Is Expat Life in Luxembourg Boring?

expat network

Swap The Metropolis For Hidden Pleasures Of A Tiny City

There are many myths about expat life in Luxembourg, and one of these is that it is boring.

David Charter of The Times sets out the hidden benefits of life as an expat in Luxembourg once you get to know your way around.

This sponsored article is published in full here: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/swap-the-metropolis-for-hidden-pleasures-of-a-tiny-city

Luxembourg is not London. The only things they have in common are eye-watering central property prices and a highly international and mobile population. The city of only 114,000 people is perched on a dramatic cliff in a scenic country the size of Northamptonshire nestling between Belgium, France and Germany.

It suffers from several myths, including the popular belief that workers pay little or no tax — this is not true, as any rueful expat will tell you. Special tax status is reserved for big corporations such as Amazon, which have their European headquarters there.

Another myth, according to expats, is that its size and levels of wealth make it boring. This was the preconception of many who came for a few months but ended up staying decades because of the quality of life they found…Read more

Moving Abroad Checklist

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.