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May 2015 Expat News Archive
Archived Daily Expat News from the Expats Blog Newsdesk...
29 May at 6 PM
Expats in Prague deal with stress by plant-swapping
Whilst worldwide lockdowns are creating stress and depression, Prague’s new plant-swapping groups are keeping nervous breakdowns away! It’s well-known that green, growing and gloriously flowering plants and trees are balm to the human soul, keeping away depression and other negative emotions due to their calming influence and sheer...
29 May at 6 PM
Low cost airlines attracting expat fury over delayed refunds
British expats on Spain’s Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca are furious three low-cost airlines are making them wait for refunds. As the British government is being urged to help the many thousands of passengers get refunds for their cancelled flights, outrage is spreading across the Spanish Costas. A Which survey has revealed only 14 per...
29 May at 6 PM
Locals and expats in Venice rejecting a return to mass tourism
Expats and locals in Venice are hoping the city doesn’t revert to wall-to-wall tourism. Along with other world favourite tourism destinations, the historic Italian city of Venice is almost deserted as the pandemic runs its deadly course. Tourists are banned and the streets are almost empty, showing the glorious, ancient buildings in all...
28 May at 6 PM
Expats in Greece fear early lockdown easing is too risky
Expats in Greece are both relieved and concerned as the coronavirus restrictions are partially lifted. Greece has now entered its phase four, lifting lockdowns on restaurants and bars and allowing domestic travel to recommence a week earlier than promised. Although the country and its famous islands aren’t a major European destination...
28 May at 6 PM
Expats in Japan advised to take coronavirus stress seriously
For expats in Japan worried about infection, it’s important to remember that mental health matters. Expats in general are used to facing up to unpleasant surprises and are able to cope, but very few are immune to the stress of having their lives turned upside down by a worldwide health crisis. The Japanese people still carry the...
28 May at 6 PM
Japan offers visa extensions and free accommodation to trapped expats
Japan is offering free accommodation to trapped foreign students and stranded expatriates. As in other countries worldwide, Japan now has a large number of expats trapped in the country since international borders were closed and lockdowns imposed. Luckily for foreigners now struggling financially, the tradition of Japanese hospitality is...
27 May at 6 PM
Survey shows most expat Brits don’t ever want to return
Results of a recent survey have revealed just under two thirds of expat Britons have no intention of ever returning to the home country. Some six out of every ten respondents to the survey said they’d never repatriate to the UK, with another eleven per cent saying they’d at least consider doing so. Only 27 per cent said they’d maybe...
27 May at 6 PM
Boozy expat Brits in Spain under alcohol ban again
Brit expats in Valencia have wrecked their chances of post-lockdown pints by totally ignoring social distancing rulings. As soon as the popular British expat destination’s pubs reopened after its lockdown was lifted, Brits desperate for an evening on the booze flocked to their favourite watering holes in their hundreds, totally ignoring...
27 May at 6 PM
British expats fear increase in mob violence as lockdowns end
As Spain’s Costas begin to slowly return to normal in spite of the pandemic, mob violence erupts again. In the first violent incident since the Spanish lockdown began, a young British expat has been shot in a suspected ‘settling of accounts’ attack. The 27-year old Brit was driven by a friend to the nearest Marbella hospital with...
26 May at 6 PM
British pensioner rescued from abusive Thai family
A British WWII veteran is now safe at home in the UK with his daughter and extended family after being abused and ill-treated by his Thai partner. Only known as ‘Ron’ in media reports, the 86-year old pensioner moved to Thailand seven years ago after his then partner’s death and was currently living in the central Thailand province...
26 May at 6 PM
Expats in Myanmar concerned over China’s growing influence
Expat teachers and volunteers in Myanmar are worried and confused over the government’s increasing friendship with China. Myanmar’s next elections are due this November, with no postponement due to the pandemic expected. The outright winner is expected to be the National League for Democracy headed up by State Counsellor Aung San Suu...
26 May at 6 PM
Beach-loving expats in Spain to be monitored by robotic drones
As Spain gets closer to opening up to international tourism, high-tech systems and volunteer beach armies preventing overcrowding are all being introduced. When the pandemic began spreading its tentacles across the world, many publications gave voice to peoples’ fears that life would never be the same again. Given the latest methods...
25 May at 6 PM
Coronavirus panic leaves travellers and expats trapped overseas
Out of all the stories about people trapped where they didn’t want to be due to the pandemic, this illustrates the worldwide chaos caused by governments’ uncoordinated reactions. On the sixth of March in Dubai, a pair of expat lovers held their much anticipated wedding and jetted off for their honeymoon in Mexico’s Cancun resort...
25 May at 6 PM
Expat beer-lovers in the Czech Republic getting free pints after lockdown ends
Expats in the Czech Republic are ecstatic about free beer to celebrate pub re-openings. Yesterday was the day expats in the Czech Republic had been waiting for during the state’s coronavirus lockdown. In order to limit the effect of the pandemic on the state’s popular breweries as well as on their expat customers, pubs have now been...
25 May at 6 PM
Expat professionals in Dubai helping the state deal with coronavirus
Dubai is utilising tech to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. As the most forward-looking of all the Gulf States, Dubai’s focus on science and tech as weapons against the coronavirus pandemic is a demonstration of its progress in the region. Expat and local professionals including epidemiologists and doctors are forming a key part of...
22 May at 6 PM
British expats in Orihuela fearing repeat of Gota Fria floods
UK expats living in the hard-hit Costa Blanca region are now fearing more devastating floods this autumn. Last October’s record breaking rainstorms brought devastating floods to many popular UK expat hubs on the Costa Blanca, resulting in a promise by the Madrid government that financial aid would be forthcoming. Sadly, according to the...
22 May at 6 PM
New Saudi ruling threatens expat deportation and lifetime bans
Saudi Arabia is now threatening deportation for expats disobeying coronavirus lockdown rules. Expats living and working in Saudi Arabia are now under threat of deportation and a permanent bar on re-entry for any foreigner who flouts the Kingdom’s strict shop-related lockdown laws. In addition, strict guidelines as regards social...
22 May at 6 PM
Chinese students trapped in USA being scammed by US airlines
Chinese expat students are now trapped in the USA via a cash grab by US airlines. Chinese students studying at American universities are unable to return home due to a cash-grab by US airlines looking to their financial bottom lines. The young expats are now trapped in a seemingly never-ending loop of bookings, cancellations and fights to...
22 May at 6 PM
Expats in Mexico are opening hearts and wallets to help locals
This is happening all across the world in expat hubs – humanity is getting together to do the right thing whilst the politicians play their games. Expats in Mexico are the latest foreign community to open their hearts and wallets to help those struggling to survive following pandemic-linked job losses. As governments use xenophobia to...
22 May at 6 PM
Brit expats run riot across Spain after booze ban ends
Brits in Benidorm have been granted two more hours’ boozing time as a reward for not breaching coronavirus rulings. British expats in Benidorm who’re still angry about yet another delay to easing the lockdown rulings should now be feeling far happier as they’ve been granted two more hours’ drinking time. With the closing of all...
22 May at 6 PM
Trapped South African expat teachers in Cambodia have nowhere to turn
One of the major difficulties caused by a lack of international coordination after the pandemic hit is that huge numbers are trapped outside their home countries. Since the pandemic became established in the vast majority of world countries, a huge number of travellers are now trapped overseas with no way of returning home. As country...
21 May at 6 PM
Confusion for Brit expats aiming to use Gibraltar’s border crossing
Yet more chaos is on the cards for British expats attempting to get back to their Spanish homes, as they’re now forbidden from using the Gibraltar border crossing. From midnight on May 18, the Spanish immigration authorities stopped British expat citizens from entering Spain at the Gibraltar border crossing after leaving the UK via...
21 May at 6 PM
Expats warned to take Singaporean anti-virus rules seriously
Expats living in popular areas of Singapore will now need to find another source of takeaway booze. As in many other world countries attempting to knock back on their coronavirus numbers, social distancing in Singapore as a way to prevent becoming infected is going by the board once alcohol consumption takes over. As a result, several...
21 May at 6 PM
Expats in Thailand fear for their online privacy
Expats in Thailand now fearing breaches of their online privacy due to the junta government’s new coronavirus contact tracing website. As Thailand gently eases up on its total lockdown and allows locals and expats to shop again, many foreigners are fearing a loss of online privacy due to a newly announced government tracing website. In...
19 May at 6 PM
Expat English teaches in Seoul up in arms over visa changes
Expat teachers in South Korea are now facing tough new visa restrictions. As if dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t enough, South Korea’s government has just introduced tough new visa regulations. The expat-friendly F2-7 long-term residency visa rulings have now been altered to favour expat professionals...
19 May at 6 PM
British travel insurers now refusing to cover virus-related cancellations
Elderly Brits hoping to evaluate Spain as a retirement destination via a reconnaissance trip can’t now get travel cancellation insurance. The majority of Britons settled along the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol are either retirees or older expats with small businesses in the hospitality sector. As is normal with those planning to...
19 May at 6 PM
Expats in Cambodia adjusting to the total lack of tourism
Following its unofficial invasion by hordes of Chinese on- and offline casino operations, Cambodia is now struggling to cope with an almost non-existent tourism sector. As in the rest of Southeast Asia, Covid-19 has put paid to tourism in Cambodia, just as the country was recovering from the bad press following the Chinese unofficial but...
18 May at 6 PM
Expat-owned businesses in Andalusia warned about poor summer season
British expat-owned hospitality businesses in Spain are furious at the Andalusian government’s attempt to cancel the summer tourist season. Obviously, avoiding a second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths is essential, but cancelling the summer season would mean many thousands of expat-owned businesses would be bankrupted....
18 May at 6 PM
Expats in Estonia praise government reaction to the pandemic
Expats in Estonia are coping the best they can with the country’s coronavirus situation. For almost a decade, Estonia and its capital Tallinn have been a mecca for expat professionals from many countries, especially for those in the tech sector. Obviously, the pandemic has affected their lives, but the majority are more than happy with...
18 May at 6 PM
Greece to allow entry to tourists and expats from June 1
British expats planning to relocate to Greece could enter from June 1. Although Greece isn’t a major destination for British would-be expats, many have found homes on its islands and mainland coastal villages over the past few years. The trend is due to continue as Brexit creeps closer, and those interested will be able to take trips...
15 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain step up to help save an abandoned emu
The focus of tragedies caused by the coronavirus pandemic is, obviously, on the appalling death toll and the possibility of an economic meltdown, but pets of all kinds also suffer when their owners die. One sad tale out of Spain concerns an emu whose owner died from the virus and was left to starve, along with the rest of the deceased’s...
15 May at 6 PM
Expats on Gibraltar to get new antibody tests
Expats on Gibraltar may be first in the UK to get covid-19 antibody tests. The Rock is due to receive a total of 35,000 antibody test kits over the next few weeks. According to research in several countries including South Korea, the results will confirm by identifying antibodies whether those who’ve been infected are immune to further...
15 May at 6 PM
Vietnamese doctors giving their all to save British expat pilot
With the pandemic almost conquered in Vietnam, the country is pulling out all the stops to save one expat’s life. Identified simply as Patient 91, the male victim is a British pilot working for the country’s national carrier Vietnam Airlines. Should all efforts fail, the expat will be the first in the country to die from covid19....
15 May at 6 PM
UAE announces amnesty for expat visa overstayers
Expats in the UAE whose visa and residency documentation expired early in March will now escape fines and will still be allowed to re-enter the country without bias. All expats in this situation will now be granted a three-month grace period, after which they must exit the country, starting from May 18. Those who decide to leave will not...
15 May at 6 PM
Boozing Brit expats run riot at Dubai staycation resort
Brit expats are getting ahead of both themselves and common-sense rules at a luxury Emirati resort. Western expats are flocking to the Hilton Doubletree Resort in Ras Al Khaimah to take advantage of the lack of covid-19 restrictions. One reason is that, even during the alcohol-free month of Ramadan, the resort is still allowed to sell...
14 May at 6 PM
Phishing cybercriminal network in Spain now busted
An internet scam investigation which took two full years has now been concluded with the arrest of a group of phishing cybercriminals. The investigation began when police received a large number of complaints from expats as well as Spanish nationals duped into transferring money to fund a ‘confidential financial operation’. The scam...
13 May at 6 PM
Expat repatriation flights to UAE now available
For expats working overseas, one of the worst aspects of the pandemic is being unable to return to your present country of residence due to lockdowns. It’ll never be known exactly how many expat professionals on business trips became the modern equivalent of stateless persons, simply due to the fact they were in the wrong place when...
13 May at 6 PM
Expats in Czech Republic find legal CBD oil helps Covid 19 anxiety symptoms
Expats and locals in the Czech Republic are looking to CBD oil as a cure for coronavirus anxiety. Coping with the effects of lengthy lockdowns is now becoming almost as big a threat to mental health as is the virus on physical well-being. As a result, mechanisms ranging from self-medication through yoga and meditation to excess alcohol...
13 May at 6 PM
Expat businesses in Spain give thumbs up to Ryanair plan
Expat hospitality businesses in southern Spain are welcoming Ryanair’s plans for July flights. Although the low-cost airline’s plans to reopen flights to Spain’s Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca hotspots are being welcomed with open arms by expatriate-owned hospitality sector businesses, others are wondering how the plans will work if...
12 May at 6 PM
Pandemic causes huge surge in US expats renouncing their citizenship
The US government’s ineffective response to the coronavirus pandemic seems to have been the last straw for huge numbers of American expats overseas. Whilst those representing the USA’s so-called official stance on the pandemic continue to sow confusion and despair across the nation, increasing numbers of its expats living and working...
12 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain take offence at censorship of virus conspiracy video
Expats in Spain are concerned over the censorship of an online coronavirus conspiracy video. A recently-posted video seen on Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook claims to have been a trailer for a documentary claiming not only the numbers of coronavirus deaths have been falsified but also that the virus was man-made. The video, entitled...
12 May at 6 PM
Expats on Mallorca celebrate with a pint as lockdown loosens
British expats on Spain’s holiday islands enjoy pints in the sunshine as coronavirus rules ease up. Spain’s Balearics is home to a good number of British expats, all of whom are raising their glasses to celebrate the first day of lockdown restriction relaxations. Mallorca is an all-time favourite with British expat retirees, all of...
11 May at 6 PM
Expat frustration and anger as Spain continues lockdown
Expats in Spain’s Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol regions are taking to social media to register their anger and frustration over the recently extended lockdown. According to local media, thousands of British and other expat nationalities in the affected regions are ‘climbing the walls’ due to their local governments’ plans to...
11 May at 6 PM
Expats in the Netherlands in favour of government coronavirus rulings
Most expats in the Netherlands remain positive over the government’s reaction to coronavirus. The results of a Dutch media-led survey show some 70 per cent of expats in the Netherlands are largely in favour of the government’s measures against the coronavirus pandemic. Even so, a good number of respondents found certain aspects of its...
11 May at 6 PM
Favourite expat and tourism hubs plan safe corona corridors
Three popular tourist destinations are setting up a ‘corona corridor’ to allow visitors. For Greece, Cyprus and Israel, tourism is one of the most important revenue generators and is also one of the sectors potentially destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic. Obviously, the lockdowns and quarantines caused by the virus have forced the...
8 May at 6 PM
Singapore expats look to rent cuts as salaries shrink
As Singaporean employers are tightening their money bags and cutting expat salaries, landlords are receiving rent cut requests. Once known as a hub for sky-high expat salaries, the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on Singapore’s economy is forcing employers to cut wages across the board. As a result, affected expatriate professionals...
8 May at 6 PM
Balearics domestic violence hotline protects expats and local women
A Balearics domestic violence hotline has seen an increase in calls since the lockdown began. One concern expressed by experts when the lockdowns in Spain began was the risk of an increase in cases of domestic violence. Sadly, the prediction soon became a fact, with 569 calls registered at the IbDona Balearic Women’s Institute between...
8 May at 6 PM
US expats and Green Card holders entitled to stimulus payments
American expats can’t believe their luck as the USA government’s $1,200 stimulus payment now applies to them as well as to Green Card holders. Most USA expats’ only contact with their government is a result of FATCA and the double taxation rule, with few actually expecting they’d also be recipients of the generous stimulus...
7 May at 6 PM
Brit expats in Spain gutted when National Lottery site crashed
As if lockdowns and deadly viruses weren’t enough, expats in Spain now can’t even chance their luck with the UK’s National Lottery! Many British expats living in Spain are long-term fans of the National Lottery, buying their tickets either on its website or its smartphone app. Nowadays, it’s a British tradition, even although the...
7 May at 6 PM
Expats in Prague love the city’s varied international food stores
Expats living and working in Prague may be forbidden to travel but can still buy food favourites from across the world. Travel bans and lockdowns have become the norm for expat professionals living and working in Prague, but the city’s international food stores can provide the ingredients for a truly international taste thrill. The...
7 May at 6 PM
Expats on My Second Home Malaysian visa still refused entry
Retired expats living in Malaysia under the ‘My Second Home” visa who were overseas at the time of the country’s lockdown are still disallowed from returning. The Malaysian government closed its borders to all foreigners on March 18 at the same time as enforcing the movement control order, and compulsory quarantine was brought in...
6 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain angry about continuing communal swimming pool closures
British expats needing exercise during lockdown are urging the opening of communal swimming pools. As Spain’s gradual lockdown closure continues and the weather improves, expats living in Southern Spain’s hundreds of residential compounds are eagerly awaiting the opening up of their communal swimming pools. As a result, the national...
6 May at 6 PM
Expats happy to hear four Alicante fresh markets due to reopen
As part of the carefully managed loosening of Spain’s ultra-strict lockdown, the fresh markets popular with British expats living in Alicante are now allowed to open. Alicante’s four fresh markets are popular with British expat residents for their wide selection of vegetables, fruit and meat as well as their traditional ambience and...
6 May at 6 PM
Caymans expat watersports businesses fear hard times are ahead
Expat and local watersports operators in the Caymans Islands are up in arms over unfair licenses. Even before the coronavirus pandemic all but destroyed tourism in the Cayman Islands, life wasn’t a dream for many watersports operators due to too many licenses having been granted. Once a lucrative way for foreign incomers as well as...
5 May at 6 PM
Expats eager to see work on Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia restart
For British expats in Spain fascinated with the history of the as yet unfinished La Sagrada Familia, it’s bad news. Still under construction since the late 19th century, the famous cathedral was designed by Spain’s master architect Antoni Gaudi, whose stunningly innovative buildings in the city are, along with the as yet unfinished...
5 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain happy with easyJet refund vouchers
British expats as well as holidaymakers happy with easyJet’s new voucher and refund offer. Following expat fury as refunds were refused for cancelled flights and holidays, easyJet’s new Covid19 Help Hub is proving a success. Given that the low-cost airlines serving Spain and other European expat and visitor hubs weren’t responsible...
5 May at 6 PM
Online Spanish festival reminds expats that life is beautiful
Last weekend, expats living all across Spain and the world enjoyed the virtual version of the International Feria de los Pueblos. The famous annual event in Fuengirola is a favourite with expats as well as Spaniards, but can’t take place at its usual location due to the requirements for social distancing imposed as part of Spain’s...
4 May at 6 PM
British expats in Spain join to help those in distress due to the pandemic
British expats in Spain are saving not only their local businesses but also pitching in to help struggling families and the elderly. British expat communities all along Spain’s Mediterranean coastline as well as in the interior are banding together to support their local stores as well as those who’re struggling to afford basic...
4 May at 6 PM
Brit government warns would-be expats to postpone their departures
If you’re a British would-be expat planning to take a reconnaissance trip to your potential overseas expat haven, the government would rather you stayed at home. The warning comes from Transport Minister Grant Shapps, who’s begging would-be expatriates not to book a flight just yet in case the destination is still on the ‘high...
