- Home » Expat News » August 2015
August 2015 Expat News Archive
Archived Daily Expat News from the Expats Blog Newsdesk...
30 Aug at 6 PM
British expats overseas warned to prepare for snap election
Johnson's proroguing attempt to negate parliamentary efforts to stop a no-deal Brexit may result in a snap election if justices rule its use is unconstitutional. Just as expats on both sides of the English Channel thought things couldn’t get any worse – they did, due to Boris Johnson’s proroguing of the parliamentary procedure,...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Expat investor fraud is the new financial threat for Brits overseas
Both at home and overseas, British investors are still falling foul of financial scammers. Although the risk of so-called ‘pension liberation’ scams is now receding as government interventions kick in, the number of scams based on the value of investments is about to hit an all-time high. It seems government action as regards...
30 Aug at 6 PM
UK settled status scheme for EU expats not fit for the purpose
A tearful Portuguese long-term expat resident in the UK interrupted a Sky News live broadcast, saying she surely couldn’t be kicked out of the UK after 20 years. The woman’s heartbroken plea came as fears of another Windrush scandal broke after the government’s announcement that free movement would cease on November 1. She...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Kuwaiti illegal visa traders now accept expat instalment payments
It’s business as usual in Kuwait for visa traders in spite of the economic slowdown. Taking into account Kuwait’s economic issues, visa and residency permit traders are now offering expatriates the convenience of monthly payments, thus ensuring their lucrative but illegal businesses continue as normal. A spokesperson is claiming the...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Treating unspent QROPs monies as part of your inheritance strategy
Expats are now asking the question they don’t want to think about - what happens to money in their QROPS when they die. Making a will is a necessity ignored by a high number of expat retirees, wherever in the world they’re located. Whist it’s not a subject expat retirees want to dwell on, it’s especially important to make sure...
29 Aug at 6 PM
UK expat Boris backers tell why they want a no deal Brexit
Whilst the majority of British expats in Spain grow ever more fearful of the effects of a no-deal Brexit, a determined few are actively backing Boris. It’s difficult to imagine why any long-stay expat retiree would consider a no-deal exit from the bloc is a good idea, but those who voted leave are maintaining their stance in the face of...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Expat residents, tourists and locals in Spain hit by monstrous storms and a tornado
As massive thunderstorms and floods hit Spain’s favourite expat locations, Madrid residents are trapped in biblical-style floods. Worst hit was Arganda, a semi-rural district to the southeast of Madrid, with huge storms releasing torrents of rain turning the streets to rapids and washing away cars just a few minutes after the storm...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expats buying into new build UK homes at risk of losing deposits
British expats looking to purchase new-build property in the UK are being warned over the risk of lost deposits. UK expats thinking about investing in a new-build British property are now being warned they risk losing their deposits should they need to pull out of the deal. Typically, 10 per cent deposits are now required on newbuild...
28 Aug at 6 PM
To retire or keep working is the new expat dilemma
If you’re working in the UAE and hoping to retire there, planning your financial future is important. Expats in the emirates are facing a retirement crisis, according to investment professionals. The UAE makes no provision for expat pension schemes or social security, in spite of the fact that a good number of expat professionals would...
27 Aug at 6 PM
Kuwait hits out at expat numbers again
Kuwait curbs on expatriate numbers are set to continue. In yet another attempt to curb the numbers of expat arrivals in Kuwait, official sources have announced an increase in salary requirements to Kd 500 for those requesting family visas. Also part of the announcement was the threat that the increase isn’t the emirate’s final attempt...
27 Aug at 6 PM
British expat arrested after suffering severe injuries attempting to stop a fight
A British expat living in northern Thailand was on a visit to his Thai wife in Pai, north of Chiang Mai, when he was set upon by a gang of Thai bikers. During his visit, Luke Thornton was sitting by the side of the road with a few of his Thai friends when three Thais on motorbikes drew up and began revving up their engines. His friends'...
27 Aug at 6 PM
Is Thailand seeing an expat exodus to Vietnam?
For more than a decade, Thailand has been a favourite destination for Western expats looking to enjoy better weather than in the home country, a more laid-back lifestyle and a lower cost of living. For expat retirees in particular, Thailand was the top choice for many years, but a recent change in attitude by the military-run government...
26 Aug at 6 PM
Is Brexit causing prejudice against Irish expats in the UK?
UK expats are being warned over a Brexit-linked increase in anti-British sentiment in Ireland. In the 20 years following the Good Friday agreement, anti-British feelings in the Republic of Ireland waned to an almost negligible amount, but the 2016 referendum seems to have ignited a new wave of resentment against the UK and its citizens....
26 Aug at 6 PM
Spain still tops for British expat retirees hoping to escape Brexit Britain
In spite of Brexit fears, Spain is still the all-time favourite retirement destination for Britons. Yet another recent survey sees Spain topping the list of retirement favourites for Britons looking to escape the potential meltdown following a no-deal Brexit. France and Portugal were the runners up, with Turkey now in the top ten, but the...
26 Aug at 6 PM
Resident expat reactions to Hong Kong’s continuing protests
Hong Kong’s massive expat community is diverse in age, nationality and the reasons why they came, but the vast majority have one thing in common – love for this unique island, its natural beauty and its vibrant energy. Often accused of living in a protected, luxurious bubble whilst ignoring the island’s local society and only...
23 Aug at 6 PM
British expat scammed out of life savings by fake Benidorm bar owner
Expat would-be entrepreneurs in Benidorm are being warned over property scams. After a British expat lost her life savings to a fraudster, expats interested in buying a bar or restaurant are being warned to be on their guard. British expat Karen Wadrop came to Benidorm in order to make her dream of owning a bar in the popular Spanish...
23 Aug at 6 PM
Sharia compliant loans open to expat buy-to-let applicants
As British banks cut back on expat buy-to-let mortgages, there’s one lesser-known way to secure a loan. As the number of British banks offering buy-to-let mortgages to British expats working overseas decline still further and those still in the market now cherry-picking applicants, getting a loan whilst still overseas is a tough task....
23 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Costa Blanca warned over deadly virus carried by tiger mosquitoes
Expats in Spain’s Costa Blanca region are being warned over the danger of tiger mosquito bites. Expat residents as well as locals across the popular region are being advised to clear all standing water away from their properties due the risk of deadly diseases caught via tiger mosquito bites. The warning comes after experts detected an...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Volunteer programme to befriend elderly expats in Abu Dhabi
The results of a Better Life Index study by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Community Development have revealed a high proportion of elderly residents are depressed and lonely as well as suffering from heart disease, diabetes and other age-related disorders. It’s not just local people who’re affected, as there are now some 30,000 expats aged...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Brexit chaos ruining would-be British expat retirement plans
A recent survey suggests Brexit is wrecking overseas retirement plans for British citizens. The survey was carried out by Canada Life and involved 1,006 Britons over the age of 50 who were considering moving overseas after retirement. The results weren’t encouraging, as almost half of respondents who’d been planning to retire overseas...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Expat students offered cheap digs in exchange for help with senior citizens
If you’ve arrived in Prague and can’t afford to rent an apartment, a new volunteer scheme may be your answer to sleeping on the streets. As Prague’s popularity as an expat hub soars, so do its rental charges, leaving many new university students the choice of going home or sleeping on someone’s sofa. A recently-started answer to...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Expats five-year nightmare now over as violent squatters evicted from luxury complex
Expat pensioners living in a Spanish apartment complex taken over by a gang of gypsies and squatters are overjoyed with their court victory. The five-year violent occupation of vacant apartments in a luxury Denia complex by drug addicts and a gypsy gang is now over, with the few remaining expat owners delighted to hear the court verdict...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Are Brits in Europe immigrants or expats?
British expats in France are being asked to define themselves as either immigrants or expatriates. In reports, news items and blogs, the descriptions ‘expat’ or ‘expatriate’ is the norm, with Western professionals rarely described as immigrants but, in many world countries including the USA and UK, the semi-official term is...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Expats and visitors alike will love Shanghai's annual tourist festival
This year’s Shanghai Tourist Festival is geared as much towards the city’s expanding expat community as it is to temporary visitors. A good number of the 100 events listed for this year’s popular festival are aimed at expatriate residents and include a tour of Jing’an District’s traditional ‘longtang’ back alleys as well as...
20 Aug at 6 PM
Leaked report quantifies major post-Brexit hassles for UK expats
The leaked Yellowhammer report is warning UK citizens and expats attempting to travel to or in the EU will face maximum stays of just 90 days and stricter passport checks on arrival. The British Embassy in Spain is expected to be overrun with consular enquiries from devastated and angry Brits as well as having to deal with consular...
20 Aug at 6 PM
Online racist group in Kuwait causing Amnesty International condemnation
Amnesty International is hitting out at a Kuwaiti online group attempting to foster hatred and cause disputes between nationals and expats. The group, at present calling itself ‘Kuwait Movement against the Marginalisation of Competent Kuwaitis’, is being strongly criticised by Khalil al-Shamroukh, Amnesty International’s member...
20 Aug at 6 PM
Crackdown on Thai private hospital price gouging set to continue
Speaking to the media after Thai private hospitals’ price lists were received, a spokesperson from the Department of Internal Trade insisted the crackdown on price gouging would continue. Since the price-gouging scandal operated by Thailand’s private hospital chains was revealed online, government action has focused on the cost of...
19 Aug at 6 PM
British expat single mother abused and intimidated by Cymergest administrators
A British single mother is now fighting to stay in her Costa del Sol home despite being harassed by lawyers. In the second case of this nature within several months, a single mother and her son are now suffering ongoing abuse by administrators of the development where she's living because she won her court cast against their sale of her...
19 Aug at 6 PM
British expats in France advised on ensuring their rights to stay
As the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit creeps ever closer, British expats in France are being encouraged to prepare for the worst whilst hoping for the best. The citizens’ rights campaign group Remain in France Together has issued a checklist aimed at helping those likely to be affected make preparations against the wider implications of...
19 Aug at 6 PM
Expat conservationist voices grave concerns over massive power line installation in Albujarras
Expats and local protestors are still fighting over a power company’s plans to erect 362 massive pylons in one of France’s most spectacular areas of natural beauty. A local expat newspaper was the first to alert conservationists and nature-lovers to the threat of damage to the precious environment as well as to the protected species...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Kuwait lawmaker hits out at overlarge expatriate communities
Expatriates in Kuwait are in the firing line again as MP hits out at the size of expat communities. This week it was Kuwati lawmaker Ahmad al-Fadhi’s turn to slam the emirate’s expat community, claiming it was far too large and therefore poses a security threat to the country. As a sideline, he also mentioned the vast majority had...
16 Aug at 6 PM
IRS gets tough with US expats over unpaid tax by threatening passport revocation
Defaulting US expat taxpayers are at risk of having their passports cancelled. Expat American citizens who’ve fallen behind on their taxes have been aware for a while of the risk of having their passports revoked, but many have adopted the head-in-the-sand defence of not believing the threat would ever become reality. Unfortunately,...
16 Aug at 6 PM
EU expats in Britain to be forced to pay for NHS treatment after no-deal Brexit
UK hospital managements have been told EU expats must prove their right to free treatment should a no-deal Brexit be the final result. Warnings have now been sent out to hospital managers to prepare to charge EU expats for formerly free medical and surgical procedures immediately after exit day. With only one million EU expats out of the...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Is expat sexism alive and kicking in the Czech Republic?
Expats are taking sides over controversy concerning female-only parking spaces in Prague. Whilst parking spaces reserved for women drivers are commonplace in German and Austrian restaurants, outside motorway restrooms and in shopping mall basements, it’s not usual to find the facility in the Czech Republic’s capital of Prague....
16 Aug at 6 PM
Will expat Spanish property mortgages still be available post-Brexit?
In spite of the looming threat of a no-deal Brexit, Spain is still a favourite for second home purchases, with expat mortgages hopefully still available after October 31. Many British expats now permanently living in Spain bought a second home in the hope they could move permanently when retirement finally kicked in. Reasons included the...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Hong Kong expats now heading home in a hurry after travel warnings
As the protests continue and the risk of Chinese military action increases, expats in Hong Kong are looking for an exit strategy. Political turmoil resulting in safety concerns is spurring expatriate professionals to consider finding safer havens for their talent. Earlier this week the Canadian government issued a travel warning for those...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Expats and holidaymakers in Greece warned over increasing wildfires in tourist areas
As the heatwaves continue drying up the land, expats and summer season visitors to Greece are being warned about the dangers of fast-spreading wildfires. The UK Foreign Office has issued warnings to expats and travellers about the increasing risk of wildfires and their spread across affected regions. The warnings are rated at the extreme...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Vienna welcome to join in UNO City’s open house day
Vienna’s United Nations headquarters is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an ‘Open House’ day for expats as well as nationals. Known locally as ‘UNO City’, the building holds around 500 employees hailing from 125 diverse countries, all of whom are working to improve lives via the UN’s many agencies and organisations...
14 Aug at 6 PM
British expats in Bangkok furious over demolition of historic Thailand embassy
The imposing architectural treasure which was once the British Embassy in Thailand is now a heap of rubble after its demolition to make way for yet another Bangkok shopping mall. UK expats living and working in Thailand's capital city reacted negatively to the announcement that their ambassadorial representation in Thailand was to be...
13 Aug at 6 PM
Czech tech universities see huge demand from expat students
An increasing number of young expats are heading to Czech universities. New data from the Czech Republic’s Ministry of the Interior has revealed an increasing number of young expats are heading for the country’s universities. Over the past 15 years, the numbers of foreign students arriving to study for their degrees has increased...
13 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in UAE considering online gaming as an alternative career
As the UAE jobs market shrinks due to nationalisation, expats wanting to stay in the region are considering online gaming as a full-time job. Esports are the latest fad as well as a potential money-maker due to the esports tournaments paying out as much as millions of dirhams in prize money to successful players. The industry is now...
13 Aug at 6 PM
Study claims no deal Brexit would destroy European jobs market
A recent study is warning a no-deal Brexit is likely to cause the loss of around 70,000 jobs in Spain alone, with a total of 1.2 million across EU member states. The study, commissioned by the Belgian government and carried out at Leuven University in Belgium, was the first attempt to tell it like it is as regards the economic damage...
12 Aug at 6 PM
Rivers of sewage contaminate La Zenia and Palma due to torrential downpours
Expats and holidaymakers are struggling to avoid the rivers of sewage contaminating two favourite Spanish resorts. This year’s peak holiday season in Alicante and around a favourite Majorcan beach has been badly affected by sewage leaks attributed to heavy rainfall in both locations. Literally thousands of litres of untreated sewage...
