Expatriate Living - Have You Thought About Moving Overseas For Work Or Retirement?

Over the last two generations or so, the population of the United States has become more and more mobile. Corporate transfers from state to state or even from one side of the country to the other have become quite common. Some individuals have even been transferred overseas. More than in the past, career advancement today frequently involves geographically relocating or at least considering the possibility of relocation.

When I was teaching in the university during my academic career, I found that in order to get a promotion or even an increase in pay, I most frequently had to change locations. It was much easier to progress in my career by relocating than it was to simply wait on a promotion within the university in which I was teaching at the time. I was able to progress in my career faster by making these moves. The working environment and the need to have more mobility today includes a larger geographical area.

Today the world has gotten smaller, largely due to advanced means of communication like the internet. Where I would have moved from state to state within the United States; others are now moving from country to country. Some have even become perpetual expatriate travelers, constantly moving from country to country.

The two major reasons for moving abroad are: (1) to work abroad, or (2) to retire abroad.

Working Abroad. With the expanding interdependence of world economics, it has become easier and easier to find international business opportunities. Developing nations are looking for skills that either are not yet available among their own population, or due to cultural reasons, are not considered desirable positions. For example, right now in 2010, the country of Panama needs contractors who are willing to build housing for lower socio-economic citizens. Even though the government is pushing programs to build this type of housing, few local contractors are taking advantage of this market. Those who are building for the expatriate population in the upper price ranges consider it beneath their dignity to build the less expensive houses. It might effect their image. So, the housing shortage continues.

Retiring Abroad. Retirees from the U.S. and many European nations are now looking at retiring to a location less expensive than their home country. Couple this motivation with those individuals who move for a new lifestyle, adventure, better weather, and a perpetual vacation (good goal; harder to accomplish), and you have a large developing number of prospective expatriates. Countries like Belize and Panama have recognized this opportunity and have designed specific retiree programs with a multitude of benefits for expatriates. If you are interested in retiring abroad, such programs can not be beaten. Check them out.
If you have a personality that craves change, living abroad is definitely for you. If you want a shorter change of environment, living abroad is also a good choice. Whether it is a new job, job transfer, long term vacation, or permanent residency you desire, living abroad has much to offer you.

Dr. Lamar Ross, a cultural anthropologist by training, has a special interest in training individuals for expatriate living and providing information on unique travel destinations. He is an author, educator, photographer, internet entrepreneur, and international traveler. He has lived in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and India and has traveled extensively in 29 different countries. He speaks both English and Spanish fluently and has a basic ability in several other languages. For more information on expatriate living, check out the blog Expatriate Traveler Notes

Contemplating a Move Overseas As an Expatriate?

I made the move nearly 30 years ago, I am still overseas, and if I was about to take the decision again, I would not have any hesitation in taking exactly the same decision.

That is said in the full knowledge that expatriate packages today are very different, and often less financially attractive than they were back in 1979 when I took up my first expatriate post in Hong Kong.

In those days many of us received a tax paid salary, were provided with free accommodation, often with at least one live-in maid and driver included, with all utility bills paid by our company, school fees for children fully or partly paid (locally or back home), full medical benefits for self and family, free membership at a sports or businessman's club, and up to six weeks fully expensed annual home leave. I shudder to think what that lot must have cost.

Today, fewer get a tax paid salary (although it is by no means rare), accommodation is mostly on an allowance basis, utility bills are rarely paid, maids and drivers are still available in many locations, but at your cost for most, full medical benefits are still provided for most, school fees are mostly partly paid these days, and often only at a local international school if available, clubs might be available on a discounted or still free basis, and leave allowances are now rarely fully expensed.

So why would I still take the same decision? Good question.