4 May at 6 PM
Brit expats on Cyprus urged to apply for residency by December
Since the turn of this year, the coronavirus has dominated the media, displacing Brexit as a major threat to British expats living in the EU. Even the most enthusiastic leave voter couldn’t have imagined any happening which might distract attention away from Britain’s EU divorce. Now that the pandemic is a threat to lives, economies...
1 May at 6 PM
Expats in Gulf States scared over virus and job losses
Expats living and working in the Gulf States are increasingly fearful of the coronavirus effect on their jobs. Lockdowns are now the obvious way to lessen or even prevent the spread of the deadly infection, but the unintended result also means many expat workers in the region are stuck in a virus limbo, unable to leave and unwilling to...
1 May at 6 PM
Hong Kong expats happy with government’s pandemic response
Expats in Hong Kong are praising the government’s anti-coronavirus measures. Located just 570 miles from Wuhan, the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong is successfully defeating the coronavirus without resorting to lockdowns and endless local travel bans. Just a few months ago, the city was being rocked by huge, often violent, protests,...
1 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain fearing Cyprus style bank runs after poor bank results
Concern is growing amongst British expats in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol as to the coronavirus's effect on Spanish banks. Where finance is concerned, the vast majority of British expats have long memories and haven’t forgotten the Cypriot banks’ raiding of expats’ bank accounts in 2013. With another worldwide financial crisis...
31 May at 6 PM
Family of stroke-hit Brit ex-serviceman retirees on Paphos appeal for air ambulance funding
A desperate British family has launched an appeal for funds to get their seriously ill expat father home from Paphos. Crowdfunding is now the last resort of many families of expats who’ve fallen seriously ill whilst on retirement in overseas locations with less than sympathetic, competent medical services. This latest appeal is on...
31 May at 6 PM
EU expats in UK under threat of Windrush style disaster
According to concerned MPs, the government’s policy on EU expats post-Brexit is likely to cause Windrush-style chaos. Lawmakers working on the Home Affairs Select Committee have come out with serious concerns over the settlement scheme for EU expats already living in the UK. The plan was launched just two months ago by the Home Office,...
31 May at 6 PM
Expats applaud Thai government for taking on overpricing at private hospitals
Thailand’s private hospitals will no longer be able to hit patents with massively overpriced treatment bills following a government introduction of laws to keep charges in check. The government’s decision follows a massive number of complaints by expats and Thais against local private medical facilities all over the country, with the...
30 May at 6 PM
Expats in Dubai to climb Alpine peaks in thanks for blue collar workers
Two Dubai expat mountaineers are planning to climb two Alpine mountain peaks as part of the UAE’s Ramadan charity drive. Mountaineers and Dubai resident expats Mohamad and Olga Zolotova are preparing to climb the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, two of the most dangerous peaks in the Alps, as part of their charity drive to show appreciation...
30 May at 6 PM
Survey bucks the trend as regards best Asian lands for expat retirees
A recently released survey of Asian retirement destinations is bucking the current trend by placing Chiang Mai in its top ten choices. The US-based survey takes into account medical care, the cost of living and the weather, ignoring the more important aspect of visas as well as transportation, the cost of housing and the likelihood of...
30 May at 6 PM
Expats in Japan suffering from worst heatwave ever
Expats living in Japan as well as residents and tourists are being warned to stay indoors due to a record-breaking heatwave. Japan as a whole is suffering under unusually high temperatures during a record-breaking heatwave, with residents, tourists and expats being warned to stay inside as much as possible. In central Tokyo, the mercury...
29 May at 6 PM
Elderly expat in Mojacar hit four times by same muggers
Expats in Mojacar are being warned about a gang of muggers preying on older foreign men. One unfortunate British expat business owner has been targeted by the same gang of muggers four times. Owner of Sundance Spas Charles Alman told reporters his first encounter with the muggers took place outside his business, when a young woman...
29 May at 6 PM
Eindhoven expats complain over discrimination in pubs and clubs
After hearing complaints from expats over discrimination in the city’s nightlife venues, the city council is taking the issue seriously. Eindhoven’s nightlife street was a favourite for the city’s ever growing expat community until the local government began receiving complaints of discrimination as regards who could and who could...
29 May at 6 PM
Expat quality of life now depends on personal safety
If finding the best possible expat quality of life as well as a shot at career enhancement is your goal, a recent survey lists the top ten world countries, eight of which are in Europe. The top three world cities for a comfortable expat experience are all in European states, with Vienna taking the top spot followed by Zurich and Munich....
28 May at 6 PM
Reasons to start a blog as an expat in China
Blogging is a great way to record your daily expat grind and its highs and lows as well as keeping track of things to do and things you’ve done. Starting a blog isn’t rocket science, but it can be obsessive, especially if you’ve just arrived in your new expat destination and would love your friends back in the home country to read...
28 May at 6 PM
Expat concern over Kuwait fear of war
The Kuwaiti government believes there’s a strong possibility of war involving the Arab States. Kuwaiti lawmakers are alarmed by the growing instability in the region, and are urging all residents including expats to take the necessary precautions. According to speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq al Ghanim, Kuwaiti ministries are...
28 May at 6 PM
Costa Blanca HELP charity thanked by British Ambassador
Expat volunteers were thanked by the British Ambassador to Spain during an event held at an Alicante hotel. In attendance were members of a number of expat volunteer groups in the Costa Blanca, with the Ambassador thanking them for their help in making his and his staff’s tasks in support of British expats far easier. HELP president...
27 May at 6 PM
Omanisation and slowing economy posing threats to expat jobs
Expat professionals living and working in Oman are concerned about risks to their jobs. The Omani government’s Omanisation scheme is being cited as risking expat professional jobs as the government calls for employers to offer positions previously held for expatriates to local workers. To date, some 55,000 expat technical and...
27 May at 6 PM
EU and UK Expats to sue UK lawmakers over EU election fiasco
Claiming a ‘systematic denial of the right to vote’, both British and EU expat campaigners are preparing to sue the UK government. In an interview with the media, lawyer John Halford said the electoral chaos was intolerable for any country which considers itself a democracy. The right to vote, he added, is the foundation of citizens’...
27 May at 6 PM
New visa requirements force elderly Mom with Alzheimer’s out of Thailand
The family of an elderly US expat in Thailand are being forced by immigration officials to relocate their Alzheimer-sufferer Mom to the Philippines. Although reports on expatriate forums may be considered by many as fake news, this sad case is clearly another example of how expat life in the country is being made difficult by local...
24 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain rush to stand as candidates in local elections
Dozens of expatriates living in the popular Andalusia region’s towns and villages are queuing up to register as candidates in upcoming local elections. The current election year is expected to be the most diverse in decades, with expats from the UK, Scandinavia and a good number of other northern European states now included on local...
24 May at 6 PM
Kuwaiti lawyer defends expats against arrogance and racism
Kuwaiti legal advisor urges Emirati lawmakers to ease up on blaming expats Citing the recent trend of rising instances of arrogance and racism against expats within Kuwaiti society, Hesham al Saleh tweeted that expatriates make up more than 85 per cent of the population and the emirates are moving forward as a result. Al Saleh is urging...
24 May at 6 PM
Retired Brit expat couple plan 900-mile charity fundraising trip by tractor
An intrepid pair of retired UK expats living in France are undertaking a charity drive back to the UK in a vintage tractor. John and Kathy Elliot, formerly residents of the historic Derbyshire hill town of Buxton, decided on the fundraiser after watching close friend Emma Getcliffe die of motor neuron disease just two years after her...
23 May at 6 PM
Specialist beers and wines are favourites for expats in Asia
Whether it’s fish ‘n chips, Weetabix, Marmite or Guinness, British expats as well as their international compatriots crave a taste of home, especially if it’s almost unavailable. Home country foods and beverages are an occasional must have for expats all over the world, especially if they’re a taste of childhood in a far simpler...
23 May at 6 PM
Specialist buy to let lenders cracking down on tax avoidance
In a new move, lenders specialising in buy-to-let mortgages are now refusing loans to landlords suspected of tax avoidance. A leading property investment lender now fears beneficial interest mortgages may be in breach of HM Revenue and Customs’ rules on tax avoidance and are cracking down on landlords as a result. These specialist...
23 May at 6 PM
New survey rates expat destinations for their ease of digital life
If you’re determined to relocate to Italy and are a social media fan, perhaps another choice of destination might be the best idea. The results of a recent survey might come as a shock to would-be expats hoping to work or retire in this stunningly beautiful land, as expats in Italy are the least satisfied with their digital services of...
22 May at 6 PM
Expats in Dubai moving towards home ownership
Expats in Dubai are moving away from renting a property towards becoming home owners. Over the past few years, a shift in sentiment from renting to actually owning a home has been gaining ground in the expat community, aided by governmental reforms and lucrative offers by developers. Real estate agents serving the expat community are...
22 May at 6 PM
Thailand’s expat housing market hits the skids as unsold units multiply
Thailand’s glitzy capital now has a glut of unsold condo units. As the Thai economy begins to stutter and restrictions on mortgage lending kick in, property developers are being left with falling prices and just 55 per cent in take-up rates. Real estate agencies in the city as well as developers seem to have been caught unawares by a...
22 May at 6 PM
Brit expats in France losing chance to vote again
Expats living in France are afraid their EU election postal votes won’t be counted. Due to the political instability all too common nowadays, interest in the EU MEP election amongst expats living overseas has received a boost, but many now fear their postal votes won’t count. The problem seems to have been due to a bad choice of...
21 May at 6 PM
Expats in UAE to get retirement savings fund
The UAE is proposing a non-Emirati retirement savings fund to run alongside the expatriate end-of-service gratuity scheme. The UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) is in consultation over a new proposal to introduce a retirement fund based on savings for expat professionals living and working in the Emirates....
21 May at 6 PM
Some Spanish towns and villages now have more Brits than locals
It has to be said that not all British expat retirees want the stress of learning Spanish and adjusting to a different culture. Expat retirement for many UK citizens isn’t about a totally new language and lifestyle, it’s simply about a better climate enjoyed amongst other like-minded Brits in a supportive community. As a result, a...
21 May at 6 PM
UK expat retirees hit hard by sterling volatility
British expat retirees in Europe have lost 14 per cent of their pensions’ purchasing power since the Brexit referendum. A report from a technology service handling more than 6,000 regular monthly payments to UK pensioners living in EU member states has revealed British expat retirees’ costs of living have risen by 14 per cent due to...
20 May at 6 PM
Expat investors in Spanish property may lose tax breaks
Spain’s recent election results may pose a threat for expat property investors. Due to the inconclusive result of last month’s Spanish general election, expats looking to buy Spanish property as an investment may lose their tax breaks. The winning political party PSOE wasn’t able to form an overall majority government, and is now...
20 May at 6 PM
EU expats in UK fighting for Remain in EU polls
European citizens living and working in the UK as expats are fighting for an end to Brexit via voting in the upcoming EU elections. Several European expats are standing for election as European Union MEPs in order to fight against Brexit. One such candidate is a French legal advisor living in Wilmslow and working in London. Once the...
20 May at 6 PM
US Embassy advises expats to spend every last cent on health insurance
The US Embassy has issued a warning to its expats in Thailand urging them to get adequate private health insurance. Embassies in general seem to only address the problems their expat citizens face until issues have been done to death in local media and online by disgruntled citizens with genuine grievances. This latest intervention may...
17 May at 6 PM
China bans marriage licenses for expat lovebirds
If you and the love of your life are expats living and working in China, don’t even think of getting married in your new home! For reasons as yet unclear, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs has now posted a new rule stating marriage licenses will no longer be available for foreign couples wanting to tie the knot. The closest thing to a...
17 May at 6 PM
Brit fish and chips take on a new flavour in Belgium
Belgium has fallen in love with Britons’ favourite culinary delight. In the list of what British expats miss the most, fish ‘n chips comes in the top ten for some and as number one for many more, no matter where they’re living and working. Once sold wrapped in newspaper and often presented with a hefty helping of mushy peas, fish...
17 May at 6 PM
Expats in Thailand mourn the passing of The Nation newspaper
Thailand’s daily English language newspaper The Nation is closing after 48 years. Expatriates in Bangkok are sad to hear their daily dose of local and world news in its traditional format is about to disappear, but may well realise it’s an inevitable part of the rise of the internet and social media as the planet’s sole news source....
16 May at 6 PM
Saudi Green Card attracts expat compliments and criticism
Whilst Saudi Arabia’s launch of the Green Card-style visa is being welcomed, expats’ questions need answers. The new Privileged Iqama residency scheme, now colloquially known as the Green Card, has been welcomed by the majority of expats as it allows permanent residency, property ownership and investment opportunities. A number of...
16 May at 6 PM
Expats in the Netherlands miss the boat for EU election voting
Around 60,000 EU nationals living and working in the Netherlands have registered to vote in the May 23 EU elections, but a good number didn’t know they needed to sign up and have lost the chance. One issue which has always annoyed European expats living in the Netherlands is that, in general, politicians don’t seem to even acknowledge...
16 May at 6 PM
Expats in Vietnam hit out at begpackers
Angry expats in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia are calling for action against the begpacking trend. The subject of begpackers is one which brings genuine expats across Southeast Asia together in anger, as it’s considered morally wrong that Western travellers should expect locals to pay for what seem to be no more than sightseeing...
15 May at 6 PM
Reasons why VPNs are must-haves for expats
One important aspect of becoming an expat is to ensure your online security is in place. Moving overseas can be a chore, as there are so many aspects to consider in order to live a stress-free life in the new country of residence. Ensuring online security is often not considered an immediate priority but, for homesick new arrivals, a...
15 May at 6 PM
Scandal of NHS charges for British expat pensioners living overseas
British expats living across the world can be confused as to their entitlement to free NHS healthcare should they need to return to the UK. For British citizens who’ve decided to retire overseas after paying social security dues all their working lives, the use of the UK’s free NHS healthcare whilst living in another country as an...
15 May at 6 PM
Famed Buddhist scholar turned politician gives talk to expats’ club in Thailand
Members of the popular Pattaya resort’s Expat Club were treated to a fascinating talk on Thailand’s political and cultural history as well as the country’s possible future. Presented by Mano Laohavanich MD PhD, the speaker at last Sunday’s Expats’ Club meeting, the talk centred on the country’s political history from 1238 a.d....
15 May at 6 PM
Retired expat nurse in Kuwait has back rent paid and eviction stopped
An elderly expat woman who’d lived in Dubai for over 40 years has had her back rent paid by the city. The 75–year old expat, now retired and with little or no income, had been living in Dubai for 43 years, but was facing eviction as she could no longer afford her rent. A kind neighbour informed the Rental Disputes Settlement Centre,...
15 May at 6 PM
UK expats urged to vote in upcoming EU parliamentary elections
UK expats living and working in European member states are being urged to vote in the upcoming EU parliamentary election. Taking place between 23 and 26 May, the election determines members of the EU parliament, and are especially important this year due to Brexit. Expats have the right to vote along with UK citizens, with elected MPs...
15 May at 6 PM
What do UK expats from Yorkshire miss the most?
Depending on their original location in the UK, British expats miss certain home comforts more than most other nationalities seem to. The lure of living overseas in a permanently hot climate is strong for many Brits who’re simply fed up with rain, extended cold winters and parliamentary chaos. Waking up every morning for the rest of...
13 May at 6 PM
Muscat reserves former top expat jobs for Omani nationals
In a shock announcement on Sunday, Muscat’s government banned expats from a slew of top managerial positions. Minister of Manpower Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al Bakri made the decision to ban the recruitment of expatriate professionals for a swathe of top jobs as well as from all clerical and admin positions in the Sultanate. Foreign...
13 May at 6 PM
Cambodian craft beers delight expats and tourists alike
Expats in Cambodia are now enjoying locally-brewed craft beers. Would-be expats who see Cambodia as a totally unfamiliar slice of Southeast Asia might be amazed to know its market for locally-produced craft beers is growing fast. The craving for alternatives to the easily obtained local beers has produced an entirely new market for the...
13 May at 6 PM
NHS expat medical specialists planning to leave due to soaring visa and healthcare fees
Expat medics from across the world are now leaving the NHS and the UK due to high charges for healthcare and visas. The NHS crisis is being exacerbated as literally thousands of foreign doctors and healthcare workers are giving up and relocating elsewhere due to high visa charges totalling thousands of pounds as well as the £400 annual...
10 May at 6 PM
Expats in Thailand forced to inform government of all job changes
Yet another new law aimed at expats in Thailand came into force at the end of last month. According to an announcement by the Thai Labour Ministry, all migrant workers in the Kingdom, including working expats, must inform the government about their job changes. The new law encompasses not just established expat workers who change jobs,...
10 May at 6 PM
Expat owners of UK property warned over inheritance taxes
As property prices in the UK continue to soar, expat Brit who own homes or buy-to-let investments back home are being warned about liability for inheritance taxes. During the last financial year, rising house prices have meant thousands more taxpayers have been dragged in the inheritance tax net, even although a good number had no idea...
10 May at 6 PM
HRMC publishes clarification rules for repayment of QROPs transfer tax
A new law introduced last month makes the QROPS transfer charge paid in error far easier to reclaim. Although it’s always been possible for UK expats to reclaim the unpopular, some say unfair, tax, the former process was confusing and slow, necessitating the new procedure in order to clarify the requirements in a formal, more easily...
9 May at 6 PM
Oz is all-time favourite for high net worth expats
Australia is migrating millionaires’ number one destination. If there was ever any doubt that the past several years saw more people deserting their countries of birth than ever before, the latest figures on millionaire migration prove it’s all about the money, one way or the other. High net worth individuals can go where they please,...
9 May at 6 PM
Doha expats celebrate opening of city metro line south
Doha’s brand new Metro Red Line South opened yesterday to the sound of cheering and clapping from crowds of expats and locals awaiting their first ride. Qatar’s capital is becoming clogged with road traffic, especially during rush hours, with the new metro service more than welcome as it saves time and the hassle of finding parking...
9 May at 6 PM
Expat-run Marbella nursery forced out of business by town hall error
A long-established and popular Marbella nursery for expat children has been forced to close down due to a town hall error. Co-owners of Marbella’s Wonderland nursery Ashlie Walker and Emma White are devastated that a so-called mistake by the local town hall has resulted in the closing of the business and the laying off of its staff. The...
8 May at 6 PM
Strange tale of Brit expat dispute with Thai landlady to end in deportation
A British expat involved in a rent dispute with his Phuket landlady is now to be deported for overstaying his visa. Briton David Maclean had locked himself in his ninth-floor Phuket condo in January as a result of a rent dispute with his landlady, initiated when he requested receipts for rents paid in order to present them to Thai...
8 May at 6 PM
Costa Rica gives multiple answers to retiree expat boredom
For would-be expat retirees who still believe they’ll be bored witless wherever they decide to spend their retirement years, Costa Rica has a long list of answers. Finding how to fill an unending days’ worth of free time may well be a dream for some retirees but it’s definitely a nightmare for others. The answer is to choose your...
8 May at 6 PM
Desperate Dubai property developers offer creative incentives to expat buyers
If you’re working in Dubai and considering buying a property, now’s the time! Dubai developers are being forced to offer lucrative incentives to potential purchasers due to a slump in demand and the prospect of a further 50,000 new homes coming on stream later this year. Freebees, incentives and innovative new mortgage loan plans are...
7 May at 6 PM
What to do and what not do during Ramadan
The Moslem Holy Month of Ramadan can be a cultural challenge for expats, especially for those who’ve only just arrived in the Gulf States. For everyone, the Holy Month is a time for family, community and peace, although many expats who feel they can’t cope take time off and leave for the duration of the month. For those who stay and...