12 Aug at 6 PM
Expats warned about accruing debt in the UAE
In the home country, consumers who run up arrears in credit card or loan repayments don’t face jail or huge fines, although they may face bankruptcy. For expats and residents in the UAE, the laws are very different, as consumer protection laws don’t apply to those who’re less than careful with their finances. Banks are able and...
12 Aug at 6 PM
Expat lovers of craft beers now have a worldwide choice
Would-be expats who love their home country’s craft beers are likely to be worried about finding alternatives in their relocation destination. Craft beers are the favourite bevies for a massive number of followers, but they may not be aware the obsession is now a world-wide phenomenon. All over the planet from Australia to Europe and...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Expats and locals in northern Italy suffering freak storms and torrential rain
Global warming has caused massive storms and evacuations in northern Italy. In yet another demonstration of the increasing risk of global warming, Italy’s Lake Como and its surrounding mountainous areas have experienced severe storms resulting in flooding, mud slides and evacuations of expats and locals alike. One small town to the east...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Do British expats need a home country credit history to get a mortgage?
As British property prices fall due to the threat of a no-deal Brexit, many UK expats might be tempted to invest in a buy-to-let as a backstop for future residence if they’re kicked out of their present locations. One worry for those who’ve led a less than organised life prior to emigrating is the possibility of a prerequisite for a...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Boris plans new immigration rules for brightest and best science talents
If you’re one of the world’s brightest and best expat scientists, Boris Johnson wants you! As a counter-measure to a post-Brexit cut-off of EU research funding and the loss of European researchers, Boris Johnson is planning a new visa aimed at encouraging the brightest and best expat brains in the tech, engineering and general science...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Early retirement for expats in Germany is only for the wealthy
Early retirement in Germany for citizens and long-stay expats is becoming more popular, but it’s only for the rich. For older expat professionals in Germany and workers in general, retiring early is a far-fetched dream only made possible by paying additional contributions to the state scheme. Those taking it up are increasing in number...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Prague looks to gentrify its party zones
Newly-arrived expats as well as tourists are to be targeted in an upcoming nighttime noise blitz. One law either not understood or conveniently forgotten by new expat arrivals and tourists in Prague is the controversial 10.p.m ‘night time noise ban’ rule. Also about to be strongly enforced is the ban on boozing in the streets. Both...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Massive Czech Republic tree-planting project welcomes expat participation
As the news about global warning gets worse, the Czech Republic is taking action. In an effort to stall the effects of global warming, the Czech Republic’s Ministry of the Environment is planning to plant 10 million trees with the help of private citizens, companies, schools, social organisations and expatriates living and working in...
7 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Denia fear shelter dogs will be killed if not rehomed within two months
Dog shelter volunteers fear takeover by for-profit company will result in mass euthanasia. A much-loved municipal dog shelter in Spain’s Denia City is about to be taken over by a commercial for-profit company with the agreement of the local municipality, sparking fears it will become simply a ‘kill station’ for rescued dogs. Its...
7 Aug at 6 PM
Kuwait brings in new prohibitions affecting expats’ lifestyles
Three new prohibitions aimed at expats living and working in Kuwait could be the beginning of the end for the popular relocation hub. Kuwait’s luxury lifestyle has long attracted expat professionals looking to further their careers, many of whom have brought their families along for the ride. One much-valued convenience, especially for...
7 Aug at 6 PM
How will no-deal affect promises made to UK expats by EU member states?
A European Union report states unequivocally that not all states have made preparations for British expats should a no-deal exit take place. The leaked report points out that confusion and chaos are rife in Europe over workable plans for British expats should a no-deal Brexit take place on October 31. Only 11 out of the 27 European Union...
6 Aug at 6 PM
British pensioner saves his Thai wife from deportation
A British citizen’s Thai wife has been saved from deportation by her fast-thinking husband’s actions. British expat retiree Mark Leonardi met his wife-to-be in Isan’s Khon Kaen City 14 years ago and married her in 2015. The couple spent their time between Thailand and the UK, living in North London during their regular visits. In...
6 Aug at 6 PM
Expat investors welcome laws against illegal fixing of currency rates
Investors both in the UK and overseas are waiting for a court date for their legal challenge. Foreign exchange traders are facing a legal challenge for compensation after the discovery that secret rate-fixing on a major scale has been taking place in online chat rooms. European Union investigators have uncovered the use of online chat...
6 Aug at 6 PM
Are QROPS a good idea gone wrong?
In spite of scams, warnings and general confusion, expat websites are hopefully predicting QROPS’s popularity with expats is on the rise. One way and another QROPS seem to be a sensible way to reinvest your cash when retirement as an expat investor kicks in, even although several scandals have been uncovered and HMRC is still determined...
5 Aug at 6 PM
UK DWP letting Brit expats in Cyprus down on required S1 certificates
British pensioners in Cyprus are jumping through hoops to re-register with the island’s new GESY health service. Until now, British recipients of the UK’s state pension were entitled by means of a reciprocal agreement to Cyprus NHS care. The new Cypriot General Healthcare System (GESY), is its replacement, but Britain’s Department...
5 Aug at 6 PM
Massive Costa Blanca investment fraud loses UK expat retirees some 25 million
In spite of endless warnings by authorities and online advice sites, pensioners in the Costa del Sol have lost millions to yet another investment scam. Continental Wealth Management, now defunct, was using the familiar technique of shovelling expat retirees’ life savings into high-risk investments paying massive commissions to dodgy...
5 Aug at 6 PM
Hong Kong expat banking community decimated by job cuts
Fewer opportunities for Hong Kong’s laid-off expat bankers are destroying the dream. Once a prime location for expat bankers, Hong Kong is now immersed in seemingly endless violent protests as well as an employment desert for expat bankers recently laid off by their employers. Reasons for the banking sector’s shrinking labour market...
2 Aug at 6 PM
UK police appeal to expats in Spain to help catch 11 wanted criminals
Britain’s National Crime Agency is appealing to British expats in Spain for help in catching the 11 most wanted British criminals. The appeal has been launched as the 11 are the last remaining fugitives at large after an ongoing campaign netted 84 most-wanted crooks. The list of 11 is composed of sex offenders, drug traffickers and...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Hong Kong join anti-government protests
Expats are now joining Hong Kong protestors in a fight to save the special administrative region’s autonomy. Originally intended as a protest against new and now suspended litigation to allow extradition to China, demonstrations are now in the eighth week and Hong Kong residents aren’t showing any sign of giving up. For decades, the...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Relief for British expats in Germany as new no-deal Brexit guarantees are introduced
Germany is now preparing to secure the futures of all British expats living and working in the country via a new law. The draft law, to be known in English as the Brexit Residence Transition Act gives full guarantees that all British expat residents as well as their families are to receive residence permits should a no-deal Brexit be the...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Greek island expats and visitors caught in 5.3 earthquake
A 5.3 strength earthquake hit close to the port city of Heraklion early yesterday morning, alarming resident expats and tourists. The strong tremor struck Crete as expatriate residents and summer visitors were having breakfast and follows on a similar quake felt last month in Athens. Centred close by Crete’s capital city and major port,...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Grisly scenario of maniac and victim plays out in Spanish port resort
A horrific scenario in the Costa del Sol resort of Puerta de la Duquesa terrified expats and tourists as a maniac on a balcony displayed his bloodied victim. Expats, tourists and residents watched in horror before fleeing in a panic as a half-naked maniac tied his bleeding victim to a balcony rail and threatened him. The as yet...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Czeck Republic now popular as a medical tourism hub
Over the past several years, the medical tourism industry in the Republic has received a boost due to less than flattering reports of mishaps and overcharging in Southeast Asian countries. As well as becoming famous as a hub for tech entrepreneurs, the Czech Republic is now attracting medical tourists due to its hospitals’ and...
31 Aug at 6 PM
US expats in Mexico slam latest Netflix offering as trash
The latest Netflix reality show, ‘Made in Mexico’, is generating a massive online backlash from US expats in the popular destination. ‘Made in Mexico’ is, if nothing else, a superb showing of bad taste as it demonstrates the lavish lives of a small group of sycophantic expats and ultra-wealthy socialites living in a country where...
31 Aug at 6 PM
Lenders reassure expats over buy to let mortgages and UK property investments
In spite of the increasing likelihood of a no-deal Brexit, mortgage lenders are reassuring expats they will still be able to get mortgages on UK properties. Market leaders and estate agents are saying there are no post=Brexit problems for lenders as regards mortgages for both British nationals and expatriates, provided they submit all the...
31 Aug at 6 PM
Surveys show EU and UK expatriates share post Brexit concerns
Two parallel surveys have revealed expatriate concerns are increasing, both for UK citizens in the EU and Europeans living and working in Britain. The two surveys approached expats regardless of their nationality or their present location in the UK or the EU. Overall, the vast majority of respondents who took part in both studies agreed...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Nanjing expat charity raises cash for childrens heart surgeries
The expat-run Hopeful Hearts charity’s Nanjing base is just one of the three under the same name, with the others in Guangzhou and Chengdu. Founded in 2003, the non-profit came into existence when two expat women found a desperately ill Chinese boy who’d been abandoned by his parents lying at the base of a large tree. Sadly, despite...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Is Portugal losing out on tourism and expat arrivals?
In spite of a recent award as the ‘2018 hottest destination’, Portugal may be losing out on tourists and newly-arrived expats. According to the country’s Secretary of State for Tourism, the US-based award is great news for the country but the Algarve’s important British market is in decline. Minister Joao Fernandes, the region’s...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Brits in Spain lose millions to yet another financial fraudster
In spite of endless warnings about financial fraudsters preying on expats, another Ponzi scheme has now been uncovered. Victims of the latest financial fraud in the popular Spanish resort of Marbella have claimed losses of up to six million in sterling due to a Ponzi scheme being run by a Welsh investment advisor. Rhys Williams lived the...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Bad news on workplace pensions for would-be expats
Would-be British expat retirees expecting agreed workplace pension amounts may have to trim their budgets. British pensioners who’re either planning to retire overseas or have already done so may find their workplace pension pays out far less than promised. According to a report by the British government’s Pension Protection Fund, two...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Reactions to Kuwait ban on expats over 60 years old
Kuwait’s decision to suspend work and residency permits for expatriates over 60 years of age is drawing heavy criticism from economists as well as expats. Kuwaiti economics experts are warning the ban will cause problems in the private sector as employers will lose highly experienced expat professionals who cannot be replaced by young...
29 Aug at 6 PM
EU expats in UK in trial applications to stay after Brexit
Whilst UK expats in EU member states still fear for their rights to remain, EU citizens in the UK are starting their 'settled status' applications. A Home Office trial of the ‘settled status’ post-Brexit settlement given to EU citizens living and working in the UK is now underway in the north-west, with NHS workers as well as students...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Retiring overseas as a US citizen subject to FATCA reporting
Once you’ve left the USA for your selected retirement destination overseas, you’ll need to pay special attention to your tax returns. As a would-be expat, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the dreaded IRS FATCA reporting, as well as being angry that everyday citizens have been caught up in a net originally designed to catch...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Dubai private school fees frozen at last years level
Expat parents with children at private schools in Dubai are relieved about fees being frozen. As Dubai’s private education sector gears up for the new 2018/2019 academic year in September, the news that fees will be frozen at their present amounts has come as a relief for expat parents. The initial announcement came in June and was...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Oz expats lose capital gains tax exemption on house sales
The Australian government is preparing to debate changes to the capital gains exemption rule for expats selling their home country properties. Over 100,000 Australian expats living and working overseas will be hit by a ruling removing the exemption of capital gains tax on sales of their home country properties. If the ruling is accepted...
27 Aug at 6 PM
Kuwait to target expat single males renting private housing
Kuwaitization is targeting expatriate workers in government employment sectors. According to a somewhat confusing report of private housing in Kuwait, the municipality is to target single, male expats renting accommodation in so-called ‘model housing areas. The plan is to identify and review the IDs of all registered single expat males...
27 Aug at 6 PM
Iceland fears house price bubble due to incoming expat investors
Iceland’s house prices are rising due to increased demand by foreign investors, expatriates and migrants. Over the past decade, the tiny island nation of Iceland has seen an explosion in the numbers of foreign investors, expat professionals and even tourists buying up local real estate. The influx is causing inflation, especially in the...
27 Aug at 6 PM
Spanish house prices rising as expat buyers get younger
The average age of property purchasers in Spain is now at an all time low. Along with a continuing increase in the popularity with expats of Costa del Sol properties, a new study has noted the average age of buyers is now 42 years. An analysis of property purchases in the region during the fist six months of 2018 shows 31 per cent of...
24 Aug at 6 PM
UK expats in France not impressed by embassy Brexit videos
The British Embassy in Paris is finally attempting to respond to expat criticisms of its Brexit information. At the same time as releasing a new series of information videos on key Brexit questions, the Brit Embassy in Paris is taking on board criticism that previous communications haven’t addressed the plight of Britons should a...
24 Aug at 6 PM
New rules on Andalusia holiday rentals causing confusion
With the increase in arrivals of Britishers looking to buy a Spanish property before Brexit kicks in, the introduction of new laws applying to holiday rentals in Andalusia may cause confusion. At a seminar held in Estepona, property-owning expat attendees were informed of new regulations imposed on holiday rentals in Andalusia. The rules...
24 Aug at 6 PM
Belgium admits failure to integrate new expat arrivals
Belgium’s traditional culture and its friendly but closed off mentality are two reasons why expats find integrating a challenge. Reports by leading Brussels lawmakers admit Belgium is less than straightforward as regards settling down for new expat arrivals, with a German think tank putting it bluntly by saying the country has failed to...
23 Aug at 6 PM
More bad Brexit news for long stay expat pensioners
British expats most at risk as regards their pension payments post-Brexit are those who’ve worked long-stay in Europe. Many British expats who’ve worked in Europe long-term and built up pension pots now held in UK bank accounts are most at risk of being unable to access their funds if a hard Brexit results. The reason behind the...
23 Aug at 6 PM
Dubai debt laws leave elderly British expat in limbo
A homeless, debt-ridden British expat in Dubai is trapped in an impossible situation due to the emirate’s illogical laws. Hardly a month goes by without yet another instance in which Dubai’s inflexible laws have trapped yet another British expat and resulted in imprisonment and deportation, but the latest story defies Western...