Let me list some of the benefits as I see them (in no particular order):

- For most there are big tax advantages residing offshore to your home country (does not apply to all)

- In many locations your cost of living will be less than at home therefore increasing your disposable income, maybe quite considerably

- You and your family are likely to live in an accommodation that is better, maybe much better than you could afford back home, and if in an apartment block or condo, is likely to have leisure facilities that you would have to travel miles for back home (eg swimming pool, squash and/or tennis courts, gym, mini-market, restaurant, etc)

- You and your family are likely to go on holidays to locations that would remain a dream if you stayed back home

- It is a wonderful adventure in a totally new culture

- Opportunities to visit places that might otherwise remain a mystery

- A chance to get immersed in a foreign language, practicing it daily

- If you're single or married, the opportunities to meet and mix with other young expatriates and locals is unmatched back home

- You might even be as fortunate as I was, and meet your future wife in your new location

- For most school-age children, they really are on the adventure of a lifetime - actually that is also true for many adults (me included)

- Their international school (if available in your new location) will often introduce them to a veritable United Nations. At my own children's first school in Hong Kong, my son had fourteen different nationalities in his class and daughter had one more! If you are a native English speaker and fear a lower standard of English, I should comment that the entry standards for English are usually far higher than they would be for an immigrant child in the UK.

- Son and daughter both easily got places at excellent UK universities (Durham and Swansea), following first class performances in their A level (pre-uni) exams in Hong Kong.

- They are both now exceptionally well travelled, learned to be independent very early on, are comfortable in just about any culture, and each speaks three foreign languages fluently. They are by no means unusual for expatriate children.

I'm sure there are other benefits that I have not covered, but I think you will get the picture.

Are there drawbacks and pitfalls? Of course, and I'll cover a few now, and let you judge for yourself if they outweigh the benefits:

- If you have come from a more insular background, you (or your spouse) may be in for a bit of a shock

- You may not hear your native tongue too often in some locations, even if it is English

- The climate may not be that to which you are used, be that much hotter or much colder, and you may need to compensate in terms of clothing and activities

- In some locations the standard of medical care may not be up to the standard of your home country, but that is becoming less of an issue around the world, where in some typical expat locations, the standards of facilities and care now exceed those back home

- Not all countries will allow your spouse or SO to work. You need to factor this very seriously into your considerations. That is true here (Malaysia) and I know a growing number of spouses who have compensated by undertaking work online or setting up online businesses. In both cases income is legitimately earned and generated outside your country of residence where the spouse is defined as a dependent of the partner on the employment pass. You may remain, of course, liable for income tax in your home country. If you or your stay at home spouse do start and online business, do ensure that your website's server is also outside your country of residence, or that may make you in violation of your working partner's employment pass.

- If you are in a non-traditional relationship, you may need to check on laws and attitudes in the country in which you are planning to work. For example, same sex couples are likely to have severe difficulties or even will not be accepted in most Muslim majority countries.

- The standard of driving in your new country may not be as high as that back home. You may even have to learn to drive on the other side of the road to that back home.

- You or your spouse/partner may be politically quite active at home. In many overseas locations it is unwise to get at all involved in local politics.

- In some locations the standards and efficiency of the local banks leave a bit to be desired and there is not a lot you can do. However, if there are local branches of foreign banks (maybe from UK, Europe or US), I would suggest you to open accounts with one of these, as long as they provide a full service. With both local and foreign banks, make sure you check out the cost of their services before using them. It may be best to use their online banking, if available and fully secure.

- If you enjoy the occasional TV, you may be disappointed with local TV standards in some locations, especially if satellite or cable TV with US/UK/NZ/Australian/Canadian or European programming is unavailable. This is now pretty rare and even here in Malaysia, I have unrestricted access to about 50 overseas programming channels.

To sum up, for me and thousands of very satisfied expatriates like me, coming to work overseas was the best decision of our lives. In many cases we are much better off financially than we would be if we had stayed back home.

Whether we realise it or not, we are also much richer as individuals, having been blessed with the opportunity to meet, enjoy the company of many, many people in their country, with us as their guests, and to become their friends. Or even, like me, to become their lifetime partner.

It does not get any better than that.

Michael is a British citizen, but long term resident of Asia (Hong Kong and Malaysia). After 25 years with a global banking leader, he headed up his own HR and Management consulting company, which welcomes enquiries for assistance from expats to Malaysia and any other country in S E Asia. This successful business has branched out to include database/direct marketing aswell as Internet and Affiliate Marketing. For the former, contact is at http://www.skillnet-resources.com and for online marketing businesses at http://www.makingdollars4u.com

We look forward to hearing from you.