7 May at 6 PM
Expat in Thailand writes to new immigration minister
Following the recent expat outcry about new visa rules, an expat living in Thailand has sent an open letter to the new Thai minister for immigration. Published in the Bangkok-based English language newspaper The Nation, the letter began with appreciation for the new immigration chief’s admission he wasn’t up to date on matters relevant...
7 May at 6 PM
Abu Dhabi Uni team catalogues early expat history in the region
A team of students from Khalifa University along with expat and local volunteers are exploring Abu Dhabi’s non-Moslem Cemetery to find out more about the early expat history of the emirate. The Sas al Nakhi graveyard holds the remains of literally hundreds of residents, from Indian workers, army personnel and Chinese labourers to...
6 May at 6 PM
Oman to open its property market to expats
In a surprising move aimed at increasing foreign investment in the sultanate, Oman is planning to allow expats to lease or possibly own freehold real estate. At the present time, 100 per cent foreign ownership of property in Oman is disallowed, with the real estate market falling due to the restriction. As a result, a report suggesting a...
6 May at 6 PM
How to avoid getting into debt in Dubai
How to avoid running into the UAE’s tempting debt trap. Newly arrived expats in Dubai have a choice – to manage their generous salaries or live up to the luxurious lifestyle by borrowing. Credit is easily obtained, and those not used to grabbing everything they’ve been promised can easily fall into excessive borrowing via easy...
6 May at 6 PM
Expat employers in UAE upbeat about 2019 economy
The current year is expected to give more employment opportunities to expats seeking to land jobs in the UAE. As Dubai corporations become more confident of growth during 2019, the expat professionals most in demand will be from the financial, IT and systems administration sectors, especially those with previous experience in data science...
3 May at 6 PM
UAE five and ten year residency visas now up for grabs
The long-awaited 10-year UAE residency visas for selected expat groupings are now in force. An official announcement implementing the new rules was made last week in Abu Dhabi, confirming the start of the new longer-term residency visas aimed at providing a sense of belonging and stability for valued expat professionals. The five visa...
3 May at 6 PM
Fake electricians hitting on Brit expat pensioners in Marbella
It seems Brit expats’ favourite retirement hub in Spain is reverting to its old title, the Costa del Crime! Yet another report of criminal activity along the Costa del Sol is hitting the English language press, increasing the fears of local British expat retirees about the safety of their chosen bolt-hole. A recent media report...
3 May at 6 PM
Expats and business travellers warned over possible SA general election street protests
Expats and business travellers to South Africa are being warned to avoid the streets on the 8th May 2019 general election day. Employers are being advised to be aware of possible risks to their expat employees from street demonstrations and protests, as these have a chance of becoming violent. A good number of UK companies have their...
2 May at 6 PM
Questions to ask your workplace pension provider when saving for retirement overseas
If you’re saving as part of a plan to retire overseas as an expat, you need to ask your pension provider four important questions. The British government’s introduction of auto-enrolment schemes for work-related pensions has meant a record high in the numbers of older workers now saving regularly for retirement. However, a recent...
2 May at 6 PM
UK expats in Costa del Sol urged to audition for British TV show
Brit expats on the Costa del Sol are needed for the new Bargain Loving Brits series. Theatrically-inclined Brits living and loving their lives in Spain’s Costa del Sol are being urged to audition for Channel Five’s upcoming Bargain Loving Brits show, the fifth in the series. Auditions will be taking place during May, with the team...
2 May at 6 PM
Expats in Vietnam urged to back drive to eliminate plastics usage
Expats living and working in Vietnam are being urged to limit their plastics usage as more facts emerge about the effects of the scourge on the planet and its species. The throwaway society which gave rise to the overuse of plastics isn’t just confined to the West, as its effects are being felt across the whole of Asia including...
1 May at 6 PM
Expat job seekers heading for the UAE warned to take note of their visa expiry date
Expatriates looking to use the UAE’s six-month job-seeker visas are being warned to take due note of visa expiry dates or face fines and possible deportation or imprisonment. Those using the visa’s six-months validity to find a job in the emirates should note a sponsor is not needed and that the visa doesn’t’ allow exemption or...
1 May at 6 PM
Brit expats and holidaymakers scammed by rental property fraudsters
British tourists and would-be expats have been scammed out of thousands when renting villas online. It’s not known exactly how many British visitors to Spain have been affected by the cleverly constituted rental property scams, but it’s the third year the crooks have stolen large amounts of deposit money from their victims. The bogus...
1 May at 6 PM
Expats and locals fight planning permission for restaurant on protected Spanish beach
Expats and locals are protesting against planning permission for a beach club on a wild beach Biosphere Reserve. A petition signed by almost 180,000 expats and locals is in protest against the granting of planning permission for a celebrity-backed beach club on one of Spain’s last remaining wild beaches. Valdeaqueros Beach is part of a...
31 May at 6 PM
Manhunt under way after mother abducts her son from Costa de la Luz
It’s feared six-year old David Thompson has been abducted by his mother from La Antilla in Spain’s Costa de la Luz as part of a plan to fly to an Eastern Europe destination. Last Monday, David’s father reported his son was missing, claiming his ‘aggressive’ ex-wife may have been responsible for his disappearance. The boy had...
31 May at 6 PM
Actor Martin Clunes helps rescued street dog in Paphos find a loving home
Thanks to well-known British actor Martin Clunes and a British expat couple, an unwanted stray dog roaming the streets of Paphos has a new, loving home in the UK. Now named Lucky for obvious reasons, the stray dog was kept on a goat farm until she was evicted as she wasn’t wanted any more by her owner. Three nearby residents found her...
31 May at 6 PM
Brit expat parents plead with Oz government to deport their son
A British couple living in retirement in Australia are urging the government to deport their wayward son back to the UK after he’d stolen their savings and forced them to sell their home to cover his debts. Russell Lewis, now 43 years old, stole his parents’ credit card, emptied their bank account and ended up £27,000 in debt after...
30 May at 6 PM
EuroCitizens meet in Madrid sets out human cost of Brexit
Last week’s EuroCitizens round table meetup in Madrid told it like it is right now for UK citizens living in the EU. The March agreement between the opposing UK and EU Brexit negotiators means the post-Brexit rights of Britons living in EU member states are to be severely curtailed. British in Europe steering group member and...
30 May at 6 PM
Expat teachers in Mumbai now call India home
Expat teachers are flocking to Mumbai from across the world due to the increasing number of international schools opening in the city. Experienced educators from Europe, Canada and the USA are now learning to adapt their teaching styles to those of an Indian classroom at the same time as introducing Western education's best practices. In...
30 May at 6 PM
Tips for new arrivals in Qatar
In the minds of a good many expats who’ve recently relocated to Qatar, the culture is about as foreign as it can possibly get. It’s possible that adjusting to a Gulf State relocation is one of the biggest challenges of international expat life, but the experience doesn’t have to be a nightmare and unfamiliarity doesn’t have to be...
29 May at 6 PM
Brit expat on Cambodian holiday beaten up by Chinese gang
A British expat resident in Taiwan for 14 years fell foul of a violent Chinese gang due to his facial tattoo. Paul Farrell became a naturalised Taiwanese citizen after his marriage to a Taiwanese woman, adopting the Chinese name ‘Lohan’ and opening a bar in the city of Kaohsiung. Also, in a moment of new-found patriotism aided by...
29 May at 6 PM
British expat retiree in Spain almost killed by axe wielding squatter
A British retiree living in a small Spanish town in Sevilla province almost lost his life when he was attacked by an axe-wielding squatter during an argument. The British expat community living in the Sierra Sur area are shocked by the attack on 75-year old Michael Devitt, although they’re not surprised as squatters have illegally taken...
29 May at 6 PM
Kuwait ban on under 30 year old expat diploma holders reversed
The recently announced employment ban on work permits for diploma-holding expats aged under 30 years is set to be cancelled. The controversial ruling was poorly received by the expat community and the emirate’s business owners, as it’s uncertain whether suitable replacements could be found within the local population. The resolution...
28 May at 6 PM
British expats protest funding of bullfight with taxpayers money
British expats in Malaga took part in an anti-bullfighting protest after they’d discovered the event had been funded by taxpayers’ money. Organised by the Malaga Animal Save group, the matador training event took place last Saturday at Coin’s Plaza de Toros. At the same time, a 1,300 strong petition was set up by a local Spanish...
28 May at 6 PM
British expats hold dawn protest in Magaluf over prostitutes and violent crime
British expat businesses in Magaluf along with other concerned citizens protested at dawn against the increasing number of prostitutes in the holiday resort. The organisers of the dawn protest in the town’s infamous Punta Ballena strip claim prostitutes in the town are fronting for scams, robberies and other criminal activities, and...
28 May at 6 PM
Expats overseas more likely to have serious alcohol problems
Research has shown that a far higher proportion of expats are likely to have serious alcohol problems than the general population. According to researchers, expats working or retiring overseas have a dramatically high rate of alcoholism and are far less likely to admit their addiction and seek help. Drug and alcohol counsellor Kathleen...
25 May at 6 PM
Brit father and son VAT fraudsters captured in Spain
A recently arrived British father and son have been arrested in their villa near Benidorm for a one million VAT fraud. Benidorm was the chosen expat refuge for Brian Colwell and his son Jamie, just as it has been for decades for criminals fleeing the long arm of British justice, but the unsavoury pair have now been hauled back to the UK...
25 May at 6 PM
British ex army burglar finally caught after targeting expats
A British ex-soldier convicted of a burglary spree in central France has been caught after going on the run for five months. The unnamed 52 year old had terrified expats and local living in Civray, a market town close by La Rochelle. Targeting the expat community and identifying them by their British car number plates, he carried out at...
25 May at 6 PM
US warns its expats over unidentified Chinese sonic influence
An American expat working at one of the USA’s consulates in China has been diagnosed with a minor brain injury caused by strange sounds and air pressure. America’s Embassy in Beijing has issued a warning to US expats living and working in China to be aware of possible health problems being caused by abnormal noises and air pressures....
24 May at 6 PM
Anger escalates over Netherlands expat 30 per cent tax cut change
As the row over the Netherlands government’s cut to the 30 per cent ruling escalates, the real financial damage to expats is becoming clear. For many expatriates over the past few years, the Dutch tax advantage for incoming professionals has played an important part in their decisions to choose the Netherlands over and above a number of...
24 May at 6 PM
Tips for students heading for an expat semester in Italy
Things you’ll need to know if you’re contemplating a semester at an Italian university. One way to experience expat life at the same time as upgrading your university education is to spend a semester either as an intern or student. For those hoping to be able to travel and maybe even settle as expats in a foreign land, it’s also a...
24 May at 6 PM
Expats love South African life but fear for their safety
In general, the majority of expats in South Africa are happy with their lives, but they don’t feel safe. The results of a recent survey reveal expats arriving from the USA, Britain and Germany are happy with their choice of destination, but day-to-day safety remains an issue for the vast majority. On the plus side, there’s a vast...
23 May at 6 PM
Expat help needed for documentary on Andalusia abandoned dogs
A British filmmaker needs help from expats in Andalusia for his documentary on abandoned dogs. London resident Paul Murphy became aware first-hand about Spain’s abandoned dogs scandal when he drove from the UK to Los Barrios to collect his newly-adopted stray dog from a local shelter. Shock and horror was his reaction when he saw the...
23 May at 6 PM
Is Brexit responsible for reestablishing expat ghettos
Is Brexit about to be a spur for bringing together the British expat community in France? For decades, the focus of the British expat community across the channel in France seems to have been integration into the French community rather than taking an active part in both ethnic groups. Occasional articles in the English language media...
23 May at 6 PM
Irish expats flocking back home to vote for safe abortions
Inspired by the hashtag ‘hometovote’, a wave of concerned Irish emigrants is arriving back in the home country to vote for safe abortions and women’s right to decide. Ireland’s abortion referendum comes after many decades of the harshest anti-abortion laws on the planet. The admittedly controversial procedure is almost...
22 May at 6 PM
Is expatriation the only answer to UK inflation and poor investment performances
Retiring overseas is a dream for increasing numbers of British workers, but what’s the financial reality necessary to make the dream come true? Many Britons approaching retirement believe their later years would be best spent in a country with warmer weather and less rain as well as a cheaper cost of living. Spain is an all-time...
22 May at 6 PM
US businesses rejecting the Netherlands due to less competitive business environment
American companies are now shying away from opening up in the Netherlands due to its increasing lack of competitiveness. For a good while, the country was destination number one for American conglomerates wishing to open European offices, but changes to the Dutch business climate are persuading them to look elsewhere in Europe. France,...
22 May at 6 PM
Expat females in Saudi can get driving licenses from today
Today is the day on which expat women in Saudi Arabia can apply for their driving licenses. From today onwards, expat women living in Saudi who have valid overseas driving licenses can apply for their Saudi driving permits. However, according to the original report female Saudi nationals over the age of 18 will need to wait until June...
21 May at 6 PM
Chinese culture heads West via expat websites
For almost half a century, foreign influences crept into China’s millennia-old culture through reform–generated trade and commerce, but Chinese culture’s now heading West in a big way thanks to Western expats. Nowadays, the ancient country’s major cities are home to a hotbed of Western talent, bringing with it all the trappings of...
21 May at 6 PM
Brit expat arrested in Spain for holiday rental fraud
A British expat accused of scamming a number of UK holidaymakers via a fake holiday rental site has been arrested in Northern Spain. Paula Louise Neale disappeared from her Costa del Sol home last year amidst accusations she’d cheated British holidaymakers by placing a large number of fake holiday rental advertisements on Facebook using...
21 May at 6 PM
British in France rushing for citizenship rather than facing the unknown
With just ten short months to go before Britain leaves the EU, UK citizens in France are rushing to gain French citizenship. In a panic to ensure their futures in the land of their choice, Britons in France are deciding not to take the risk of waiting to hear the final Brexit deal before deciding whether or not to apply for French...
18 May at 6 PM
Supportive expat community in Costa del Sol rewarded by Royal Wedding event
Being an expat in a strange land isn’t roses all the way, but having a supportive community on hand can save the day. The British expatriate community in Spain’s Costa del Sol have been there when they were needed endless times over the past decades, often finding out about other expats having a hard time via local English language...
18 May at 6 PM
Home Secretary finally demands info on plans for UK expat rights
As the UK government finally gets around to asking EU leaders about their plans for UK expats in Europe, British expats in the Netherlands continue to fight for their rights. Earlier this year, UK expat campaigners in the Netherlands asked the Amsterdam court to decide whether British expats can become EU citizens after Brexit is...
18 May at 6 PM
Avoiding scams whilst checking out popular expat destinations
Would-be expats spending time off in their chosen destination before the actual move should watch out for the tourist traps they’ll encounter regularly once they’re residents in the region. Unless you’re relocating due to your job, visiting your chosen destination several times before you leave your home country and dive into expat...
17 May at 6 PM
Thai consumers and expats complain over soaring healthcare costs
Consumer protection networks in Thailand are threatening legal action against the country’s Commerce Ministry for allowing huge hikes in the cost of private healthcare. Activists belonging to several consumer protection groups have delivered a petition urging the Central Committee on the Price of Goods and Services chair Sontirat...
17 May at 6 PM
Adopting a rescued dog can transform expat lives
One question common to many newly settled expat arrivals in France is ‘what do I do in my spare time?’ Moving to a new land is an adventure in itself, especially if a relaxed retirement is the goal, but pottering around the garden, discovering the best places to eat, exploring the locale, walking the dog and other similar activities...
17 May at 6 PM
British pub in Washington to host Royal Wedding and FA Cup viewing day
A British-style pub in Washington DC is now the go-to watering hole for expats keeping up with Brexit developments and watching Saturday’s Royal Wedding. This coming Saturday, the Queen Vic British pub will be the only place in town for Anglophiles and British expats in Washington D.C. From 7 a.m. all eyes will be on the Windsor Castle...
16 May at 6 PM
Russian expats in Cyprus demonstrate over increasing crime
Increasing levels of crime in Cyprus have caused groups of Russian expats to mount demonstrations in Limassol and Paphos. Known for its attraction for expats from colder climes, Cyprus is especially popular with elderly pensioners looking for a peaceful retirement in the sun. However, recently released reports have claimed increasing...
16 May at 6 PM
Getting the best Netherlands ISP for your expat needs
If you’re an expat heading for the Netherlands, one of the most important tasks you’ll have is finding the best internet service provider in your chosen area. Like it or not, the internet has taken over the lives of citizens and expats alike, no matter where they’re based in the world. Arriving in your new country and finding your...
16 May at 6 PM
Kuwaiti lawmakers debate Kuwaitization by dumping all lower waged expats
News about further increases in expat healthcare charges is being denied as fake by the Kuwaiti Health Ministry. The ministry has since instructed healthcare centres and hospitals that no further increase in expat healthcare charges has been ordered since last year’s increase in October. Furthermore, the ministry has reiterated that...
16 May at 6 PM
Dubai house prices still falling
Expat professionals working in Dubai are being advised there’s never been a better time to invest in a property. Prices in Dubai’s secondary housing market are softening and mortgage rates remain on the low side, suggesting that now is the perfect time for expats to give up on renting and buy a home. Properties are now becoming ever...
16 May at 6 PM
Australia is still a favourite with Brit retirees but its own are leaving
Australia is still popular with UK expat retirees, but its own seniors are leaving for more affordable foreign destinations. The numbers of elderly Australians leaving their home country for a less expensive life overseas have dramatically increased over the past decade, with Oz expat communities forming in Spain, Cambodia and Thailand. In...
16 May at 6 PM
Offensive tourist hen party causes Andalusian religious procession chaos
Andalusian residents as well as expats will be happy to hear the government is now cracking down on tourists behaving badly. The hastily-induced new law was the result of female tourists on a hen party invading a Sevilla religious procession whilst whacking each other over the head with huge, phallic inflatables. Understandably, those...
14 May at 6 PM
British expat community in Spain torn apart by Brexit
May 9 was Europe Day, a celebration of everything the European community stands for, but UK expats affected by Brexit might not have been celebrating. The general feeling across the expat community in Spain is that Brexit has fragmented the formerly cohesive, strong British presence in the country. Almost a million Britons are now living...
14 May at 6 PM
Could non Muslim expats benefit from observing Ramadan
As Ramadan approaches, expats living and working in the UAE might well be asking themselves whether they’d benefit from a month’s fasting and self-examination. Many Western expats in the UAE wonder every year whether they’d derive benefits from joining in the fasting during the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. Questions about the...
14 May at 6 PM
French government announces end to taxe d’habitation by 2021
Expats living permanently in France will be happy to hear the government is getting rid of the taxe d’habitation in its entirety by 2021. The timescale is now set for the tax’s total removal with 2021 the latest date. The corresponding loss of revenue is expected to be offset by budgetary savings, thus preventing it having an effect...
11 May at 6 PM
Spain expat and tourism boom set to wane post Brexit
Increased demand due to terrorism in competitor destinations has caused a hike in Spanish property prices, but the trend is set to end. From 2015 to 2017, the surge in terrorist attacks in Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia took its toll on formerly popular holiday and retirement destinations, with Spain’s Mediterranean coastal cities the main...
11 May at 6 PM
Pension transfer fraudster with 800 victims convicted for second time
A previously convicted pension fraudster has been rearrested and sentenced again for running a pension transfer scam. Simon Colfer,had been convicted and jailed for theft, forgery, fraud and obtaining money by deception at an earlier date, but after his release in 2010 he fronted Fortitude Trading under the false name Simon Davies in...
11 May at 6 PM
Rental charges in the Netherlands becoming unaffordable for most expats
Expats attempting to move from the Netherlands’ major cities to less expensive smaller towns are being stymied by rental price rises. Average rental charges during the frst quarter of 2018 have risen by 5.9 per cent over last year’s figures, and the increases aren’t confined to major Dutch cites such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht...