23 Aug at 6 PM
Britishers still rushing for Spanish property despite Brexit
In spite of the looming Brexit threat – or perhaps because of it – disenchanted Britons are still rushing to buy property in Spain. Following a trend set at the time of the 2008 financial crash, would-be expats are still buying into Spanish properties with a view to leaving the UK before Brexit becomes an unpleasant reality. Before...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Benidorm based disabled expat assaulted and robbed
As reports of violence against British expats and tourists increase, is Spain as safe a destination for elderly retirees as it was in the past? Now that the tourism high season is in full swing, reports of expats and visitors being targeting by violent attacks are on the increase. Benidorm is in the news again due to an attack by a gang...
22 Aug at 6 PM
US expats overseas protest the Trump presidency
US expatriates all over the world as well as US citizens in the home country are joining together to protest the damage being caused to America by the Trump presidency. A recent weekend of protests in the USA and many favorite American expat locations made it clear not everyone is supporting the chaos in the White House caused by the...
22 Aug at 6 PM
New Zealand based South African expats fear civil war over land grabs
South African expats settled in New Zealand are urging their home country’s government to think again over land grabs. Concern ramped up when rumours hit the international media about the South African government’s undertaking of illegal land expropriation, with the bitter memory of the same action in Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia,...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Should expats in Dubai renegotiate their rentals
As Dubai’s sky-high rentals take a dive, should expats living and working in the emirate try to get a better deal? During the second quarter of 2018, Dubai rents fell by five per cent and are expected to stay on a downward path during the rest of the year. For expats whose present contracts are close to ending, the advice from the...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Safeguarding your expat pension pot against a hard Brexit
As Brexit draws nearer with no agreement in sight, British expats in the EU are attempting to calculate the possible damage to their finances of a no-deal exit. Reports of the effect of sterling’s slump against the euro have increased concern amongst Europe’s UK expat communities about the likelihood of a hard Brexit causing further...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Why are expat Brits losing their UK bank accounts
Literally millions of British expats overseas are losing their UK bank accounts, leaving their finances and pension payments in chaos. In Spain alone, over 300,000 Britons are living, working or retiring in the sun after deciding to give the UK a permanent miss for a number of valid reasons. In the rest of the world, some five million UK...
20 Aug at 6 PM
EU expats in UK get no Brexit deal right to remain
According to a leaked cabinet paper, EU expats living in the UK are to be given the right to stay even if Brexit negotiations result in a no-deal exit. ' In what is being referred to as a decision taken from the moral high ground, EU expats in the UK will not only be allowed to stay in the event of a hard Brexit, they will also be allowed...
20 Aug at 6 PM
Lethal painkiller still being marketing in Gibraltar
The lethal painkiller Nolotil, exposed by a campaign started in the English-language expat newspaper Olive Press, is still being sold by pharmacies in Gibraltar. Nolotil, banned in many European countries as well as in the UK, was the subject of a two-year medical investigation by health researcher Cristina Garcia del Campo after stories...
20 Aug at 6 PM
Sinking sterling hits Brit state pensioners in Thailand
As sterling continues to struggle against the Brexit effect, UK expats in Thailand are feeling the pinch. For the more adventurous amongst British retirees, Thailand has been a favoured destination for several decades due to its weather, low cost of living and, for some, the readily available choice of young, female companions. In the good...
17 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in UAE struggle to save in spite of high salaries
In spite of paying no income tax and earning inflated salaries, expats working in the UAE are struggling to save. During the average five years an expat spends working in the UAE on a non-taxed high salary, it would seem it’s possible to save a reasonable amount for the future. However, the majority are believed to have saved nothing...
17 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Turkey taking full advantage of shrinking lira
As the Turkish lira shrinks thanks to Trump tariffs, UK expatriates living in Turkey are going on spending sprees. As the near-collapse of the Turkish lira due to the effects of the Trump administration’s tariffs continues, one pound sterling now buys 89 per cent more of the local currency than in August last year. Expats and...
17 Aug at 6 PM
Expat-led environmental group holds cleanups in Turkey
Tidy Turkey is yet another of the world-wide initiatives to clean up beauty spots and beaches covered in human-deposited trash. Environmentally-friendly and like-minded expats and citizens come together for a full day of cleaning up selected areas, having fun and meeting new people at the same time. Lucy Tooze, a well-travelled Australian...
16 Aug at 6 PM
How to get a quick sale for your home in Europe
If you’ve given up on any positive Brexit news for UK expats and need to sell your home in Europe prior to returning to Britain, showing your property at its best isn’t difficult. As March next year creeps closer with no sensible solution for UK expats anywhere in sight, for some the only way forward is to sell their property and...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Is The Rock at risk due to Brexit?
British long-stay expatriates in Gibraltar are concerned no-one’s listening to them about the Brexit effect on their unique location. Nowadays, Gibraltar is more British than Britain, having belonged to the UK for 300 years and still displaying red phone boxes, letter boxes and Union Jacks. It’s a mini version of the best of Little...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Expats arriving at UAE airports warned about immigration scam
Expats arriving back in the UAE after holidaying overseas are being warned not to fall for a recently discovered immigration fraud. Scammers are targeting expatriate holidaymakers returning to the emirates through Dubai airport, using Caller ID Spoofing to convince victims they’re genuine immigration officers. At present, scores of...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Expat Brits in France urged to join two Brexit-linked surveys
British expatriates living in France are being asked to take part in two surveys aimed at helping the French Interior Ministry and the British Embassy understand the expat community’s needs re Brexit. The two short online surveys are part of efforts by campaign group Remain in France Together (RIFT) and the British Embassy, and both are...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Wealthy expats in UAE join in Golden Visa rush
Demand for foreign citizenship by ultra-wealthy expats in the UAE has soared by 67 per cent over last year’s totals. Statistics compiled by a Dubai-based immigration firm show a rush to hedge their bets by wealthy expats in the UAE, with the GCC as a whole also seeing increased demand by around 30 per cent. The research seems to confirm...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Anti Brexit campaign group sets legal challenge against 2016 referendum
The pro-EU campaign group UK in EU Challenge has launched a legal fight claiming the Leave campaign breached electoral laws by spending over its limit by almost £700,000. Recently, the UK’s Electoral Commission found ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that Vote Leave had cheated on the spending limit and attempted to hide its overspend....
14 Aug at 6 PM
Saudi Arabian officials deny expat fee rumours
Social media rumours that expat fees paid by companies would be fixed at their present level are now being categorically denied by officials. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labour and Social development has issued a strong denial about the possibility of companies’ expat fees being pegged at their present, initial level. The fees,...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Will expats in Paris pee in public
Doing everything the French way is the norm for many long-term expats living and working in Paris, but a recent addition to the city’s street scene may prove a step too far. For Parisian men and maybe a few expats, peeing discreetly in the street is the normal thing to do, although it’s illegal and can result in a hefty fine if caught....
14 Aug at 6 PM
How the rest of the world sees expats
Are expats mostly too busy seeing the world through new eyes to be concerned about how the world sees them? The focus of a recent survey was somewhat different from the usual run of annual online expat questionnaires about living costs, liveability, salaries and suchlike as it measured expats’ beliefs of how their new communities feel...
13 Aug at 6 PM
Surviving the deadly Andalusian heatwave
As the scorching temperatures continue across Spain, what can expats and tourists do to survive the experience? It may well be the hottest ever summer along Andalusia’s Costa del Sol coastline, but travelling to its interior isn’t recommended as an escape. The little town of Ecija is famous for just one thing – it’s called the...
13 Aug at 6 PM
Brexit negotiations still ignoring UK pensions passporting plight
Tens of thousands of retired British expats living in Europe could lose access to their pensions should a hard Brexit result. According to experts working in the financial service industry, the possibility of being denied access to regular private pension payments isn’t fake news as it’s perfectly possible. Director General of the...
13 Aug at 6 PM
Expat dreams die as Portuguese wildfire destroys everything
British expats in Portugal are heartbroken as their dreams are shattered by the massive Monchique wildfire. The huge wildfire which broke out close by the village of Monchique and raged for seven full days has shattered the lives of expats living in the region. Around 300 residents were evacuated and 42 were injured as the flames...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Summer in the UAE means death for abandoned pets
Animal activists in the UAE are attempting to cope with the largest number of abandoned pets ever. Summer in the UAE sees expats and citizens heading off for their holidays, but an ever increasing number are leaving their pets on the streets to fend for themselves. Animal activists do their best, but are presently overwhelmed by the sheer...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Is Dubai the new crime hub for tax fraud
Expat tax fraudsters are flooding to Costa del Dubai The futuristic desert city of Dubai is being used as a refuge by fraudulent tax evaders from the UK. Loved by the ultra-wealthy and famous, Dubai is now being nicknamed ‘ the World’s new Costa del Crime’ in a reference to the Southern Spain region formerly a refuge for UK...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Swedish mother arrested with her daughter on arrival in Dubai
A Swedish national mother of three travelling with her four-year old daughter was jailed in Dubai for drinking one glass of wine during her flight. Dentist Ellie Holman had arrived in Dubai from London, along with her four-year old daughter Bibi, and was pulled up at immigration as her visa from a previous visit had only been issued for a...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Expats caught in Indonesian earthquake tell their story
Two Western expats working in Abu Dhabi were caught up in the Indonesian earthquake whilst on holiday in the region. Leona Reynolds and Patricia Mulraney had decided on Bali as the perfect place for a break from work in Abu Dhabi. The pair were on a speedboat heading for nearby Gili Trawangan Island when a massive wave hit the boat,...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Expat guide to car purchase in Spain
Once you’ve moved into your new home in Spain and discovered the disadvantages of the local transportation options, it’s time to consider buying a car. Purchasing a vehicle in Spain is procedurally similar to the British model as regards bureaucracy, but with several layers of Spanish law tacked on for good measure. For new arrivals...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Expat favourites for retirement relocation to Spain
For Brits dashing to get settled in Spain before the Brexit door slams in their faces, choosing a favourite location is the first priority. According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, almost 50 per cent of the 300,000 Britons living in Spain are retirees over the age of 65. They’ve arrived for the warm climate, the lower...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Saudi work permits now linked to house rent contracts
Issuance or renewal of expats’ work permits In Saudi Arabia is now linked with the authentication of rental contracts. The publishing of the new rule is a consequence of implementation by Saudi’s Council of Ministers’ February 2017 decision not to allow the issuance of work permits to expats without authenticated, registered...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Polish expats in UK urge ringfencing of rights post Brexit
Britain’s Polish community is urging May to guarantee their rights in the event of a hard Brexit. The Federation of Poles in Great Britain charitable organisation is now voicing concerns over the plight of Poles in the UK following a hard Brexit. The group hasn’t spoken before, but now believes it’s compelled to appeal on behalf of...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Dutch residency for US citizens getting harder
US expats are having increasing problems getting Dutch residency. The Netherlands’ popularity with expats is drawing ever-increasing numbers of US citizens to Amsterdam and other Dutch cities, but residency permits seem to be harder to get. Normally, American citizens have a head start as regards residency permits due to the...
6 Aug at 6 PM
China fatigue can spoil the expat experience
Expats who’ve been working in China for some while are in danger of experiencing ‘China fatigue’ China is a favourite destination for expatriates looking to experience a totally new and very different culture as well as finding either a well-paying new job or assistance with an entrepreneurial start-up. On arrival, there’s always a...
6 Aug at 6 PM
Expats to be subject to airport health screening on returning to Kuwait
A proposal to subject all expats returning to Kuwait after time overseas to airport health screening has been put forward by lawmakers. MP Mohammed al-Dalal has presented a proposal that all returning expatriates should be subject to health screening by medical examiners before they’re allowed back into the emirate. The MP is suggesting...
6 Aug at 6 PM
Shanghai to offer new startup visa for expat graduates and entrepreneurs
A new business startup visa is being introduced in a number of selected Shanghai districts. Foreign would-be entrepreneurs are expected to take full advantage of several pilot schemes for a new startup visa. The visa, officially known as the Private Residence Permit (Entrepreneurship) and commonly known as the ‘startup visa’, is valid...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Expats and visitors happy Spanish taxi driver strike is over
Following more than a week of road transport chaos, Spanish taxi drivers have now called off their strike. Started in Barcelona just over a week ago, the strike action was taken in response to the increasing popularity of ride-hailing services from Uber and similar companies and follows other such protests in European countries. Taxi...
3 Aug at 6 PM
UK FCA new ruling makes QROPs easier for expats
For those approaching retirement and thinking to transfer their pension to a QROPS, there’s a lot to consider. A recent ruling by the UK’s Financial Conduct Agency might well be of help to would-be expat retirees confused about their financial options as regards QROPs transfers. Until now, any pension with over £30,000 was subject to...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Holiday options for expat professionals working overseas
Expat life has a habit of overturning the norms of everyday existence, especially if there’s a family to consider. For non-expats, life overseas is often seen as either one long holiday or an exotic and glamorous experience to be envied by those stuck in the home country. For expat professionals, the reality is far less enviable,...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Spain enduring travel chaos due to taxi strike
Local taxi demonstrations against ride-hailing apps such as Uber are now common across continents, with Spain the latest expat hub to be caught in the confusion. The Spanish version of anti-Uber protests started last Monday in Barcelona and had spread to Madrid by the weekend. Taxi drivers are demanding the government take action against...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Dubai to be home to planets largest Chinatown
Will Dubai’s Chinese invasion squeeze out Western expat professionals? China’s in-your-face expansionist moves have so far been mainly confined to smaller Asian countries, but Dubai’s Dragon Mart development and its projected Dragon City will see the largest Chinese trading, retail and residential hub outside the mother country....
2 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expats in Southern Spain warned over extreme heat
As Europe swelters in a massive heatwave, British expats in Spain are warned of temperatures exceeding 47 Celsius. Europe’s extreme heatwave is about to get even hotter, with southern Spain warned to expect the hottest day since records began. For expats and tourists from the UK unused to such extreme heat, the fiery furnace blast may...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Expats and Brit residents fall for binary trading scam
Expats as well as British residents have lost all their savings to a binary options scam. Eclipse Finance Ltd operated from a registered office in London’s East End district and claimed to be marketing an investment scheme based on binary option trading, a form of fixed odds betting on financial market movements. The term ‘binary...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Whats good and whats not for expats in Kuwait
Relocation to a new country has its advantages and disadvantages, with being better prepared for the negatives making it easier to adjust. Kuwait is a popular destination for expats on reassignment from overseas-based companies as well as for those offered an interesting new job with a high salary. The Gulf States in general are unique as...
