via 999 call
A quick-thinking Canadian woman living and working in Dubai managed to thwart a rape attempt by a UAE soldier by dialing 999 whilst the man was driving to a remote spot. The 21-year-old Canadian had agreed to meet the soldier at an agreed location in order to have dinner with him, and had driven her own car to the meeting place. After...
26 Dec at 6 PM
IMF slams Gulf States plan to tax expat remittances
In an unequivocal Christmas Day message, the International Monetary Fund has warned about Gulf State plans to tax money transfers made by expatriate workers across the region. According to the Arab Times, the IMF report states 90 per cent of private sector employees are workers from overseas, with implementing remittance taxes guaranteed...
23 Dec at 6 PM
Irish expats send festive love to family and friends
Irish expats all over the world unable to return home for the festive season are sending their love and best wishes to their families and friends by holding traditional Irish celebrations. Wanderlust, traditionally a part of the Irish psyche, has led many nationals of the Emerald Isle to try their luck in far-off climes, especially after...
23 Dec at 6 PM
Solutions for American expats barred from using US brokers
US expat investors are now mostly banned from using US-based investment brokers due to the effects of FATCA on withholding requirements and additional reporting, but there are now solutions which allow trading in low-cost index funds. Rather than assuming extra burdensome paperwork due to FATCA, the majority of US-based brokers are not...
23 Dec at 6 PM
Expat family saved from flood deaths by quick thinking
During the worst Costa del Sol floods in decades, an expat mother and daughter only escaped death by wriggling out of their kitchen window. The recent Costa del Sol floods were the worst in 27 years, and inundated the popular expat city of Fuengirola and its surroundings at lightning speed, threatening lives and property. Adrianne...
22 Dec at 6 PM
Saudi 2016 budget to bring bad news for expats
Saudi Arabia’s annual budget statement is expected to announce new fees for expat professionals working in the kingdom. The Saudi budget is expected to contain a number of tough measures aimed at putting the Kingdom in recovery mode and achieving a financial balance over the next three years. The Saudi economy has taken a hard hit from...
22 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai expat photographer holds Xmas charity pet photoshoot
Acting in the spirit of Christmas, an expat photographer working in Dubai is raising money for an animal welfare charity by photographing pets and their owners who attend a local veterinary clinic. Iranian expat Massih Shahbazi organised his first, free, Christmas photo call last year at the Lucky Veterinary Clinic for customers of the...
22 Dec at 6 PM
Is Tokyo truly the most expensive world city for expats
A new survey has identified Tokyo as the most expensive world city for expats. Jumping from 12th place to first in the ECA International Survey’s list of most expensive cities for expat life, Tokyo is now joined in the top ten by three other major Japanese cities. The 2016 survey placed Tokyo at the top of the list, which included...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Four expat destinations best avoided
Would-be expats face a huge choice of places to hang their hats but, in some, all is not as it seems. Getting away from the familiar and embracing the new is a challenge familiar to hundreds of thousands of expats from many Western countries, but how does the average expat make sure what they’re seeing on their reconnaissance trip is...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Expats overseas queuing to purchase UK buy to let properties
In spite of the UK government’s recent change in its tax policy for buy-to-let purchases, sales of British properties to overseas buyers have soared since Brexit. Since the sterling crash following the Brexit result, mortgage enquiries by non-British residents have soared by almost 50 percent, with the majority of the increase taking...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Hope for EU expats as UK government warned over deportation
The UK parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has warned the government of the impracticability of attempting to deport 2.9 million EU expats from the UK. Published last Monday, the committee’s strongly-worded report tells it like it is as regards mass deportations, and also notes that expats living and working in the UK...
21 Dec at 6 PM
UK expats in UAE might not be home for Christmas
Christmas plans of UK expats living and working in the UAE risk being wrecked by threats of strike action from three major carriers. Three airlines are involved in a rash of labour actions aimed at disrupting many flights, including those booked by UAE expats returning home for Christmas celebrations with families and friends. Virgin...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Nigerian trade union protests expat hirings after local sackings
The trade union for Nigerian workers in the oil and gas industry is protesting against the sacking of local workers and their replacement by high-salaried expats. Nigeria’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) is up in arms over the sacking of its members and their replacement by expatriates on generous...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Kuwaiti parliament mulls bill to reduce expat numbers by 2021
If adopted, a draft law submitted by five members of the Kuwaiti parliament would reduce the number of expat workers in the emirate by 800,000. According to the Kuwait Times, the bill calls for a higher national committee to oversee the reduction of expat numbers over five years, resulting in parity with the number of Kuwaiti national...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Illegal expat mortgages from Marbella boiler room judged null and void
Another appalling example of financial fraudsters targeting inexperienced expat investors has finally been decided in the victims’ favour by a Bilbao court, Spain’s version of the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ was finally crushed last week by a Bilbao judge, who ruled all contracts made between SL Mortgage Funding Ltd and their clients are...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Do expats really need offshore accounts
Even if you’ve banked with the same high-street name for decades, your banking rights as an expat might change, making you wish you’d opened an offshore account. If you’re moving to a country with unfamiliar or possibly less secure or efficient banking facilities, leaving your money in your home country bank account is an attractive...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in France can legally apply for permanent residency card
As the uncertainty of the fate of UK expats in the EU continues, those living in France may have an advantage due to the Carte de Sejour UE - sejours permanente. Although the thought of tackling French bureaucracy may strike terror into the hearts of many UK expats, there’s one way to avoid being on the first boat out after the Brexit...
18 Dec at 6 PM
British expats to be barred from Belgian citizenship after Brexit
An announcement by Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel states that UK expats living in the small country will not be allowed to take Belgian citizenship after Article 50 is triggered. British citizens working in Brussels and other Belgian cities have been hoping to be able to apply for Belgian citizenship in order to stay in the country....
18 Dec at 6 PM
US expats in Mexico distancing themselves from Trump
Life is getting more uncomfortable by the minute for US expats living in Mexico. From Trump’s first campaign rant about Mexicans and his promise to build a wall between the two countries to the present time, life for American expats across the US border is becoming ever more uncomfortable. Unsurprisingly, millions of Mexicans were deeply...
18 Dec at 6 PM
EU expats in UK face HMRC pension transfer block
In a surprise move by HMRC, French and Italian expats working in Britain are to be blocked from transferring their pensions to their home countries should Brexit force them to leave the UK. All French and Italian pension schemes on HM Revenue and Customs’ list of permitted international schemes have been removed in an unexpected move by...
16 Dec at 6 PM
May makes unexpected plea for UK expats during Brussels summit
Theresa May broke silence over the fate of UK citizens living in EU member states when she requested an early deal to protect their rights during an EU summit meeting. Although May’s plea seemed to fall on deaf EU ministerial ears, the fact she seems to be finally recognising the desperate plight of over a million Britons living in the...
16 Dec at 6 PM
Falling yuan causes expat belt tightening
Expats working in China are tightening their belts against further depreciation in the value of the yuan. According to Chinese media reports, the yuan is now at its weakest point against the US dollar since the 2008 financial crash. Expats whose salaries were agreed as late as 2015 are feeling the pinch and are concerned about further...
16 Dec at 6 PM
British couple living their expat dream in Cyprus found dead
Kenneth Lincoln and his wife Linda, both long-term British expat residents in Cyprus, were found unconscious in their gas-filled apartment after Linda failed to turn up to her job. After emigrating to the holiday island in 2005, the couple were living their dream of retiring to a stress-free location and simply enjoying life in Kapparis,...
15 Dec at 6 PM
UAE expat investors to benefit from ban on upfront commissions
Expats working in the UAE are expected to benefit from the emirates’ insurance regulator’s decision to ban up-front indemnity commissions taken by financial advisors working within the expat sector. The regulator’s decision was taken in order to align the industry with jurisdictions such as the UK and Hong Kong, whose regulations...
