expat network

Moving Pets to Portugal

When taking a pet from an EU country or from non-EU countries into Portugal the EU rules apply. This requires vaccination against rabies to be documented in the pet passport or the animal health certificate. This is the sole requirement for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel across EU borders, with certain exceptions. Pets...

portuguese language

The Portuguese Language & Integration

The Portuguese language is the sixth-most widely spoken in the world, with some 230 million people using it as their native tongue (190 million in its former colony Brazil). It is the official language of eight countries on four continents and is the third most spoken European language after English and Spanish. It is not...

keep your uk mobile number

Getting Connected In America

Getting connected – organising mobile phones (cellphones) for yourself and your family members, together with broadband for your new home – will be one of your first and most important tasks when arriving in the US. Standards America as an enormous market in its own right has generally followed its own standards. The United States...

visa

Passport And Visa Requirements For The USA

If you are visiting America you may qualify for the visa waiver program, but if you are moving to America there are a wide range of options for non-immigrant and immigrant visas depending on the reason for your move. Passports All visitors to the United States must hold a valid passport that expires six months...

healthcare

Accessing Healthcare When You Retire Abroad

Retiring abroad is a major decision and one of the key issues if we are to get the best out of life in retirement wherever we are is access to good quality healthcare. The accessibility of healthcare should be one of the key factors in the decision on where to retire. There can be a...

state pension

How To Claim The UK State Pension Abroad

You can continue to claim your State Pension when you decide to retire abroad, provided you have paid enough UK National Insurance contributions to qualify. If you have not yet started receiving your pension you can get a State Pension statement to tell you how much State Pension you may get In order to claim...

currency risks

Top Tips For Managing Currency Risks When Retiring Abroad

Retiring to a life overseas, comes with many important considerations, not least of all how to manage the exchange and international transfer of your money, be it accumulated savings or ongoing income. Written exclusively for Expat Network by Tom Arnold of Currency Index There are various options open to you in terms of the...

house moves

House Moves For Expats: How Do You Make It Work?

An international move can be an intimidating prospect as well as an exciting time.  Moving your life and belongings to another country is a challenge but here are some tips to help to make sure the move goes smoothly. As an expat, a house move can be one of the most wonderful things you can...

christmas

How Can Expats Manage A Lonely Christmas?

Almost the entire world has felt the impact of Covid-19 over the last two years, and the precautions we’ve all taken to prevent the spread of the virus have changed our lives in unimaginable ways. Kevin Melton of AXA – Global Healthcare looks at the impact on Christmas for expats living away from family and...

online education

Why You Should Consider Online Education

In today’s fast-paced world, attending university physically isn’t always possible. Whether it is because you have a full-time job, family commitments, or health issues, attending lectures every day may not be practical. Fortunately, many universities offer online degree programs, which are a great option for people who have very busy lifestyles. Online education is gaining...

stamp duty holiday

The Pros And Cons Of The Stamp Duty Holiday

The stamp duty holiday granted by the Chancellor in July 2020 ends in March 2021.  Here One Touch Investment look in depth at the impact this has had on the buy to let market and what is likely to happen after the stamp duty holiday ends. Written exclusively for Expat Network by One Touch Investment. ...

Expat Landlords

Expat Landlords – Your Self-Assessment Guide

If you make money from renting out your property to others, HM Revenue and Customs considers you as a landlord, even if you don’t think you are. As such, expat landlords will need to fill in an annual Self-Assessment tax return form (which tells HMRC how much Income Tax you’ll owe on your earnings)...