1 Aug at 6 PM
US expat SMEs in UK hammered by Trump tax law change
In spite of appeals to US lawmakers, US expatriate small business owners in the UK are caught up in IRS demands intended for multinationals which shift profits overseas. The Trump tax bill was signed into law last December, with new taxes introduced for corporate behemoths such as Microsoft which regularly move their profits overseas for...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Is offshore banking the best expat strategy
In spite of rumours about tax avoidance, offshore banking gives a number of advantages for expat professionals. The vast majority of expat professionals working overseas are paid in their local currency, with many having financial liabilities such as mortgages in the home country. Most are planning to either move elsewhere for work or...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Expat remittances on hold as Saudi corruption crackdown bites
Expat professionals as well as Saudi businesses are now holding back on money transfers overseas. Due to a government crackdown on corruption earlier in the year, any attempt to send more than $30,000 outside the emirate is now being blocked by the government. According to local banks, many expats and their families are now afraid to send...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Old style retirees versus new style expat career junkies
Traditionally, the British expat exodus has been focused on retirees heading south for a fun life in the sun, but the focus is shifting to a more pragmatic stance based on a temporary stay. In earlier times, the word ‘expat’ conjured up a vision of overweight Brit retirees in shorts, sandals and singlets lounging in deckchairs on a...
31 Aug at 6 PM
Protesting Trump by getting a job in Moscow
Rejecting Trump presidency by emigrating to Moscow Protesting Trump by inding a job in Moscow Could the ultimate personal rejection of the Trump presidency persuade prospective expats to seek work in Moscow? Recent articles charting a rise in enquiries from USA citizens wanting to emigrate since Trump was elected don’t...
31 Aug at 6 PM
Expats on Hokkaido laid back about North Korean missiles
Despite being woken up by the sound of warning sirens as the North Korean ballistic missile screamed over their heads, expats on Hokkaido are taking the threat in their strides. Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido is popular as a destination for expats with teaching qualifications, with the capital city of Sapporo hosting a...
31 Aug at 6 PM
Britons still rushing to buy European real estate
Although there’s still no certainty about UK expats’ rights post-Brexit, increasing numbers of disenchanted Brits are opting to leave now and take their chances in Europe. Rather than the expected post-referendum fall in the numbers of Brits moving to European Union member states, there’s a rush to emigrate before the UK leaves the...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Houston bracing for even more water
Expatriates living and working in Houston are reporting Hurricane Harvey is the worst storm they’ve ever endured. The large expat community living in the Texas city of Houston are agreed the still present hurricane-spawned rains are a massive tragedy for the city and its residents, but are fully aware the flooding isn’t yet over. The...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Aspiring expats dreams shattered by dodgy property deal
Yet another British national has fallen foul of the type of off-plan property scam common in favourite expat destinations, but this one has an even nastier twist to its tail. Expats familiar with this particularly unpleasant scam operated in locations popular with long-stayers as well as holidaymakers won’t be surprised to read yet...
30 Aug at 6 PM
UK expats in rural Spain afraid of losing their peaceful lives
Not all British expats in Spain choose the noisy, tourist-heavy Costa beach resorts, with more than a few living peaceful, rural lifestyles in small, mountainous towns. The small conurbation of Baza perches high on a plateau edging Spain’s Granada province and is home to a different style of British expats happy to live a rural...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Dog poisoners target pets in Ho Chi Minh City expat district
Expats living in District 2’s Thao Dien area in Vietnam’s capital city are losing their beloved dogs and cats to poison deliberately put down by an unknown killer. The Thao Dien area in Ho Chi Minh City is a favourite with expats living and working in the city, and many have taken rescued dogs into their homes and lives. The community...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Oz expats in Houston caught up in devastating floods
Thousands of Australian expatriates living in Houston and its surrounding areas affected by the once-in-a-lifetime floods are hunkering down, hoping for rescue and praying the rain will stop. Houston’s connection with the oil industry and its position as the USA’s energy capital has attracted many Australian companies including...
29 Aug at 6 PM
New Zealand tops Australia as Brit expat favourite
A recent report has confirmed British expats’ long-time favourite New Zealand is now number one again, beating out Australia for the top spot. Enquiries from Britons wishing to emigrate to New Zealand have increased by a massive 83 per cent during the first six months of 2017, whilst enquiries about Australia have fallen by five per...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Local UK authority dumps starving British expat pensioner on the streets
A British pensioner who returned from living in Spain has been found starving and homeless on the streets after being refused local council housing by Bournemouth Borough Council. David Sutcliffe, an 82 year-old British citizen, was picked up by local police after being spotted by a concerned member of the public who noticed he was...
28 Aug at 6 PM
UK expats say good weather is a first requirement
The first thing the majority of British would-be expats consider is the weather in the country of their choice. Over 60 per cent of British expats study weather reports in a variety of possible expat destinations before making their final choice. For good reason, the sun is a prime requirement for a satisfactory new life overseas after...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Woes increase for expats in Spain as pound hits new low
Sterling is still falling against the euro, with last week’s drop marking a fresh eight-year low. Expats living in Spain and depending on the ungenerous UK state pension have been hit by the currency’s latest fall against the euro. The official rate is now just €1.08, having fallen by over 15 per cent since last June’s...
25 Aug at 6 PM
QROPS not to blame for pension transfer problems
Overseas pensions are more about investment quality than volumes of cash moving overseas, with problems down to dodgy advisors rather than the schemes themselves. Following the UK government’s published concerns on rogue financial advisors targeting expats overseas as well as retirees in the UK, critics of QROPs are inferring a...
25 Aug at 6 PM
Freelancing as a retirement career
Retiring overseas is a dream for many would-be expats who just can’t wait to exit the daily grind of a job they’ve held for a lifetime, but there are alternatives to inactivity which can also earn extra cash. The desire to get up and go to a warmer, cheaper location with an already established expat community is totally...
25 Aug at 6 PM
Qatar resumes diplomatic contact with Iran
Today’s announcement from Qatar that it’s re-establishing its diplomatic connection with Iran may well come as a relief to many expats working in the emirate. The surprising news is likely to be poorly received by the four neighbouring Gulf States which began the crisis several months ago by cutting all diplomatic ties with the tiny...
24 Aug at 6 PM
Reverse culture shock hits returnee expat professionals
Many expats feel a sense of relief combined with anticipation when leaving their home countries, but how do they feel when they eventually return? The majority of expats who leave in order to further their careers and grow their bank balances are fully aware that at some time in the future they’ll run out of steam as regards new jobs in...
24 Aug at 6 PM
Saudi annual school holidays move to coincide with Ramadan
Students attending schools in Saudi Arabia will now have one long break encompassing the fasting month of Ramadan. In order to ensure examinations don’t take place during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the Saudi school year has now been rearranged for a period of five years. A cabinet decision approving the change was taken...
24 Aug at 6 PM
Home Office error sees 100 EU expats threatened with deportation
In the latest Brexit-related scandal, the British Home Office sent 100 deportation notices to EU expats, threatening removal if recipients didn’t leave voluntarily. In a move indicating its inability to deal correctly with EU expats living and working in the UK, the Home Office mistakenly sent letters to 100 European nationals ordering...
23 Aug at 6 PM
Spanish economic revival tempts expat investors
Ten years ago, Spain was in crisis, but now its economy is soaring to new heights. I n 2008, the main topic of expat conversation in bars and restaurants was ‘la crisis’, and with very good reason. Bad debts due to the credit-fuelled construction boom had caused a spectacular fall in real estate prices, the global financial crisis was...
23 Aug at 6 PM
No relief as yet for UK expats in limbo
The upcoming talks in Brussels over the fate of millions of expats are expected to centre on reciprocal rights acceptable to both sides. Brexit negotiations are due to begin again in Brussels in September, leaving the lives of the four million and more expats affected by last year’s referendum in limbo, along with the huge number of...
23 Aug at 6 PM
EU and UK negotiators poles apart on UK and EU expats fates
As British parliamentarians shrug off the holiday spirit and reluctantly turn their thoughts to getting on with their jobs, what’s in the upcoming session for Brexpats? Reports that both sides’ projections about the post-Brexit fates of UK and EU expats are becoming clearer are filtering in from the two opposing teams of negotiators,...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Sudden rise in British deaths in Thailand gives cause for concern
A British Foreign and Commonwealth Office report has shown the 2016 death rate figures of British citizens in Thailand increased by 27 per cent over the 2015 total. The FCO report, issued after the granting of a Freedom of Information request, showed the total number of deaths of British citizens in Thailand had jumped by over a quarter...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Dubai urged to avoid long term insurance based investment plans
New arrivals in Dubai are being warned about commission-hungry IFAs peddling totally unsuitable, expensive long-term investment plans. Advice to expats starting out on the adventure of working in the Gulf States often includes the fact that retirement plans need to begin early on in order to generate enough capital for a successful...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Learning Arabic gives expat professionals a competitive edge
Despite having long-term careers in Arab countries, the majority of expats admit they’ve either failed to learn enough Arabic to get by or have no interest in learning the language. One popular English language newspaper, the Khaleej Times, recently conducted a poll on the subject, which revealed 81 per cent of respondents had never...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Thailand warned to watch out for diphtheria
Almost totally eradicated in most world countries due to inoculations, diphtheria is still a risk for expats and visitors to Thailand. The potentially deadly disease is caused by a bacterial infection which attacks the nose, throat and windpipe, causing severe inflammation, difficulty swallowing and problems breathing. It’s spread...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Expat teachers offered serious cash bonuses to work in New Zealand
New Zealand’s education minister is renewing a previously cancelled cash bonus scheme aimed at persuading expat teachers to fill Auckland’s desperate teaching shortages. Education Minister Nicky Kaye announced the New Zealand government will invest a million dollars in total to persuade expatriate Kiwi teachers to return as well as to...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Retired US expats can live the good life on a budget
As prices increase across the USA, more and more retirees are becoming expats enjoying a better quality of life at far less cost. Americans, it seems, aren’t great at saving for retirement. A recent report released by the Economic Policy Institute suggests the average American retirement nest egg is as low as $5,000. Those getting close...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Surge in young professionals looking to emigrate
Relocation companies are seeing a surge in the numbers of younger professionals looking to leave their countries of birth. For several decades, demographics related to expats have shown older professionals and retirees as the two main groups looking to emigrate, but a recent survey seems to have overturned the balance. The study,...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Long term expats still nostalgic about British aspects of life
However long Britons have lived overseas, there are few who won’t admit to missing certain aspects of their former lives. Emigrating can be exciting, scary and challenging as well as slightly saddening, especially if the move was planned as a permanent departure from the country of birth. However well they’ve adjusted to their new,...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expats in Spain warned about killer drug
A toxic painkiller banned in the USA and most of Europe is being pushed by Spanish doctors over safer drugs in spite of protests from informed expat patients. The dangerous painkiller, known as Nolotil or Metamizole, has been banned in Europe and the USA but is a favourite with Spanish GPs who prescribe it for a variety of painful ailments...
17 Aug at 6 PM
UK expats warned sterling to fall below euro by 2018
Worse is yet to come for British state pensioner expats as a major investment bank warns the value of sterling will have crashed to below that of the euro by early 2018. In an FX Overview note sent out to clients last Friday, analysts at Morgan Stanley predicted the value of the pound sterling is due to fall to below the value of the euro...
17 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expat pensioner loses jewellery worth €10,000 to fake electrician
A British pensioner living on the Costa del Sol has been robbed of her jewellery valued at €10,000 by a thief posing as an electrician. Patricia Vause, an 88 year-old expat from York, has lived in Ronda en al Mar on the Costa del Sol for the past 30 years since she left her job as a career civil servant at the UK’s Ministry of...
17 Aug at 6 PM
Dubai population explosion down to expats
Already one of the world’s fastest growing conurbations, Dubai’s population is expected to double by 2027. Researchers at UAE University have released the results of a study claiming the population of Dubai will double over the next 10 years, with the soaring numbers due to an ever-increasing number of expatriates. Expats have already...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Seoul expats on fears of nuclear war
Whilst the increasing instability of tensions between the USA and North Korea is causing concern across the planet, what are the feeling of expats in South Korea who’re in the direct firing line? Expats living in Seoul’s international Itaewon district have everything to lose should even a non-nuclear conflict be the result of Trump’s...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Qatar fights back with 80 country visa free scheme
As the Gulf State diplomatic boycott of Qatar drags on with no apparent solution, the wealthy little emirate is fighting back. Qatar’s latest weapon against the economic damage being caused by the June 5 boycott is a new law granting visa-free entry to citizens of no less than 80 world countries. According to the head of Qatar’s...
16 Aug at 6 PM
The Saudi take on the expected expat exodus
Will Saudi Arabia’s commanding position as a hub for highly-paid expat professionals end due to oil price falls and wars? As with the rest of the Gulf States, expat workers at all levels make up the majority of Saudi Arabia’s total population. Increasing financial pressures and restrictive laws are expected to eventually cause the...
15 Aug at 6 PM
UAE laws female expats need to know
Many women moving to the UAE either for work or as trailing spouses are confused as to their rights and obligations in UAE law. Being male and moving to the UAE is tricky enough as regards laws, cultural aspects and correct behaviour patterns, but for women it’s a potential nightmare. Former freedoms and legal entitlements are thrown...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Bali expats plan ultra marathon to fund kids education
Seven disadvantaged Balinese children will be the beneficiaries of an 84km coast-to-coast fundraiser marathon organised by two expat runners. Briton Tom Hickman and his Russian running mate have lived on Bali for several years, enjoying the lifestyle and running regularly as a hobby. Hickman told local media the idea of the marathon was...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Expat landlords at risk of property pension shortfall
Tax changes are putting expat landlords at risk of falling profits on UK property investments. As many as two million property investors, a good number of whom are expatriates, are at risk of a shortfall in rental profits due to tax changes. According to the National Landlords’ Association, a new method of calculating mortgage interest...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Algarve still first choice for expat retirees
Portugal’s spectacular Algarve region is top of the list for expat retirees for the fourth year running. A recent report by Live and Invest Overseas has awarded the Algarve region of Portugal first place as the perfect retirement destination. Researchers cited every aspect of the physically beautiful region as the reason why Portugal is...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Brit retirees gearing up to emigrate before Brexit
In spite of the uncertainty of expat rights post-Brexit, UK retirees are queuing up to emigrate, with Spain, France and Portugal all favourite destinations. Financial advisers whose businesses serve would-be expats relocating to destinations within the European Union have seen a doubling of enquiries from British retirees over the past year...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expatriates in Guam stay cool over North Korean threats
Britons living and working on Guam are determined to keep cool and keep drinking in spite of North Korea’s threat. Guam is a tropical paradise for expats living and working on the island, as well as a favourite destination for large number of tourists every year. Both sectors, along with the island’s indigenous population, will be in...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Saudia to deny boarding to improperly clothed passengers
Expats and visitors to Saudi Arabia have been warned to dress discreetly when flying with national carrier Saudi Arabia Airlines. Saudi Arabia’s national airline, known locally as Saudia, has issued a warning to passengers who dress inappropriately for their flight. Garments which ‘cause discomfort or distress to other passengers’...
