Becoming an Expat – Pathways to Moving Overseas
You may know someone or have heard of someone or know someone who knows someone who lives in a foreign country. Perhaps you’ve visited a few other countries and thought, “I wouldn’t mind living here.” Or maybe you’re just curious about how people end up living in foreign lands. Whatever the case, this page will give you a rundown on some of the most common ways of becoming an expat.
What IS an Expatriate?
Let’s start with what an expatriate is. An expatriate (or expat going forward) is someone who lives in a foreign country. Today, we generally think of people who live in different countries working full-time jobs. There are arguments to be made for digital nomads (you’ll read more about these below), but to be an expat the main criterion is to live in a foreign country.
When people talk about expats, they are referring to those who are retired and living abroad or those with full-time jobs abroad. Backpackers are not usually included as this isn’t permanent, nor are military members as they’re not frequently stationed abroad their whole careers and live in small enclaves of American communities on base.
With that in mind, let’s see what routes are available for you to forge your own path to becoming an expat!
Becoming an Expat – Education
Becoming an expat can take many forms, but a common one is via education. As a single profession, education likely makes up one of, if not the, largest percentage of people living abroad. Whether you’re teaching English, working as an au pair, or teaching at an international school or university, teaching is certainly one of the fields with the most opportunities.
Study Abroad
University (or college) students can study almost anywhere in the world. This is a highly recommended path. It allows students to travel, experience new cultures, and learn a new language! Nearly every major university worldwide will have a department or contact person about studying abroad. We recommend you start there.
There are a few key items to keep in mind if you want to move to a new country to study:
- Visas: Perhaps the most important issue in studying abroad might be your ability to procure a student visa for the country you want to live in. Some countries have tighter restrictions than others (see: USA). Your university office or program should help with this and student visas are often times *easier* to get than others.
- Cost: Cost must be factored in when considering a study abroad program. Is it covered under your regular tuition? If not, can you afford to go and study in a new country for 6-12 months?
- Language: Many, but not all, study abroad programs do have a language requirement. Sometimes this means you need to know the language prior to leaving to be able to take classes in that language. Other times it means you need to take language classes there to learn a new language. Be prepared to know or learn a new language. Consider a country and language you are personally interested in.
- Credits: Depending on where you are at in your university program/experience and what you are studying, know that your study abroad credits might not be helpful in attaining your degree. They often fill specific major/minor requirements or can fill general education credits so be sure to speak with an advisor about what is best for you.
While you won’t directly become an expat by studying abroad, it is still a wonderful experience! You’ll get to meet new people, actually live in and experience a new country, language, and culture, and try something new and exciting. Reach out to the international programs office at your college or university to learn about study abroad tracks under your field of study.
Teaching
A great many expatriates work in the field of education. This might be teaching at a university or the much more common, teaching English (or a native language) or at an international school.
Language Teacher
Teaching your language as a foreign language is one of the most common ways that people end up as expats, with English being the most common. This is also one of the easiest ways to go abroad. Many programs do not require you to be certified in any sort of teaching but to simply be a native speaker. Others do want to see a TEFL, TESOL, ES(O)L, etc. certification.
You can find ELL Teaching Programs all around the world. Most, if not many, are located in Asia (and possibly the Middle East). We recommend researching any program ahead of time. Some programs do not pay what they state. Others make dubious claims about procuring you a proper work visa. And others may generally have far worse work conditions.
Don’t let these scare you, however. Teaching English abroad is a great way to get some work experience and make some money, all while living abroad. Don’t, however, expect to be raking in tons of money!
Two well-known programs are:
- JET -This is a well-known program specific to Japan and is helped managed by the Japanese Government. It has some particular requirements but is a great option.
- CIEE – Another great program with programs around the world. They specialize in much more than just teaching English, such as homestays, study abroad (my experience), and much more!
Teaching English abroad is excellent if you’re just out of college, looking for a break, or looking to get a bit of travel experience! If you are really serious, but don’t know where to begin, I suggest you head over to Reddit’s TEFL sub. There you’ll find an active community of users with plenty of information to help you get started!
International Schools
Teaching at an international school is like teaching in your home country, but this time in a new country! Our International Teacher page offers details to help you get started in International Education.
Unlike teaching English abroad, teaching at an international school is going to have far stricter requirements but also greater pay, benefits, and perks. To teach at an international school, you will almost always need a teaching license/certificate from your home country. Most countries require this to approve your work visa.
Teaching internationally is, in almost every regard, the same as teaching in the US, UK, Australia, etc. You will likely have a diverse student body, smaller class sizes, and more resources. Most international schools adhere to Western styles of education and curriculum.
British schools generally follow English curriculums or the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB). American schools might also use the IB or have Advanced Placement programs. Curriculums and programs such as Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop, Common Core, Aero, NGSS, or Understanding by Design are also standard. Students may speak varying levels of English. There will also almost certainly be a class dedicated to the country’s language.
Pay & Benefits
As a certified teacher, you will also have better benefits and pay compared to an English language teacher. Nearly every international school will cover your flights to and from your home country each year. Schools should take care of visas for you. They should walk you through the process and help every step of the way. Most schools will also offer housing in some form, and a few even offer to pay for utilities. Pay scales are usually based on years of experience. Many schools will cap your pay when first arriving (usually, there’s a secondary cap you can reach). Overall pay is comparable to teacher salaries in the US, sometimes higher, sometimes lower.
You will also likely not have to worry too much about local taxes (unless you’re in parts of Europe). International schools will often handle local taxes. Local taxes might be deducted before being paid (i.e., your salary is the same as in your contract). Most expats also do not pay US taxes, but ALL must file. There are specific regulations that allow for foreign-earned income exclusion to be taken. Keep in mind that while these benefits are the norm, they are not universal.
