expat network

Moving To Portugal – What You Need To Know

Portugal Discovery Tours 2022

Enjoy a tailored tour with someone who knows the area inside out to help you decide the right location for you, who can assist you in planning your move and answer your questions.

Lifestyle Benefits Of Nutrition

Living abroad poses an exciting chance to experience new environments, cultures and people. But on a longer trip or assignment, it’s hard to avoid becoming ill at some stage. To increase your chances of staying healthy, it’s important to consider nutrition and your diet. Wriiten for Expat Network by Rebecca Freer,…

Take The Climate Guilt Out Of Your Holiday With Our Top Travel Tips

The pandemic scuppered international travel for many of us, and understandably the nation is looking forward to getting away for a change of scenery. However, with the climate crisis a growing consideration for everyone, even when we’re away, OLIO’s co-founder Tessa Clarke shares her top travel tips for holidaying as sustainably as possible. …

Work Visa And Work Permit Requirements In Portugal

Portugal is often seen as a destination for people retiring to the sun but it is also a destination for people wanting to work in Portugal. What are the work visa and work permit requirements in Portugal if you are not an EU citizen? Who needs to apply for a…

5 Natural Ways To Reduce Body Heat

After a long winter period, the weather starts to heat up in many parts of the world. As expats around the world prepare for summer and as travel restrictions ease and families plan to enjoy some fun in the sun the heat can be a problem as well as a pleasure. Here are some…

Digital Nomad Visas Prompt Continued Interest In European Property

New data released today from overseas property portal Kyero.com shows increased interest in European property from overseas buyers in the first three months of 2022, which it partly attributes to the rise of digital nomads looking to work overseas post-Covid, and new visas being introduced encouraging them to do so. …

Tips For Expats Moving Abroad With Pets In 2022

Planning to start a new chapter? Are you taking your pet with you? Do you know the laws related to moving abroad with pets? Well, now is the right time to find out, especially if it involves any furry companions you might bring with you, be that overseas or offshore. …

5 Reasons TEFL Is The Perfect Job For Expats

Teaching English abroad has been a popular option for travellers for a number of years, but now more than ever it is a good time to make TEFL work for you. If you’re living in Thailand, Turkey or Tunisia, here are five reasons teaching English as a foreign language is the perfect job for…

Why Should You Look After Your Body and Health?

No matter how minor your health problems are, they can obstruct or even overwhelm other aspects of your life. Even simple health conditions like aches, pains, fatigue, and indigestion can have a negative impact on your happiness and stress levels. One option for increasing your capacity to manage stress and feel better is to…

Portuguese Mortgages – Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Portuguese mortgages follow different rules to those you may be used to in the UK or in the US. Here Mortgage Direct, a leading mortgage broker in Portugal, provide answers to the frequently asked questions from expats looking to take out a Portuguese mortgage. Written for Expat Network by Mortgage Direct …

Things to Stop Doing If You Want a Longer Life

Whether you’re in your 20s or 30s, or in your 60s, 70s, or beyond, there are a number of things you may pledge to do to “slow down” your biological clock if you want a longer life. In fact, studies demonstrate that it’s never too late to start practicing healthful practices. …

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.