11 Aug at 6 PM
British expats in Europe rush for dual citizenship
Ever-increasing numbers of Britons living in Europe are rushing to obtain dual citizenship as hope fades for a good Brexit result. Media reports tell of as many as a million Britishers choosing to take dual citizenship if possible rather than having to return to a post-Brexit Britain. The rush is heating up as no good news about their...
11 Aug at 6 PM
EU to restrict UK expats residency rights post Brexit
According to David Davis, the European Union is planning to restrict residency rights for British expats living in European member states once the Brexit divorce is finalised. In a report issued by the UK’s chief Brexit negotiator David Davis, the EU’s stance on Britons living in Europe will only allow the right to remain if expat...
10 Aug at 6 PM
Cypriot expats in UK condemn media outlets for glorifying Northern Cyprus
Protest letters have been sent to two major UK media outlets over an article recommending holidays in Cyprus’s Turkish-held north. The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is as popular with holidaymakers as it is with British retirees – or at least the southern part of the island is. Since 1974, the northern region has remained in Turkish...
10 Aug at 6 PM
What makes a successful expat
Personality traits are all-important to our view of life, with the qualities needed to make a success of the expat life not always the most obvious. Since humans first stood on two legs and found a comfortable cave for shelter, the need to broaden our horizons has ensured the race’s spread throughout the entire world. Curiosity and...
10 Aug at 6 PM
Stay or Go is UK retiree dilemma
EU member states and Spain in particular are still on the retirement agenda for UK would-be expats. Britons coming up on retirement are still favouring European destinations in spite of the uncertainty surrounding the final outcome of the Brexit negotiations. A recent survey has revealed one in every 10 UK citizens over 50 years of age is...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Saudi dependents tax sees rents plunge and apartments empty
The newly introduced Saudi tax on expats’ dependents is causing stress to landlords as many expats have opted to send their families home. Larger apartments are now being left empty, with ‘to let’ signs appearing on the buildings. According to one rental agent, landlords are now being forced to use his company’s services in order...
9 Aug at 6 PM
UK expat retirees urged to do homework before emigrating
Spain’s position as an all-time favourite retirement haven for older Brits seeking sunshine and sangria is still unrivalled, but France, Italy, Portugal and Far East destinations such as the Philippines and Thailand are still getting attention. A recent survey of Britons approaching retirement has revealed the main attractions of...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Buy to let loans even more popular with UK expat investors
Following on from last year’s considerable increase in expat applications for buy to let mortgages, 2017’s total to date is even higher. Over £500 millions’ worth of enquiries for UK buy-to-let mortgages have been made to one lender since the beginning of this year. The amount represents a 130 per cent increase on the same period in...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Expat international money transfers made easy
Wherever you’re working as an expat and however much you’re earning, you might need to transfer money back home. If you’re working overseas and supporting your family back in the home country, you’ll need to be able to make regular transfers without their costing you a fortune. The same goes for mortgage payments and savings...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Number of US expats renouncing citizenship is soaring
In the first half of this year, over 3,000 UK expats cancelled their citizenship, an increase on the entire number in 2016. Last year, just 2,999 Americans abroad gave up on their country and renounced their citizenship. During the first two quarters of 2017, 3,000 more followed, indicating that increasing numbers of American expats are...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Pension scams still a major concern for elderly expats
A new report reveals some five million older Britons have been approached by pension scammers, with one in every six handing over money. The shocking report, based on a survey issued by AgeUK, refers to UK-resident victims of fraudulent IFAs and so-called pension advisors, but its findings are equally relevant for UK expats living outside...
7 Aug at 6 PM
Mongolia mining sector boom spurs luxury developments for expat professionals
Expat professionals in the mining sector are flocking to Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar, fuelling demand for high quality apartments. Due to vastly increased financial commitments by international mining conglomerates, Ulaanbaatar is becoming the latest boom-town destination for expat professionals in the sector. Following the collapse...
7 Aug at 6 PM
Dozens of British expats made homeless by Torch Tower blaze
Torch Tower residents allowed into their apartments on Saturday to collect their valuables found everything from water damage to burnt-out interiors. Expats and Dubai nationals who’d fled Friday’s huge fire at the prestigious skyscraper were allowed to return to their homes to collect valuables and essential documents before an...
7 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expat on Mallorca vows to end cigarette litter
A British expat now living on the Spanish island of Mallorca has started a campaign to rid the streets of litter caused by discarded cigarettes. It’s not just the mess on the streets that prompted Ben Cattell to turn environmentalist, it was his own careless behaviour whilst living in Australia. After a night of heavy drinking, he’d...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Qatar offers expats residence status to encourage them to stay
As the diplomatic and trade blackout of Qatar continues, so does growing concern about its effect on the large number of expat professionals working in the emirate. Foreigners in Qatar account for a huge 88 per cent of the emirate’s entire population, but the continuing dispute between the UAE and the tiny country is causing concern...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Best expat retirement destinations on the planet
As moving overseas for retirement becomes ever more popular, a recent survey has identified a number of the most attractive locations worldwide. Whilst surveys involving varied expat destinations are undoubtedly useful, the majority are based on the needs of relocating expat professionals, making many of the criteria non-relevant for...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Dubai residential skyscraper becomes towering inferno again
In a chilling reminder of London’s Grenfell Tower disaster, Dubai’s Torch Tower residential skyscraper burst into flames for the second time, sending expats and tourists running for their lives. The 86 storey, over 330 metre-tall residential tower’s first conflagration was in 2015, with its flammable cladding blamed for the fast...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Bill to give UK expats votes for life passes first reading
A private members’ bill aimed at giving all expats the right to vote in UK elections no matter how long they’ve been away has sailed through its first reading unopposed. After many years of contesting the hated 15 year lockout of UK expats’ voting rights, a private members’ bill passed its first reading in Westminster unopposed...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expat entertainers in Spain wooed by Britain’s Got Talent
Talent-spotting bosses from the popular TV show are scouring Spain for British entertainers to fill the audition listings. Less than two months after the 2017 Britain’s Got Talent contest ended, its talent-spotters were on a plane headed for Benidorm in an effort to recruit new talent able to halt the show’s declining viewer ratings....
3 Aug at 6 PM
British expat couple forced to demolish their Malaga home
A retired couple from Cornwall have been ordered by a Spanish court to demolish their Malaga home due to a technicality during its renovation. In yet another heartbreaking result for an expat couple caught up in a building licence scandal, this sad tale involves a retired British couple who bought a derelict Spanish farmhouse and paid a...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Qatar urged to note three new laws
Expats working in Qatar are being advised on three new rules recently introduced into law by the ruler. The new rules are amendments to the existing Penal Code and are grouped under one law stipulating that anyone who ‘violates the sanctity of life of individuals without their approval’ will be either fined, imprisoned or both. The...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Russia and China crack down on VPNs and social media sites
In yet another crackdown on internet freedom, both China and Russia are banning the use of VPNs. The hundreds of thousands of expats in Russia and China who use virtual private networks for business, to ensure reliable internet access or to keep in contact with their friends and family back home on social media are about to be banned from...
2 Aug at 6 PM
British Brexpat returnees to face UK shock horror property prices
Britons living in Europe and considering returning home due to Brexit uncertainties may be forced to think again due to UK property price increases since 2010. Recent research has shown average prices in the UK’s real estate market have increased by 12 per cent over the past seven years, whilst house prices in Europe’s most popular...
1 Aug at 6 PM
UAE central bank clamps down on mis selling of expat investments
The UAE’s Central Bank is being praised for its recent clampdown on the mis-selling of unsuitable investments to the emirates’ expat community. The Central Bank began its attack on unscrupulous sales of dodgy investment plans to its expat population by instructing finance companies and banks under its jurisdiction to amicably settle...
1 Aug at 6 PM
New Zealand on the up as a preferred expat destination
Traditionally, New Zealand has always welcomed large numbers of expats looking to start a new life, with British expats making up a strong percentage of its annual arrival statistics. A recent analysis of the country’s immigration data has revealed a five per cent increase in arrivals for the 12 months from June 2016. Out of the total...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Botched hernia surgery sends expat into cardiac arrest
An expat from Australia living in Bali with his wife and two children had to be medivaced home after a simple hernia operation went horribly wrong. Steven Didmon, 39, was admitted to Kuta’s Siloam Hospital on July 12, expecting to have a straightforward operation for a hernia, but an epidural anaesthetic resulted in his going into...
31 Aug at 6 PM
Former Scots expat in Spain needs help rehoming 41 adopted Spanish street cats
Animal lover Laura Inglis is seeking new homes for 41 rescued Spanish street cats, all of which accompanied her when she relocated to her home in Scotland. Laura lived in the Costa del Sol town of Puerto de la Duquesa for eight years whilst working as a project analyst, during which time she adopted 41 abandoned or injured felines found...
31 Aug at 6 PM
India becoming more popular with expats due to its low cost of living
India has always been popular with backpackers and alternative lifestyle travellers, but it’s now climbing the popularity charts as a more conventional expat destination. The sub-continent's dismal rating in last year’s InterNations survey has improved this year by seven places, with the boost due to its low cost of living and...
31 Aug at 6 PM
Survey reveals Kiwis more welcoming than Aussies
Annual surveys such as the latest version from InterNations are useful in helping would-be expats decide on a destination, but can come up with surprising facts. Most foreigners looking for an overseas place to call home tend towards bracketing Australia and New Zealand together, but the InterNations survey reveals there are distinct...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Expat pension plans may be wrecked by Brexit effects
Expats relying on final salary or defined contribution pension schemes to fund their overseas lifestyles as well as workers planning to retire abroad are facing a post-Brexit double whammy likely to wreck their retirement plans. In future, pension savers on existing plans will be forced to save more in order to receive the income they...
30 Aug at 6 PM
France rates high on happiness in worldwide expat satisfaction survey
Viewed from overseas by would-be expats looking for the perfect destination, France may not quite fit the bill, but expats already settled in the country rate their quality of life as more than satisfactory. According to the latest Expat Insider survey, France’s recent turmoil including the devastating terrorist attacks and poisonous...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Online expat shoppers bingeing on bargains due to sterling slump
The recent devaluation of sterling has proved a bonanza for expats, with online UK shopping sites seeing a huge increase in turnover. Following the rush from overseas for UK properties since sterling fell dramatically on the news that the Brexit referendum’s Leave campaign had won, online British sales websites have seen a similar rush...
29 Aug at 6 PM
UAE based expats accused of not saving for retirement
In spite of receiving good salaries and relocation packages, very few expats from the West working in the UAE are saving for their retirement. Given the financial advantages of working in the Middle East, its tax-free status and the global pension crisis, it’s surprising that only a small percentage of expatriates in the kingdom are...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Settling in Singapore made easy for expats
Singapore can be an expat’s dream relocation, but it’s best to get all your settling-in questions answered before you arrive. The exciting city-state of Singapore can give the experience of a lifetime, but getting everything sorted out immediately after your arrival can be a nightmare for the unprepared. Although its citizens are...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Southeast Asia scores high for expat e-commerce startups
Asia’s southeastern countries have long been hubs for backpackers and wandering expats looking for unique life experiences, but they’re now favourite destinations for digital nomads looking to build online e-commerce businesses. Until recently, Southeast Asian destinations such as Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam had little to offer as...
26 Aug at 6 PM
Abu Dhabi falling rents good news for upgrading expats
Expat workers in Abu Dhabi are taking advantage of falling rentals by upgrading to larger apartments. The emirate’s shrinking economy due to the massive fall in oil prices is causing layoffs in the expat workplace, thus reducing demand for rented apartments in several popular districts. Expats with ongoing contracts are now taking full...
26 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expats in Cyprus urged to register their residency
British expats living in Cyprus are being urged to register with the island’s Immigration Department in order to ensure the best chance of being able to stay after Britain leaves the EU. The advice is being offered to all British nationals living, working or owning businesses in Cyprus, pending an online information campaign being run...
26 Aug at 6 PM
What to expect from the Thailand expat community
Whatever the reasons for leaving one’s country of birth to become a stranger in a strange land, the reasons behind choosing one special country must include the chance to make new friends. Contrary to popular misconceptions, expats aren’t the same the world over. Fitting in isn’t as simple as behaving like a missing jigsaw puzzle...
25 Aug at 6 PM
Shanghai expat community concerned over possible removal of English language road signs
Expats living and working in China’s massive metropolis of Shanghai are worried the city’s road authority may decided to remove English language directional road signs. Given that very few expats in Shanghai are competent enough in the Chinese language to be able to read its thousands of characters, concerns that English signage may...
25 Aug at 6 PM
Brexit fallout sees surge in expat buyers as UK property prices stall
Banks and building societies are seeing an increase in mortgage enquiries from UK expat overseas due to stalling UK property prices and the decrease in the value of sterling. The Bank of England’s recent interest rate cut, sterling’s plunge and the post-Brexit stalling of the UK housing market are tempting British expats living and...
25 Aug at 6 PM
Expat housing market in Spain shifts into top gear
After remaining in the doldrums since the boom years ended in 2009, the Spanish property market has picked up and is roaring ahead. Sales of Spanish real estate in 2016 are showing double-figure increases over the same period in 2015, with actual sales rocketing by over 10 per cent since the start of the year. The Balearic Islands are...
24 Aug at 6 PM
Uncovered data reveals top world locations for financial scams
As the UK’s Financial Conduct Agency continues to warn retirees of pension transfer frauds, recently uncovered data reveals the worst world-wide locations for expat financial scams. The data shows UK retiree pension savers are now at even more risk of being scammed out of their savings by unscrupulous, often illegally working financial...
24 Aug at 6 PM
Expat parents of premature newborn twins face massive hospital bill
An expat couple living in Taiwan are facing a massive hospital bill for their newborn twin daughters’ treatment due to a conflict of information on state insurance coverage. Erica Brull-Reinhold and Bas Brull’s twin daughters, born prematurely on July 12 after a difficult pregnancy, were undersized and had other health problems...
