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Five Questions To Ask About Health Insurance For Expats Living Abroad

Health insurance is an important option for expats and there are many providers offering different options. Pacific Prime are insurance brokers and provide professional advice to expats. They set out five questions to ask before deciding on an expatriate policy to ensure the policy meets your needs. Written exclusively for Expat Network by Pacific Prime ...

High Risk Insurance For An Increasingly Volatile World

Standard travel insurance does not generally cover you for high risk areas, such as warzones, crisis and disaster relief zones and specialist providers have developed to meet the need. Kidnap and ransom can happen anywhere, but there are higher risks in some areas, and policies to support you and pay the ransom, if the need...

Expats’ Special Insurance Needs

Everyone faces risks that require reliable insurance coverage. Expats face the same risks as well as additional risks caused by their decision to live abroad. It is important to recognise the risks that you face and to be sure that the coverage does not have terms invalidating the insurance because of your location or because...

New Zealand Customs Requirements

When you move to New Zealand there are household items concessions available that mean you will not have to pay GST and duties on most of your items. You cannot claim household concessions for: new and unused items cars scooters motorbikes boats aircraft commercial items. Other types of motor vehicle or craft. Clearing your items...

Passport And Visa For Canada

There are a range of visa options depending on the purpose and timing of your planned stay in Canada. There are visas that give the right to temporary residence and those that allow you permanent residence. If you are entering Canada by air from most countries you will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), but...

Finding Expat Schools In France

When deciding between a French school and an international school, parents have several factors to consider. A local school offers the advantages of acquiring fluency in French, broader acquaintanceships with French children and their culture. Young children typically adapt well to the French system, becoming comfortable within a matter of months. For older students, the...

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.