15 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai expats face fines if health insurance not purchased
Dubai residents and expats are facing fines if they have not registered for health insurance before January 1 next year. Not complying with Dubai’s new rules on health insurance will hit expats especially hard, as fines aren’t the only punishment for ignoring the emirate’s compulsory health insurance package. Those who fail to get up...
15 Dec at 6 PM
Report focuses on qualities required for success in expat business life
A recent research study has identified the personal qualities and characteristics which make up success as an expat. The report,‘Predicting who will be a successful expatriate’, followed a comprehensive research study involving not only expats but also managers, employers and subordinates in both expats’ home and overseas countries....
14 Dec at 6 PM
UAE expats in line for new global FATCA
Following the introduction of new international measures to stop expat tax evasion, banking secrecy for expat clients is about to become a thing of the past. International bank HSBC has issued a notice stating the impending collection of account-holder information related to tax matters, making global transparency a major tool in fighting...
14 Dec at 6 PM
US expats in Europe protest against Trumpland
American expats in Europe are getting together to protest Trump’s devastating victory in the recent presidential election. Concerned citizens all over the USA aren’t alone in planning protests and demonstrations to coincide with the Trump inauguration in January, with groups now forming in European expat destinations in order to make...
14 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expats lose chance of compensation for missold Spanish homes
An Almeria expat campaign group who’ve been fighting for compensation in a mis-selling scandal are furious over a court judgement that millions lost to British investors will not be reimbursed. The plight of British expats who’ve lost their Spanish homes due to illegal dealings between construction firms and local authorities is well...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Common sense tips for expat newbies in Dubai
Newcomers to Dubai’s dramatically different culture can be excused for making all the usual mistakes whilst settling in to their new lives, but most issues can be easily resolved with common sense and advice from long-stayers. Relocating to any foreign country can be stressful in itself, but when your new location is as different as it...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Trumpland escapees head south for retirement
Once retirement sets in, the wanderlust which turns citizens into expats is hard to resist, especially when shocks such as the Trump victory change established views of the home country. The recent US presidential election will go down in history as the most polarising and contentious ever, and has left Americans worried as to its...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Where in France is best for British expats
France has long been a popular destination for British expats looking for a new life, but where are the most popular areas for property purchases? A recent snapshot of the most popular French regions with Britons looking to buy homes showed the coastal areas south of Normandy, the Rhone-Alpes and the far south eastern coastline as holding...
12 Dec at 6 PM
UAE expat investor risk aversion survey gives interesting results
New research on UAE expats’ investment preferences has identified professionals from the UK are the least likely group to take chances with their savings. The survey, undertaken by an international insurance company and a local investment management firm, identified the highest risk-aversion attitude to investment as a British...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Shanghai steps up calls for talented expats
Last week, the Shanghai government unveiled fresh efforts to attract more young graduates and highly-qualified professionals from overseas. The Chinese city is planning to become a global hub for technological innovation by the year 2030, and is now stepping up its efforts to attract the brightest and best in the field. The new rules will...
12 Dec at 6 PM
As Christmas approaches, will UK expats in EU be celebrating
Britons in Europe have been on a knife edge since the Brexit vote left their futures hanging in the balance, but recent legal moves may give reason to at least celebrate the upcoming festive season. As the Supreme Court considers its verdict on the recent Article 50 challenge, a number of other anti-Brexit lawsuits are in preparation. In...
9 Dec at 6 PM
Expat court cases and property transactions at risk from Spanish ruling
A possible Brexit backlash by Spanish government legal advisors is set to threaten many hundreds of court cases brought by expats. Spain’s Directorate General of Registrars and Notaries, the equivalent regulatory body of the UK’s Notaries Society, recently issued a ruling cancelling the validity of powers of attorney issued by UK...
9 Dec at 6 PM
Expat QROPS at risk as HMRC delists Canadian schemes
A Canadian QROPS provider hard hit by HM Revenue and Customs’ delisting of a large number of expat pensions is claiming the regulator has accused local providers of breaking the rules. Canadian QROPS provider Mackenzie’s business is threatened by HMRC’s placing of all but three of Canada’s QROPS funds under review, thus freezing...
9 Dec at 6 PM
Hard Brexit forcing expats in UAE to change long-term financial plans
According to advisors in the UAE, the possibility of a hard Brexit is forcing UK expats to drastically re-evaluate their long-term investment plans. Daily rhetoric from UK government sources still suggests a hard Brexit is the preferred option even although the likely result is financial hardship and a drastic fall in the value of...
8 Dec at 6 PM
Brit expat survives brush with death in flooded lift
A British expat stuck in a flooded lift during last weekend’s devastating Costa del Sol storms believed his life was over until his dramatic rescue. UK expat Dan Dawson found himself in a nightmare scenario when the lift he’d taken during the storm began to flood. When the massive storm broke he’d headed for the basement to rescue...
8 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai property market still popular with UK expats
The Dubai real estate market has remained buoyant through 2016, with UK property investments forming a large part of its success. Recent reports from Dubai’s Land Department show property investments of AED 57 billion involving 26,000 investors during 2016, making the emirate one of the world’s most popular property investment hubs....
8 Dec at 6 PM
France the best place for expat home ownership
A recent and wide-ranging study on residential property across Europe gives good news to UK expats owning French homes. Eight European countries were compared for their number of home owners, costs of homes versus salaries, property price variations, sizes of homes, construction costs, mortgages and rural versus city locations. The...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Expat families hit by more increases in tuition fees
The increasing financial burden of international standard education for the children of expats is now a major problem. As the world economy stutters and relocation packages are replaced by local contracts, the ever-increasing fees changed by international schools overseas are becoming a major problem for expat families. As a result,...
7 Dec at 6 PM
UK pensioners overseas to face tax increased tax bills
A hidden message in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement indicated a government plan to align the process of taxation on overseas pension with that of UK pensions. At the present time, pensioners living overseas and taking their income from the so-called Qualifying Registered Overseas Pension Schemes’, (QROPS), are only paying income tax...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Community minded expats volunteer unpaid help in China
Volunteering to be of use in their local communities is the latest trend amongst long-stay expats in China’s mega-cities. Following the tradition of senior Chinese citizens’ unpaid community patrolling, expats in several Chinese cities are offering their services as well. Elderly Chinese can be seen wearing their distinctive red...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Singapore wins out as expat dream destination
If you’re searching for the perfect career-enhancing, luxury living, high-salary expat destination, Singapore has it all and more. For a good while, Singapore was a well-kept secret for its offerings of the most desirable aspects of expat life, at least until annual surveys spilled the beans on this tiny city-state. Nowadays, it’s...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Hangzhou get Good Neighbour awards
Two long-stay expats living in the Chinese city of Hangzhou have been given Good Neighbour awards for their service to the community. One of the traditional highlights of the annual Hangzhou Neighbour Festival is the giving of Good Neighbour awards to residents who’ve made significant contributions to their local community. This year,...
