There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for settling into expat life in a new country, but here are a few helpful articles and personal stories that may help make your move a little easier.
Born an athlete, Diane Huntington Loring decided to leave her business and athletic pursuits in the USA to pursue new academic adventures on the other side of the world. She’s currently pursuing her PhD studies at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. When she’s not busy working on her… Read more
The 2023 Council of British International Schools (COBIS) Annual Research Survey revealed that approximately 25 percent of international schools are dedicating time to teaching students responsible artificial intelligence (AI) use, and almost 44 percent more intend to do the same in the future.This… Read more
Duncan Quirk, Founder and Director of Top School Guide, shares a step-by-step walkthrough for expat parents looking to make private school applications in the UK. For parents who are relocating to the UK and can afford the high fees (ranging from GBP 15,000 to GBP 30,000 annually) for… Read more
Southbank International School believes that developing strong citizenship through its International Baccalaureate curriculum and volunteer programmes leads to a sense of belonging and generates valuable connections in a new city. Read on to hear more about this excellent programme from… Read more
ICS London Head of School Alec Jiggins shares why expat parents should consider an IB Diploma over A-Levels.It may come as a surprise to British and expat families in the UK who are accustomed to the A-Level curriculum, but increasingly, UK universities prefer students who have completed… Read more
Hailing from Glasgow, UK and having grown up in Cape Town, South Africa, Daniel describes himself as "a medical student and children’s illustrator born in two different places". After more than a decade in South Africa, he moved back up north to Edinburgh and then to Glasgow for his studies.
In… Read more
ICS London Head of School David Laird shares the importance of understanding third-culture kids.In an increasingly globalised world, where jobs can take families to far-flung lands, parents often want to ensure their children maintain a sense of stability, community and a rooted identity.… Read more
The British passport has been one of the most powerful in the world for years, but though it remains in the top 10 for now, it has been steadily declining since the Brexit referendum in 2016.Fading powersIt wasn’t that long ago – between 2013 and 2015 – that the UK held the most powerful passport… Read more
Allison relocated to the UK from Canada on a Youth Mobility Visa and was drawn to Manchester, where she found work with the National Health Service. Keep reading to find out why Allison believes Manchester trumps London in five key aspects.Even a year after I moved to Manchester, I… Read more
Allison is a 29-year-old Canadian expat who has just finished two years on a Youth Mobility Visa in Manchester. Most of Allison’s experience has been working in public relations, but she has taken a two-year career break to work with the National Health Service. On the weekends, Allison … Read more
QROPS are a type of offshore pension which is recognised by the British authorities (HMRC) as being eligible to receive transfers from UK-registered pension plans. Expatriates living abroad can transfer both company and personal pension funds into a QROPS, providing an annuity has not been… Read more
QNUPS enable British expats to save tax in their country of residence and on inheritance tax, not to be confused with Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS).QNUPS are particularly suited to retired expatriates who can draw both an income and lump sums from the pension during… Read more
If you are immigrating to the UK to live and work, you will be learning a lot of new day-to-day tasks: you may be driving on the other side of the road, speaking another language and, certainly, walking unfamiliar streets. At the same time, you may need to learn new ways of managing and using your… Read more
Moving to the UK can be a fairly expensive experience, particularly if you’re moving to a major city such as London or Manchester.However, there are several ways to keep the costs down, and whether you’re moving over to the UK from America, Europe or another part of the world, these money… Read more
“History is constantly being created, and new manifestations will eventually be looked at with the same sentimentality and wistfulness as those that happened to precede them…”Far Away and Further Back traces the experiences of German-English expat Patrick Burns as he navigates life as… Read more
Family homes become powder kegs during exam season, and sparks may fly. But recent research suggests that parents may be more stressed than children – and if the family has recently moved to a new country, this can certainly be expected to raise stress levels. Inevitably, parental anxieties, even… Read more
The majority of international school students won’t seek their studies in higher education in their host country. As a result, one of the most pressing concerns for parents with children at the secondary school level as they move abroad or from one host country to another as expats is… Read more
Great Britain is a country famed for its picture-perfect countryside, love of queues and unwavering etiquette – but thrill-seekers will be pleased to learn the UK has a lot to offer when it comes to action-packed activities. From white-knuckle adventure sports to weird and wonderful wildlife… Read more
Divorce is never easy for anyone involved; however, things can become even more complicated when there is an international element. International divorce is a particularly complex field, as certain factors such as financial outcomes differ enormously from country to country. Before we get into… Read more
Kimberley Mueller is an American expat who moved to London in September 2014 after spending most of her life in New York and Washington. While she acknowledges having to make some small adjustments when moving from the USA, the pros of efficient public transport, opportunities to travel around… Read more
Waving goodbye to the motherland can be an exciting time for any Brit - but while setting up home in a different country promises new experiences and adventures, it’s not without its challenges. From leaving behind the traditional taste of fish and chips to overcoming the loss of your accent, the… Read more
Travelling internationally with your pets can add an extra level of stress to an already high-pressure transition, as even the most dedicated pet owners aren’t born with the knowledge it takes to plan a safe and smooth pet relocation. Luckily, help is available in the form of online resources,… Read more
Whether you’re moving to Australia or Vietnam, the handy guides, articles and information supplied by Expat Arrivals can make starting a new life overseas that bit simpler.We know that getting to grips with unfamiliar territory, like managing international currency transfers, can be daunting… Read more
London is an international city famous for its business and cultural diversity; from bankers to fashion designers and Information Technology to creative industries. These businesses can be found in many shapes and sizes all over London; solopreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, large… Read more
With B at Home: Emma Moves Again, Valérie Besanceney has done much more than simply write another book on Third Culture Kids (TCKs). She has found how to reach younger children in a story that speaks directly to them. Narrated from two points of view (Emma and her bear, B) B at… Read more
101 Reasons to Live Abroad and 100 Reasons Not To is, as the title suggests, an examination of the pros and cons of moving overseas. Should you stay or should you go? Moving abroad is not a decision that should be taken lightly, and the author, Chris Alden, provides a comprehensive… Read more
Danielle Sasaki moved to Scotland three and half years ago from her hometown of Winnipeg in Canada to start a new chapter in her life with her Scottish husband. Danielle works as a school teacher and, in her spare time, enjoys running and blogging about her expat experience.Find out more about… Read more
A range of exciting destinations is open to those who wish to retire or work abroad. Before taking the plunge, it’s important to plan for the financial implications of moving overseas. One of the most important of these is the effect of emigrating on your UK pension.Private pensionsIf you’re not… Read more
From finding a new home and choosing schools to packing up and moving house, there are so many things to consider when moving abroad that many people overlook some important tax considerations. With this in mind, we have put together this short guide. More specific advice should be sought from your… Read more
Meghan Fenn is an American expat living in Britain and the author of Bringing Up Brits: Expat Parents Raising Cross-Cultural Kids in Britain. Here, she offers her take on the British schooling system and what to consider when raising your children as an expat in the United… Read more
Expat Health Insurance
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Medical insurance specifically designed for expats. With Cigna, you won't have to rely on foreign public health care systems, which may not meet your needs. Cigna allows you to speak to a doctor on demand, for consultations or instant advice, wherever you are in the world. They also offer full cancer care across all levels of cover, and settle the cost of treatments directly with the provider.
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