24 Aug at 6 PM
UK pensioners in cooler parts of Spain cheated out of winter fuel allowance
Newly discovered data has revealed British pensioners living in colder parts of Spain may have been entitled to the UK state pensions’ Winter Fuel Allowance. The winter fuel allowance was cancelled in 2014 for all UK pensioners living in Spain, depriving many thousands of an extra few hundred pounds with which to supplement the...
23 Aug at 6 PM
Expat private healthcare costs soaring beyond affordable levels
Insurers offering private healthcare policies are sitting pretty as regards revenue, whilst expats living overseas are struggling to find funds for the swingeing annual increases imposed. As with just about everything else in the 21st century, the cost of private healthcare has more to do with profits than with service. Providing a safety...
23 Aug at 6 PM
Retired expats in Spain caught in free heathcare trap
Due to recent tough new rules in Spain as well as within the failing British National Health Service, expat retirees are being left with no free heathcare options. Many elderly UK expats living in Spain are now unable to access Spain’s formerly free heathcare services, and the National Health Service is now refusing to treat returning...
23 Aug at 6 PM
New Zealand sees post Brexit rush for immigration info
Since Brexit, the New Zealand media ihas been awash with warnings of a ‘British invasion’, following a huge spike in the number of British applicants. In an average month, New Zealand’s immigration department gets around 3,000 registrations for information on investing, working in and relocating to its spectacularly beautiful...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Swiss expat in Chiang Mai victim of brutal murder
A retired expat living in Chiang Mai was found stabbed and strangled to death, and tied up to the stair rails in his rented house. Daniel Straub’s body was found a week ago in his rented house in Soi 6 off Suan Dok Road. He’d rented the house for six years and was well-known to his landlord, who found his body after he’d not seen...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Kuwait new DNA testing mandatory for all residents, expats and visitors
The Kuwaiti government now has ultra-modern DNA sampling and testing technology and will require everyone in the emirate to be tested. Saliva will be collected from Kuwaiti nationals, expat workers and Bedouin tribes before the requirement is rolled out to include all visitors to the emirate. According to the ministry involved, the...
22 Aug at 4 PM
New Cambodia three year multientry visa aimed at expat residents and tourists
Cambodia seems to be finally waking up to its potential not only as a tourism destination but as a home for expats looking for long-term residence in a friendly, warm country. Following an announcement that retirees can now purchase a retirement visa without the need to also purchase a work visa, it will soon be possible for expats to be...
19 Aug at 6 PM
Innocent expats forfeit passports in Spanish car import scam case.
Almost 100 expats in Spain are still fighting to have their passports returned after they were unwittingly involved in a car import scam. The unfortunate expats used British-owned Car Import Spain to transport their vehicles from their home countries, and are now being investigated for fraud and suspicion of involvement in the scam. Even...
19 Aug at 6 PM
Expat volunteers in Shanghai help their community understand Chinese laws
Ten expat volunteers in Shanghai’s Chengjiaqioa district are helping their compatriots to understand Chinese culture and laws. A dedicated team of long-term foreign residents are working with local police in Chengjiqioa to spread awareness amongst fellow expats and newcomers to China of the country’s social rules and laws. The group,...
19 Aug at 6 PM
EU based retirees fear loss of UK state pension increases
Many thousands of UK state pensioners living in the EU fear losing their rights to regular pension increases due to the post Brexit fallout. The expat communities of Spain and, to some extent, France, are crammed with UK citizens who’d made the choice between poverty in Britain and comparative comfort abroad. Many sold their UK homes in...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Are offshore QROPs at risk following Brexit
Perhaps more than any other sector of British society, UK expats are likely to feel the effects of Brexit in most aspects of their lives, especially those related to money. Many British retirees now domiciled in EU member state companies will have paid into private or work-related pensions in order to ensure a comfortable retirement with...
18 Aug at 6 PM
UK expats lose a billion in fraudulent investment scam
In spite of multiple warnings from the UK Financial Conduct Agency and other concerned financial experts, pension liberation has proved to be a pot of gold for scammers. Expat advocacy group Pension Life has announced that increasing numbers of FCA-regulated financial advisers are endorsing pension liberation products which are clearly...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Survey shows Switzerland is best choice for expat careers
HSBC’s Expat Explorer survey gives one of the best comparisons of locations suitable for career development, with Switzerland placed high on the list. Selecting the right relocation destination for a move to expat life isn’t easy, as it depends as much on personal preference as it does on salary and perks. However, for career...
17 Aug at 6 PM
15 year expat voting rule promise trashed again by Whitehall
Despite the British government’s pre- and post-Brexit assurances that expats who’ve lived overseas for more than 15 years will finally get the right to continue to vote, civil servants are claiming the plan is too complex to administer. The British government’s refusal to allow long-term expats living overseas to vote in the Brexit...
17 Aug at 6 PM
Hong Kong expat exodus led by Americans and Brits
Hong Kong Immigration Department figures suggest the numbers of British, American and Australian expats has fallen considerably since the beginning of 2015. During the last six months, the total number of British expats living and working in Hong Kong has fallen by just over 10 per cent, together with eight per cent of US expats and five...
17 Aug at 6 PM
Dubai US expats astounded at shameful rhetoric of election campaign
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s provocative utterances have overturned the traditional tone of American presidential elections in which at least a modicum of respect for the office itself was evident. From Trump's Mexican border wall through banning all Moslems from the USA and his latest veiled reference to the second...
16 Aug at 6 PM
The adventurous expats guide to dangerous countries
As a welcome change from surveys listing the most expensive, cheapest, prettiest, friendliest and safest of the world’s expat destinations, here’s a list of the most dangerous places to visit. The plethora of expat surveys come in all shapes and sizes and often contradict each other in the same week, giving would-be expats a confusing...
16 Aug at 6 PM
American Citizens Abroad urges same country exception from FATCA
In a burst of common sense, the ACA organisation has urged the US Treasury to grant FATCA exemptions to US expats living in foreign countries. The plea, issued just before the final FATCA regulations are to be announced by the US Treasury, recommends exemptions from foreign financial institutions’ compulsion to report on the bank...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Expats and tourists aghast at proposed Indonesia booze ban
Shock-horror and incomprehension amongst expats and tourists is greeting the news that the Indonesian parliament is debating a total ban on drinks containing more than one per cent alcohol. The shocking annoucement has caused world media headlines as well as panic amongst local bar owners, distributors and manufacturers of alcoholic...
15 Aug at 6 PM
New UAE visa rules disallow expats from sponsoring visiting friends
New visa rules enforced in the UAE early this month mean expats can no longer sponsor visiting friends. The new mandate states only UAE nationals will be allowed to act as sponsors for foreign friends wishing to visit the emirates, and also makes health insurance compulsory for all visitors. In addition, a refundable deposit of Dh 1,000...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Hong Kong expats choosing less expensive districts as packages cuts bite
Hong Kong is still an expat professional favourite but, as relocation packages and salaries shrink, new arrivals are choosing to live in less expensive districts. The trend away from former traditionally popular locations such as the Peak and Mid-Levels began after the 2011 financial crisis and is now a full-blown movement. Newly popular...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Expats hitting a brick wall over cashing in pension pots
Pension savers living overseas are being denied access to their pension pots due to a Financial Conduct Agency stipulation that egulated financial advice must be taken before monies are released. The pensions revolution has become a chaotic nightmare for expat pensioners wanting to access their savings in British employers’ pension...
12 Aug at 6 PM
Spain still hub for expat financial fraud
Despite all the recent publicity about unlicensed, unqualified IFAs scamming expats out of their savings, fraudsters are still targeting Brit retirees in Spain. A warning from Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority about the growing trend of pension scamming by unqualified IFAs overseas has highlighted a number of incidents in Spain. The...
12 Aug at 6 PM
Expats fear for their lives as bombs explode across Thailand
A fatal double bombing in Thailand's popular Hua Hin beach resort signalled a raft of explosions and fires across the country, causing expats and tourists to fear for their lives. Early Thursday morning and just prior to the Hua Hin explosions, a bomb was set off in Trang’s central market, killing one bystander and injuring seven. Soon...
12 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in UAE face stay or go decision
Soaring living costs, the nationalisation of the local workforce and the dramatic and sustained fall in oil prices are forcing expats to rethink their career plans. For decades, the UAE’s comparative stability and liberal attitude has lured millions of expats hoping to make their fortunes as well as enjoying a luxurious lifestyle....
11 Aug at 6 PM
Companies offering big money to buy out final salary pensions
Soon-to-be-retirees with final salary pensions could be in line for huge windfalls as companies attempt damage limitation measures. Expats and other employees worried about their final salary pensions are about to be thrown a tempting lifeline in the form of company buy-outs for their gold-plated schemes. The golden goodbyes are already...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Is Mexico the answer to the post Brexit blues
Expats facing up to the post-Brexit possibility they may not be able to stay in their chosen EU member state havens should consider alternatives such as Mexico, a favourite with US retirees for decades. Once you’ve examined and disregarded the popular misconception that this laid-back chunk of the planet set south of the border with the...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Internet backlash greets Thai junta plan to track expats via SIMs
Following the Thai military junta’s announcement of the latest anti-foreigner plan, expats and international media sites responded with disbelief and seething comments. Just two days after the controversial referendum took place, the ruling junta in Thailand announced its latest plan to monitor all expats and foreign tourists in the...
10 Aug at 6 PM
High flying expats in Dubai see salaries increase
Although the vast majority of international expats in Dubai are stuck in low-paying jobs, the brightest and best are on a roll and getting richer. Traditionally, Dubai’s high salaries have been the main attraction for the high numbers of professional expat workers flooding to the emirate. Nowadays, in spite of the dramatic fall in oil...
10 Aug at 6 PM
Rising costs of Australian healthcare spell problems for expats
Australia’s healthcare provisions are known to be of exceptional standard, but the ever-rising costs of treatment are a cause for concern in the country’s expat community. The Australian healthcare system is a hybrid of public and private hospitals and clinics, seen as a cross between the USA’s expensive and fully privatised system...
10 Aug at 6 PM
Cambodia shaping up as the next dream retirement destination
As Thailand falls ever deeper into the dictatorship trap, its next door neighbour Cambodia is set fair to become the next Southeast Asian retirement hub. Despite the country’s tragic 20th century history, or perhaps because of it, Cambodia is now welcoming expats from across the Western world to its tropical beaches, charming towns and...
9 Aug at 6 PM
Porto city the latest expat favourite
A recent survey has identified the Portuguese coastal city of Porto as the country’s most popular expat destination. Portugal may not be as famous as Spain for its expat communities, but for years it’s been a favourite with British holidaymakers. Nowadays, the historic city of Porto is reinventing itself with chic and trendy eateries...
9 Aug at 6 PM
How will Brexit affect UK expat state pensioners
European Union membership has ensured that retired UK citizens living in member states have their pensions annually updated, but Brexit is expected to change the rules. The situation is now unclear, but one thing is certain in that, when the UK leaves the EU, all rights to updated pensions will be lost unless new agreements take place with...
9 Aug at 6 PM
UK LibDem leader urges MP for Gibraltar and its Brit expats
As a result of the June Brexit referendum, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is urging the Rock to press for its own MP in the British parliament. In addition to his suggestion for Gibraltar, Farron is urging the Boundary Commission and the government to instigate new constituencies for British expats resident in EU member states. His...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Quality expat healthcare arrives in Shenzhen
Expats heading to China will be relieved to hear that, after a scary few years, quality heathcare can now be had in the popular Chinese city. During the first few years of its discovery by expats, getting sick or needing emergency medical attention in the Chinese mega-city of Shenzhen was a lottery involving public hospitals where no-one...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Overall cost of living in the UAE puts pressure on expats
UAE expat school fees, rents and the rising cost of everyday necessities are all putting unwelcome pressure on expat professionals working in the region. Although Dubai’s rents in general have been enjoying a welcome downturn, the emirate’s soaring cost of living is causing problems with budget balancing for the majority of expats in...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Brit expats in Lauzun add fuel to Brexit legal challenge fires
The latest of the French protest groups begun by UK expats post-Brexit is determined to launch a legal challenge against the use of the Royal Prerogative. Fair Deal for Expats is based in the French town of Lauzun, home to a good number of British citizens who’ve spent their savings renovating historic French homes as part of their...
5 Aug at 6 PM
Canadian expat couple get chance to be volunteers at Rio Olympics
The dream of a lifetime has come true for Abu Dhabi resident expats Norman Labbe and Susan Ward. Thanks to their multicultural experience of living in Abu Dhabi, Norman and Susan were two of only 10,000 foreign volunteers to be accepted for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The election process was, they admit, arduous, and took a full two...
5 Aug at 6 PM
UK rate cut heaps more pain on retired expats in Europe
Thursday’s Bank of England rate cut to 0.25 per cent is yet another blow for retired expats in EU member states. Following the continuing impact on currency exchange rates post-Brexit, the Bank of England’s decision to cut base rates to 0.25 per cent is a further blow to retired British pensioners living in Europe. Most have endured...
5 Aug at 6 PM
Tom Conti steps up to support Oz expat family facing deportation
An update on the recent report of an Australian couple who moved to the UK under the post study visa scheme has revealed they are finally being forced to leave the UK. Kathryn and Gregg Brain and their son Lachlan originally moved to Scotland in 2011, encouraged by an immigration study/work scheme intended to repopulate Scotland’s...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Citizenship and financial tips for UK expats in France
Although the final impact of Brexit on UK expats in France is not yet clear, it’s best to take all the precautions you can to ensure your right to remain. Preparing well in advance for the worst scenario whilst hoping for the best is simply common sense, given the uncharted post-Brexit waters. The first step in ensuring you are able to...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Saudi face threat of income tax
Saudi Arabia’s controversial National Transformation Plan is set to cause problems for mid and upper level expat professionals due to the introduction of income tax. Saudi’s tax-free status has been a major draw for expat professionals over the years, allowing them to save as well as spend in the popular relocation hub. However,...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Cyprus tax breaks lure expat property purchasers
Ever popular with British expats, Cyprus’s appeal isn’t just glorious weather, warm seas and great food, it’s capital gains tax breaks and other government incentives. The Cypriot government’s plans to attract even more Brits fleeing the UK’s oppressive tax regimes, endless rain and discontented population are centred around...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Oz expats returning home face property purchase problems
Post-Brexit blues and other European negatives are encouraging Aussie expats to go home, but increased property purchase red tape is blighting many plans. Traditionally, Australian expats working for companies in the UK and Europe are most likely to return home permanently during the last quarter of the year. Upheaval in the UK, Turkey’s...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Irish eyes are smiling at British expats
Southern Ireland’s house prices, friendly locals and natural beauty make it a great choice for UK expats forced to leave European countries. For Brit expats unwilling to wait and see as regards their post-Brexit right to remain and even more unwilling to darken England’s door again, the Republic of Ireland may well be the answer. One...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Retired expats start businesses to stay in UAE
An increasing number of expats at the compulsory retirement age of 60 are starting up their own businesses in order to stay in the emirates. Recent reports show an increasing number of retirement-age expats are choosing to invest in businesses or starting free zone companies to ensure they don’t have to leave the UAE. The mandatory...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Survey reveals top ten countries with great weather
One of the main reasons for emigrating from colder northern climes is the weather, with decisions spurred on by visions of endless sunshine and luxuriously warm temperatures. The latest expat survey is bound to be of interest to those looking for the perfect outdoor life in the sun, as it identifies the top 10 countries offering the best...