International schools are located around the world, offering you an opportunity to work in a variety of unique places! Pay and benefits change from school to school and country to country, and the landscape is ever-shifting due to local regulations as well as global issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can check out Search Associates, ISS, or TIE for some information on schools and, to some extent, pay and benefits (TIE is probably the best for some generic information) or contact us if you have any questions (as international teachers for nearly a decade, this is our greatest area of expertise). Like with teaching English abroad, Reddit’s International Teachers sub is a great place to find information.
However, you can find LOTS of great information on our site! Head over to our International Education page to find all the info you need to get started in teaching abroad. We also host a podcast that breaks down our 13+ years of combined experience in international education in Season 2 of the Nomadicgregors podcast – subscribe on YouTube or follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode. If you don’t know where to get started in international education, this is the season for you.
Becoming an Expat – Digital Nomad (Remote Work) or Freelancing
Covid has been a huge detriment to our society, causing untold deaths and shutting down society as we know it. There are, however, some less-seen benefits. Aside from the amazingly rapid creation and production of vaccines, digital work has become not just popular but has become the norm. Working as a digital nomad or remotely is an excellent opportunity to become an expat!
Many companies, especially given the pandemic, are reducing the possibility of working remotely. However, there are still plenty of positions to be had! For many people, that means staying at home, but for others, it can mean going on an adventure while keeping your day job.
To make this even easier, many countries during the pandemic started to issue Digital Nomad visas, including Indonesia, Croatia, Barbados, and Estonia (both amazing places to visit if you’ve never been).
By becoming a nomad (there are many different lines of possible work), you get the benefit of being able to travel and live where you’d like while being able to reap the benefits of working from an office, such as healthcare and pay.
Now, not every company theoretically allows for this, and it’s certainly worth looking into which allow it, which don’t, or which might frown upon it or simply turn the other way.
Working as a digital nomad doesn’t mean you have to find a new job. It might mean you can continue with the company you know and love while moving on and working towards many other things you know and love (i.e., traveling!).
These sites will help you get started on becoming a digital nomad. You can find various jobs to fit virtually any specific skill set.
There are many more sites, and we encourage you to do a bit of googling or check out social media. We recommend a few specific people to follow, such as NomadicMatt, Oneikatraveller, Travel Dudes, Packslight, or Chubbydiaries__. As with the sites, there are far more travel bloggers, but these are some of the people at the top of the field when it comes to traveling.
Becoming an Expat – Foreign Service
Do you want to travel the world AND promote aspects of your country? If so, applying for the Foreign Service could be the right job for you! Joining the Foreign Service (or your country’s equivalent) is a great way to become an expat.
Foreign Service agents work for consulates and embassies. Their jobs range from working with finance and finance ministers to possibly being a spy to promoting cultural activists and ideals or working with educators.
The Foreign Service has some big pros but also a few drawbacks as well. For starters, you’ll get most everything paid for: housing, insurance, cost of living, etc. You’ll also have access to a few things that other expats in your area might not do via consular mail or the U.S. Commissary. You’ll also get to live in the larger cities in the countries where they operate, not necessarily a town further out and farther away.
The downsides, however, can also be strong. You don’t get to pick where you want to go. An officer places a bid to work in a specific country. Accepted bids result in the officer will moving to that location. Of course, like with many things in life, popular locations are the most difficult to get. Want to head to Uzbekistan? Chances are high on you getting that posting! A city like London, however, requires would usually require time and years in other places first.
Foreign Service posts are also usually two years in length. If you want to put down any vague sort of roots (start or have a family) or even take a break from moving, it can be trickier. Some posts are called ‘hardship’ posts. These posts are in places generally considered less desirable (e.g., Pakistan) to live and work. Hardship posts and other less desirable posts make it easier to bid and remain in the same place. From here, you might be able to stay beyond your initial two-year stint and build up roots.
Check out the U.S. State Department page to get started. Here you can learn more about what it entails, background requirements, etc. Their site provides a short questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to help you see how your interests and skills will fit into one of their 13 tracks. To become a Foreign Service officer, you will also need to pass a rigorous test and attend a day-long interview in Washington, D.C.
Working for the US Department of State can take you to places you might have never imagined. You will receive great benefits and perks, and be able to travel to new and exciting places while helping others.
Becoming an Expat – Employer Overseas
Not dissimilar to a digital nomad in the sense you may not need to leave your current employer, many large companies have overseas offices, whether that’s in Europe, Asia, or South America being the most common. Many people can become expats by simply exploring their options through their current employer.
Perhaps you work for Google and want to help develop a new product specifically targeted to Japan. Or maybe you work at Levi’s and want to transfer to Luxembourg to help create a stronger social media presence in Europe. You can speak with your Human Resources department about joining the international team if your company has overseas offices.
You may, however, be a bit more limited when going this route. There will be fewer international offices unless it is a large international company. You may also find you are not as interested in places where there are offices. If you are not interested in the locations available, keep an open mind. Trying new locations can be a very rewarding experience, especially if you want to live abroad or really enjoy your company.
No matter where you end up, you’ll likely continue to get the same benefits and work experience that you currently have, plus more as you work not just with new cultures but IN a new culture!
Go and speak with your Human Resources department today!
In the end…
These are just a tiny sampling of how people end up in new and exciting places. They are, however, some of the most common. Becoming an expat can be scary but an exciting way to live. If you are interested in traveling, trying new foods, speaking a new language, or experiencing new cultures, becoming an expat might be for you!