Working abroad as expat: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is working as an expat abroad?

• The term ‘expat’ is used to refer to people who live and work abroad for a temporary period of time for work reasons, usually through a secondment by a company or organization.
• As work and jobs are becoming increasingly international, the word expat is also increasingly used to refer to people who are temporarily employed by local companies outside their regular country of residence.
• With the internationalization of the labor market, the term ‘expat’ has become a commonly used term, especially in the business world.
• Where does the term expatriate come from? The term ‘expatriate’, is composed of the Latin words 'ex' (outside) and 'patria' (fatherland).

Why should you work as an expat abroad?

• To help others with your efforts and skills.
• To see yourself at work in a different environment and/or culture.
• To be able to work in another role and see if you like it.
• To use as a stepping stone to a local job and emigration.
• To increase your chance of future promotions within the company you work for or elsewhere.

What do you need if you want to work abroad as an expat?

• Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you will gain during your stay abroad.
• Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need a reasonable to good command of the local language.
• Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need some form of independence, and your self-confidence will grow through it.
• Being culturally aware: an important element for your stay abroad.
• Collaborative ability: also abroad, it is important that you learn or can work together with others.

To what extent are you insured for risks when doing expat work abroad?

• There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when doing paid expat work abroad.
• During work abroad, you will often then need special insurance to remain insured for illness and accidents.
• Local employers often offer no, or limited, additional insurance. With international employers, this differs greatly from case to case.
• Some specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad. See the pages on insuring paid work abroad and the pages on your medical expenses abroad.
• Read more: International Insurances for Expats and Emigrants
• Read more (NL): Expatverzekeringen en expats verzekeren in het buitenland

What are the most popular countries to do expat work abroad?

• Australia, Canada and United States: because of the low language barrier.
• UAE, Kuwait and Qatar: because of the high density of like-minded people (depending on the mind you like...).
• Finland, Norway and Sweden: for the social benefits and work-life balance.
• Thailand, Mexico, Spain, Italy: for the work-climate balance.
• China, Singapore, Malaysia