3 Aug at 6 PM
UK expats in Belgium rush to claim citizenship
The demand for Belgian citizenship has exploded since the Brexit result, with UK expats desperate to stay in their jobs. At present, the small country of Belgium is home to some 24,000 British citizens, the majority of whom work in Brussels with NATO or EU institutions. Since the referendum result was announced, expats are seen standing in...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Survey reveals cost of expat packages to employers
A recent survey taking in the 40 top financial hubs across the world has revealed the UK is the most expensive relocation destination for employers. The survey, carried out by ECA International, shows the UK as top of the most expensive cities list for the second year running. For example, the cost of a salary and relocation package at...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Expat promise of Votes for Life threatened by destroyed data
The destruction of older voting data is proving a serious hurdle in the promised delivery of votes for life to the UK’s expat population. For two years, the British government has reiterated its promise to give all UK expats living overseas the lifetime right to vote in UK general elections, thus scrapping the contentious 15-year rule....
3 Aug at 6 PM
Heavyweight new group forms to support expat rights
Yet another new group has been formed in order to support the post-Brexit rights of UK expats living in EU member states. The latest group, Expat Citizen Rights in EU, was originally started by three British expats living in France. Retired media and marketing specialist Dave Spokes MBE spent most of his working life at the top level of...
3 Aug at 6 PM
Qatar population diminishing due to expat exodus
According to statistic issues by the Ministry of Development Planning, the emirate’s population declined faster in July than in June, mostly due to expats relocating. The ministry’s figures show that a decline of a further six per cent was noted for July, bringing population levels down to just over 2.3 million people, Since February...
18 Aug at 6 PM
British boy drowns in Spain
A four-year-old British boy has drowned in a swimming pool at a family holiday villa in Spain. The boy is believed to have been fallen into the pool at a property in the Costa del Sol resort of Mijas, while playing with other children during a gathering hosted by his parents. A teenage boy alerted adults, with a parent attempting to...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Expat in Saudi investigated for beating infant
Police referred the case of an Arab expatriate in his twenties to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution on the backdrop of beating up his two-month-old infant just before he tried to kill himself with a chemical substance. A 19-year-old Syrian female, the mother of the infant, was quoted as saying to a local publication that...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Maldives: 12 expat cashiers arrested
Twelve expats have been arrested in the Maldives as the island nation’s government continues its crackdown of foreigners working as cashiers. In a four-hour operation in which authorities sought to find foreigners in violation of a newly-imposed ban on them working as cashiers, 46 undocumented expats were arrested. Hassan Khaleel,...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Expat mum conquers Alps with nine-year-old son
A British mum living in France has achieved her dream of becoming a ski instructor and scaling the Alps with her young son. Single mum Tori Collins, 27, grew up in Buckinghamshire and always wanted to be a ski instructor, so four years ago decided to move to the French Alps. Now living in the resort time of Tignes with her nine-year-old...
13 Aug at 6 PM
Brit arrested in Spain over pub killing wanted in homeland
A British expat arrested in Spain in connection with the killing of a German man is wanted in the UK. Thirty-year-old Ross Moore left his homeland in December last year and moved to the Costa del Sol resort town of La Cala de Mijas Mijas. However, it is now known that he fled after being convicted of assaulting his then girlfriend outside...
13 Aug at 6 PM
British expat drowns in French lake
A British expat has drowned in a lake at a campsite in Marandan in the Isere region of southeast France. The man, 57, who is thought to have lived in the nearby town of Saint Jean en Royons, had been on an afternoon swim when he got into trouble. The lake has an area that it supervised for bathing, but campsite worker Yannick Meheust said...
11 Aug at 6 PM
UAE best destination for expat executives
The UAE has been named as the best place in the world for leading executives to relocate to, according to global research by professional online network LinkedIn. LinkedIn found the oil-rich state attracted more young talent than anywhere else in the world, with 1.89 per cent of its total workforce being added to member profiles in...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Expats in Andalucia angered by Chinese lanterns
Expats in southern Spain have been angered after around 50 Chinese lanterns landed in the countryside around Manilva following a Full Moon Party at Sabinillas. Revellers ignored the Manilva town hall’s pleas to refrain from using the lanterns, with the council even banning them on the grounds that they were a fire hazard. As the...
7 Aug at 12 PM
UAE: Indian and Pakistani expats make up a third of population in 3 emirates
Expats from Indian and Pakistan make up 37 per cent of the total population in the emirates of Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah, according to the latest statistics from market intelligence company Euromonitor International. With the combined populations of the three emirates, Indians make up 25 per cent, Pakistanis 12 per cent, Emiratis nine per...
7 Aug at 9 AM
New rules for expat husbands in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has introduced new laws for expatriates who marry local women, allowing them to remain in the country more freely. With an expat worker population of 9.2 million, the issue of foreigners marrying local women has long since been a bone of contention in Saudi Arabia, with many viewing the legal protection provided as not good...
6 Aug at 3 PM
Suspected expat pimp arrested in Costa Rica
An expatriate living in Costa Rica has been arrested during a raid on a residence suspected of pimping. The man, 40, was taken in by officers from the Office of Judicial Investigations (OIJ) after they stormed a property in the district of Plaza Viques, just south of the capital San Jose. The officers were received a tip-off about the...
5 Aug at 4 PM
Man charged over British expat rape in Bulgaria
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Yambol has charged a 40-year-old man in connection with the rape and murder of a 68-year-old British expatriate in the village of Malomir at the end of July. An Interior Ministry statement, which identified the accused only by his initials, I N, said that he had been repeatedly convicted of various...
5 Aug at 2 PM
Teenage girl suspected of Brit’s murder in South Africa may escape trial
A teenage girl suspected of stabbing a British expat to death in South Africa may not have to stand trial after being committed to a psychiatric hospital. Scottish pensioner Sandra Malcolm, 74, was stabbed to death in her Cape Town residence in April. Her grandson found her body. Malcolm, originally from Dundee, had been due to return home...
25 Aug at 6 PM
Pension liberation scam victim commits suicide after losing £42000
An anonymous victim, aged 40, committed suicide recently after being defrauded of all his pension pot by cold-calling crooks who told him his pension could be unlocked early. The tragedy was announced as part of an anti-[ension fraud campaign being run by HM Revenue and Customs, the Pensions Regulator and the police. According to the...
25 Aug at 6 PM
New online map charts British Curriculum schools across the world
A new, fully comprehensive map shwoing the location of schools offering the British Curriculum has been launched online and is aimed at helping expat parents world-wide to find the best international schools for their children. The British Curriculum is considered to be the prime educational system for UK expat children whose parents are...
22 Aug at 6 PM
Has UK government declared open season on expats
Hard on the heels of the projected loss of tax allowances, the banking clampdown on expat accounts and credit cards and other punitive measures comes the threat of expat tax errors being criminalised. As if frozen pensions, cancelled winter fuel allowances, disenfranchisement and the dysfunctional passport replacement changes weren’t...
22 Aug at 6 PM
French villagers rescue expat couple from neighbours from hell
An elderly British couple living in a French village were rescued by villagers after the neighbours from hell had trapped them in their home. The retired couple had moved to France to live their dream in a quiet mountain village, but found themselves living next door to another British couple who turned out to be the worst kind of...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Best 10 low tax jurisdictions for wealthy expats
The rash of changes in international tax laws have caused difficulties for wealthy would-be expats, but the globe still holds a number of low-tax jurisdictions happy to accept large pension pots and savings. A recent investigation revealed the top ten most tax-friendly countries based on actual tax rates, lifestyles, political and economic...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Dubai companies report expats work less during the hot season
Given the number of expats from colder European climes who are living and working in Dubai, the news that workplace productivity declines in proportion to temperature increases is no surprise. Although new arrivals from the winter snows in many countries across Europe may think they’ve arrived in a warm heaven, once the summer highs of...
21 Aug at 6 PM
UK expats encouraged to complain about treatment by UK banks
British citizens living overseas are being urged to complain to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about unfair treatment by onshore UK banks. The controversy over the treatment of UK expats by onshore banks is ratcheting up after calls to report offenders to the UK authorities. A majority of expats working or retiring overseas...
21 Aug at 6 PM
Expats who lost homes during Marbella blaze still awaiting compensation
Expat victims of the devastating fire which razed part of Marbella and Mijas in 2012 are still waiting for compensation from the Spanish authorities. Although the region is finally returning to its full glory after three years, victims who lost their homes and possessions during the massive blaze are still waiting for the promised...
19 Aug at 6 PM
Losing investment cash to fraudsters is the 2014 hot topic for retirees
UK retirees living overseas are facing threats to their life savings from both the HMRC and the number of fraudulent FAs lurking in expat havens. Expat forums based in many favourite retirement destinations in Europe and Asia have indicated that the two top topics concerning the loss of pension pots are the triggering of heavy tax...
19 Aug at 6 PM
Top tips for new expat arrivals in the UAE
The UAE is still one of the most popular choices for jobs abroad due to its elevated salaries and upscale lifestyle, but culture shock tends to hit harder than in English-speaking countries or EU member states. A local news website recently launched a guide containing five top tips for successful integration into the complexities of...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Santander hitting out at expat accounts again
Following the recent news that British high street bank Santander is busily cancelling its expat customers’ debit cards, its action in blocking one expat’s easy access offshore account seems even more prejudicial. It seems that expats, particularly in Spain, are being targeted by the bank in a stealthy attempt to have them take their...
18 Aug at 6 PM
Run up to New Zealand election marred by racism
As New Zealand’s election campaign hots up, a disturbing new theme is emerging as at least two political parties are being accused of racist comments. In this peace-loving island country, racial tolerance has always been regarded as a cause for pride. Remarks made by the leader of the New Zealand First party’s campaign launch last...
15 Aug at 6 PM
UK government plans capital gains charges on expats UK properties
More bad news for British expat investors came with reports that Chancellor George Osborne plans to charge capital gains tax on the sale of expat-owned UK properties. The new tax is supposedly aimed at wealthy foreigners investing in UK properties, but will hit hard on expat buy-to-let investors and those who keep a home in the UK. Over...
15 Aug at 6 PM
Are British banks ridding themselves of their UK expat customers
Between five and six million UK citizens living overseas may be at risk of losing their UK-based bank accounts. Of the millions of UK-born expats living overseas, at least 800,000 are believed to be domiciled in European Union states as business owners, retirees or employees of foreign or UK-based companies. Creeping moves by British high...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Will taking statins hike expat international medical insurance rates
The latest fad for health in retirement is statins as a regular preventative prescription, but is taking them likely to result in increased international health insurance rates? Figures show that at least 13 million UK residents are taking the drug, with the National Health Service recommending that another five million should take them in...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Are UK expats giving up on La Dolce Vita
Since the heady days of the 1930s, Rome and Italy have been favourites for expats searching for history, beauty and fantastic food and wine. Living the dream in an Italian coastal resort or the wine regions of Tuscany has been the ambition of many Brits as they approach retirement age. Many have made the dream come true, but is it fading...
14 Aug at 6 PM
How to save money as a Dubai expat
Even with Dubai’s high expat salaries and the country’s tax-free status, earning far more than back in the home country doesn’t necessarily equate with saving more. The younger the expat arrivals in Dubai are, the less they consider that the higher salaries they’re receiving have anything to do with saving a proportion for the...
14 Aug at 6 PM
Iraq energy sector expats flee oil boomtown as Islamic State terrorists approach
Erbil, the Iraq oil boomtown and capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, is now the focus of an exodus of expats fleeing the terrorist army of Islamic State. Once home to a thriving expat community within a friendly, welcoming environment, Erbil is emptying fast as the Islamic Army draws ever closer. Around 80 per cent of the hundreds of expat oil...
12 Aug at 6 PM
UK government to strip personal tax allowance from expats overseas
Non-resident UK expats are to be hit by a £400 million tax raid if government plans to abolish their personal tax allowances pass a consultation. The proposal, hinted at during the Chancellor’s March 2014 Budget speech, has now been released for formal consultation and, if passed, will be brought in next year. At present, EU nationals...
12 Aug at 6 PM
Spanish Fifty Shades of Grey hotel beaten by red tape
A Spanish entrepreneur’s money-making idea of a hotel dedicated to replicating the bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey has been shot down by the local mayor just before its opening night. The brainchild of a Valencia businessman, the hotel was set to open a week ago in a small village just outside town in an area with a good number of expat...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Graduate Irish doctors tempted to stay by tax breaks
In a desperate move to stop the majority of Irish medical professionals leaving for better-paid jobs overseas, the government is being urged to cut an impressive tax deal with newly-graduated doctors. A detailed proposal from two Irish government departments, Finance and Health, is being closely scrutinised for inclusion in the country’s...
11 Aug at 6 PM
Expat residents in Cyprus investigated for UK benefit fraud
Following the revelation that a large number of expats all over the world are cheating on UK welfare payments, investigations are now involving over 100 Brits in Cyprus It seems that UK expats living in the Mediterranean’s favourite lifestyle hubs are taking advantage of welfare benefits to which they are not entitled. According to the...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Do retirement dreams fade after second thoughts kick in
Survey after survey indicates that an increasing number of Brits can’t wait to retire overseas, but second thoughts later in life can wreck the dream. One recent study revealed that around six million British citizens are eager to move to other countries for a variety of reasons. However, many are younger people who find that, the older...
8 Aug at 6 PM
Expat women in UAE learning to deal with employment challenges
Trailing spouses in the UAE are finding work and learning to adapt to a new style of professional challenge. Whilst taking an executive job in the UAE is the dream of many professional men looking to further their careers and secure their financial futures, for many of their wives the move can become a nightmare. Trailing spouses used to...