6 Dec at 6 PM
London takes a beating for expat quality of life
London’s low ranking in current expat lifestyle surveys could persuade would-be expat arrivals it’s the worst city in the world for foreign residents. It’s not just recent surveys which slam London as an expat destination, as the trend has continued for some years now. Given that the British capital is one of the most important...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Making a success of expat life
Leaving your home country to become an expat isn’t just about shipping yourself, your goods and your family to a new country, nor is it just about jobs and visas. Moving overseas, whether for retirement, career advancement or simply a much-needed lifestyle change take months of research and planning, but the story doesn’t end once...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Beijing eases restrictions on expat property purchase
Beijing’s government is set to loosen restrictions on expat real estate purchases from early next year. As China becomes ever more popular with expatriates seeking to live and work in its unique environment, the good news is that expats in Beijing will be able to buy a home with just their work permit as a qualification. At present,...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Brexit effect devastates Spanish property market
Real estate agents in the Spanish Costas are reporting British demand for homes in the sun has fallen by 50 per cent since the Brexit vote. According to local estate agents, British demand for holiday and retirement homes in the popular Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca regions has fallen by 50 per cent since the Brexit vote and subsequent...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Vietnam hosts festival celebrating local friendships with expats
In a move well ahead of neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is hosting a Development and Integration Festival aimed at integrating expats into the Ho Chi Minh community. Ho Chi Minh City’s annual Development and Integration Festival kicked off yesterday for its three-day run aimed at introducing the country’s culture and...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Shanghai expats lose another English language voice
Popular English language online newspaper The Nanfang is set to close. Expats living and working in Shanghai are about to lose yet another favourite English language online news source, with the announcement of the Nanfang’s closure after seven years isure to sadden European expats living in working in the city. Launched in 2011, the...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Survey shows high number of expats call UAE their home
A new survey indicates that the vast majority of expats living and working in the UAE are proud to call the region home. From career opportunities through cultural diversity to feelings of safety and security, the UAE would seem to offer an unparalleled life experience for expats. Recently released results of a survey conducted by Xpress...
1 Dec at 6 PM
Uncertainty continues for UK expats in EU
Theresa May’s failure to fast-track a reciprocal deal on the status of both UK expats in Europe and EU expats in the UK has left several million migrants in a continuing state of uncertainty. Donald Tusk’s and Angela Merkel’s tough responses to May’s attempt at an expat amnesty seem to have made it clear that the European...
1 Dec at 6 PM
UK expats shock at worldwide Marks and Spencer closures
Following the UK company’s decision to close its stores in China due to lack of demand, the quintessentially British retailer has now announced it will close100 stores in Europe. Known as a link with home for Brit expat shoppers, M&S has seemingly overreached itself with its huge expansion in Europe as well as its 10 stores in China....
1 Dec at 6 PM
Study shows culture shock affects expat health and wellbeing
Would-be expats are underestimating the effect of culture shock on their physical and emotional wellbeing. The popular perception of relocating overseas is that moving to a totally different environment and taking on a new job and lifestyle is an exciting adventure. However, a new study has revealed culture shock is a very real threat to...
31 Dec at 10 AM
Illegal expats in Oman to be offered amnesty
Expatriates in the Gulf state of Oman who have overstayed their working visas and are now in the country illegally are to be offered amnesty, a government spokesperson has revealed. The Ministry of Manpower’s head of media Talib Al Dhabari explained that the country wanted to regulate its labour market so was preparing to offer amnesty...
31 Dec at 10 AM
Hong Kong: Expats gear up for night on the town
Expats in Hong Kong are set to party the night away this New Year’s Eve, with all-you-can-drink offers proving extremely popular among foreigners in a city renowned for its high prices. Hong Kong offers everything, from its bustling Mong Kok and high-end Central districts, to spectacular mountains and stunning beaches, but this diversity...
30 Dec at 4 PM
Kampala popularity rising among expats
The Ugandan capital Kampala is becoming more and more popular among expatriates, largely due to its booming oil and gas industries. The East African country was named the happiest in the region, according to the 2013 UN World Happiness Report, which seems another reason foreigners are flocking to this scenic city built on seven...
30 Dec at 2 PM
Shanghai to open more expat help centres
China is to open nine new “one-stop” expat service centres in Shanghai on Thursday, announced police. The new facilities will be located in the districts of Minhang, Singjiang, Zhabei, Yangpu, Jing’an and Changning as well as in the Pudong New Area. The service centres are being introduced so visitors have greater access to...
29 Dec at 3 PM
Kuwait: Expats to be deported for illegal barbecuing
Expatriates in Kuwait will be deported if they are caught barbecuing in non-allocated places, announced the municipal council. Spokesman Ahmad Al Saubaih said that a plan had been put in place with the interior ministry to ensure that all foreigners who broke municipal laws, such as barbecuing in public parks or on beaches, would be...
29 Dec at 12 PM
UAE: Expats workers made to pay for visa renewal
Expat workers in the UAE are being illegally charged as much as AED15,000 by employers to renew their working visas every two years, a Bangladesh embassy employee has said. It costs AED2,879 to renew a manual worker’s visa, but the law states that it is the employer’s responsibility to pay for it. But, according to the embassy staff...
28 Dec at 12 PM
New Zealand ‘expat’ faces jail time in Thailand for drug possession
A New Zealand man is facing years in a Thai prison if convicted of being in possession of Class A drugs, reports from the Southeast Asian country state. Forty-one-year-old Taylor Grainger was arrested and charged after local police allegedly found him with more than two grams of cocaine and methamphetamine in the hedonistic resort of...
28 Dec at 10 AM
Saudi Arabia: High student fees forced 300,000 expats to quit
The high price of education at private schools in Saudi Arabia has forced more than 300,000 foreign students to quit as their parents cannot afford the fees. Education expert Malek Al-Ghamdi explained that as expat students were not accepted in government schools, their only option was private schools. However, he noted, that as these...
26 Dec at 12 PM
Cost of living for expats in Nairobi on the rise
The cost of living for expats in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has increased over the past 12 months, largely due to a hike in consumer goods prices. The survey, published by service provider for staff assignments abroad ECA International, listed Nairobi as the 24th most expensive city to live in Africa and 177th worldwide. Last year’s...
26 Dec at 12 PM
Expats open the door to the homeless at Christmas
A pair of Brits living in Spain welcomed two homeless men into their flat this Christmas and are allowing them to stay there until after the new year. Twenty-one-year-olds Barcley Spicer Jenkins and Ed Lloyd have allowed two homeless men from the Czech Republic to stay in their house in Estepona over the two-week festive season while...
24 Dec at 9 AM
Expat knitting group kicked out of Fuengirola restaurant
A group of kind-hearted expats were told to leave a restaurant in Fuengirola because of the knitting circle they were sitting in just hours before they were set to donate a large amount of clothing to an orphanage in Malaga. The group in question, Knit and Natter, were found by grumpy managers at Fuengilora’s Carihuela Chica restaurant...
24 Dec at 9 AM
Cambodian man jailed for 13 years for expat killing
A Cambodian drifter has been handed a 13-year prison sentence after being found guilty of stabbing a Dutch expat and her baby daughter to death during an attempted robbery in Phnom Penh. Thirty-one-year old Daphna Beerdsen, a UN consultant based in Cambodia, was found dead in her Phnom Penh home in April, while her two-year-old daughter...
23 Dec at 6 PM
France and Algeria reach agreement on training expat imams
A deal on training Algerian expatriate Imams in France has been agreed between the countries’ respective governments, revealed the French Interior and Cult Minister Bernard Cazenueve and the Algerian Religious Affairs Minister Mohamed Aissa on Thursday. The agreement concerns training Algerian imams who are serving in France as well as...
23 Dec at 3 PM
Online survey names Ecuador as best place for expats
A survey of over 14,000 expats in 160 countries has ranked Ecuador as the best place in the world to live in terms of factors such as finances and overall quality of life. The survey, which was carried out by online community website InterNations, also quizzed expats on family life, making friends, how easy settling into life in a country...
22 Dec at 4 PM
Expat in Saudi Arabia jailed for attack threat
An expat woman in Saudi Arabia has received a four-month jail term and 30 lashes after being convicted of threatening her brother and his wife. The court in Jeddah has ordered that the woman is psychologically evaluated at a mental hospital. The ruling comes after the women’s sister-in-law informed police that she had told her and...
22 Dec at 4 PM
Marbella needs expats
Marbella’s councillor for tourism and foreign residents Jose Luis Hernandez has backed up its mayor in saying that expats are vital for the success of the town. Mayor Angeles Munoz said last week that expats should be voting in local elections, and Hernandez has now said the large expat community based along the Costa del Sol is crucial...