10 May at 6 PM
Brit expat in Mallorca accused of defrauding hotel chains with travel insurance scam
A well-known British expat living on Mallorca is now in court accused of encouraging British tourists to file fake illness claims in order to benefit UK-based law firms. Laura Cameron and six employees of her company Elite Project Marketing were arrested in September last year on charges of creating an illegal network targeting and...
10 May at 6 PM
Brit expat in Spain creates Facebook page to make the world a better place
Nick Moore’s new ‘If five million people’ Facebook page has one aim – to unite followers from across the world in an effort to promote good deeds and help save Planet Earth. His own description of the site is ‘a page to encourage and inspire, with ideas aimed at making the world a better place’. He adds the page isn’t a...
10 May at 6 PM
China toughens laws in crackdown on foreign religions
Chinese lawmakers are set to further tighten the laws surrounding the practice of foreign religions on Chinese soil. The regulation of foreign religions and their practices in China has long resulted in Chinese nationals being banned from foreign religious ceremonies, but are now to be tightened further to prevent ‘hostile foreign...
9 May at 6 PM
Trump repatriation tax hitting hard on US expats overseas
As if being double-taxed wasn’t enough, US expats in Germany are now suffering from the effects of the poorly structured Trump tax bill. The USA is one of only two world countries which taxes overseas-based citizens on their foreign earnings. The other is Eritrea, which says it all. Not only are US expats taxed as if their wages and...
9 May at 6 PM
Upcoming election seen as reason behind clampdown on Cambodian press freedom
Last weekend’s sale of the Phnom Penh Post was an unwelcome surprise to many expats living and working in Cambodia. The Phnom Penh Post English language newspaper was the last independent newspaper in the country, with its loss causing concern amongst the kingdom’s many thousands of expats. On hearing the news of its sale, the...
9 May at 6 PM
UAE now a hub for online shopping scams and card fraud
Over a million consumers living in the UAE were victims of online shopping scams during 2017. Online shopping scammers and fraudsters had a very successful 2017, according to a new report which estimated some $87.3 million was lost by unwary online consumers. E-commerce is enjoying a boom in the Gulf States, as are crooks and scammers...
8 May at 6 PM
Is Bitcoin a financial best friend for expats
It’s fair to say Bitcoin is now a huge topic of interest amongst the worldwide expat community as well as an investment for the adventurous. First created and launched in 2009, the cryptocurrency concept was designed to become a universal method of payment achieved through secure, automated transactions. In fact, the design itself was...
8 May at 6 PM
US expats in Zurich use comic videos to encourage midterm votes
‘When all else fails, try comedy’ is the expat approach to galvanising the US expat vote in the November midterm elections. Comedy with a serious purpose is a unique strategy intended to persuade US expats in Switzerland to vote in the upcoming midterms. Its creators are a group of American citizens living and working in Zurich...
8 May at 6 PM
Kuwaitization killing off rental investments as expat workers flee
Key residential areas in Kuwait are emptying fast as Kuwaitization takes its toll on the emirate’s rental market. As many as 50,000 apartments are now vacant across Kuwait’s key residential districts as increasing numbers of expat workers leave the emirate and either head home or on to greener pastures elsewhere in the world. A large...
7 May at 6 PM
Malta tops expat favourites for the sunshine life
The historic island of Malta isn’t just a sunny Mediterranean hotspot for British retirees, it’s also a fascinating glimpse into a time long past. Malta’s latest triumph is its place as one of the top world countries for the sunshine life, displacing Costa Rica, Mexico and Bahrain and joining with Taiwan, and Ecuador as a favourite...
7 May at 6 PM
UAE expats clearing debts rather than spending following VAT imposition
Ahead of the recent VAT introduction into the UAE, both expat and citizen consumers were worried about its effect on prices. A survey conducted late in 2017 by a major English language UAE newspaper saw 44 per cent of respondents saying they had cause for concern over price rises due to the 5 per cent VAT tax, with only around four per...
7 May at 6 PM
Patriotic Brit in Germany parks vintage Routemaster in his front garden
Followers of the antics of British expats may remember press coverage of a true Brit living in Germany when the result of the Brexit referendum was announced. Tree surgeon Gary Blackburn moved to Germany in 1988, but remained a ‘True Brit’ whilst working and bringing up his six children. For years, he’s lived in Kretzhaus, Bonn, but...
4 May at 6 PM
Finding the best options for renting overseas accommodation
Whatever the reasons behind your emigration, finding and renting the best property for your needs is a priority. Choosing a location is the first move towards finding a suitable home, whether you’re relocating for work reasons, retiring, studying abroad or simply unhappy with what’s going down in your home country. Thanks to the...
4 May at 6 PM
EC President calls for Belgian citizenship for UK expat Eurocrats
EC president Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday called for British Eurocrats employed in Brussles to be granted Belgian citizenship. In a speech to the European Parliament, Mr Juncker told lawmakers he’d like to see all expat Britons working as EU officials in Brussels given Belgian citizenship in order to stay in their jobs post-Brexit....
4 May at 6 PM
Saudi private sector economy veers off track due to foreign worker levy
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector has had the worst April results for nine years. Softer output growth, slower job creation and a contraction in new orders were all features of the April results of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector report by Dubai’s Emirates MBD Bank. The kingdom’s PMI score is now at a record low of 51.4,...
3 May at 6 PM
Dubai cyberpolice crack down on social media and fake news
Spreading fake new online in Dubai will now result in a fine of up to Dhs 1 million. Dubai authorities are now cracking down on the dissemination of fake news via social media, urging those who read possibly fake news or receive it via an email not to share it. One reason for the clampdown is the UAE’s long-standing culture of respecting...
3 May at 6 PM
Top foreign professionals granted permanent residence in China
Five foreign experts working in China have been awarded the coveted ‘green card’ permanent residency cards. The gift of residence cards to top foreign professionals is an important part of China’s strategy to attract the brightest and best expat talent to drive the country’s development as a hub for innovation and excellence. This...
3 May at 6 PM
New study predicts devastating Brexit effect on NHS
A new study involving 68 NHS hospitals and care institutions warns the uncertainty over Brexit is already having a serious effect on NHS services, and could further wreck Britain’s healthcare strategy due to a severe lack of qualified staff. Almost half of the healthcare institutions which took part in the survey have already changed...
2 May at 6 PM
US expats in Zurich urge compatriots across the world to vote in midterms
American expats living and working in Zurich are urging US citizens across the world to get together and register to vote in November’s midterm elections. A group of 270 US expats in Switzerland have banded together under the umbrella of Action Together – Zurich to urge their compatriots all over the world to register to vote in the...
2 May at 6 PM
Brit millionaire causes chaos in Magaluf after crashing his Rolls Royce
Proof that money doesn’t buy driving skills or common sense was displayed in a Mallorca street by an expat British millionaire who wrecked his Roller by reversing it into a large plate glass window. Jody Sanders and his two bikini-clad South American passengers weren’t expecting to have to do a runner during their trip around...
2 May at 6 PM
Cryptocurrency crooks under threat of international crackdown
As reports of cryptocurrency connections to organised crime, fraud and duping of inexperienced investors begin to surface on the web, international regulators are preparing to get tough. Due to the popularity of speculating in cryptocurrencies, it’s no surprise the bad and the ugly are now taking advantage of the good and the...
1 May at 6 PM
Top expat talent now reluctant to relocate to the UK
Continuing uncertainty about the direction Brexit will finally take is affecting the numbers of expat professionals applying for relocation to the UK. According to recently released research, with just under a year left before Brexit finally kicks in, human resources professionals and recruitment agencies are complaining their hiring...
1 May at 6 PM
Kuwait planning to axe three thousand expat public sector jobs
According to recent reports, Kuwait is planning to axe 3,108 expat public sector jobs between now and March next year. The high number of expected expat redundancies is in line with similar new laws in other UAE states, all of which target expat jobs in an effort to deal with local unemployment. In Kuwait, the purge of foreign workers in...
1 May at 6 PM
New Etias visa waiver to affect Brits with second homes in EU
Brits wanting to make a post-Brexit visit to their second homes in France or other EU member states may need to get permission and pay a fee, due to the EU’s new visa-waiver law being approved. Unless an exemption is agreed between now and 2021, Britons with holiday homes in France, Spain and other popular EU member state destinations...
31 May at 6 PM
Expats returning from EU countries expected to cost NHS a billion
NHS treatment for the many thousands of UK expat retirees returning to Britain post-Brexit is expected to cost a billion sterling. At present, the reciprocal agreement over reduced-rate or free medical treatment offered to British pensioners living in EU countries is costing the UK some £500,000. Experts are now predicting the full cost...
31 May at 6 PM
Three unique destinations for adventurous expats
Not every expat aspires to settle down in a first world haven equipped with all the amenities available in the home country. For expatriates looking for a different experience, developing countries across the world are the places to consider. A number of formerly third world states are now blessed with growing economies as well as...
31 May at 6 PM
Expat jobseekers dump UK and USA for less politically uncertain locations
Expats looking to find the perfect job are now shunning the UK and USA in favour of less politically uncertain destinations. Asia, Canada and Australia are now the preferred locations for job-seeking expats looking for a new place to hang their hats. The UK is out of favour due to the massive uncertainty surrounding Brexit, and the threat...
30 May at 6 PM
VPNs essential for expat internet access
Regardless of their reasons for leaving the home country, the majority of expats rely on the internet to keep in touch with friends and family as well as to further their business interests and plans to explore their new country of residence. Decades ago, the world’s expat population looked a great deal different than it does nowadays....
30 May at 6 PM
Germany to offer UK expats dual nationality
As UK expats rush to claim overseas citizenship, Germany looks likely to offer dual nationality to its younger British expat community. Younger UK expats living and working in Germany and other EU states may be able to claim the lifeline of dual nationality, according to a statement by German vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. The vast...
30 May at 6 PM
Anti FATCA fighters lobby US congress for repeal
US expats across the world will be keeping their fingers tightly crossed as a 23-group coalition lobbies Congress to repeal the despised law. Originally approved by President Obama in an effort to shut the door to US expat tax avoiders, FATCA is now a painful thorn in the sides of millions of US citizens living overseas. Admittedly, more...
29 May at 6 PM
UK pensioners in Spain warned over storage unit investment scams
Britain’s Serious Fraud Office is warning retirees both in the UK and Europe over fraudulent pension schemes touting high returns on self-storage facility investments. The Serious Fraud Office last week began an investigation into fraudulent storage unit investment schemes amid fears that large numbers of pensioners have lost massive...
29 May at 6 PM
More bad news for expat workers in Kuwait
The Kuwaiti government has banned the renewal of the popular ‘family visas’ issued to parents, siblings and other relatives of expats working in the emirate. A Kuwaiti government undersecretary recently issued a statement declaring family visas for siblings, parents and other relatives will no longer be issued as they are now...
29 May at 6 PM
Which party offers the best deal for UK expats on June 8
It’s essential that British expat voters living in Spain have the clear-cut information they need before deciding which candidate to vote for in the upcoming general election. T he shock election taking place on 8 June is being promoted by pro-European expats as being a second chance to make their views known on Brexit and its effect on...
26 May at 6 PM
UK and USA uncertainties spur expat interest in Australian job market
Aspiring expat jobseekers are turning their attention to Australia due to Brexit uncertainty and the political and economic effects of the Trump presidency. A 30 per cent surge in the numbers of job seekers from overseas hit Australia’s recruiters at the beginning of April and shows no signs of slowing down. The biggest increases in...
26 May at 6 PM
Life after a failed expat assignment
Being offered an international assignment is an exciting challenge for career-oriented professionals, and can be very rewarding both for the expat and the employer. Taking on a new position in an unfamiliar location is a welcome challenge for many expat professionals, with the financial rewards just one of the career benefits on offer....
26 May at 6 PM
EU expats flee UK in fear of Brexit
A dramatic fall in net migration since the Brexit referendum is sparking fears for the British economy. New official figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed a massive fall in net migration in 2016, sparked by a surge in EU expats relocating to their home countries. Business groups are warning a labour...
25 May at 6 PM
Expat retirees in France can expect a longer life
A recent study has confirmed the French are living longer than those in most other countries, making it the perfect destination for expat retirees. According to a French study of life expectancy across the world, French elder citizens are fortunate they were born there due to the fact that life expectancy is at one of the world’s...
25 May at 6 PM
LibDem leader Farron calls for MPs for Brit expats in Europe
The leader of the Liberal Democrat political party is urging increased parliamentary representation for the 1.2 million British expatriates living in EU member states. LibDem leader Tim Farron is suggesting new constituencies with their own members of parliament should be drawn up in order to represent British expat communities across...
25 May at 6 PM
US expat survey notes increasing dissatisfaction with US government
The latest version of an annual US expat survey has revealed a growing number of respondents are unhappy with their government. The US Expat Opinion Survey was based on expats' feelings about taxes, the 2016 presidential election, government representation, citizenship renunciation and more, including the new guy in the White House and...
24 May at 6 PM
Thailand worlds deadliest country for motorcycle accidents
Motorcycles are the Thai choice for personal transport, but the country’s annual total of accidents and fatalities involving two wheels is the highest in the world. For the majority of Thais as well as a huge number of tourists and expats, motorcycles provide a practical, inexpensive mode of transport both in the countryside and in the...
24 May at 6 PM
Survey shows favourite countries for expat professionals
Uncertainly about where to relocate is beginning to haunt expats’ lives, but some countries are still attractive for professionals determined to make the move. Immigration issues are causing uncertainty in many former expat hubs including the USA and UK, but determined expat professionals can still find a home for their talents and...
24 May at 6 PM
EU demands lifetime protection for all expats rights
The EU is demanding a lifetime guarantee of rights for all expats affected by Brexit. The demand was made as part of the EU’s negotiation directives, and is focused on the rights and status of all expat citizens and their families, both in the UK and in the 27 EU member states. Safeguarding those likely to be affected due to...
24 May at 6 PM
UK expats in UAE speak out on Manchester terrorist bombing
British expats living and working in the Gulf States are appalled and saddened by the news of the devastating Manchester terrorism attack. The suicide bomb attack is being considered by many to be the worst of the many terror attacks in the UK, simply because of the number of deaths and the fact that the British-born bomber deliberately...
24 May at 6 PM
UK expats still disallowed from voting in general election
Last October, the British government promised British expats who’d lived overseas for more than 15 years they would be able to vote in the next general election. Next month’s shock UK general election is perhaps one of the most significant of the past several decades, as it’s clearly linked to Britain’s divorce from the EU. In...
24 May at 6 PM
SEC probe hits international FA firm targeting UK expat pension pots
An international financial advice firm specialising in targeting British expats’ pension funds and investments is now being investigated by the USA Securities and Exchange Commission. The DeVere Group has long been active in retirement destinations favoured by expats from the UK, with its high fees and aggressive marketing tactics...
22 May at 6 PM
Taking your dog with you when relocating
Relocating expats whose dogs are a precious part of their lives need not be nervous about the process, as many world countries will make both of them welcome. Expats with much-loved dogs could be forgiven for panicking when it’s time to relocate to another job in another country, but there’s no need to worry. The practicalities of...
22 May at 6 PM
Expensive Asian cities worth the price for ambitious expats
The world’s most expensive cities for expats are still regarded as dream destinations by ambitious professionals. Asia is the latest Shangri-la for international companies looking to expand their influence even further, although the average cost of living in the most favourable destinations is continuing to rise. Being posted to one of...
22 May at 6 PM
British retirees in Spain face crisis over bad Brexit deal
An increasing number of elderly British retirees living along the Spanish coastline are already feeling the pinch and are terrified of a hard Brexit. For several decades, Spain’s Costa del Sol has been a favourite retirement hub for British state pensioners. Many chose the warm, inexpensive lifestyle over having to decide between heating...
19 May at 6 PM
Buying your expat dream home in Canada
Canada is a popular choice for expats from across the world, with many deciding to buy a home rather than rent. For new expat arrivals in Canada, buying a home is a long-term, cost effective option to renting. The purchase programme is reasonably straightforward, and there’s a great choice of varying locations with properties costing...
19 May at 6 PM
Expat entrepreneurs in China crazy about WeChat
A user behaviour report by China’s popular social media app WeChat has revealed it’s become an essential part of life for expat entrepreneurs, students and business owners. WeChat’s user report, revealed on Wednesday, is the result of a survey of the app’s millions of users and covers all its functions including its stickers and...
19 May at 6 PM
Kuwaiti lawmaker calls for mass sacking of expatriate teachers
In yet another attack on Kuwait’s expatriate community, a local lawmaker is calling for all foreign teachers to be sacked and replaced with Kuwaiti nationals. MP Osama al Shaheen believes there is now an urgent need to address the emirate’s demographic imbalance, suggesting that removing all foreign teachers would contribute strongly...
18 May at 6 PM
Philippines is home from home for expats families
Of all Southeast Asia’s tropical countries, the Philippines is the most popular haven for expats and their families. According to a recent survey, the main reasons for the popularity of the Philippines amongst expats are its booming economy and the hospitality of its people. In reality, there are many, many reasons why the island...
18 May at 6 PM
Japanese bank beefs up English language services for expats
Major Japanese banks are responding to an increase in incoming expat professionals by providing more English language services. One of the biggest problems for expats taking up positions in non-English speaking countries is dealing with the need for a local bank account. Not only is it rare to find English-speaking staff, the banking...
18 May at 6 PM
How Brexit will affect finances for Brits overseas
With so much uncertainty as regards the Brexit effect on freedom to live and work in the EU, a shift of expat focus to the financial consequences of a hard deal can at least help with contingency plans. Basically, the major effect on expat finances is certain to be the fate of sterling once Brexit becomes an uncomfortable reality. If...
17 May at 6 PM
Dubai offers expat property owners official online wills
Expats who are property owners in Dubai can now safeguard their investments by making use of an officially recognised online will. The new will allows expat owners of one to five properties in Dubai to make an online will safeguarding their investments and passing them on to beneficiaries after their deaths. Once the will is made, it...
17 May at 6 PM
Hong Kong losing its charm for expat professionals
Once the favoured exotic destination for expat professionals, Hong Kong is losing ground to India and Japan due to its shrinking benefit packages. Expat pay packages and benefits in Hong Kong, once a favourite of expat professionals looking to get the best deal, are at their lowest point since 2012. The once generous terms of employment...
17 May at 6 PM
Oman considering loosening expat property purchase rules
Omani lawmakers are considering allowing foreigners living and working in the emirate to purchase homes outside the specially designated integrated tourist complexes. A recent article in the Oman Times quoted deputy chairman of the Majlis al Shura Mohammed al Ghassani as saying that changes in the rule disallowing expats from buying homes...
17 May at 6 PM
Madrid wins out as European favourite for expat life
A recent survey has identified Madrid as one of the top world cities for expat life. Deciding to live and work overseas often involves a tricky choice between top-waged, elite jobs with unsatisfactory lifestyles and a more laid-back, enjoyable environment with an acceptable salary. With its central location, finance and commerce hubs, job...
17 May at 6 PM
British expat calls for more English speaking police in Spain
A long-term British resident on the Spanish Costa del Sol has called for the recruitment of more English-speaking police. Ed Wilcox, a resident of Duquesa for the past 35 years, is appealing for more English-speaking police to be employed in the popular tourism and expat destination. His call comes just several days after he was twice...
17 May at 6 PM
Spain talks tough on expat Brexit
Spain’s foreign minister is hitting out at Britain’s stance on expats. The argument on expat rights between Theresa May and European Parliament Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofsdadt seems to be getting nastier as time passes, with neither able to get their human rights priorities in order. In addition, a recent statement from the Madrid...
17 May at 6 PM
Expats fear losing data from global cyber attack
Expats across the world are afraid they might lose files, photos and contact details of family and friends back home due to Friday’s devastating cyber attack. For the first time ever, a massive cyber attack using malicious ransomware has spread across 150 countries and infected at least 300,000 computer systems, leaving expats who rely...
