General

The current situation with regard to Brexit remains so fluid and uncertain that any EU citizen resident in the UK, or British expats resident in the EU, can be forgiven for remaining on edge until the thorny question of residency is finally resolved. However, some progress is being made; let’s take a look at the new EU Settlement Scheme in the UK for EU residents.


What is the new scheme?

The Home Office says that EU Settlement Scheme is “designed to make it straightforward for EU citizens and their family members to stay after the UK leaves the EU.”   more ...

When you decide to make a new country your home, you invariably leave some friends behind in the process. Of course, with technology the way it is these days, it is easier than ever to stay in touch with those important people back home. However, email, text and video calls are poor substitutes for real contact with friends. Migrants may struggle to make friends when they move abroad; according to a survey conducted by Expat Insider, 45% of expats stated that making friends with local people in their new country was easy, meaning 55% struggled.   more ...

Suggestions that Brexit will still be with us in 2030 started to seem less sarcastic and more realistic this month, with the collapse of Theresa May’s attempts to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution with Labour.   more ...

Being vegan and finding good places to eat, or places to eat at all, used to be something that could be a bit of a struggle, especially for expats who had to contend with language barriers and eating customs they’re not used to. However, this isn’t the case anymore, with veganism becoming ever more popular and widespread.   more ...

Wi-Fi might not necessarily be high up on your list of things to research when it comes to moving abroad, but you’d be surprised how much we rely on it, particularly in the West. A lack of access to the websites or cybersecurity you take for granted can have a huge impact on your everyday life. A little bit of forward planning and some insider tips are all you need to rectify this situation, which is exactly why we created this short guide.   more ...

At first glance, finding an international removal company may not be high up on your list of priorities when it comes to organising your relocation. Some people may even wave if off and think “who really cares?” However, the fact of the matter is, you’re trusting someone with all of your belongings, and while some things are easily replaced, sentimental objects and handmade items are one of a kind and can never be recovered if anything goes wrong. Not only that, but there are horror stories of removal companies going into liquidation and customers being left without ever receiving their goods and being out of pocket to boot.   more ...

Social media. You may love it, hate it, or just not understand it. Whatever your attitude, in this day and age, social media is an omnipresent resource which can be used to stay in contact with loved ones, share snippets of your life, and look at funny photos of cats. You can also harness the power of social media to your advantage if you an expat or if you travel a lot for work. While there is plenty of information out there on any given page of the internet, social media has more in-depth aspects which will benefit you. For example, you can get answers to your burning questions as well as helpful tips and recommendations for everything and anything from where to buy washing up liquid to a local hairstylist who won’t turn your hair blue. And you can get it fast.   more ...

The world's best city for expats

For the ninth year running, the Austrian capital of Vienna has been rated as the best city for expats to live in and enjoy, according to a survey. Mercers carried out research into 131 cities around the world to compile its rankings.   more ...

British expats – who are no doubt following the labyrinthine contortions of Brexit closely – may still be wondering if we’re in for a no deal, especially if they’ve taken note of the recent reshuffle of civil servants who have been preparing for a no deal. This was announced early in April, resulting in substantial controversy over the cost of this process: £1.5 billion spent, and 6,000 civil servants being stood down, along with several thousand new recruits who now have no role. Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Brexit select committee, says   more ...

There are many reasons for relocating – employment, finances, family, and simply a desire to explore more of this wonderful planet of ours. But let’s suppose that you’re in the great position of not being tied to a particular location and you’re wondering where to go. If health plays a role in your choice, and you’re concerned about issues such as climate change, pollution, and the environment, which countries could you be considering? Which country might be healthiest for you?   more ...