19 Dec at 12 PM
Uruguay: Lebanon Foreign Minister urges expats to buy Lebanese products
Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil wants to see Lebanese expats in Uruguay spending their money on things produced in their homeland, noting that the recently-signed free trade agreement (FTA) with Latin America would make importing such goods all the more easier. During a meeting on Wednesday with a delegation of Uruguay-based...
19 Dec at 9 AM
North American expats in Belize reveal its draws
North American expats living in Belize have revealed the reasons why they chose the picturesque Caribbean nation as their new home. In addition to the pristine beaches and rolling mountains, they say they only need between US$2,000 and US$3,000 a month to give them a comfortable lifestyle. Another reason is that it is closer to home than...
18 Dec at 4 PM
Joy for expats in Denmark as government passes dual citizenship law
Denmark has finally passed a law that will allow expats to become citizens of the country without losing the citizenship of their homeland. The new legislation also states that Danes who have previously given up their citizenship are able to reclaim it. The government’s decision on dual citizenship came after a research on the issue...
18 Dec at 2 PM
Spain: Expat aims to ban circus on Casares and Manilva
A British expat in Spain is campaigning to outlaw animal circuses in the southern Spanish towns of Casares and Manilva after they were banned in Malaga. The animal-loving expat, Angela Ferguson, from the English country of Middlesex, is of the opinion that the law that was introduced in Malaga should be applied all along the Costa del Sol,...
17 Dec at 11 AM
Phuket expat accused of stealing bikes to sell via Facebook
A French expat and his Thai girlfriend have been accused of stealing motorcycles on the island of Phuket in order to rebuild them and sell them via Facebook. Twenty-seven-year-old Mathieu Alfano and Pawana Moonsatub, 21, were identified from CCTV footage and able to be traced to their residence on Phrabaramee Road in Patong – the...
17 Dec at 9 AM
Auckland among most expensive Asia Pacific cities for expats to live
New Zealand’s biggest city Auckland has moved ahead of the Australian cities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth to become the Asia Pacific region’s 16th most expensive city to live in, revealed an ECA International Survey. The city moved up from last year’s position of 54th most expensive city in the world to live in to 36th this time...
16 Dec at 6 PM
Australian expat slapped by Buddhist monk in Thailand
An expat English teacher received a nasty slap from a Buddhist monk in Thailand after he generously offered two women a double seat on the train he was travelling on. The incident occurred after the Australian, Jeff, offered two women the double seat he was sitting on from Bangkok to Phitsakulok when they got on the train. After the two...
16 Dec at 3 PM
House shortage in Doha leaves expats facing huge rent increases
A shortage of housing in the Qatari capital Doha means expats will have to pay higher rent prices than they would do in other Gulf states, according to a recent study by global real estate company Colliers International. The fact the city has such a shortage has resulted in the cost of rent soaring to unprecedented levels – a rise of 14...
15 Dec at 11 AM
Activists criticise Philippines over beheading of expat in Saudi Arabia
Activists have condemned the government of the Philippines for failing to do more to save a national who was executed in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of murder. Carletto Lana was beheaded in the capital Riyadh on Friday after being found guilty of shooting a Saudi man before running him over in a car. However, advocacy group...
15 Dec at 9 AM
Saudi Arabia: 3,000 expat professors seek move to Western countries
Three thousand expat professors in Saudi Arabian universities are trying to find work in Western countries, revealed an official at an international immigration centre. The figures come after Saudi’s Ministry of Higher Education recently told universities across the country that they should not renew expatriate workers’ contracts if...
12 Dec at 11 AM
Kuwait: Skilled expats unaffected by visa crackdown
Skilled expats in Kuwait will not be affected by a proposed five-year residency cap on foreigners working in the Gulf state. At present the number of expats in the country, which has a population of around 1.25 million, is in the region of 2.5 million, but the new proposal wants that figure brought down to just 10 per cent of the...
12 Dec at 9 AM
Bangladeshi shot dead in Saudi Arabia for prayer call no-show
A Bangladeshi expatriate worker in Saudi Arabia has been shot dead by a muezzin, reportedly because he failed to attend a prayer call on his behalf. The murder of 36-year-old Mohammed Rafiqul Islam occurred at Ortawwiyah in the Majmaah district, around 30kms for Riyadh, on Sunday. According to his brother, Kamal Uddin, he worked for a date...
11 Dec at 3 PM
UK expats in Cyprus to campaign for fuel allowance
British expats living in Cyprus are ready to campaign against the UK government’s proposal to stop their winter fuel allowance from next year. Expats residing in the Mediterranean country have said the eligibility tests that UK citizens have to go through to see if they’re entitled to the winter fuel payments were “unfair and...
11 Dec at 11 AM
Malaysia gaining in appeal to expats
Expats are increasingly viewing the Southeast Asia country of Malaysia as an exciting and cost-effective destination to live in. Some 54 per cent of respondents to the Expat Explorer survey, commissioned by HSBC, said that living conditions in the country were better than what they had in their home country, while 34 per cent revealed they...
10 Dec at 12 PM
Filipina expat in UAE claims she was raped by co-worker
A Filipina expat in Dubai has alleged a co-worker and compatriot raped her in their shared accommodation after a night drinking alcohol. Dubai Police CID Director General Major General Khalil Al Mansouri confirmed the claim and said that the police were currently investigating the matter. He revealed that the woman said she was in bed...
10 Dec at 12 PM
India second on list of ‘up and coming’ destinations for expats
India has come in second place behind China on a list of countries that are ‘up and coming’ for expats to live and work in, according to an HSBC survey. The Expat Explorer survey noted that emerging Asian economies provided a huge draw to challenge-seeking expats, with 44 per cent admitting that they chose them for the new challenges...
9 Dec at 2 PM
Expats in Spain help collect hundreds of thousands of kilos of food for the poor
A food campaign organised by food bank Bancosol to assist poor people in Spain has been a huge success, thanks in part to the large number of expats who helped. The results went way beyond what was expected, with the food bank collecting a total of 703,000 kilos of food – more than 100,000 kilos more than what was initially targeted. The...
9 Dec at 2 PM
Madeleine McCann: Police begin witness interviews
Police have begun the process of re-interviewing key witnesses in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Scotland Yard detectives have travelled to the Portuguese capital Lisbon to assist local officers in questioning 11 witnesses about the night the three-year-old disappeared. The UK police will sit in on interviews conducted by their...
8 Dec at 6 PM
Abu Dhabi expat murder not linked to terrorist group
The Emirati women facing charges for murdering US kindergarten teacher Ibolya Ryan in Abu Dhabi last week has no connections to any terrorist groups, an official security source has said. The woman, believed to be in her late thirties, is suspected of brutally murdering the nursery school teacher in the ladies toilets in the Boutik Mall...
8 Dec at 2 PM
British expat has missing wallet returned after 18 years
UK expat Colin Mendoza got an almighty shock when police in Switzerland contacted him to say they had his missing wallet and passport – 18 years after he lost them on a train in the country. Mendoza fell asleep on a train journey from Zurich Airport to Geneva in 1996, and didn’t realise he had left his wallet on board until after...
5 Dec at 12 PM
One in three UK expats want to return home
A third of UK expats would jump at the chance of moving home, while more than two thirds are unhappy where they live, revealed a survey of more than 700 British expats. The survey, conducted by Experts for Expats in October and November, quizzed British expats on where they would choose to live if there were no obstacles involved to...
5 Dec at 10 AM
Expats will not lose their tax breaks
Brits working abroad received some good news on Thursday after it was revealed that they would still be allowed to claim their personal tax allowance. Chancellor George Osborne said in March during his budget statement that the only people who may be able to retain their personal allowances in the future would be non-residents with strong...