17 May at 6 PM
Can watching British TV ease expat homesickness
Moving overseas and living in an unfamiliar country can cause attacks of homesickness, depression and stress-related anxiety, but accessing the home country’s TV channels can help ease the strain. Wherever in the world expats are located, there’s no avoiding the occasional twinge of regret for leaving the comforts of home and immersing...
17 May at 6 PM
Fast deal needed to protect rights of UK and EU expats
In spite of prevarications by EU negotiators and the meaningless soundbites emitting from the British PM, the mainstream belief that nothing is more urgent than the need to regularise the post-Brexit status of 4.2 million expats is growing fast. Brussel’s latest statement stresses how complicated the issue could be but, in theory, the...
12 May at 6 PM
British expat parents in Spain appeal for O negative blood
A British expat family living in Mallorca are appealing for O negative expats to donate blood to save their daughter’s life. Originally from Yorkshire and now living in Valldemossa, John Chappell and his wife Sarah have appealed through the local English language newspaper Olive Press for expats with O negative blood to come forward and...
12 May at 6 PM
Ramadan rules for expats in Saudi
Newly arrived expats in Gulf State countries are often concerned about how to deal with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the workplace, but following basic rules will ensure the faithful aren’t offended. Saudi Arabia is known for its stricter approach to Muslim laws, but is an attractive destination for expat professionals. As the...
12 May at 6 PM
Expat tips for saving money whilst working overseas
Many would-be expats accept overseas positions as it gives a sufficiently increased salary to be able to save money during the term of the contract. One of the best reasons for moving to an overseas job on a fixed term contract is the opportunity to save a good deal of money due to an increased salary and benefits such as paid...
11 May at 6 PM
Anti Brexit group tells EU MEPs expat lives matter
At a recent meeting, the 3million group, one of the major anti-Brexit expat groups, presented a briefing paper detailing its pre-Brexit demands to members of the European parliament and its Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt. Before the meeting, co-chair of the group Anne-Laure Donskoy told the media they are pressing for an early,...
11 May at 6 PM
Foreign finances and FATCA for US expats
American expats are far moré likely to up sticks and move between various international destinations than other nationalities, but managing finances can be tricky, especially where taxation is concerned. The result of this constant sampling of new destinations can result in a variety of bank accounts in different countries and...
11 May at 6 PM
Brexit trap stalks Brit expats in Europe
As the Europe-based clamour for fair treatment for EU expats in the UK accelerates, UK citizens at present living in EU member states are being left out in the cold. Analysts are saying the Brexit negotiations will result in disaster for Britons living in Europe, whilst EU expats in the UK are likely to get a far better deal. Last Monday,...
10 May at 6 PM
Survey reveals majority of Brit expats determined to stay put
As the UK digs itself ever deeper into the hole of a hard Brexit, a small survey by a financial services company has revealed a distinct lack of British expat enthusiasm for ever returning to the home country. The survey, although clearly initiated for marketing purposes, stated that out of the small number of 808 expat respondents, 70...
10 May at 6 PM
Saudi to dump all expat public service workers and dentists
A meeting between the Saudi Ministry of Civil Service and representatives of other organisations saw a request that all expats be removed from government departments and ministries by 2020. According to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Civil Service, there were 70,000 expats working within the public sector at the end of 2016, resulting in...
10 May at 6 PM
Paris beckons Brit financiers
Paris in the springtime, as well as for the rest of the year, might well be the favoured post-Brexit destination for British and EU expats working in London’s massive financial services sector. Given that it’s now well understood in certain circles that Canary Wharf is due to empty out well before Brexit becomes a reality, where’s...
9 May at 6 PM
Dubai expat scandal of discarded dogs
Dubai’s unique, luxurious expat lifestyle is being blamed for the large number of abandoned pet dogs being housed in the Stray Dogs Centre an hour’s drive from the city and its gated communities. The Stray Dogs Centre is found deep in the desert surrounding Dubai, with its rudimentary facilities home to 123 dogs. At least 25 per cent...
9 May at 6 PM
Indonesia as an expat destination
For expats with a sense of adventure looking for a decidedly different destination, Indonesia is far more than just Bali, Papua and Jakarta, but care should be taken when travelling with limited knowledge of the archipelago. Arriving in Jakarta gives the first taste of Indonesia to expats looking to find a haven outside the usual haunts....
9 May at 6 PM
What do expats miss most about Britain
Expats working overseas often can’t simply take a trip back when they’re experiencing homesickness or missing everyday things they can’t get in their new countries of residence. In the real world, most expats experience bouts of homesickness however long they’ve been away, but few have the total freedom to up sticks and return for...
8 May at 6 PM
EU negotiator blames Britain for expats predicament
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator is blaming Britain’s hardline stance for the uncertainty surrounding the rights of millions of UK and EU expats. Former French minister Michel Barnier put the blame for the continued uncertainty facing both EU and UK expats squarely on the shoulders of the British government, adding that Brussels will...
8 May at 6 PM
UAE expat views about Trump first 100 days
A recent debate held by US expats living and working in the UAE focused on differing interpretations of the Trump presidency’s first 100 days in office. The debate, organised by the GCC Business Council, was held at Dubai’s International Financial Club and featured four speakers – two Republicans and two Democrats. Moderating the...
8 May at 6 PM
Avoiding expat property purchase pitfalls when moving overseas
Whether would-be expats are planning to invest in property as a retirement home, for buy to let or simply to benefit from rising prices, one thing’s for sure, purchasing overseas is a popular idea. No matter where in the world or for what reason property purchase is being considered, it’s essential to be aware of possible pitfalls as...
5 May at 6 PM
Expat pros and cons of choosing a financial advisor
Expats looking to start a profitable relationship with a local independent financial advisor should cover their backs as far as possible when making the choice. Apart from death and taxes, there’s one other certainty in expat life – employing an independent financial advisor is going to cost money. Provided you haven’t made the...
5 May at 6 PM
Survey reveals the truth about expat family life in Switzerland
When Switzerland as a destination springs to mind, would-be expats tend to concentrate on its media image of massively wealthy, high-level executive professionals with kids in private schools and cash in Swiss banks. Surprisingly, the Swiss people share the same perception as many would-be expats, but a recent survey gives an interesting...
5 May at 6 PM
UK tax reforms affecting expats put on hold until after election
Changes to the UK’s domicile laws about to take place have now been shelved until after the snap general election. The move to temporarily axe several clauses in the 2017 Finance Bill took place at the end of last month, by which time the new rules should have already been activated. Key clauses affecting British expatriates resident in...
4 May at 6 PM
Abu Dhabi cost cutting moves send expats searching for new horizons
As the price of oil still refuses to rebound, Abu Dhabi’s stringent cost-cutting measures are causing long-term expat professionals to desert the sinking ship. One of the world’s major top-paying destinations for expat professionals, Abu Dhabi has long been the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for a generation of expatriates....
4 May at 6 PM
Hopes dwindle over continuing healthcare for UK expats
Predicting any Brexit outcome this early in the game is impossible, but UK negotiator David Davis is already indicating the European Health Card as it applies to Brit expats won’t survive the divorce negotiations. Until now, the EHIC has been a literal lifeline for older Brits living in the warmer climes of Spain, Italy, Greece and...
4 May at 6 PM
Expats advised to stay indoors as Beijing pollution hits record high
Beijing’s regularly high levels of pollution are infamous the world over, but today’s reading is the highest ever, prompting calls for expats to stay indoors. Early this morning, Beijing monitoring stations began recording lung-busting levels of dangerous AQI particles peaking at over 900. Residents and visitors are being urged to...
3 May at 6 PM
Wealthy Brit expats can buy out of Brexit uncertainty
As the chance of finding a fair and just solution for UK expats in EU member states recedes still further, those with enough spare cash can make sure they're sitting pretty via a Golden Visa. As with much in the UK, Golden Visas are for the wealthy and are unobtainable due to their cost for the average British state pensioner who’s...
3 May at 6 PM
Shanghai encourages expat graduates looking for tech startups
In a bid to attract talented expat graduates in the tech industry, Shanghai is enacting forward-looking policies aimed at expats looking to start their own businesses. Director of Shanghai’s Foreign Affairs Office Zhang Xiaosong explained the new policies are a composite part of the city’s new plan to attract international graduates...
3 May at 6 PM
Number 10 calls German media report expat rights fake news
Number 10 Downing Street is denying leaked reports in a German newspaper stating that Theresa May is uninformed about the complexities over expat rights in the UK and EU. The article in Frankfurter Allgemeine, written by the paper’s political editor and entitled ‘The disastrous Brexit dinner’, claimed the meeting was a fiasco which...
2 May at 6 PM
Paris using Brexit blues to lure London’s brightest and best
The French capital is taking full advantage of talented Londoners’ Brexit blues by inviting them to become expats in the City of Love. As the reality of a hard Brexit’s impact on London’s economy and ongoing job prospects begins to dawn, the city’s brightest and best could well be forgiven for getting out before it’s far too...
2 May at 6 PM
French taxman to pay informers for info on wealthy expat tax avoiders
The French tax office’s new move to pay informers for details of wealthy expats who fail to report their tax residency is aimed at targeting international tax dodgers. Expats in France who aren't unusually well-off won’t need to worry, as the new laws are specifically aimed at wealthy foreign residents who spend part of the year in...
2 May at 6 PM
Expat fury over Junckers refusal of reciprocal deal
Reports following the disastrous meeting between Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker are suggesting a European Commission plot to thwart May’s efforts to get a reciprocal deal giving security to both UK and EU expats by the end of June. The reports, carried by major media outlets in the UK, have sparked fury amongst Britons living in...
1 May at 6 PM
Entrepreneurial expats turn wrecked Spanish shop units into trading hub
A British couple with an eye to the community’s needs have breathed new life into a derelict row of shops and made it a hub for local expats. Entrepreneur couple Chug and Karen, as they’re known in the expat community in Spain’s La Cala hills, saw the sadly neglected row of shops two years ago and decided to open a store selling...
1 May at 6 PM
Bremain in Spain founder urges expats to use tactical votes
Bremain in Spain’s John Moffet is urging all expat voters to realise they have the power to strongly influence the EU Brexit negotiations by giving their mandate to pro-EU candidates. Grenada resident Moffet is encouraging expat voters to choose candidates in favour of either a soft Brexit or some kind of associate EU membership,...
1 May at 6 PM
Alternatives to pension plans for disenchanted expat investors
Times are changing as regards planning for retirement, with actual pension plans beginning to lose their popularity due to government-initiated rule changes and media exposure of unsuitable products and even scams. DIY investment is a scary thought for many expat retirees, mostly due to its jargons and the need to study before taking...
31 May at 6 PM
Brits in Berlin prefer German nationality over living a Brexit life
Confused and bewildered by the lack of concrete information about expat life after Brexit, UK expats in Berlin are going for German nationality rather than risking losing their lifestyles should Britain leave the EU. Around 140,000UK citizens live and work in Berlin and the rest of Germany, with the majority in favour of their home...
31 May at 6 PM
Expat entrepreneur offers one stop shop for expat moves to Spain
A formerly successful businessman who’s been there and done it all is now the proud owner of a one-stop-shop advice and help centre for Brits moving to Spain. Moving overseas can be the most stressful experience ever, with local bureaucracy causing mini-nervous breakdowns in even the calmest new arrivals in a foreign land. Many Brits...
31 May at 6 PM
Crackdown on dodgy expat financial advisors gets serious
Following several years of revelations concerning fraudulent and mis-sold financial advice in a number of expat destinations overseas, crackdowns by authorities are getting serious. The recent news that Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is finally acting with police to investigate expat claims of fraud by...
30 May at 6 PM
British expat retirees well placed to afford Iberian homes
Due to strong increases in UK property values during the last several years, UK retirees are well-placed to afford properties in Spain and Portugal. Spain’s Andalusia and the Algarve in Portugal are still favourites for Brits wanting great weather, a friendly community and lots of activities in retirement. Due to the increase in the...
30 May at 6 PM
Expat entrepreneur in China markets eco friendly trikes
A British expat entrepreneur living in Shanghai has cornered the market for environmentally friendly tricycles, but most are being exported to the West. British entrepreneur Chris Trees came to China nine years ago, having working in Paris for international advertising giant JCDecaux for almost 10 years before being sent to Shanghai as...
30 May at 4 PM
Expat safety survey takes in 230 world cities
A recent survey has revealed that, although most expats believe European cities are relatively safe, the top-scoring locations are the most expensive. In spite of the recent horrific terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, the majority of expats still believe Europe to be the safest continent for working relocations or retirement. The...
28 May at 10 AM
Staying safe in your new expat haven
Emigrating can be an exciting lifestyle challenge for expats, but it pays to check out hidden hazards before you arrive. Whether you’re moving overseas as part of a long-held retirement plan or taking on a new job in a challenging location, it’s best to research what’s out there as regards threats to your future or even your life....
28 May at 10 AM
Expats stick with offshore banks in spite of poor rewards
A recent survey found that British expats are still making use of offshore banks rather than transferring their cash to foriegn onshore banks in overseas locations. In spite of scares such as the Icelandic bank failures and a lack of decent rates of interest on deposits, British expats living overseas seem to be sticking with their...
28 May at 10 AM
Expats in unique Spanish beachside hideaway under Brexit threat
As the countdown to June 23 continues, the ripples of concern amongst Brit expats in Spain reach out to the most British of all Costa Blanca retiree havens. 70 miles south of the brawling Brit resort of Benidorm lies a newly-developed unique beach resort dedicated to UK expats. It’s not yet on the map, nor is easily found by taxi drivers...
26 May at 6 PM
International companies send increasing numbers of employees overseas
New research has revealed the growing trend amongst international companies of sending employees on overseas assignments. The study, initiated by ECA International, covered the past 20 years’ history of overseas assignments, showing that at present there are more expats working abroad than at any time in the past. Over 50 per cent of the...
26 May at 6 PM
Result of latest Brexit Poll sends sterling exchange rate soaring
Tuesday’s Brexit poll result is bringing good news to expats living in EU member states due to its positive effect on sterling exchange rates. Expats living in favourite European retirement havens are happy to receive positive news on two fronts this week. Results of a new Brexit poll by ORB Telegraph revealed the Remain campaign is now...
26 May at 6 PM
Weird expat requests to Brit consular staff
It’s not just expats who have problems with their embassies - the FCO staff themselves have their own problems with wacky expat requests. It’s fair to say that many Brit expats feel they’re not being well served by their country’s overseas embassies and consulates, but employees in these unappreciated outposts have their problems...
25 May at 6 PM
Disenfranchised expats lose battle to win referendum voting rights
Britain’s Supreme Court yesterday ruled that expats living outside the UK for more than 15 years must remain banned from voting in the upcoming Brexit referendum. The battle’s finally over, with those who’ve lost possibly facing an unknown future without having any say in the final decision. To those who handed out the verdict, it...
25 May at 6 PM
British expats in Dubai hold Brexit referendum debate
A heated debate on the Brexit referendum took place in Dubai’s Capital Club, attended by a good number of expats working in the kingdom. The discussion demonstrated that being thousands of miles away has no effect on the strength of feelings of those who consider the UK as their true home. Strong opinions were stated by supporters of...
25 May at 6 PM
Expats in Penang crowdfund to help street food vendor hit by drunk driver
Local people and expats living in the Malaysian region of Penang rallied round to support a street food vendor whose livelihood had been wrecked by a drunk driver. Georgetown roadside food vendor Ms Ooi is one of the city’s most popular vendors for her delicious Char Koay Kak made from fried rice cakes, a Penang speciality. Tragically,...
24 May at 6 PM
Study proves expat life in retirement is great for your health
A new report seems to prove that a healthier, more active lifestyle comes naturally as part of becoming a retired expat. The decision to retire overseas is strongly influenced by the desire for a warmer climate, less stress, clean water and air, healthier and more natural food and, in most cases, a lower cost of living. Expat advisory...
24 May at 6 PM
Nigeria expat oil workers demand relocation
Increasing numbers of expatriates working in the Nigerian oil industry are putting their own safety first and demanding relocation to other, less dangerous, countries. As the attacks on international oil company installations by militant gangs increase, expat oil workers are making known their demands to be transferred to less perilous...
24 May at 6 PM
Survey shows majority of expats in Europe wish to remain EU citizens
According to research carried out by a major website aimed at UK expats, the vast majority of UK citizens living in EU countries are in favour of Britain’s staying put in the EU. The survey, carried out with a representative sample of expats in Europe, showed that 71 per cent are committed to staying in the EU. Just 23 per cent are...
23 May at 6 PM
Supreme Court last ditch chance for disenfranchised UK expat voters
Following a Court of Appeal rejection last Friday, disenfranchised UK expats who’ve lived overseas for more than 15 years are pinning their fading hopes on the Supreme Court. Friday’s Court of Appeal ruling by Lady Justice King, Lord Dyson and Lord Justice Elias upheld the original decision that British voting law did not legally...
23 May at 6 PM
Expats in Kuwait object to one hundred per cent increase in traffic fines
Expats and residents of Kuwait are unhappy about plans to increase traffic fines by as much as 100 per cent. The Ministry of Interior’s decision to double the amount of fines charged for traffic violations is causing major discontent in the expat community, with even Kuwaiti citizens asking their MPs to confront the Ministry’s...
23 May at 6 PM
Ryanair Brexit voters cheap flight offer under police investigation
Following its spectacular offer of ultra-cheap flights to the UK for expats wanting to vote ‘no’ to a Brexit, the controversial low-cost airline is under police investigation for breaching UK bribery laws. Ryanair’s advertisement stated that expats wishing to vote ‘Remain’ could fly home for just €19.99 on either 22nd or 23rd...
20 May at 6 PM
Worlds most expensive cities for expats
Expats come in all shapes and sizes, as do their bank accounts, but all are looking for that one special place to create a unique lifestyle. Expats aren’t just retirees, English teachers, backpacking globetrotters or contractors working on oil rigs needing R&R including great weather, cheap beer and sexy girls. Expat life can be as...
20 May at 6 PM
Glory days over for Hong Kong expat banking and finance crowd
The fat housing allowance packages gifted to top expat banking and finance executives in Hong Kong are becoming the thing of the past. Long regarded and much envied as a golden privilege only offered to senior expat banking and finance executives, the massive housing allowances granted as a part of top-flight relocation packages are being...
20 May at 6 PM
Brit expats reject chance to vote in Brexit referendum
Inexplicably, only a small fraction of UK expats living in EU member states have registered to vote in the June 23 Brexit referendum. The several million British expatriates living, retiring and working in Europe could have made up a key constituency with strong influence over the results of the referendum. Endless media reports assumed...
19 May at 6 PM
Three Shanghai expats save local girl from drowning
Three expats working in Shanghai are being commended for their bravery in saving a young Chinese girl from drowning. The three young guys, two Russian students and a French teacher, were sitting on their balcony overlooking a river when they saw someone struggling in the water. Immediately, they rushed downstairs and realised the figure in...
19 May at 6 PM
Expats in Saudi to be forced to have private health insurance
Given that health care is one of the most expensive necessities for moving overseas, Saudi Arabia’s setting up of a private health plan for all expats would seem to be a good idea. According to online reports, the Saudi government’s new, compulsory private health plan will be backed by insurers and linked to more than 2,500 hospitals...
19 May at 6 PM
UK budget airline offers ultra cheap UK returns for expat Brexit voters
The very special offer by controversial British low-cost carrier Ryanair is aimed at encouraging expats living in Europe to fly home to vote in the June 23 Brexit referendum. Mega-discounted seats costing from as low as £15.40 are on offer, but those wanting to book will have to be quick as the offer ends tonight – 19th May. The sale...