7 Aug at 6 PM
Turkish government abolishes compulsory health insurance for retired expats
The Mediterranean country’s complicated resident visa system is now simpler for expats wishing to retire in Turkey after a government turnaround on the compulsory health insurance requirement. Compulsory health insurance for retired expats over the age of 65 was part of a recently introduced policy relating to residency applications. The...
7 Aug at 6 PM
UK government to allow new lump sum pension withdrawal
As a result of a government think-tank analysis of the new pension rules, the Treasury has announced new proposal making it easier to access lump sums. Yesterday’s publication of the draft Taxation of Pensions Bill contains a proposal that pension schemes be allowed to pay ad hoc lumps sums on the request of the holder of a pension pot....
6 Aug at 6 PM
Costa del Sol Action Group protects expats against financial scams
As the financial chaos following the 2008 crash recedes, the focus is on expats living in retirement hubs overseas and suffering devastating losses via illegal salesmen touting Ponzi schemes and dodgy bonds. One fact that newly-arrived expats in favourite retirement destinations often fail to take on board is that ‘it’s not the...
6 Aug at 6 PM
UAE British expats warned of Sharia law in divorce and child custody cases
The British Foreign Office has warned expat women living in the UAE that they risk facing Sharia justice in divorce or child custody cases. The warning came after a British mother applying for custody of her son was refused her petition during a Sharia hearing. The mother, Afsana Lachaux, was also found guilty of kidnapping her son and...
6 Aug at 6 PM
Research shows Saudi expat private sector workers earn less than locals
A new study has revealed that expats employed within Saudi Arabia’s private sector are paid around 50 per cent less than their Saudi equivalents. The survey, undertaken by the Saudi Labour Ministry, revealed a huge gap between comparative salaries for similar positions held by Saudi employees and their expat equivalents. A report on the...
6 Aug at 6 PM
Annual report shows increase in expats and tourists needing passport assistance
The number of Britons living or visiting overseas who needed passport help during 2013 rose by around eight per cent, not taking into account the huge number of people affected by the massive passport processing backlog. The passport backlog itself caused the worst crisis for the British passport office in decades, with hundreds of...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Will legacy pension savers be stuck with early encashment penalties
In spite of government reassurances, retirees with old-style pensions may be stuck with heavy early redemption penalties if they try to access their funds next year. The 2014 Budget promise of ‘freedom and choice for all’ may not extend to retirees on old-style pension policies with high early encashment penalties, in spite of...
4 Aug at 6 PM
Thai military government cracking down on expats
For decades, expats have flocked to Thailand for its laid-back atmosphere, great weather and low cost of living. Bangkok, the northern city of Chiang Mai and southern Thailand’s sun, sea and sand beach resorts have long been favourites for expats searching for a place to retire, work or just have fun. Until recently, immigration laws...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Retired expats in Asia warned to monitor currency fluctuations
Expat pensioners living in Asian destinations are enjoying far better exchange rates than they were a year ago, but is the trend set to continue? Britain’s strengthening recovery, rumours that the Bank of England is close to raising the base rate after its six years in the doldrums, and the European Central Bank’s growth policy have...
1 Aug at 6 PM
USA Friends of Scotland give resounding no to Scottish independence
A USA-wide survey carried out by Friends of Scotland has revealed that almost two-thirds of Scots living in America would vote against the country’s upcoming independence referendum. One of the Friends of Scotland’s most famous supporters is the highly revered actor Sir Sean Connolly, known world-wide for his pride in his Scots...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Weird local laws lead to arrest for newbie expat arrivals
Newly-arrived British expats can be caught out by obscure local laws resulting in arrests and fines if they don’t check the cultural norms of their chosen country before they arrive. Some of the strangest laws only rear their heads when expats are found breaking them by overzealous local police. For example, a Spanish couple who owned a...
30 Aug at 6 PM
Market volatility is causing caution amongst expat investors
Brits investing from overseas are showing their concern about the present volatility of the global stock markets by simply sitting on their hands. A recent report by Lloyds TSB International revealed an increase from 36 to 40 per cent in the number of British expat investors admitting concern about swings in the markets. Respondents showed...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Good news for Irish migrants as Supermacs plan Oz branches
A taste of home for Irish immigrants in Australia is now on the cards as Ireland’s favourite snack boxes and cheesy chips may soon be available in Sydney and Perth. Ireland’s most loved fast food outlets are much missed by immigrants to Down Under, but hopefully not for much longer. Supermacs CEO Pat McDonagh is travelling to Australia...
29 Aug at 6 PM
Are Turkish banks safe for expat deposits and savings
The sunny shores of Turkey are fast becoming a retirement haven for expats from colder climes, but how safe are their savings in Turkish banks? Many expats setting up a retirement home in Turkey will be aware that the local currency, the lira, has been taking a hit in currency markets worldwide. Large amounts of retirement funds have been...
28 Aug at 6 PM
Bahrain brings back expat worker levy after two year freeze
Public and private companies in Bahrain are to be forced to pay the formerly frozen expat worker levy from next Sunday, 1 September. The levy, due on each foreign worker employed, was frozen in 2011 to help businesses struggling to recover from the 2008 financial crash. The tax, collected by the Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority,...
28 Aug at 6 PM
World Bank expat remittances report causes negative Saudi expat reaction
Immigrant workers across a wide spectrum in Saudi Arabia have reacted in annoyance over the government’s condemnation of amounts remitted by foreigners to their home countries. The recent World Bank report noted that almost 15 million expat workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council states had remitted around $75 billion in total to their...
27 Aug at 6 PM
International students attending Canadian universities still waiting for visas
Thousands of overseas students with places at Canadian colleges and universities are still waiting in their home countries for their student visas to be granted. The unacceptable delays in visa processing are the result of two factors at present affecting Canada’s immigration services. The first is the unnecessarily complicated visa...
27 Aug at 6 PM
Spain to apply stealth tax to residents with solar power
Spain’s desperate bids to improve its economic situation hit a new low late last week with a government announcement that those with solar power units were to be taxed. Householders who generate their own electrical power with solar panels are to be hit with a so-called solar power ‘support levy’ in spite of the fact that many...
26 Aug at 6 PM
Frozen pension expats call for UK suspension from Commonwealth
Campaigners protesting over freezes in UK state pension payments to expats in certain overseas locations are calling for Britain to be suspended from Commonwealth membership. British pensioners living in non-EU overseas countries which have no bilateral agreement with the UK are suffering from a freeze on their inflation-linked state...
26 Aug at 6 PM
Much married Aussie refused sponsor visa for Filipina girlfriend
‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again’ seems to be the mantra for a romantic Australian pensioner who’s just been refused a sponsorship visa for his Filipina girlfriend. Rex Peterson, 69, at present divorcing his third wife, telephoned the immigration department to find out the process for importing his latest...
23 Aug at 6 PM
Expat funds in EU banks may be risking Cyprus style grab
A new EU law quietly passed on 1 August may lead the way to a Cyprus-style grab of expat funds in Eurozone bank accounts. The new law, apparently sneaked through whilst most EU citizens were on holiday, is intended to deal with the inevitability of bank failures in Eurozone countries. Many expect it to spread to non-Eurozone EU member...
23 Aug at 6 PM
British curriculum international schools popular in UAE and Asia
As the exodus of British professionals to overseas locations grows, it’s creating a higher demand for international schools offering a British curriculum. A number of famous names in British education have already opened international schools in Malaysia, China, Singapore and Dubai, attracting not just the children of expats but those...
19 Aug at 6 PM
Want to feature on TV? Calling all Americans living in Aberdeen!
Calling all Americans living in Aberdeen! A television company is researching a documentary film about the Aberdeen accent and its origin. It is believed that Americans influenced the early formation of the accent so they are interested in talking to americans living in Aberdeen. No knowledge about the accent is required. Filming would...
19 Aug at 6 PM
Expat Cyprus Swiss bank mortgagees mount court action
Thousands of expats in Cyprus who purchased residential property or second homes on the island with mortgages hedged against the Swiss franc are faced with losing everything. Between 20,000 and 30,000 homes valued at millions of pounds are involved in the scandal, which broke when island banks demanded that the full amount due on the...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Brits planning to emigrate should take note of son of FATCA
British would-be migrants planning to relocate to countries within the EU as well as expats already in residency will need to take account of ‘son of FATCA’-style new EU rules on financial disclosure. According to tax experts, European Union states are preparing to issue new disclosure rules applying to the sharing of expat financial...
16 Aug at 6 PM
Biggest ever expat opinion poll to take place
The worldwide expat market is about to be targeted by a newly-formed company determined to survey almost every migrant living abroad. The company, i-World Research Ltd, has launched a comprehensive online Expat Survey with the promise that filling in answers to the three pages of questions will enter respondents in a prize draw worth...
5 Aug at 6 PM
Canada posts warning to applicants over job and visa scams
Canadian immigration authorities are warning potential migrants not to be taken in by an increasing number of visa and job application scams. According to a spokesman from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), if it sounds too good to be true, it is. No-one, he added, can guarantee either a visa or a job, with only immigration officers...
5 Aug at 6 PM
Saudization programme stalls Saudi Arabia construction industry
Saudi Arabia’s attempt to correct visa statuses amongst expat workers has hit the construction industry hardest whilst not stalling the overall labour market as hoped. Prior to April this year, an estimated 12 million expats were living and working in the kingdom, at all levels from domestic workers to executives in the Saudi offices of...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Saudi property rental spiral to be controlled by new policy
Soaring real estate rents in Jeddah are being blamed on the extensive construction of smaller two-bedroomed units aimed at the expat community. According to chair of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce’s estate evaluation committee, Abdullah al-Ahmari, the focus on apartments suitable for expat living has resulted in a shortage of the larger...
2 Aug at 6 PM
Kiwi immigration minister promises easy access for Chinese visitors
Whilst members of the New Zealand government are urging the immigration minister to fix the cracks in the present immigration policy, Michael Woodhouse is in China smoothing the way for more Chinese visitors. According to the Chinese Xinhua news agency, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse told the press that his visit is to assess...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Kiwi real estate prices set to soar due to booming immigration numbers
The boom in house prices across New Zealand is causing governmental concern, as market experts predict double-digit rises by the end of 2013. A combination of low borrowing rates, increased demand due to rising immigration and the short supply of suitable properties in popular locations may be the perfect storm for house prices in New...
1 Aug at 6 PM
Jobs index survey confirms Saudi Arabia and UAE as employment hubs
An inaugural survey into hiring trends and job opportunities in the Middle East has confirmed the UAE and Saudi Arabia as the two top jobs markets. Bayt.com’s Middle East Jobs Index Survey is the first of its kind in the region, and covers the Middle East and North Africa. Completed last January, it placed the Emirates and Saudi as...
31 Aug at 2 PM
Expat woman feared murdered in France
Police in France have charged a gardener with the murder of a British expat who has vanish from her house in Vabre Tizac in the southwest of the country. The blood of Patricia Wilson, 58, was found in her cottage and her gardener’s car, according to reports. It is thought that the retired woman began an intimate relationship with her...
30 Aug at 9 AM
Row over ECJ ruling on fuel subsidies for expats
A ruling by the European Court of Justice allowing British expats to receive winter fuel payments has sparked debate both home and abroad. Previously, the winter fuel subsidy of £300 a year was only available to pensioners living in the UK and not Brits who have retired abroad. However, the ECJ ruled last week that the subsidy should be...
28 Aug at 9 AM
Buying property in Turkey risky for expat Brits
A new study has shown that British expats living in Turkey leave themselves particularly vulnerable in legal problems if they do not have a good enough grasp of the language. The survey, carried out by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, found that buying property was a particularly dangerous minefield for ...
25 Aug at 9 AM
Money transfer company hopes to help expats save on bank fees
A new company set up by one of the founders of Skype is looking to help British expats save money when transferring their pensions abroad. TransferWise has called the fees charged by banks for monthly international pension transfers “little short of criminal”, and claims they can undercut high street institutions and give expat Brits...
23 Aug at 12 PM
Expat living getting more expensive
A new report by the Post Office has suggested that the price of living abroad is increasing rapidly. According to the survey, inflation in some EU countries is rising four times faster than that of the UK. The Post Office interviewed 900 expatriates, with the majority reporting a rise of 15 per cent in living costs over the past year. Two...
21 Aug at 9 AM
The wife of Bo Xilai jailed for murder of Heywood
The wife of Chinese politician Bo Xilai, Gu Kailai, has been given a suspended death sentence after being found guilty of the murder of British expat Neil Heywood. Mr Heywood, a British businessman, was found poisoned in November 2001 in his hotel room. Gu Kailal did not fight the charges set against her at the one-day trail that commenced...
18 Aug at 12 PM
Portugal relaxes tax regulations for expats
Expats in Portugal received some welcome news when the country revealed that it was to relax tax regulations for wealthy foreigners residing there. The Portuguese government put a tax rate in place of 20 per cent on generated income in the country for non-residents three years ago. Although income from their own country was not included in...
16 Aug at 10 AM
Entwistle loses US murder appeal case
A British man found guilty of murdering his American wife and baby daughter in 2006 and jailed for life in 2008 has lost his appeal in the US against his conviction. Thirty-two-year-old Neil Entwistle was found guilty of murdering his 27-year-old wife Rachel and their nine-month-old baby daughter Lillian Rose. But his lawyer claimed that...
14 Aug at 9 AM
Gu Kailai murder trial ends
Gu Kailai’s trial for the murder of UK businessman Neil Heywood in China is over after just one day. The trial, which took place in the city of Hefei, ended after Ms Gu decided against contesting the charge of murdering Mr Heywood by poisoning in November last year. A court official informed reporters that the verdict’s date would be...
9 Aug at 10 AM
Bo Xilai wife on trial for British expat death
Gu Kailai, the wife of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai, is on trial charged with British businessman Neil Heywood’s murder, Mr Heywood died last year in the Chinese city of Chongqing, and Gu has been charged with poisoning him. State media has said there is a “substantial” case against her and an accomplice being responsible for...
7 Aug at 2 PM
MGM Advantage: expat retirees need to thoroughly plan move
British people looking to sell up in the UK and buy property overseas after they retire have been advised by financial advisers MGM Advantage to look into the potential tax ramifications they could face prior to emigrating. The group’s pensions technical director Andrew Tully said that although many British citizens see upping and...
4 Aug at 2 PM
Kiwis and Aussies head home due to UK economy struggles
Thousands of expats from New Zealand and Australia have packed up and headed back down under because of a booming jobs market in their respective countries and the economic gloom in the UK. The UK’s unemployment rate has started to fall of late, although it recently climbed to a 17-year high. Meanwhile, New Zealand and Australia are...
2 Aug at 3 PM