4 Dec at 4 PM
Hong Kong’s expats told to brace themselves for cold weather
Weather authorities in Hong Kong have delivered a message to residents of the normally humid city: wrap up warm as winter is on its way. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Cold Weather Warning as the temperature dropped to 21 degrees Celsius on Wednesday afternoon. It advised residents to be prepared for temperatures to plummet further...
4 Dec at 2 PM
Saudi Arabia: Firms that deny expats medical insurance will not be granted visas
Saudi Arabian companies that refuse to pay for the health insurance of their employees and their families will not be granted recruitment visas, the secretary-general of the Health Insurance Council has revealed. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Sharief said that the regulations in the Gulf nation state that an employer is obliged to pay for the...
3 Dec at 4 PM
New Zealand’s Kea expat network reaches 500,000
A global network designed for New Zealanders living overseas has hit the half-million-member mark. Kea, which was launched in 2001 by Professor David Teece and The Warehouse founder Sir Stephen Tindall on the back of the Knowledge Wave conference, connects New Zealand businesses with Kiwis living around the world. Among those permitted...
3 Dec at 3 PM
Kuwait introduces new regulation for professional expat drivers
Driving will not be allowed to be considered a profession for expatriates in Kuwait unless the country the motorist comes from has issued the required licence to state he has come to the Middle Eastern state for that purpose. Kuwait has stated that the licence issued in the driver’s homeland must be in accordance with the Interior...
3 Dec at 11 AM
MP pushing Bill to allow expats to vote once more
Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is to make one final push to abolish the 15-year voting rule imposed on British expats before the 2015 general election. The rule prevents UK nationals abroad from voting in elections if they have resided overseas for more than 15 years. Clifton-Brown is to make a speech seeking to persuade MPs...
2 Dec at 12 PM
Survey names Costa Rica happiest place in the world
The Central American country of Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world, according to a recent survey by relocation website Movehub. The study, which conducted research on 151 different countries, found that Vietnam was the second happiest place on Earth, followed by Colombia, Belize and El Salvador. The research took measures...
1 Dec at 12 PM
Expats in Abu Dhabi to pay more for power and water
Expats in Abu Dhabi will have to fork out more for their electricity and water bills come the start of 2015, with utility companies to up the charges. Electricity tariffs will increase to 3p per kilowatt hours of power used for customers consuming up to 20 kilowatt hours per day. Water charges will depend on whether the home is a villa...
1 Dec at 9 AM
Dubai named world’s best city to work
Dubai has been voted the best city on Earth to work, beating off completion from the likes of Hong Kong, London, Singapore, Paris and New York. According to a recent survey carried out by Insead’s French alumni association, Dubai came first on a list of 15 of the world’s seemingly most desirable places to live. The researchers...
30 Dec at 6 PM
UK government blunder threatens efforts to end pension ripoffs
Just as the government seemed to be taking pensioners’ sides against rip-off charges by pension providers, an embarrassing blunder by the DWP may have put an end to the reforms. Following the shocking results of an investigation by the Daily Telegraph into the UK’s major pension providers, the government instigated a consultation on...
30 Dec at 6 PM
Should Spain issue ID cards to resident expats
Laws in Spain can be somewhat confusing and, although the vast majority of expats lead an impeccable life, it’s embarrassing to be caught out unintentionally. The law as regards identification cards is one such example, and many long-term expats will remember an attempt by the government to provide a card to those who qualified as...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Scattered pension pots make expat financial planning difficult
New research has revealed that more than half of the total number of workers have two or more pensions, and those over 51 have four or more, making financial planning in retirement less than straightforward. The survey was undertaken as a response to the system proposed by pension minister Steve Web of migration of occupational pensions...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai set to stage world largest New Year fireworks spectacular
Expats in Dubai will have a spectacular New Year’s Eve as the emirate again attempts to beat the Guinness world record for the largest New Year’s Eve fireworks display. The amazing, if somewhat brief, programme of fireworks will be launched from 400 locations on the offshore Palm Jumeirah Island and is expected to break Kuwait’s...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Offshore warehouses stuffed with treasures of the wealthy to avoid tax
The creative use of tax avoidance schemes has hit a new high with the discovery of massive freeport warehouses in offshore havens crammed with artworks and treasures belonging to the world’s mega-rich. Usually located close to docks or airports near major world financial centres such as Zurich, Geneva, Singapore and Monaco, the giant,...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Improving Cyprus economy spurs upscale property development
Earlier this year, the Cypriot economy seemed to be heading for the rocks due to its Greek bank liabilities, but is now rebounding in an unexpectedly lively manner. Expats all over Europe were frightened by the expat savings cash grab, fearing their chosen country would be next in line. The island’s economy quickly went from bad to...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Irish Archbishop urges government to curb emigration in Christmas address
In his Christmas address, the Archbishop of Dublin, Irish Catholicism’s senior prelate, has urged the government to create more jobs for the young. Dr Diarmuid Martin included both coalition parties in his request, saying that job creation measures are the only way to stop the rush to emigrate amongst Ireland’s youth. Families, he...
26 Dec at 6 PM
Abu Dhabi New Year celebrations too expensive for many expats
Whilst everyone loves to ring in the New Year, 2014’s popular Abu Dhabi offerings are pricing many expat workers out of the party -going market. As with any major world city, restaurants, entertainment venues, upscale hotels and shopping malls pull out all the stops to provide exciting and exclusive events to welcome in the New Year....
24 Dec at 6 PM
Experts warn maximum GAD drawdowns may exhaust retirement funds
Financial experts are concerned that ill-advised pensioners may believe GAD is a target figure for regular drawdowns rather than an income guide. Independent financial analysis experts are concerned that financial advisors may be encouraging excessive drawdowns. Quoting 120 per cent GAD rather than lower annuity rates is, they say, bad...
24 Dec at 6 PM
Virtual Private Networks the expat answer to blocked British soaps
One of the most frustrating aspects of expat life outside the UK is that, for long-time fans of TV soaps, the only option is to bid goodbye to the much-loved series in exchange for great weather and a laid-back lifestyle. Access to BBC content in particular has been blocked to all living outside the UK, although it’s possible to watch...
23 Dec at 6 PM
Dubai moots license to drink within sensible limits
A Dubai lawyer’s message to expats over the festive season suggests that licenses to drink legally should be given at the airport, but stresses it’s not a licence to get wasted in public. In an interview with a UAE business newspaper, Emirati lawyer Yousef Ali Baher said that visitors to Dubai who drink alcohol in hotel bars are...
23 Dec at 6 PM
Expats can beat the UK taxman by keeping travel logs
As most UK expats are aware, expat tax liabilities depend on whether an individual is deemed to still be domiciled in Britain, thus giving tax residency status. Under British tax rules, all personal or financial ties to the UK must be broken in order not to be considered tax resident. If this is the case, expats are forced to pay UK tax on...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Brits returning from overseas to be hit by Eastern European benefit curbs
UK expats returning home after living or working overseas for three months or more are due to be hit by the same benefit restrictions as will apply to immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria. In a bid to dissuade Bulgarians and Romanians from coming to the UK for work and claiming benefits, the Department of Work and Pensions has introduced...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Is Dubai landlord tenant trouble a battle or a bubble
The battle between Dubai expat tenants and their greedy landlords has been hotting up for the last few weeks, but is it being fuelled by an investor-led real estate bubble? Rent increases in Dubai have reached record levels over the last several months, with expat tenants’ blood boiling as a result. Meanwhile, the strong possibility of...