18 May at 6 PM
Expat workers in the Netherlands hit by phone scammers
A reappearance of a telephone scam is now targeting working expats in the Netherlands. Expats working in the Netherlands have fallen foul of a re-jig of a telephone scam involving their work and residency visas. Fraudulent callers pretending to be officials from the Dutch immigration service are demanding money on the basis that expat work...
18 May at 6 PM
Getting away from it all in Southwest China
When getting away from it all truly means getting away from it all, the South China Karst region is heaven on earth. The three provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou together make up one of the most spectacular spots on the entire planet. This unique topography features massive limestone crags, rich jungle foliage, rushing waterways and...
18 May at 6 PM
US expat in Thailand solicits funds to reconstruct 9/11 attack
Entrepreneur Paul Salo’s video details his scheme to prove or disprove once and for all the conspiracy theories surrounding the tragic event. The movie purports to showcase an important project designed to reconstruct the horrific terror attack on the Twin Towers in all its ghastly reality, using a second-hand Boeing 767 to fly into a...
17 May at 6 PM
China cost of living killing dream for expat workers
According to a survey by a relocation company, twice the number of expats are leaving China than are arriving, due to the country’s escalating cost of living. Up until recently, a relocation to Chjna was a must-have for adventurous expat professionals, especially those seeking high-tech jobs. Since the slow-down in the Chinese economy,...
17 May at 6 PM
Expats in Hanoi take on massive canal cleanup project
A group of expats living and working in Hanoi have formed a volunteer organisation dedicated to cleaning up the city’s network of canals, drains and public gardens. Hanoi is a popular destination for Western expats looking to work and live in a more laid-back Southeast Asian environment, but culture shock often includes the deplorable...
17 May at 6 PM
UK expat contractors with own companies face tax shock
New Inland Revenue regulations governing personal service companies may cause increased tax burdens for expat single owner businesses. The new tax laws, brought in on 6 April this year, will affect oil workers on contracts as well as other single-owner businesses.The focus of the changes is on the individual whose right it is to...
16 May at 6 PM
Relocating expats need more help with culture shock
A new report states that professionals country-hopping between assignments need more assistance with relocation stress. The survey involved over 2,700 expat professionals in 160 countries worldwide, with middle-aged family men making up the bulk of the respondents. However, the study showed the majority of expats head overseas alone,...
16 May at 6 PM
New UK law forces expat landlords to check tenants right to rent
A new UK law which came into force on February 1 this year forces expats renting out buy to let property in the UK to undertake confusing documentary checks. The law may prove to be yet another imposition on UK expats who choose to invest in buy to let properties in their home country. Landlords, or their letting agents, must check a raft...
16 May at 6 PM
Entire expat workforce in Dubai to be trained in culture and law
Under a recently launched scheme planned to operate in three stages, all expat workers in Dubai will have to undergo compulsory education in their rights, duties and Dubai laws. Four of the Emirate’s government departments are involved in the newly introduced Workforce Training programme, with the first stage involving blue collar...
13 May at 6 PM
Expats in newly awakened Myanmar find buying condos too expensive
As Myanmar continues to loosen its military’s grip and expats begin to arrive, construction companies are noting that newbuild condos are too expensive for most expat arrivals. After decades of military rule, Myanmar, formerly Burma, is opening up to the West and hoping to follow Thailand’s original intent as a hub for tourism, expat...
13 May at 6 PM
Dealing with offshore pensions when its time to move back home
Many Brits living overseas intend to stay in their chosen country of residence for the rest of their lives, but unforeseen circumstances may force the decision to return to the UK. Working or retiring overseas is a dream for many, the majority of whom don’t give a thought to the complications of moving back home until they’re forced...
13 May at 6 PM
UK expats in Spain to get Tescos Best of British
The news that British favourite Tesco is to start supplying British foodie delights via a Spanish supermarket chain is sure to boost morale across Andalusia’s expat community. A double deal with Spanish retailer El Corte Ingles will see 50 typical British favourites featured across the Spanish supermarket’s chain, with shoppers in...
12 May at 6 PM
Surprises and shocks hit newly arrived expats in New Zealand
For decades, New Zealand has been attracting UK expats to its shores, many drawn by its supposedly quintessential British feel, even although shocks as well as pleasant surprises can catch the unwary. Famed for its friendly, English-speaking peoples, its stunning scenery and its superficial similarity to the UK, New Zealand is a popular...
12 May at 6 PM
Brit expats face state pension slash should Brexit succeed
UK expats settled in European hot spots could see their triple-locked state pension frozen pending negotiations with EU member states regarding the annual increase. The present system permits British retirees living in European Economic Area (EEA) countries to receive annual pension increases related to either inflation or 2.5 per cent,...
12 May at 6 PM
EU plans for European personal pension under fire from insurance giants
A trade body serving the insurance and pensions industry has attacked the EU’s plan to introduce a Europe-wide personal pension. The EU’s new personal pension proposal would benefit not only EU citizens but also expats living, working or retiring in EU member states. On offer to consumers would be the same benefits at the same cost,...
11 May at 6 PM
Spanish property market facing challenges in 2016
Although demand for Spanish property has increased recently due to improved mortgage rates and low real estate prices, the Spanish real estate market is under threat in 2016 from Brexit, currency turmoil and new Andalusian holiday let laws. A recent survey reports strong expat demand for Spanish property originating mostly from the UK,...
11 May at 6 PM
Oz lifetime contribution cap bad news for expat pensions
Australia’s harsh new law regarding the total amount of lifetime contributions to a pension is set to hit expats hard. Last week’s announcement by the Australian government set out a new, much lower, limit on the ‘after tax’ pension contributions for British expats with Australian pension accounts. The reduced lifetime amount now...
11 May at 4 PM
Brit expats in OZ forced back to UK over spiralling health costs
Spiralling health insurance costs essential for Australian medical care are forcing retired Britons to return to the UK. Medical insurance is essential for British expat retirees living in Australia, but the ever-rising premium charges are forcing many retirees to give up their dream and return to the UK. One couple living in Albany,...
10 May at 6 PM
Brit expats in Mallorca fundraise for poverty stricken Peruvian kids
From a small but determined beginning seven years ago to 2016’s successful school and orphanage, Brit expats’ efforts have changed the lives of hundreds of impoverished Peruvian children. Seven years ago, a group of mostly British expats living in Palmanova on Mallorca became aware of the devastating poverty of rural Peruvian...
10 May at 6 PM
Is the expat lifestyle dream fading for Brits
Results of a recent survey hint that the long-held retirement dream of living in warmer climes is becoming a nightmare for many who are planning to return to the UK. The survey, conducted on behalf of NatWest International, reported that 97 per cent of expat respondents are unhappy with aspects of their lives, with most citing the...
10 May at 6 PM
UK expats being frozen out by British banks
British banks are systematically freezing out UK citizens living overseas, causing major inconvenience for thousands of expats . Many UK expats living overseas have valid reasons for wanting to either open an account with a British bank or continue using an already opened facility. For example, some UK-based pensions will not pay into...
9 May at 6 PM
Survey shows expats now more settled in UAE
Stabilising property prices and the UAE lifestyle are now major draws, reassuring expats formerly planning to leave. Results of a recent survey report 36 per cent of expatriate respondents are now planning to stay long-term in the Emirates. The same survey’s 2015 results showed over half of expats working in the UAE were preparing to...
9 May at 6 PM
Brexit tax effects for expats working or investing in Europe
Whilst a great deal has been written about the Brexit effect on expats retiring outside the UK, the possible tax-related predicaments of those working or investing in EU member states have been largely ignored by the popular press. The impact of a Brexit on taxation across the board could leave working and investing expats in a perilous...
9 May at 6 PM
Expats in China get English language online shopping platform
After years of struggling with massive Chinese language online shopping sites such as Alibaba, expats now have their own English language online website connected with the huge retailer and its endless choices of goods. Finding the way around the huge, Mandarin language Alibaba sites and their 8000 million products has been a nightmare...
6 May at 6 PM
Saudi Vision 2030 set to shake up the entire Arab region
An extenstive and innovative raft of changes to take place between now and 2030 was announced earlier this week by Saudi Arabia. Saudi’s Vision 2030 plan is intended to lay the foundations for far-reaching changes based on a liberal, social and economic approach, the rewarding of excellence and innovation and the involvement and...
6 May at 6 PM
UK pension switch expats fall foul of NZ taxman
Following a review of tax payable on pension transfers by New Zealand's Inland Revenue, expats who’ve switched their pensions out of the UK are getting unexpected tax demands. According to the Kiwi tax authorities, the tax itself is not new but has been either overlooked or miscalculated by financial advisers and expats themselves....
6 May at 6 PM
Numbers of US expats renouncing citizenship still on the increase
A worrying increase in the number of US citizens returning their passports is coincidental with the introduction of FATCA and the increasing surveillance of expat finances by the IRS. Since 2011, the numbers of expats who’ve given up on America and renounced their citizenship has risen year on year. From around 1700 in 2011 rising to...
5 May at 6 PM
Mexico may be easy option for EU expat life
Already popular with expats from the USA and Canada, Mexico could also be a great option for retirees from European countries. Familiar Western comforts, reliable services and, most importantly, English-speaking locals have all made Mexico the destination of choice for a million Americans and half a million Canadians. For those wanting a...
5 May at 6 PM
Banged up Abroad a horrific reality for UK expat grandfather
A British grandfather living in Thailand is claiming he was beaten and abused whilst in jail following a motorcycle collision. Manchester-born Dave Campbell, 68, was driving home one night when his motorcycle collided with another bike. The Thai driver had failed to put his lights on and was carrying a French couple and a Thai man as...
5 May at 6 PM
White Rolls Royce plays part in Dubai expat luxury car purchase scam
The Dubai car purchase scammer and his VIP Rolls Royce have found yet another victim. Known as a serial car thief, the fraudster’s convincing modus operandi has caught yet another expat looking to sell his luxury car. An unsuspecting foreign executive who offered his 2013 BMW-6 series sedan on a classified ads website is the latest to...
4 May at 6 PM
Expat mums in Oz struggle with high childcare costs
Australia is a long-time favourite for UK expats, but how do they cope with the financial realities and lack of family support? Well over a million Brits have met the challenge of moving half-way across the world in order to achieve a better quality of life, but how do they cope in an unfamiliar country without emotional and sometimes...
4 May at 6 PM
Parliamentary committee considers rights of expats under Brexit
A UK parliamentary committee has set out the difficulties to be faced by Brit expats living overseas should Brexit become a reality. A report of the Parliamentary Committee meeting on the subject surfaced this morning, complete with warnings over the convoluted negotiations which would be necessary to determine the human rights of expats...
4 May at 6 PM
Beijing greedy landlords making life difficult for expats
Expat quality of life in Beijing is being seriously affected by soaring rental increases. Although rent increases in Beijing are nothing new, greedy Chinese landlords nowadays are putting the screws on expat tenants as never before, especially in the more popular expat districts. Average rents in China’s capital rose last year by 14 per...
3 May at 6 PM
Is corruption a disincentive to potential expats
Adjusting to a new culture is one of the trickiest tasks facing newly arrived expats although, in the long term, corruption may be the hardest issue to tackle. The vast majority of expats from the West are aware of corruption in the public sector but tolerate it as it doesn’t affect them directly. However, their opinions may change once...
3 May at 6 PM
Expats in Kuwait to pay tax on international transfers
A recent announcement by the Kuwaiti government suggests that expats may be forced to pay tax on their international money transfers. Kuwaiti MP Faisal Mohamed al-Kandari has suggested that a tax be imposed on expatriate money transfers. The emirate is home to around three million expat workers, with a total of KD 19 billion having been...
3 May at 6 PM
Expat professionals in Africa becoming less attractive to employers
In spite of Africa’s continent-wide skills shortage and need for foreign expertise, the numbers of expats working for multinational companies is on the decrease. For international companies operating within Africa, finding the right candidates for upper-level jobs has always been a challenge. Under restrictive colonial rule until...
2 May at 6 PM
UK expat family to lose home to compulsory purchase
A disabled British expat, his carer wife and her mother have just two months to leave their Spanish home before it’s knocked down to make room for a bypass. John Grey and his wife Deborah purchased their dream villa in Alhaurin el Grande in 2003 at a cost of €66,000 after moving from Hertfordshire. Sadly, in 2014 John suffered a...
2 May at 6 PM
British Ambassador visits Malaga with urgent Brexit message
During a hastily arranged visit to Malaga, British Ambassador Simon Manley urged UK expats to register to vote in June’s Brexit referendum. The visit was the result of the UK High Court’s refusal to grant expats who’ve lived overseas for more than 15 years the right to vote in the crucial referendum. During a press conference, Manley...
2 May at 4 PM
UAE expat packages take a turn for the worse
Once a guaranteed pass to the high life in the UAE, generous expat packages are now considered a thing of the past. For the last 15 years or so, skilled expat professionals have enjoyed generous relocation packages and benefits, allowing a lifestyle almost impossible to achieve in the home country. In 2016, reality has finally kicked in...
29 May at 11 AM
Qatar-based British expat killed by shipping container
A British expat in Qatar was killed at the weekend when a shipping container fell of the back of a truck onto his car, reports from the Gulf state say. The man was said to be driving down a coastal road when a lorry leaving the port in the capital Doha turned onto the street which caused the shipping container it was transporting to become...
29 May at 9 AM
Expats lose £850m worth of pensions
Roughly 250,000 British expat pensioners have lost out on pensions benefits worth in the region of £850m due to the fact that UK pension scheme trustees have lost trace of them since they emigrated. The estimate arrives after data gathered by FindMyLostPension.com showed that expats in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Australia,...
27 May at 6 PM
British mother ordered to reside near abusive ex-partner in Spain
A British mother is appealing to the High Court to have a repatriation order stating she must live near her abusive ex-boyfriend in the Spanish region of Granada overturned. The woman, 19, who has remained anonymous for legal reasons, said that her Spanish ex-boyfriend frightened her to death and has appealed the British court ruling that...
27 May at 4 PM
Imprisonment for one killer of Miss Venezuela and British expat
One of the killers of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her ex-husband, British expat Thomas Berry, has been handed a 25-year jail term. Twenty-five-year-old Gerardo Jose Contreras Alvarez was jailed after confessing to his part in the murder of the two, who were shot dead in front of their daughter Maya Veliz , five, who was also...
26 May at 4 PM
Expats living in Spain to be affected by EU inheritance law
Expats in Spain could see their estates handed out against their intentions and their families having to fork out more tax than they should if they have not made a will. Spain is the most popular destination among emigrating British retirees, with thousands relocating to the Mediterranean nation each year. However, many remain completely...
26 May at 2 PM
Expats investing more in UK property
Expat investment in British buy-to-let property is on the up, according to offshore bankers Skipton International. The bank’s managing director Jim Coupe said that there has been strong interest from all across the globe, but particularly the UAE. He explained that many customers now considered the London property market as...
26 May at 11 AM
EU nationals in UK will have no referendum vote
European nationals residing in the UK will not be permitted to vote in a European referendum, said British Prime Minister David Cameron. The prime minister said that EU nationals living in the UK, despite being allowed to cast their vote in European elections, will not be afforded such a right in a European referendum. Meanwhile,...
26 May at 9 AM
British expat named Manilva’s first foreign councilor
The southern Spanish town of Manilva has appointed a foreigner on its local council for the first time in its history. UK expat Dean Tyler Shelton said he was “over the moon” to be voted in as councilor following the local elections on 24 May. Shelton, who will represent the IU party, said that the town’s expat community had...
22 May at 9 AM
Expat worker in Spain shocked at son’s suitcase arrival
The father of a Moroccan boy caught being smuggled into Spain in a suitcase has denied knowing anything about what was happening. The eight-year-old boy in question was apprehended in Cueta, an autonomous city of Spain that adjoins Morocco, after officials discovered him inside a suitcase. His father, Ali Ouattara from the Ivory Coast,...
22 May at 9 AM
Thailand-based expat denies posting anti-Filipino comment
A foreign business owner in Thailand has denied posting unsavoury remarks about Filipinos on Facebook after he received hundreds of threats in return. Craig Thompson was initially advertising jobs available in the northeast of Thailand but things soon turned ugly when he was asked why he was refusing to employ Filipinos. The jobs in...
21 May at 6 PM
South Korea blasted over teacher HIV test
Members of the UN rights team have criticised South Korea for insisting that an expat teacher from New Zealand had to have an HIV test prior to her teaching contract being renewed. The woman, Lisa Griffin, was refused the chance to have her teaching contract renewed in 2009 because she said she would not undergo the test on the grounds...
21 May at 6 PM
Saudi family shocked by daughter’s relationship with Indian
A Saudi Arabian family received the shock of their lives when their daughter informed them that she had fallen in love with an Indian labourer and wanted to wed him. A report in the Gulf state said that the angry girl’s father went straight to the Indian’s employer in an attempt to get him to deport him but was unsuccessful. The...
20 May at 11 AM
Expat Australian teacher fighting for life in Phuket after motorbike accident
An English teacher in the Thai resort island of Phuket is in a coma after being involved in a motorbike accident in Patong on Friday night. Australian Louise Warren, who has been working at Patong Language School, was transferred to Bangkok Phuket Hospital on Monday for further treatment, announced a nurse at Vachira Hospitla where she had...
20 May at 9 AM
Expats in Africa have highest salaries but work longest hours
A global survey has revealed that expats in Africa earns more money than their counterparts elsewhere, bringing in an average of £160,000 per year. However, the downside to the high salaries received on the world’s poorest continent is that expats there are working longer hours than anywhere else, with four out of 10 nations on the...
19 May at 11 AM
Manpower agencies to be hit by Indonesia’s ban on housemaids
The government of Indonesia’s plan to completely cease allowing new domestic workers to go to 21 countries will dramatically affect many recruitment and manpower agencies in Qatar. According to senior staff from these agencies, about 50 to 70% of domestic workers they help bring to Qatar come from Indonesia. They expect it to hit their...
19 May at 9 AM
Hong Kong: Drunk Brit rescued off the Peak after getting lost
A helicopter had to air lift a drunk Brit to safety after he lost his way at Hong Kong's Victoria Peak. The British man, aged 27, apparently got confused about which direction to walk in and then found himself in Victoria Peak’s heavily forested area at around 5am. He then proceeded to fall down a steep slope, after which he managed to...
18 May at 6 PM
Worten electrical store angers expats with faulty goods
One of the biggest electrical chains in Spain have angered a couple of expats after they refused to issue a refund or to replace faulty items. Both men said that the customer service was non-existent at Worten’s Fuengirola and Marbella stores after appliances they deemed as useless arrived either broken or became faulty quickly. Expat...
18 May at 6 PM
Confused Hong Kong Expat signs petition by mistake
An expat living in Hong Kong was forced to remove her name from a petition after new crews pointed out to her that she was adding her name to a petition which supported the political reform proposal backed by the government. Roisin Rainy, a resident of Hong Kong for 30 years, thought she was signing a petition for the chief executive...
13 May at 4 PM
UK election success for Philippine expat
An expat Filipina woman has been elected as the councillor of Hertsmere borough and Elstree and Borehamwood town in last week’s UK general election. The victory of Conservative party member, Cynthia Alcantara Barker, marked the first time that a Filipino has been elected to a public office of this level in UK politics. Speaking to The...
13 May at 4 PM
Indonesian expats banned form working in 21 Middle East countries
Due to claims of legal and human rights violations, Indonesia has placed a ban on new maids from moving to and working in 21 countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and UAE in protest against working conditions. When Saudi Arabia executed two Indonesian maids with no warning, it angered the world’s largest Muslim...
12 May at 6 PM
Many British expats unable to vote due to 'broken system
‘There have been many complaints from across the world by British expats as they were unable to vote in last week’s UK General Election. Many British living abroad received their postal vote papers too late in order for them to return their votes in time for them to be counted. David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party, is...
