The programmes of international schools in Portugal vary from the International Baccalaureate (IB) to the British GCSE and GCE examination systems. All schools in Portugal are required to satisfy the requirements of the Portuguese national system. The International Baccalaureate Organisation’s Diploma Programme was created in 1968. It is a demanding pre-university course of study that...

The impact of the Brexit referendum has made investing in UK property for British expatriates an attractive prospect. Yet the practicalities of doing so can be a little more tricky. With increased regulations around lending and changes to lending practices, many lenders have withdrawn from the market, leaving expatriates struggling to find ways to invest...

A passport valid for three months beyond the intended stay and issued within the last ten years is required by anyone entering France unless you are from another EU country. EU citizens must hold a passport of national ID card which is valid for the duration of the stay. Although EU nationals travelling from another...

France has a reputation as a high tax jurisdiction and while President Hollande was in power, some wealthy French nationals chose to move to the UK and Portugal, enticed by their fiscal sweeteners. But France can be a tax efficient place to live for retirees, providing you understand the tax implications of your specific situation...

Brexit day is set for 29th March 2019 and so with a year to go, what do we know about Brexit?  The focus currently is on transition, which is important, but the post transition arrangements will be what counts in the long term. The joint statement on 19th March agreed that the transitional period will...

New research reveals 15% of Brits are more likely to consider moving abroad for work since the Brexit vote and that the figure is almost double for 16–24-year olds (27%). A survey commissioned by moneycorp reports that young people aged 16–24 are nearly twice as likely to consider moving abroad due to Brexit. Just over...

How do I learn a foreign language? It is easy to start, but it is worth learning from those who have done it before to find out what works. We set out our top 10 tips for learning a foreign language. Know why you are learning the language. Make sure that before you start you...

Australia has many highlights and deciding where to go depends on your interests and preferences.  Here is a summary of the top cities. SYDNEY, New South Wales Climate Sydney enjoys a sunny climate with mild winters (9 – 17°C) and warm summers (19 – 26°C).  Water temperatures rise to around 23°C in the summer and...

Australia has consistently been the top destination of choice for British long-term migrants (i.e. people leaving the UK for longer than one year) for more than two decades, with an average of more than 30,000 heading down under every year. World Bank figures say there were over 1.2 million UK-born citizens resident in Australia as...

Australia has excellent state and independent schools to choose from. School education in Australia includes preschool, preparatory (or kindergarten), primary school, secondary school (or high school) and senior secondary school (or college).  School education in Australia lasts for 13 years, and is compulsory between the ages of six and sixteen (Year 1 to Year 9...

If you decide to take your pet with you to Australia you will need to comply with the detailed regulations and procedures and some pets cannot be taken to Australia. Cats and dogs can be imported to Australia under strict conditions designed to manage biosecurity risks. For the import conditions applicable to your cat or...

Taking vehicles to Australia is possible but you should be clear on what is involved and whether it is worthwhile. If you plan to take your vehicle to Australia you will need to be realistic about what is involved and the costs of doing so.  The vehicle will need to comply with Australian design and...