19 Dec at 6 PM
UK capital gains tax changes may not affect London house price boom
Given that around five million Britons have chosen to live overseas and most keep an eye on the news from back home, how severe will the changes be for expat property investors? Expat investors living outside the UK have traditionally favoured buy-to-let property back home, both to have a home ready and waiting when it’s time to return,...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Abu Dhabi introduces online courses in teaching Arabic to expats
In a bid to integrate expats into the Abu Dhabi community, the skills necessary to teach Arabic as a foreign language are to be offered online to Emirati teachers. During his speech at the initial meeting of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Teaching Arabic to Speakers of Other Languages, Dr Nidal al Tunaji told the media that the Zayed House for...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Cyprus pushes back property misselling deadline for expat victims
Whilst the bulldozers continue demolishing mis-sold expat homes in Spain, those unfortunates in a similar position in Cyprus have been given more time to launch legal proceedings. Thousands of investors and retirees who emigrated to the popular island have now been given by the Cyprus government another 12 months in which to launch...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Are retirement savers dumping too much into pension plans
A recent study by pension experts suggests that retirement savers may be putting too much of their hard-earned cash into pension plans due to an overestimate of their needs by financial advisors. In order to predict the amount pre-retirees will need to save, financial advisors feed figures and other date into complicated algorithms unable...
17 Dec at 6 PM
UK Foreign Office to confront Spanish authorities over demolitions
Britain’s Foreign Office has stated that there is a substantial problem concerning the continuing demolition of British-owned properties due to the supposed breaching of planning laws. With at least four thousand homes at risk of being bulldozed due to property disputes, the uncertainty as well as the actual loss of the homes is a...
17 Dec at 6 PM
Expat health insurance inflation fuelled by overtreatment and fraud
Expats in most popular destinations are having to pay ever-increasing premiums for private heathcare due to local private hospitals' over-treatment and even fraudulent billing. Foreign nationals everywhere, especially in southeast Asian medical hubs such as Thailand, have seen their health insurance premiums soar over the last several...
16 Dec at 6 PM
Second home owners in France and Spain to be banned from renting out
Thousands of expats and second-home owners in France and Spain are facing a ban on renting out their properties to holidaymakers. The crackdown on renting out second homes in two of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations is expected to hit owners where it hurts most – in their pockets. The new rules may be implemented in Lyon,...
16 Dec at 6 PM
Canadian 65 year immigrant refused pension without proof of immigration
A 65-year-old woman who arrived in 1949 as a three-month old babe in arms with her parents has been refused her pension unless she can provide her immigration documents. Bureaucracy run riot is alive and kicking in Canada, especially in the case of Martha Kozub, whose parents brought her from Germany to Canada after WWII. When she was 13...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Expat pensioners protest against biannual proof of life rule
Pensioners rights campaigners are up in arms over last week’s Treasury announcement that UK expat pensioners over 75 years old need to regularly prove they’re still alive or have their pensions stopped. The controversial new rule is seen as yet another thorn in the side of retirees living abroad, as the time allocated for the form’s...
13 Dec at 6 PM
UAE expats enjoy Christmas with all the usual homestyle treats
Whilst expats the world over look forward to Christmas as a time to relax and have fun with friends, those lucky enough to live the UAE can source all the usual Christmas treats right on their doorsteps. Entrepreneurs in the Emirates are now setting up shop to make and deliver traditional festive foods using recipes from Scotland, the UK...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Expat mortgage blow as another lender bars borrowing against property
The market for expat home loans on UK property has been shrinking fast over the last year, with Nationwide now planning to pull the plug on mortgages for those who have lived overseas. The UK’s biggest building society is the latest commercial lender to shut up shop for expats wanting to take out home loans. The issue, according to the...
12 Dec at 6 PM
New Zealand Immigration under fire for Stasi tactics
Whether a worrying indication of the global police state or a bad hair day for an immigration officer, the ‘goings on’ at Kiwi immigration checkpoints are hitting international media outlets. It all started when a New Zealand citizen returning from London with his fiancée was detained at the airport and forced to hand over his iPad,...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Guernsey tax changes may reinstate hundreds of suspended QROPS
More than 300 Guernsey pension plans which lost QROPS status when HM Revenue and Custom changed the tax laws may soon be back in business. The suspended Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pensions lost their status as a result of offering different tax incentives to expats who were non-resident. The State of Guernsey is now gearing up to...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Republicans urge FATCA repeal as expat Americans dump citizenship
President Obama’s flagship FATCA law is under fire from Republican party leaders as well as from the thousands of USA expats living overseas who have renounced their citizenship. The controversial and much-hated anti-tax evasion measure was designed to stop American citizens hiding assets and cash in overseas tax havens, but has...
10 Dec at 6 PM
UK government consumer panel warns against annuity rip offs
Expat destinations and the UK are hotspots for unprincipled financial advisors ripping off new retirees attempting to purchase annuities with their savings. In another blow to hard-working retiree savers, the Financial Services Consumer Panel arm of the UK’s City watchdog is warning about insurers and their middle men who are making...
10 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in Malta protest against two tier utility bills
Following the introduction by Maltese utility company ARMS of a two-tier energy and water billing system, a group of angry expats living on the island are lobbying against discrimination. After the establishment of a lower residential and domestic utility rate for Maltese nationals, the expat community complained to Arms. In response, the...
9 Dec at 6 PM
Winners and losers on UK expat state pension new rules
The UK chancellor’s Autumn Budget Statement will bring a raft of changes for pensioners both home and abroad as well as affecting private pension investors. The state pension will be increased by £2.95 per week from April next year, but Britons retiring in European Economic Area states which are on average warmer in winter than the...
9 Dec at 6 PM
Carbon credit crooks target expat investors
A new breed of fraudster is lurking in the already murky waters of expat financial advice, with genuine carbon credit investment firms’ names being used to trap the unwary. Britain’s watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, is concerned enough about the growth of such scams to publish an official warning to investors to stay clear of...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Singapore now the 30th most expensive country for expats
Having moved in 2013 from 31st place last year to 30th, Singapore is still well down from the leader, Caracas, and price rises in the city state have slowed in recent months. The results of ECA International’s latest Cost of Living survey also revealed that Singapore had slipped in the regional ranking from 8th to 9th, placing it behind...
6 Dec at 6 PM
Temporary or permanent emigration may depend on pension provision
Migrants leaving the UK for overseas jobs many never intend to return, but the final decision to stay or go may depend on whether they have a pension in their host country. It seems that deciding to make a permanent commitment to your host county at the end of a career is easier if you have opted into a pension scheme in your overseas...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Expat employers expect newbies to go it alone
For newly arrived expat employees, the most tricky part of moving to a new country is learning the language and finding a home without the assistance of their new employer. A recent survey conducted by Lloyds Bank International has revealed that many overseas employers fail to give new expat staff any help in settling in to their new host...
5 Dec at 6 PM
80 per cent of Dubai residents will need compulsory health insurance
A new law unveiled earlier this week means that the 80 per cent of Dubai’s residents who are expats will be compelled to obtain private health insurance. Dubai nationals make up just 20 per cent of the Emirate’s population, and are already covered by a national scheme, but private health insurance will be mandatory for all other...
4 Dec at 6 PM
QROPS for expats in countries without providers
Much has been written about the desirability of transferring an expat retirement pension to a QROPS, but what if you’re living in a country which has no listed providers? Around 180 countries are not represented in the global QROPS market place with its over 3,000 pension funds, giving rise to worries amongst retirement savers who wish...
4 Dec at 6 PM
Tips for expat investors taking on unregulated funds
With offshore banks closing down at a fast rate, expat investors may be confused about where to put their money next, and may be tempted to try unregulated funds. The temptation to invest in high-risk, unregulated ,collective investment schemes for at least a short while is considerable, with prices rising across the globe and little...
4 Dec at 6 PM
Expat and Saudi families shun leisure venues due to accidents
Both expats with children and their Saudi equivalents are searching for alternative leisure venues for days out following a spate of accidents in commercial arcades. Local family entertainment centres are found in malls and other commercial centres, but are often poorly maintained and with few health and safety measures on children’s...