12 May at 6 PM
Expats US to receive YipTV OTT TV service
You Individualised Personalised TV, otherwise known as the YipTV service, will provide access to 50 international services for a fee of US$14.99 per month on a rolling contract. This service will be available on smart TVs, online, and on Google Chromecast, Android and iOS devices. Channels which will be available include Antena 3, BeIN...
11 May at 6 PM
Asia’s Highest Expatriate Packages Offered in Japan
A recent survey from ECA International has revealed that expatriates living in Japan earn the highest pay and receive the best benefit packages in the whole of Asia, with expat managers generally expecting to receive a package totalling nearly US$375,000. The MyExpatriate Market Pay Survey which was carried out by ECA looked at expatriate...
11 May at 6 PM
Expatriate record set by Americans abroad
According to data released by the IRS last Thursday, the first quarter of 2015 saw the largest amount of expat Americans giving up their U.S citizenship compared to any previous quarter since records began. The data, which was complied by Bloomberg, showed that the previous record was beaten by 18 percent with 1,335 expatriations occurring...
7 May at 9 AM
Mother killed British family in Gibraltar murder-suicide case
A British family discovered dead in their Gibraltar house in March were killed by the Spanish mother, an inquest has been told. Thirty-seven-year-old Anarda De La Caridad Perez Friman stabbed her husband, four-year-old child and six-week old baby before committing suicide. Her husband, John Joseph Shannon from Liverpool, reportedly had...
7 May at 9 AM
Philippine authorities to export Thai over Facebook insults
Officials in the Philippines could export an expatriate Thai worker after he posted comments about locals on his Facebook page. The Bureau of Immigration ordered that Prasertsri Kosin, or Koko Narak on Facebook, was to be deported after locals complained he had been insulting the people of host country. Reports did not say in what way...
6 May at 4 PM
Most expats enjoy life in the Netherlands
Eighty-four per cent of expats living in the Netherlands described life as “good to great”, while the main negative aspects were the language, health services and tax. The new survey, carried out by DutchNews.nl in mid-April, found that the vast majority of expats were extremely happy with their life in the country, while just seven...
6 May at 2 PM
Finnish expats happy in Estonia
Most Finnish expats in neighbouring Estonia are enjoying life and would recommend theuir fellow countrymen to make the move, according to a recent online survey. Of the respondents, 59 per cent admitted that they would “definitely recommend” living in Estonia, while 37 per cent said they would consider it. Only two per cent said they...
1 May at 9 AM
Rise in British expats investing in property
The number of British expats looking to invest in property back home has been on the up since the beginning of the year, according to a leading lender. deVere Mortgages revealed that in the first three months of the year, 75 per cent of all home loan enquiries it had received were made by Brits living overseas, predominantly expats...
1 May at 9 AM
British expat killed in Nepal quake
A British man living in Nepal was killed in the country’s devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake, the UK Foreign Office has confirmed. The Himalayan country was hit by the quake on Saturday and more than 6,000 people have been confirmed dead to date, while with numerous remote villages yet to be accounted for, that number is expected to...
30 May at 6 PM
Zombie saving accounts spell disaster for expat savers
Expat savers are losing millions every year due to low or non-existent interest rates set against increasing inflation and tax deductions. The plummeting of offshore savings interest rates over the past few years has pushed a huge number of expat account holders into the red and losing money after charges, tax deductions and the effect on...
30 May at 6 PM
Expats and medical tourists have no legal protection against medical malpractice overseas
One of the major problems of expat life overseas is concern over medical malpractice and the lack of legal protection if anything goes wrong. Many overseas countries nowadays are setting themselves up as medical tourism hubs, quoting surgical and cosmetic procedures and a fraction of the price of treatment in the UK and USA. Private...
29 May at 6 PM
UK base rate may rise as early as summer
Following the May meeting of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, it seems possible that the base rate may be allowed to gradually rise, beginning this summer. Although the nine-strong committee voted unanimously to keep the rate at 0.5 per cent, where it’s stood since 2009, members are reported to have felt that an earlier...
29 May at 6 PM
Fijian deportee from New Zealand dies from kidney failure
A Fijian immigrant living in Auckland, New Zealand until he was deported due to his medical condition has died in a Fiji hospital. Sanil Kumar had emigrated to New Zealand on a work visa before he fell ill with kidney failure, and had been on dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant for some time when he was deported. A suitable family...
29 May at 6 PM
Expats working in UAE to face credit rating checks when borrowing
A new UAE government ruling will introduce comprehensive credit rating checks for expats hoping to borrow money. Although it’s taken five years to get up and running, the new Al Etihad Credit Bureau is now running its first credit checks on potential borrowers following last week’s announcement of the new law by Sheikh Mohammed bin...
29 May at 6 PM
Malaga to host Spanish branch of Russian State Museum
A new cultural treat for the thousands of Russian expats now living in Malaga will open early next year. An old tobacco factory in Spain’s popular expat haven of Malaga is being converted into the West’s first extension of a major Russian museum. The resort city is now home to tens of thousands of Russian immigrants, and attracts many...
29 May at 6 PM
Spanish tax authorities begin targeting retired expats
The Spanish tax office is now targeting almost 28,000 retired expats, accusing them of not declaring their foreign pensions on their returns. Investigations have been launched into the financial affairs of almost 28,000 expat pensioners living in Spain. Those being investigated are accused of failing to declare pensions originating from...
29 May at 6 PM
Philippines immigration officers to get friendship training
Filipino immigration chief Siegfried Mison has released details of his plan to create an enviably pleasant experience for all migrants and other visitors arriving at the country’s air and sea entry points. According to Mison, friendlier, customer-oriented officials will greet new arrivals at airports and seaports with traditional...
26 May at 6 PM
American SEC issues Bitcoin fraud warning notice
A Bitcoin fraud warning by the US Securities Exchange Commission was released after revelations that crooks have been setting up scams to defraud would-be investors. Issued following Sir Richard Branson’s recent multi-million pound stake in the alternative currency and his opening of a Bitcoin payment processor, the SEC’s warning...
26 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain defrauded by bogus gas inspectors
Spanish crooks posing as gas inspectors are believed to have defrauded around 5,000 expat residents all across the country before their arrests late last week. Retirees from the Netherlands, the UK and Germany living in the Balearics, the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol were their main targets. Although the scam has been noted for...
23 May at 6 PM
How to get the best overseas property bang for your buck
When you’re considering emigrating or investing your pension pot in overseas property, it’s difficult to decide which country gives the best value and the best chance of long-term returns. A recent world survey by the Organisation for Economic co-operation and Development, (OECD) offers information on property prices in most popular...
23 May at 6 PM
Gulf State firms refusing to sweeten top talent expat packages
In spite if a push to recruit top expat talent to the Gulf States, UAE companies are offering salaries and benefits up to 10 per cent lower than in 2013. The global war to attract fully qualified and experienced migrants to new jobs and new lives across the world is in full swing, giving top talent plenty of choice. However, recruiters in...
22 May at 6 PM
SIPPS now targeted as happy hunting ground for mis selling by FAs
The Financial Ombudsman has said that cases involving the mis-selling of personal pension schemes including high-risk, unregulated funds increased by 49 per cent during 2012. Some 75 per cent of complaints received by the Ombudsman were proven to have involved FAs giving dangerous advice on investing in funds such as overseas property...
22 May at 6 PM
Expats dismayed over shutdown of news after military coup
After the martial law introduced earlier this week by the Thai army was overtaken by today's fill-blown military coup, many thousands of US and UK expats living in Thailand are unable to access news in the English language. Foreigners living in Thailand’s Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin, Bangkok, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai expat communities...
21 May at 6 PM
FCA warns on unauthorised FAs touting pension advice
The British financial watchdog has issued a warning on cold-calling FAs offering pensions advice. Although the drastic changes to pension law in March’s UK budget are recognised as having dealt with the problems surrounding compulsory annuity purchase, they’ve left the door wide open for scams. According to the UK’s Financial...
21 May at 6 PM
Qatar new medical centre searching for British health professionals
Literally thousands of experienced expat medical staff are being sought for Doha’s new, state-of-the-art medical centre for women and children. Oil-rich Qatar’s brand new Sidra Medical and Research Centre complex is due to open early in 2015, and will offer ultra-modern heathcare for women and children. Built via an endowment from the...
20 May at 6 PM
Is the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme the answer for expat investments
As one after another offshore bank closes down and onshore interest rates continue to lurk well below inflation in most expat havens, is the SEIS the answer to diminishing returns? The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), offers attractive tax relief options for expats who are still regarded as tax-resident in the UK, but is it secure...
20 May at 6 PM
How to ensure your Spanish property investment is safe
The recent increase in the number of investors buying into the Spanish property market ha been fuelled by non-EU buyers, but are they doing enough to safeguard their investment? Since the Spanish government introduced its investment residency permit scheme, open to those who purchase a property worth more than £411,000, real estate agents...
19 May at 6 PM
Is the Bitcoin the answer for expat currency fluctuations
Controversial since its introduction as a unique virtual trading currency, the Bitcoin is being seen by many expats as an answer to currency fluctuations, even although online security is causing concern. Wherever in the world you’re based, it’s likely that the Bitcoin will be accepted by a business close by in the very near future....
19 May at 6 PM
Expats in Spain to lose free health cover overseas and in the UK
Tough new Spanish laws on free medical treatment are expected to exclude expats, whilst those returned to the UK for help are being turned away from NHS hospitals. Thousands of expats resident in Spain are at risk of being unable to access free healthcare in the UK in spite of having contributed National Insurance payments during their...
19 May at 6 PM
Is your fund manager really worth what he costs
Is being a successful investment fund manager more about skill and knowledge, or is it just about luck? With so many scams taking place in the financial world nowadays, investors are asking themselves whether they couldn’t do at least as well as their fund managers, and save money on top. Most psychologists rate success as a combination...
19 May at 6 PM
Survey shows modern technology aids expat quality of life
A recent survey has shown that a majority of British expats working and living overseas take full advantage of modern technology to improve their work/life balance. NatWest Bank’s Quality of Life survey included UK expats in a number of countries such as the USA, Hong Kong, Canada, the Antipodes, China, South Africa and the UAE. Of...
15 May at 6 PM
Are UK buy to let investments now useless for expats and non-residents
Recent news that the pension shock and other budget announcements have cooled London’s soaring house prices are sowing seeds of concern amongst expat buy-to-let investors. The killer news was that, from April 2015, non-residents and expats will no longer be able to rely on a loophole which has exempted them from capital gains tax on...
15 May at 6 PM
New Zealand family split apart by immigration ruling over sick daughter
A ruling by New Zealand’s immigration department is about to split up an immigrant family with full citizenship as the eldest daughter still living in Fiji has been refused a family visa due to her heart condition. Archana Arishma Kumar, still living in the former family home in Fiji, has a congenital heart condition and has been...
14 May at 6 PM
Pension savers to be given exact information on fund fees
The UK Financial Conduct Agency’s report on lack of transparency as regards explaining the true cost of fund charges may come as a relief to millions, but how will it affect expat pension savers? The report is highly critical of the manner in which FAs conceal the truth about fund management charges, with advisors in the UK now forced...
14 May at 6 PM
Where not to turn to when expat lives fall apart
The list of what may go wrong in the average expat life overseas is as long as the journey to the new life, but who’s there to give a helping hand? Disasters in expatland come in many shapes and sizes, from unexpectedly huge hospital bills due to illness, violent crime or accident through unexpected unemployment, problems and...
13 May at 6 PM
The unpalatable truth about pension liberation
With so much new, often confusing information about pensions hitting the media at present, it’s difficult for many upcoming retirees to decide what’s true and what’s not, and even harder to distinguish whether an advisor is telling all there is to know. Getting it wrong about pension liberation can unwittingly cost savers a huge...
13 May at 6 PM
Expectant mom loses healthcare provision due to immigration backlog
A Peruvian mum-to-be married to a fifth-generation Canadian is being forced to choose between paying CA$20,000 hospital bills or having her baby at home. Kevin Ganshorn and his wife Susanna met and married four years ago in Peru, and moved to Vancouver after two years. Susanna has applied for permanent residency, but her paperwork is...
12 May at 6 PM
A dozen reasons why choosing a QROPS investment is best for expat retirees
Surveys show that many expats working abroad, as well as those intending to retire overseas, are not considering all options as regards investing their pension pot. Now that annuities have been exposed as a poor deal and there’s no restriction on taking out your savings, moving your pension offshore via a QROPS is an important part of...
12 May at 6 PM
Government gives clarification on Portuguese waterfront property grab
The Portuguese government has given clarification on the proposed grab of waterfront properties in favourite expat destinations. The government is planning to target properties built before 1951 and located on on valuable oceanfront land as well as those within 30m of river banks or lakes. The land grab is based on an old law and requires...
9 May at 6 PM
Soaring UK house prices creating tax problems for domiciled expats
Expats living abroad but maintaining their homes in the UK may be happy about soaring property prices, but the resulting inheritance tax implications are an unlooked-for liability. Several decades ago, only the mega-rich needed to be concerned about protecting their families from the 40 per cent inheritance tax due on their death.Since...
9 May at 6 PM
UAE unregistered doctors accused of witchcraft by Ministry of Health
In its warning to all residents in the UAE, the Ministry of Health is referring to unregistered medical practitioners as fake doctors and accusing them of witchcraft. It seems that a number of unregistered doctors in the UAE are claiming to be able to treat difficult cases not responding to conventional treatment. Amin al Amin, an...
8 May at 6 PM
Strengthening sterling brings good news for expats overseas
Strong economic data during the first quarter of 2014 has sent the pound into an upward spiral, benefiting expats on fixed or frozen pensions as well as those looking to buy a home. Real estate in many favourite expat spots in the Eurozone is at its cheapest since well before the 2008 crash, and the strong pound is resulting in even...
8 May at 6 PM
Helpful hints on negotiating a scam free foreign home purchase
As the number of UK emigrants to friendlier climes increases, it’s important to ensure that the purchase of your dream home doesn’t turn into your worst nightmare. As with purchasing property anywhere in the world, the devil’s in the detail, and the details regarding legal necessities, land titles, building contractors and land...
7 May at 6 PM
Expat ins and outs for UK mortgages on overseas property
A place in the sun with complete with dream home is the ambition of many expats, but financing the deal of a lifetime can be fraught with problems. Few of the overseas locations favoured by expats as second home or permanent residence locations offer specific products aimed at foreign house purchases. New EU restrictions on mortgage...
7 May at 6 PM
Online vigilantes in Singapore naming and shaming expats
Rising xenophobia in Singapore is finding an outlet on social media sites, with expats being blamed for unemployment, congestion on public transport and a lack of affordable housing. Discontented Singapore locals are running a vigilante campaign on the internet aimed at showing the ‘ugly side’ of foreigners by videoing incidents and...
6 May at 6 PM
Managing your money as an expat without a UK address
The recent announcement by Barclaycard that expats without a UK address would have their cards withdrawn has caused consternation across expat havens worldwide. Some 39,000 British expats worldwide have been using their cards to pay for unexpected expenses such as a stay in hospital, with many overseas private medical facilities refusing...
6 May at 6 PM
British expats in Portugal facing home loss grab by government
A new water resource law introduced by the Portuguese government gives the state the power to confiscate homes built on former public land. Expats in the popular retirement destination country are now facing an anxious wait to find out if they are to lose their retirement homes or holiday villas along Portugal’s coastline, much of which...
5 May at 6 PM
Soaring school fees and axed subsidies may start expat exodus from Kuwait
Apart from making expats feel unwanted and unappreciated, the slashing of subsidies on fuel, utilities and local products may spur a mass exodus from the emirate. The Kuwaiti government’s drafting of laws axing the valuable subsidies comes at a time when rental charges, property prices and international school fees are soaring. A recent...
5 May at 6 PM
Dubai the new Spain for working British expats
Whilst Dubai isn’t exactly a retirement haven for older Brit expatriates, it’s tipped as the new Spain for those looking for employment in exotic locations. Spain, once a favourite for jobs including sun, sea and sangria, is falling out of favour with younger expat professionals looking for fun as well as employment in a thriving...
2 May at 6 PM
How to choose the right financial advisor for your expat needs
One of the worst headaches for newly arrived or newly-retired expats is choosing the right financial advisor. Whether you’ve just arrived in your new country to take up a job or are determined to spend your retirement years in an exotic destination, choosing the right financial advisor is essential for your future. You’ll need to...
2 May at 6 PM
UK expats face discrimination over life insurance cover
According to a recent survey, British expats living overseas are being refused life cover by 75 per cent of insurance firms. The majority of insurers stipulate in their policies’ small print that applicants must be UK residents and taxpayers, thus rejecting cover for expats in the EU and elsewhere in the world. Experts in the sector were...
1 May at 6 PM
Expat savers warned to get out of Britannia International or lose out
Expat savers with Britannia International Isle of Man are being warned to move their savings fast or lose out on rapidly falling interest rates. Part of the troubled UK-based Co-operative Bank, Britannia International announced recently that its Isle of Man base is to close down. The wind-down will result in steadily reducing interest...
1 May at 6 PM
MERS coronavirus threatens expats and pilgrims in Saudi
UK health experts are warning business travellers, expats and Haj or Umrah pilgrims to take seriously the threat of infection with the often fatal MERS coronavirus. Over 100 of those infected in Saudi Arabia have already died, and the virus has spread via air travel to a number of European countries including the UK and Italy as well as...
31 May at 6 PM
EC to take action against Spanish refusal to honour EHIC cards
Following extensive media coverage of the refusal by Spanish hospitals to allow expats free treatment via the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), the European Commission is to take legal action. Under European Union rules, all citizens of member states are able to get free or cheap medical treatment in any EU country. Citing the cost of...
31 May at 6 PM
Survey shows UK expats transferring savings to local currency
Research has shown that a majority of British expats are now transferring their nest eggs from sterling to the local currency of their host countries. The survey, carried out by Lloyds TSB International, noted that 73 per cent of UK expats have already moved their savings to local banks in the local currency. By September last year, just...
30 May at 6 PM
Immigration to deport pregnant Russian partner of Adelaide man
Australian immigration officials have rejected an Adelaide man’s pregnant Russian partner’s visa application, saying pregnancy is not a reason for a visa waiver. Robert Pitt, 38, met Natasha Zaydenberg, 36, after she arrived in Adelaide to study English in order to improve her skills as the manageress of a restaurant chain in Moscow....
30 May at 6 PM
Dubai landlords now demanding salary verification from expat tenants
In a recent move, Dubai landlords letting their properties to expat workers are now demanding proof of salary from prospective tenants. As the property market in Dubai begins to recover, landlords letting to expats are adding new conditions such as written proof of salary or one-cheque payments. The reason given is that previous expat...
29 May at 6 PM
Report shows Switzerland still top of international salary league table
In spite of major worldwide adjustments in executive and higher-level pay structures, Switzerland still tops the international pay league. The International Geographic Salary Differentials report, conducted by Mercers’, noted that several Latin American countries have crept up the scale whilst Eastern European states have seen the...
29 May at 6 PM
Immigration to allow longer stays for expat graduates from Oz universities
The Australian visa gate has opened a little wider for expat graduates who’ve gained their degrees at Australian universities. Previous immigration rules allowed graduating student sa further stay in Australia of up to eighteen months in order to give them time to consider a more permanent solution such as finding a sponsored job. The...
28 May at 6 PM
Should Britons risk retiring to Spain or France
Many retirees planning a life in the sun in Spain or France are now concerned about the safety of their savings should they take the plunge. Even although the fallout from the Cyprus savings grab disaster has faded, migration-minded Brits fast approaching retirement age are nervous about trusting their savings and pension incomes to...
