Global Expat Guide

Top Articles

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  Feeling at Home in a Foreign Land

  Moving to a different country is an exciting adventure for many. But when the excitement fades, what is left is often loneliness and feeling out of place. InterNations member Maggie knows these feelings all too well and has some advice on how to overcome them.
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  Comparing International Cost of Living

  Are you currently planning your expat budget? Or are you simply interested in how expensive different destinations worldwide are in comparison? InterNations has taken a close look at three international surveys regarding the cost of living for expatriates and summed up their results for you.

  • Further Cost of Living Comparisons
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  Non-Traditional Expat Partners

  Are you a stay-at-home dad or an LGBT expat couple moving to a socially conservative country? Following your partner overseas is difficult, sometimes more so if the partnership is unconventional. InterNations highlights some difficulties which you might face on your assignment abroad.

  • LGBT Expats and Their Partners
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  Expatriate Benefits: Perks of an Expat Job

  Many an expatriate benefits greatly from the time he or she has spent abroad. Not only do foreign language skills and intercultural competence make them a valuable employee – expatriate assignments can also bring financial benefits. We tell you what you can get out of being an expatriate.

  • How to Benefit from Your Expat Status
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  Navigating International Business Culture

  Knowing and understanding the unwritten rules of international business culture is important, whether you’re on a business trip or working abroad as an expat. The InterNations Expat Magazine summarizes a few key aspects of global business etiquette for you.
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  Expat in my Own Country

  After living abroad for a long time, expats often feel like a fish out of water when they move “back home”. Our member Nuran Akdemir experienced just that when she moved back to Istanbul after having lived in London for 25 years. Here, she tells her story!
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  Going Back Home: Easier Said Than Done?

  Going back home can be difficult for both you and your family. Not only do you have to deal with reverse culture shock, you may also be met with disbelief and confusion. With our help, you will learn how to deal with reverse culture shock as well as your relatives and friends when going back home.

  • The Repatriation Process
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  Expat Insecurities- Overcoming the Fear of Speaking a Foreign Language

  Most expats don’t just deal with the stress of moving abroad and the subsequent culture shock, but also with learning a new language. This is especially daunting when throwing oneself on the job market. Our member Gabrielle is sharing her language learning experience and has some advice for you.
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  The Five Most Difficult Languages for Expats

  Only 13% of expats worldwide don’t speak the local language in their country of residence at all. Acquiring the required language skills isn’t always easy, though. If you are looking for a challenge, here are five languages rated as serious tongue twisters by the respondents of our Expat Insider 2017 survey.
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  Expat Life, Bilingualism and your Cultural Identity

  Every expat guide, including our own, will tell you that adapting to the culture of your home abroad is important. But how does one do so without losing their cultural identity at the same time. InterNations member Mathew has some thoughts on that aspect of the expat experience.
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  How to Organize Your Overseas Move

  Moving homes is never an easy task but moving overseas is even tougher! In this article I will share some of my key learning from our preparations for our overseas move from California to Shanghai.
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  Overseas Traineeships

  After receiving her bachelor’s degree, InterNations member Alex took a traineeship in a hotel in China. However, she decided to give it up after some time. In this article she shares her tips on how to not to stress out during your life abroad and how to make the right decision.

  • Language Hurdles and Decision Making
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  Can You Fit In Too Much?

  The signals were all around me. After a few months of being in India, my wife and I were invited to a dinner with a group of other expats. We had intentionally avoided these kinds of gatherings at first because we knew they could be addictive and also prevent us from really diving into the culture.

  • When You Should Adapt to a New Culture
  • When You Should Stick to Your Own Culture
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  Going Abroad: It’s a State of Mind!

  Preparing your paperwork thoroughly and taking care of practical issues before going overseas is vital. But do not underestimate the psychological side of things: going abroad can be emotionally taxing, and not all your dreams and hopes will come true. Be realistic and be prepared!

  • Relocating Overseas: The Emotional Side
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  Top Seven Up and Coming Tech Cities for Expats

  Over the past few years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of cities putting technology at the forefront of their local economies. With the tech industry booming and seemingly every country wanting a piece of the digital revolution, there are plenty of exciting new and upcoming cities for tech-savvy expats to take advantage of.