4 Dec at 6 PM
Older expats who take regular exercise stay healthier longer
The recently published results of a survey have revealed that the elderly who take up regular exercise later in their lives are three times healthier than their couch potato counterparts. According to the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, pensioners who take up exercising can stave off the chance of dementia or...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Cooperative Bank Guernsey kicks out expat customers
In another hit on expat investors, the Guernsey arm of the Co-Operative Bank is closing the accounts of fixed-rate depositors and returning their money. Already in the headlines over the last few weeks concerning its former chairman’s antics, the now decidedly uncooperative bank is closing down its Guernsey subsidiary. The reason given...
2 Dec at 6 PM
UAE arrests US expat for satirical YouTube video
An American working in the United Arab Emirates has been the first foreigner to be arrested under tough, newly-introduced cybercrime laws. A press release by the Emirates Center for Human Rights confirmed that Shezzan Cassim was arrested last April for publishing a video on YouTube depicting a satirical view of life in Dubai for young...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Wealthy expat entrepreneur escapes 5 million capital gains tax bill
A wealthy property entrepreneur and his culinary-talented wife have won a landmark case brought by HMRC over £5 million capital gains tax bill. James and Sarah Glyn sold up their £29 million of assets and moved to Monaco, believing that, as they no longer had a home in the UK, they were not subject to capital gains tax on the property...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Irish working migrants unlikely to return home
The health sector in Ireland is in a poor state, having lost many of its professionals to the lure of emigration, and those who have left are unlikely to want to return. A recent study by researchers at University College Cork has revealed that almost half of those who have emigrated since the economic crisis hit home were in full-time...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Tough new UAE rules for expats sponsoring adult dependents
Revised rules have been introduced for expats wishing to bring adult dependents such as children over 18 and parents to the emirate on residency visas. Adult dependants and the parents of expats working in Abu Dhabi have historically been granted residency visa automatically. According to an unnamed source, under the revised rules...
2 Dec at 6 PM
Expat property capital gains tax action plan
Following the announcement by the British government that those living overseas will be charged capital gains tax on sale of their UK properties, tax experts are concocting action plans to avoid liability. Although the measure, due to be announced in the Autumn Budget statement on 5 December, is nominally aimed at wealthy foreign property...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Condemnation as Putin signs law banning US adoptions
The US government has strongly condemned Russian president Vladimir Putin’s signing into law the controversial new regulation banning US citizens from adopting Russian children. Putin’s action last Friday put an end to the hopes of 52 children already assigned to putative American parents, forcing the US State Department to describe...
31 Dec at 6 PM
Expats in China to face more internet use restrictions
The Chinese government is tightening its grip on the country’s internet services, including privacy issues and laws requiring ISPs to report posters of inappropriate material. Following a further tightening by censors of restrictions on international internet access in China, new rules regarding internet usage were announced last...
28 Dec at 6 PM
One Pound Fish singing market trader forced to leave UK
Mohammed Nazir, one-time English language student turned market trader and latterly famous after his catchy ‘One Pound Fish’ song went viral on YouTube, has now been deported. Mohammed’s rags to riches and social media fame story began when he arrived from Pakistan on a student visa to study English at a London college. When the...
28 Dec at 6 PM
New Zealand deports tetraplegic man after six year battle
A 61-year old Tongan migrant who injured his spine whilst in New Zealand on a visitor’s visa has finally been deported after a six-year battle to stay in the country. Semisi Ma’afu Samui was deported to Tonga on 22 December, leaving his daughter and her family in New Zealand afraid that he will soon die due to lack of correct medical...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Riyadh Chamber of Commerce opposes Saudi 40-hour week
The Saudi government’s plan to impose 5-day, 40 hour working weeks on all Saudi private companies is causing controversy amongst members of the kingdom’s Chamber of Commerce. Head of the Chamber’s manpower committee Mansour Al-Shatri is fiercely in opposition to the proposal, saying it will reduce opportunities for Saudi workers and...
27 Dec at 6 PM
Abu Dhabi to Dubai highway affected by employment law change
The infamous Abu Dhabi/Dubai highway’s treacherous driving conditions may be permanently affected by a new law prohibiting public service workers from living outside the borders of Abu Dhabi. The length of the road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi combined with its sudden fogs and sandstorms make it one of the world’s most dangerous...
26 Dec at 6 PM
UK expat pensioner winter fuel payments soar in 2012
Record numbers of UK expat pensioners living in sunny climes have claimed the annual winter fuel payment intended to help with the cost of gas and electricity in the cold winter months. According to figures released by the UK Pensions Minister, around 74,000 British pensioners living overseas claimed the winter fuel grant of £200 in...
26 Dec at 6 PM
High street banks making mint from expat currency transfers
International banks with UK high street branches are forcing expats and their home country families to pay through the nose for bank-to-overseas branch money transfers. International banks with branches in the UK make much advertising capital from their overseas branches and so-called advantages for expat customers, but are making a...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Dreaded US FATCA now involves at least 50 nations
The US Treasury Department is now working with over 50 countries across the world as regards sharing US expats’ personal financial details to establish tax compliance. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is expected to affect all American expats living in the selected countries, as it requires foreign banks and investment...
25 Dec at 6 PM
Gun control controversy may lose presenter his US visa
Popular CNN presenter Piers Morgan may risk losing his US work visa due to his uncompromising stance on gun control after the Sandy Hook School massacre of 20 children and six adults. Over 50,000 infuriated US citizens have signed a petition urging the US government to revoke CNN interviewer and UK citizen Piers Morgan’s visa due to his...
24 Dec at 6 PM
Falling European property prices forcing expats to return home
A recent study has revealed that, for many expats in France and Spain, the dream has faded and returning home is the next step. Results of the study, undertaken for forex firm HiFX, show that one in 10 Britons holding or living in overseas property are looking to sell up if possible. Almost 50 per cent of those planning to return to the UK...
24 Dec at 6 PM
International students stranded for Xmas due to visa delays
Film school students from overseas caught in the London Met visa controversy are stranded in London over Christmas due to delays in processing new student visas. Legitimate London School of Film students from across the world were asked by the UK Border Agency in November to surrender their passports and apply for new student visas. The...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Survey shows emigration bug infecting Israeli citizens
With emigration numbers growing fast across Europe and even in Asia, Israeli citizens are the latest to catch on to the trend, according to a recent survey. According to a survey carried out by Israeli newspaper Haartez, well over a third of respondents are thinking seriously about emigrating to new lands. The main reason seems to be the...
21 Dec at 6 PM
Belgian MPs deny French billionaire was refused Belgian nationality
As the Depardieu migration scandal rolls on, rumours about Belgium’s supposed refusal to grant billionaire entrepreneur Bernard Arnault Belgian nationality have been quashed. It takes the French to make a highly successful drama out of a crisis, with the sudden departure of actor Gerard Depardieu across the border enhancing the French...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Saudi expats fear liability for controversial foreign labour tax
Expatriates in Saudi Arabia are demanding new contracts in an attempt to avoid being held liable for the newly-introduced tax on foreign worker numbers. The Saudization foreign worker tax introduced by the Ministry of Labour last month has prompted expats to demand fair contracts which include their company’s liability for the tax as...
20 Dec at 6 PM
Portuguese government announces expat pensions to be tax exempt
In a move designed to attract more retirees to the country, the Portuguese government has announced that expat pensions will no longer be subject to income tax. Those who will benefit the most are retirees who spend at least part of the year in the country and are non-habitual residents for Portuguese tax purposes. The pension itself must...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Majority of Germans blame immigrants for serious societal problems
A recent survey has shown that two-thirds of Germans believe that unchecked migration is responsible for the problems in the country, saying the numbers are an extra burden on the economy. The survey, undertaken for the respected think-tank Bertelsmann Foundation, comes as Germany as an expat destination is on the rise. Two-thirds of...