28 May at 6 PM
EU researchers to study effect of recession on migration and mobility
Researchers from four European universities are set to analyse the effects of the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent recession on mobility and migration in the EU. Since the economic crisis hit, Ireland and Southern European countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy have endured austerity measures and unemployment at record...
27 May at 6 PM
Hobbit movie outsourcing causes NZ trade union anger
Special effects company Weta Digital, based in Wellington, New Zealand, has requested 526 work visas for overseas visual effects workers engaged in the Hobbit movie’s production. Although Weta has only requested that New Zealand Immigration give approval of the visas on principle, the Council of Trade Union’s head, Helen Kelly, is...
27 May at 6 PM
US admits more legal migrants than any other world country
A statement that more immigrants are legally allowed into the US than a combination of all other migrants across the entire world has been proved technically correct. Following a comment made by Republican Greg Walden in an interview, Politfact Oregon investigated his claim by contacting the US State Department. The department replied with...
24 May at 6 PM
European Commission intervenes in expat vote battle
The recent ruling refusing to allow British expats to vote in UK elections once they’ve lived overseas for 15 years has been called a punishment by the European Commission. The EC has thrown a lifeline to those fighting for the restoration of the right to vote, with commissioner Viviane Reding pushing to change the ruling. At a recent...
24 May at 6 PM
Expat housing cost rising fast in popular destinations
Executives are on the move across the world, forcing prices of luxury expat rental accommodation even higher in destinations such as Beijing, New York and the UAE. The continued weakness of European economies is forcing companies to look to other continents for their ongoing business, with new sectors expanding into emerging markets....
23 May at 6 PM
Survey shows Emiratis are worried but not scared over expat issues
In spite of governmental attempts to stir un nationalism in the UAE, a recent survey revealed that Emiratis are not frightened by the impact of expats on their country. The survey, carried out by a student research team amongst other students at Zayed University, concluded that the presence of a majority of expats in the emirates has no...
23 May at 6 PM
Opening up of Myanmar spurs expat gold rush
Following the recent relaxation of sanctions seen after the decline of decades of junta rule in Myanmar, the country is the unwitting target of large numbers of investors, would-be entrepreneurs and other expat classes. Many are arriving for the possibility of an economic boom, and others are drawn by a wish to be part of the rebuilding...
22 May at 6 PM
French government expat votes promise delayed for a year
A promise to give migrants from outside the UK a chance to vote in French regional and local elections made during President Hollande’s presidential campaign has been relegated to late in 2014. The reform was to be pushed through if François Hollande won the parliamentary election, and would have brought France in line with the majority...
22 May at 6 PM
Brit expats at risk as Son of FATCA hits British Overseas Territories
The news that the British Overseas Territories have now agreed to greater transparency may well scare those who use the havens for tax evasion, but it’s also a danger for those with legitimate accounts. Following the Cayman Islands, which agreed to disclosure last month, are Bermuda, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and...
21 May at 6 PM
New study reinforces European racial stereotypes
Would-be expats considering which European country is the most suitable for their retirement or holiday homes may find a recent survey very revealing. The study was carried out by Pew Research Centre in Washington, and revealed that many traditional racial stereotypes still hold true in the 21st century. For example, the German people are...
21 May at 6 PM
Human rights groups slam Kuwait for traffic offence deportations
According to a recently released report, hundreds of expats found guilty of traffic offences have been deported from Kuwait over the past month. Human rights groups are condemning the recent spate of expat deportations of those found committing traffic law violations such as speeding. A report in the emirate’s Al-Anbaa newspaper claims...
20 May at 6 PM
Oz ban on gay marriage impacts skilled worker immigration
The Australian ban on the recognition of gay marriage or legal partnerships may be affecting skilled worker immigration at a time when the country is begging for migrants with specific qualifications and experience. Australia’s long-standing discrimination against homosexual couples is traditional but, with an increasing number of...
20 May at 6 PM
Poll shows Brit expats more comfortable about personal finance
A recent poll showed an increase in the number of British expats living overseas who feel positive about their current financial situations. The survey, undertaken by financial advisory organisation deVere Group, showed that 54 percent of those who took part feel more confident about their current financial status. Those feeling less...
17 May at 6 PM
Expat mums unfairly penalised by UK expat pension crackdown
The recently announced change in UK pension law disallowing married women’s pensions is hitting hard on stay-at-home expat mums. Married women who have lived overseas with their husbands and never worked will be hit hard by the proposed change in pension law disallowing them from claiming a spousal pension. The change in the law is...
17 May at 6 PM
Expats in France face confusion over tax on overseas income
As French lawmakers fight over the introduction of new tax laws affecting expats who have overseas investments or pensions, potentially affected expats in the country are facing financial confusion. The issue concerns the double tax ruling between France and Britain, with taxing UK expats on their pension and investment earnings in the UK...
16 May at 6 PM
UK Fraud Squad warns expats abroad over money laundering scam
Britain’s scam-buster agency is publicly warning expats living abroad to watch out for a money-transfer scam by organised crime gangs. Action Fraud, an arm of the National Fraud Authority and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, warns that many expats are being approached via phone calls, emails or letter to participate in an...
16 May at 6 PM
World survey shows map of least and most racially tolerant countries
The World Value Survey’s map of every world country’s level of racial tolerance was used by Swedish researchers to determine the relationship between racism and economic freedom. The report by Swedish economists was prompted by one of many questions asked in the original survey of respondents in 80 world countries. The question was...
15 May at 6 PM
UAE working expats remit billions of dollars to home countries
Expatriate workers living in the United Arab Emirates send home just under a quarter of all overseas remittances made in the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The amounts sent out of the country by its Asian and other overseas expat workers made the United Emirates a huge source of foreign currency for the labour-exporting...
15 May at 6 PM
New Spanish property investment visa draws Chinese and Russians
The Spanish government’s latest scheme to reinvigorate the country’s dying property market is drawing a rush of interest from non- European Union investors. The property investment visa guarantees residency permits to buyers of Spanish homes costing more than half a million euro, and is set to become active from July. Automatic...
14 May at 6 PM
Survey data highlights effects of immigration in Canada
Data culled from the newly released 2011 National Household Survey points to major changes in Canadian society as a result of mass immigration. The national survey revealed that modern-day Canada holds 200 separate ethnicities and 100 diverse religions, and one in every five residents is foreign-born, the highest proportion of all the G8...
14 May at 6 PM
Hong Kong expat parents turning to local schools
A growing number of expat parents working in Hong Kong are turning their backs on increasingly expensive international schools in favour of Chinese-medium local primaries. International and private schools in Hong Kong are no longer expat families’ first choice for their toddlers and young children, due not only to the soaring fees but...
13 May at 6 PM
European expats in Malta present petition against dual pricing
A group of European immigrants living in Malta have presented a petition to the Maltese Prime Minister protesting against dual pricing of utilities and bus fares. For decades, the island of Malta has been a favourite destination for UK and other European expats looking for a peaceful life, better weather and Western amenities. Dual...
13 May at 6 PM
Brit expats in Spain should think again before fleeing
For many British expats living in Spain, the newly-introduced financial reporting requirements have been the last straw, but taking expert advice may be the answer. According to the Foreign Office, full- and part-time expats in Spain number around 800,000, with permanent resident numbers set between 250,000 and 400,000. Accountancy firms...
10 May at 6 PM
Planned Kuwait expat deportations will hurt the economy
A prominent Kuwaiti labour union is criticising the recently announced move by the Kuwaiti government to get rid of 100,000 expat workers a year until 2023. The announcement of the plan, made by Kuwait’s labour minister Thekra al-Rasheedi, has seen increases in visa trafficking and a huge rise in recruitment costs, according to the...
10 May at 6 PM
Lloyds snubs expat customers with sale of Spanish banking network
A new blow to British expats living in Spain came with the news that Lloyds Bank is preparing to sell its 28 Spanish branches to Banco Salvadel, Spain’s fourth largest bank. Concern is rife in the Spanish expat community, as the branches mostly served around 50,000 expat mortgage clients. Formerly under the Halifax banner or as Lloyds...
9 May at 6 PM
British expat loses Human Rights Court voting rights case
Nonagenarian WWII veteran Harry Shindler has lost his European Court battle to have the 15-year limit on UK expat voting rights rescinded. The 91-year old has lived in Italy since he retired from the British Army more than 30 years ago, but still has, he claims, strong ties to the UK. Angered by an archaic law disallowing expats who’ve...
9 May at 6 PM
Kunming polls strongly in best Chinese cities survey
Chine continues to hit the headlines in expat media outlets, with the latest survey identifying the ten most popular expat destination for lifestyle and work. The latest survey took place last September and involved 175,400 expats at all levels from Nobel laureates to a large number of expats working in China. The cities compared well all...
8 May at 6 PM
British tax havens under threat from UK government
British, American and EU member state overseas territories seen by many expats as tax havens are increasingly falling under new disclosure rules set out by the UK and USA governments. British Overseas Territories such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, Montserrat and even the Isle of Man have capitulated to the disclosure...
8 May at 6 PM
Expat pensions increase blamed on Brits marrying Thai brides
As the frozen pension debate hots up, government sources in the UK have hit on the reason why pension payments to retirees living abroad are on the increase – Thai brides. This stunning conclusion apparently came about due to the discovery that sexy Thai ladies on internet dating sites were luring unsuspecting Brits into marriage in...
7 May at 6 PM
Homeless Kiwi families in Australia cause resentment amongst locals
The 2001 changes in Australia’s immigration policies has resulted in many New Zealand expat families becoming homeless due to their having no access to state benefits. A homeless Kiwi community is now established in central Sydney, with the area christened Kiwi Park by disgruntled residents and workers. Few Kiwi migrants seem to have...
7 May at 6 PM
Expats in UAE rush to buy gold as price plummets
Rumours that gold bars are being removed from gold shops’ shelves until the price recovers have sent expats rushing to purchase jewellery and gold coins whilst the price is still low. Expats working in the gold-purchase hotspot of the United Arab Emirates are queuing to buy gold coins and jewellery after the commodity’s price suffered...
6 May at 6 PM
Battle to demand death of frozen expat pensions hots up
The fight to agree a workable solution which unfreezes UK expat pensions is hotting up, with the International Consortium of British Pensioners demanding an industry and government debate. The ICBP now represents half a million pensioners living in countries where pensions are frozen, and is demanding that the debate takes place before...
6 May at 6 PM
Qatar expat workers praised on International Labour Day
Expats who took part in the International Labour Day celebrations in Qatar were given gifts and praised for their efforts by officers from the emirate’s Ministry of Labour. Spokespeople from the Labour Ministry stressed expat workers’ vital contribution to the country’s dynamic development, and focused on the necessity of providing...
3 May at 6 PM
Top expat executives leaving Beijing over chronic air pollution
As pollution in Beijing and other mega-Chinese cities reaches dangerous levels with no remedy in sight, scores of top expat executives are packing up and leaving. Regular hospital visits as a result of high levels of pollution are becoming the norm for many expats living and working in China’s huge cities, with many being advised by...
3 May at 6 PM
Canadian group protests deportation of wife of Canadian citizen
Hamilton residents will demonstrate in Toronto on Saturday in protest against the deportation to Egypt of the wife of a Hamilton man. The Reunite Wilkie Family Committee was formed after Wafaa Abdou, the Egyptian wife of Hamilton resident and Canadian citizen Ian Wilkie, was detained prior to deportation after her refugee claim was denied....
2 May at 6 PM
Expats fear savings grab after Spain asset declaration deadline
Now that the deadline for overseas residents in Spain to declare their assets has passed, many expats fear a Cyprus-style savings grab will result. The new Spanish tax rules affect an estimated 200,000 Britons with homes and businesses in Spain, many of whom are desperate to leave as rumours of a savings grab continue to circulate. With...
2 May at 6 PM
Fall in French mortgage interest rates attracts British buyers
Fixed mortgage rates on offer to Britons looking for a new life in France are at their lowest since the end of WWII. Now that French property prices are in decline, the temptation of a 20-year fixed rate mortgage at 3.35 per cent or a tracker deal over the same period at 2 per cent may be too good to ignore for those desperate to emigrate....
1 May at 6 PM
Expats flee Spain as unemployment soars and property prices crash
According to figures issued by Spain’s National Statistics Institute, the total population of the country has fallen for the first time in 150 years. As Spanish unemployment soars to over 26 per cent and the country’s economy staggers, a total of 206,000 residents have given up and left. According to the figures, the entire drop...
1 May at 6 PM
2013 Expat Explorer Survey calls for participation from expats worldwide
HSBC Expat, the compilers of the largest expat survey in the world, are calling for expats from all over the globe to take part in their 2013 survey. Commissioned by HSBC Bank International, the survey covers just about every expat experience of living and working overseas. It paints a global picture of expat life in all its stages,...
31 May at 6 PM
Filmmaker Cameron buys more NZ property
Moviemaker James Cameron is continuing to but up land in Wairarapa, purchasing another three properties to his New Zealand empire. Cameron received the green light from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) to buy close to 30 hectares of land in south Wairarapa. He already owns more than 1000ha of farmland here. Spread across three...
30 May at 6 PM
British expat stabbed to death by drunk handyman
The millionaire owner of a golf course was stabbed to death by a drunken handyman living and working on his retirement estate in France, a court heard today. Sixty-seven-year-old Peter Fuller had moved to the Dordgne area of southwestern France after a successful but demanding career with Total Oil. However, three years ago he entered...
29 May at 6 PM
4th Briton falls off Spanish hotel
On Friday, a UK national on holiday fell 80 feet from the balcony of a hotel on the Spanish island of Majorca. Twenty-four-year-old Chantelle Serginson is said to have plunged from the sixth floor at the Hotel Marina Barracuda during a row with her mother. The tourist, who was from Middlesborough, suffered several fractures before being...
28 May at 6 PM
Corpse of second Brit pulled out of river in India
The body of another British man – the second of two who fell to their deaths on a trip to a river in India – has been found. The corpse of 62-year-old Michael Easton, a Shell senior research scientist from London, was pulled out today by a rescue team. He had disappeared during an excursion to the crocodile-infested Cauvery River, which...
25 May at 6 PM
Oz relaxes visa rules for rich investors
Rich business people will be offered a faster path to resident visas as part of Australia’s government scheme to lure more investments to the country. Chris Bowen, Australia’s Immigration minister, formally announced the plan today, saying the government wished to improve the existing investment visa scheme. Bowen told ABC radio...
24 May at 6 PM
Hunger strike at Dubai prison over debt sentences
Five expats jailed in Dubai have announced they are among a small group of prisoners who are on a hunger strike to resist the lengthy prison sentences for financial crimes assigned to most of them. The men, the majority of them businessmen and real estate developers working in Dubai in its economic boom years, went into debt when the...
23 May at 6 PM
Nearly 5 million Brits are expats
The most popular destination for UK expatriates for overseas relocation is Australia, says the most recent yearly NatWest International Personal Banking Quality of Life Index. There are now 4.6 million expatriates from the UK working or residing in foreign countries and 1.4 million of them live in Australia. Other popular...
22 May at 6 PM
Oz minister condemns frozen pensions
Jenny Macklin, Australia’s minister for families and community services, has censured the UK’s frozen pensions policy. Issued a statement in Canberra, Ms Macklin stated that Australia’s government considered Britain’s indexation policy as unfair and discriminatory. She said that all British pensioners have, in good faith, paid into...
21 May at 6 PM
UK expats flee eurozone turmoil
It has been revealed that over one-third of UK expats in Greece and Spain are selling up their properties to escape the European crisis. Research indicates that 39% of Brits who have estates in Greece are now trying to sell, and 34% who reside in Spain are putting their homes on the market. The report, released by the overseas exchange...
18 May at 6 PM
Expats should find best currency deals
As reported by The Telegraph, there are over five million UK expats scattered around the globe, with many earning their salaries in Britain or retiring but receive pensions in UK bank accounts paid in sterling. Many of these expats need to transfer money to make mortgage payments in foreign countries, requiring them to move their cash...
17 May at 6 PM
UK retailers pursue profitable Middle East
As reported by The Telegraph, UK businesses are dashing to establish new retail stores in the Middle East, in an effort to escape weak sales at home and cater to a rising expat community. The most recent shopping chain to venture into the region is M&Co (a Scottish fashion retailer), which has nearly 300 stores in the UK. It is...
16 May at 6 PM
Expatriates suffering lack of company support
As reported by the Telegraph, expats may be happier overseas than they were living in Britain, but research reveals that almost half of employees on expat assignments believe their companies should have offered them more support as they were being moved abroad. Over 400 UK nationals on foreign assignments were surveyed, revealing that over...
15 May at 4 PM
Expatriates avoiding life insurance
As reported by Life Insurance, a new study has shown that the majority of expats are risking not having any insurance in place for life or income protection. UK expatriates are taking a huge risk by not purchasing the correct coverage, according to new research carried out by international insurance expert William Russell. The study...
14 May at 6 PM
UK envoy urges expats to follow UAE dress code
As reported by Emirate 24/7, the UK Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates has called the UAE an excellent place to live and have a family, while hailing the nation’s pro-active method in cracking down on online predators which could harm innocent children. Dominic Jermey OBE recently gave an interview with 999 Magazine, where he touched...
11 May at 6 PM
10 percent rise in Irish migrants to UAE
As reported by the National, a growing number of skilled workers from Ireland are migrating to the UAE. The Irish Embassy has witnessed a 10% rise during the past 12 months in the amount of new residents, referred to as Ireland's "Emigration Generation". The Irish Business Network is also seeing a colossal growth in its...
10 May at 6 PM
UK govt owes expats 400m pounds in inheritance tax
As reported by The Telegraph, British expatriates who were mistakenly charged inheritance tax for their properties in Spain are getting ready for a legal fight to reclaim their money. Around 60,000 UK families have been billed for inheritance taxes for assets and properties they inherited in Spain. The charges are thought to be in the...
9 May at 6 PM
Plea to phase out frozen pensions
As reported by the Telegraph, the UK Government has been urged by the International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP) to abolish the country’s frozen pensions policy through yearly stages, first by defrosting those of expats who are aged 85 or older. The ICBP consists of over 555,000 expatriates who get punished by Britain’s...
8 May at 6 PM
Hull man deported from Bermuda
As reported by This is Hull and East Riding, a man from Hill who was living out his dreams on a heavenly island has been deported back to England, twenty years after he left. Stephen Tomlinson, along with his wife Kirsty, was given under a month to get out of Bermuda, even though their two children had been born on the island. They are now...
7 May at 6 PM
Cancer patient fate now up to Jason Kenney
As reported by Ottawa Citizen, the destiny of Fatemeh Kamkar, the Iranian who wishes to stay in Canada after she finishes her Ph.D in molecular and cellular medicine, is now up to federal official Jason Kenney. Signed by 771 people, a petition was handed to the House of Commons this week by Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar. The petition asks...
4 May at 2 PM
Madeleine McCann suspect never fully investigated
As reported by This is London, a UK man whose family called the police after thinking he had something to do with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was never thoroughly investigated. The expatriate suspect, who was residing in the Algarve when the child disappeared, was deemed a suspect by his own brother. However, detectives failed...
3 May at 6 PM
Uruguay better living standards than USA
As reported by SF Gate, the standard of living of expatriates in Uruguay is far better than what the average person enjoys in the United States, according to analysts at InternationalLiving.com. Journalists conducting research in Uruguay for InternationalLiving.com discovered a varied climate, low taxes, high-quality real estate for less...
2 May at 4 PM
Spain bank crisis may mean trouble for expats
As reported by The Telegraph, this week, eleven Spanish banks had their credit ratings downgraded as the nation’s economy keeps going downhill. So what does it mean for expatriates who have savings accounts with them? On Monday, official data revealed that Spain’s economy had dipped into recession as ratings group Standard &...
1 May at 6 PM