19 Dec at 6 PM
Exotic location companies need managers to develop local talent
In spite of the current financial woes, international companies are still searching for experienced expat managers at premium salaries. A recent survey revealed that the ongoing financial crisis hasn’t dampened down demand for capable expat managers, especially in exotic locations such as Azerbaijan, Armenia and Mongolia. Emerging...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Mobile millionaire expats prefer shares and real estate investments
A recent survey claims that wealthy expats with mobile lifestyles are ignoring alternative investments in favour of more traditional real estate and share trading investments. The survey of ‘Internationally Mobile Wealthy Individuals’ and their investment habits was carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and focused on those...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Gallup poll reveals expat locations with empathetic residents
A recent international study of emotional wellbeing by global pollster Gallup could help pinpoint expat destinations with ‘emotional’ locals. The survey was undertaken as part of a study of behavioural indicators and their effect on general wellbeing across the world, and was sparked by a recent trend amongst world leaders towards...
18 Dec at 6 PM
British family face NZ deportation as father has cancer
A British couple and their three children who emigrated to New Zealand some six years ago are facing deportation after being refused residency as the father has a brain tumour. Paul and Sarah Crystal, originally from Evesham, and their three children aged 7, 15 and 17, have lived in New Zealand since 2006, when Paul took on a job in the...
18 Dec at 6 PM
Shoura Council fights for repeal of expat worker levy
The Saudi Arabian Shoura Council has come out against the recently-introduced expat worker levy, saying it will result in a disastrous rise in the cost of living. The expat worker levy, passed into law earlier this month, forced private Saudi companies to pay an annual levy on each foreign worker employed in excess of the number of Saudi...
14 Dec at 6 PM
South America and Asia likely for high wage increases
Recent research reveals that, due to the continuing effects of the economic slowdown, South America and Asia are likely to see the highest salary increases during 2013. A report by global management consultancy Hay Group states that Latin America will lead the league table with an average increase of nine per cent, fueled by Venezuela,...
14 Dec at 6 PM
Survey measures multinational immigrant quality of life in US
A recent survey of over 20,000 multinational expats settled in the USA has revealed that most immigrants have no regrets over their decision to leave their home countries. The 2012 Expat Sentiment Survey report, commissioned on behalf of VIP Communications Inc, stated that 94 per cent of immigrants believed they had made the right choice,...
13 Dec at 6 PM
French PM derides Depardieu for migrating to Belgium
France’s Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, is seriously displeased with French movie star Gerard Depardieu’s recent tax-avoiding move just across the border to Belgium. Describing the star’s exit to the Belgian border town of Nechin as shabby, the PM made it clear that he disapproved of Depardieu’s attempt to avoid higher taxes,...
13 Dec at 6 PM
Report states many Saudi companies have paid expat tax
According to a recent report, some 30 per cent of Saudi private companies have been forced to pay the recently-imposed levee on foreign workers. As the controversy over the Ministry of Labour’s highly unpopular Saudization tax rumbles on, a report in the Arab News estimates that a third of private sector firms in the kingdom have...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Expat concerns over slow UK recovery fuel overseas investments
Expat investors are increasingly looking to their local economies’ investment potentials due to concerns over the UK’s slow recovery from the financial crisis. A survey undertaken on behalf of Lloyds TSB International has revealed that just seven per cent of expat investors have confidence in the UK economy over the next half year,...
12 Dec at 6 PM
Canada seeks experienced expat tradespeople for permanent residency
Canada is opening the doors to thousands of skilled expat tradespeople by speeding up the visa process and offering permanent residency. The country’s booming industries are desperate for skilled tradesmen and women, and are about to announce a new scheme offering permanent residency to those able to meet the needs. Canadian Immigration...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Twitter users meet Saudi Minister over expat worker fines
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Labour met recently with Saudi and expat Twitter users after the announcement of vastly increased fees for private companies who employ more expats than Saudi nationals. The announcement of the fines caused an explosion in comments on Twitter by both Saudi business people and expat workers, prompting minister...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Malaysia scales up welcome for expats and their families
In 2013, Malaysia’s government will set up an Expatriate Services Division (ESD) aimed at encouraging overseas workers and their families to set up home in the country. Highly-skilled and entrepreneurial applicants for the new scheme will find simpler visa regulations based on a similar and highly-successful Singaporean initiative known...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Freemasons expansion in Asia due to expat interest
The ancient society of Freemasons is surprisingly alive and thriving in Asia as incoming expats look for a professional association to help them settle in and do business. Freemasonry, a supposedly secret society dating from the late 16th century, is seeing a revival in Asian countries as new expat blood arrives from the West and displaces...
11 Dec at 6 PM
Survey shows financial crisis has little effect on expat jobs
Notwithstanding the present-day tough economic situation, the number of expat executive employees around the world has seen no reduction, according to a recent survey. The poll, conducted by consultancy Pedersen and Partners, revealed that although salaries and benefits in the sector had increased threefold, fewer than 20 per cent of...
7 Dec at 6 PM
Expats with green cards may fall foul of FATCA
The US Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act, (FATCA) will compel all US taxpayers to inform the IRS of overseas earnings and investments in their annual tax return, but expats holding green cards may also be liable. Many expats working in the USA may not realise that holding a green card will soon drag them into the FATCA net, forcing them...
7 Dec at 6 PM
QROPS small print under covert investigation by HMRC
Although the UK’s income tax officials have kept quiet over the policing of the expat pension scheme known as QROPS, indications of possible international audits are surfacing. Last spring, literally hundreds of Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes, (QROPS) were deleted from the HM Revenue and Customs lists. Since then, several...
6 Dec at 6 PM
AU$ rate sends Asian students to US and Britain
Asian students looking to study abroad are rejecting Australian universities in favour of US and British educational institutes due to the strength of the Australian dollar against Asian currencies. According to HSBC Global Bank’s Graham Heunis, although the Australian lifestyle is particularly attractive to young Asians, they are...
6 Dec at 6 PM
British companies trend towards expansion overseas
Recent research has shown that almost 50 per cent of British companies looking to expand are choosing overseas locations as key regions for their future growth strategies. A survey by healthcare firm Expacare has shown that not only are British businesses looking to establish or strengthen already existing overseas footholds, they are...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Saudi fines for expat workers to cost companies billions
Over the next year, fines levied on Saudi companies for each extra expat worker hired over a certain level are expected to cost billions. The controversial new laws, announced recently and due to come into effect within the month, apply to Saudi companies which hire more expat workers than locals. Over the next year, companies affected are...
5 Dec at 6 PM
British kickboxer extradited to Thailand on murder charge
Leo Aldhouse, the first ever suspected criminal to be extradited from Britain to Thailand to face charges, will be tried for murder at Phuket Provincial Court.The extradition treaty between Thailand and the UK was signed in 1911, but has never been used until now, with Thai Police Colonel Sinard Ajhanwong noting that previous requests to...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Police suspect more bodies connected with Phuket murder
Koh Samui and Phuket police involved in a hunt for the killer of an expat businessman in Phuket are investigating a number of possibly-linked unexplained disappearances in the holiday island region. Hungarian Peter Reisz, 47, was found stabbed and battered to death on Phuket earlier this week, with an arrest warrant now issued for Moshe...
5 Dec at 6 PM
Corporate expats in Malaysia welcome new ten year visa
Leaders of expat corporations in Kuala Lumpur are welcoming the Malaysian government’s new initiative grating ten-year residence status to foreign talents. According to Talent Corporation Malaysia’s CEO Johan Mahmood Merican, over 1,000 Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) visas have been approved to date. Johan confirmed the success of the...
3 Dec at 6 PM
Asian bank regulation results in call for compliance professionals
The move within Asian banks to regulate in a similar way to the US and Europe is likely to prove a blessing for compliance and risk-management professionals looking for fresh fields and pastures new. The high demand for professionals with risk-management experience is the result of Asia’s rush to catch up with the West and avoid the...
3 Dec at 6 PM
