Ameerah Arjanee

The phenomenon of “workforce nationalization” happens when expats are systematically replaced by locals in various jobs. The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council have come into the spotlight in recent years for implementing nationwide job nationalization measures.

In most countries, the only test that expats need to take for their work visa is a language test. Many countries, notably Australia, also ask their professional bodies to assess expats' previous qualifications and experience before agreeing to issue a work visa. Kuwait is taking a step ahead by making work visa applicants take two exams.

A recent study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) found that, among 15 high-income countries, Finland was the only one that didn't have a lower immigration rate in 2020 when measured against predicted immigration in the absence of Covid. Data from the OECD suggests that freedom of movement within the European Economic Area (EEA) contributed to that.

Teachers must take many things into consideration when moving abroad. Are there enough vacancies in education abroad? Should they apply to public or private schools? How can they get their degree and teaching license recognized in another country? In 2023, it's more complicated than before to get employed as a foreign teacher in Gulf countries and in China. Meanwhile, many European countries are in dire need of expat teachers.

Agriculture is a field in need of short-term workers in various countries. Multiple farming jobs, notably fruit picking, don't require previous experience. These jobs are a great choice for young people looking to make some money while discovering the world or even older adults who want to take a sabbatical year. Canada, New Zealand and Australia are all in great need of permanent and temporary agricultural workers.

The pandemic has accentuated labor shortages in many countries. In addition to trying to attract new immigrants, countries are also encouraging their citizens who are abroad to return home. Some of them, which have historically suffered from a brain drain, have been doing that since before the pandemic. They created favorable policies, such as tax breaks and entrepreneurship loans, to encourage returnees to use their skills and experience gained abroad in their home country.

The MOOC-provider Coursera recently published its Job Skills of 2023 report. The report says that digital skills, especially in data science, together with soft skills in management and storytelling, are the best career skills to have in 2023. This should not be surprising in a marketplace where hybrid work has become the norm. 

After 5 years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern resigned on January 19. She has since been replaced by her Labour Party colleague Chris Hipkins. While Ardern has cited burnout as the main reason for her resignation, it does come in the wake of her plummeting popularity in New Zealand. Her immigration policy, focused on making the system more selective, changed between 2017-2020 and 2020-2022.

In March 2022, the US government passed an act that allows standalone investors to remain legally in the US while their investment visa is still being processed. This de facto makes the EB-5 Investor Visa the fastest route to obtaining permanent residency in the US. It takes much less time than common routes like the H1-B and L-1 work visas. 

After 3 years, China finally reopened its borders on January 8. Most travelers can now enter the country only with a negative PCR test. Many expats in China feel relieved and want to resume enjoying the life they loved there. However, some who were stuck outside of China in March 2020 are hesitant about returning, and doubts remain about the economic prospects of expats in the country.

As Spain prepares to launch its new Digital Nomad Visa, what should you know about moving there in 2023? The country also has a new Startup Act to encourage entrepreneurship, even from expats, and it boasts of the lowest inflation in the EU and multiple new social welfare policies at the moment. Retirees have historically been a big expat demographic in Spain, but there are now increasingly more young expats in their 20s and 30s.

As expats enter a new year of living abroad and others are considering a move, it's high time to think ahead. Some destinations, for instance, Canada, are predicted to be very popular in 2023 because they appeal to many expats' current priorities. Furthermore, surveys reveal that lifestyle and cost of living are likely to be expats' priorities in 2023. The average age of expats is also predicted to keep getting younger.

Like other festivities, the New Year varies between cultures. In some countries, it is celebrated with pomp and splendor, while in others, the celebrations are toned down or focused on shopping. The Northern Hemisphere is in winter and the Southern Hemisphere is in summer on December 31, which also creates very different experiences. Many non-Western countries use another calendar than the Gregorian one and have another much more culturally significant “New Year” than December 31.

In many EU/EEA countries, there exist cultural integration programs to ensure that long-term expats learn the local language and understand the country well. France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden and Estonia all offer such programs. Outside of the EU, the Canadian province of Quebec offers a similar program. 

Recently, in order to fight labor shortages, the UK's Home Office eased the laws to obtain a Skilled Worker Visa. International students can now switch to this visa before completing their course as long as they have a suitable job offer. However, this is turning out to be a problem for British universities, who are seeing higher international dropout rates and the accompanying loss of funds from tuition fees.

As part of its Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Canada is trying to attract more immigrants from the Indo-Pacific region. Most recent immigrants have come from three countries in the region: India, China and the Philippines. In the next 5 years, Canada will invest an additional $75 million in trade, visa processing and educational exchanges with the Indo-Pacific region.

Multiple recent studies revealed that younger workers highly value flexibility in their careers. This flexibility includes the ability to work remotely and from abroad. After their university or first career years spent under pandemic lockdowns, many have an increased thirst to job-hop around the globe or become digital nomads.

The uptick in international travel, exchange programs and remote work after nearly three years of the pandemic has made the popularity of Working Holiday Visas (WHVs) skyrocket. Bilateral agreements exist between multiple countries to allow young people to gain work experience while discovering a new culture. Here is a comprehensive list of these programs.

Relocating to a new country as a single person and as a person with a family can be two whole different deals. You will need additional costs and adjustments for your family members' visas, accommodation, healthcare, education and transport. It's important to do research, negotiate with your employer or prospective employer, and plan well to make your family's transition as smooth as possible.

Since the pandemic, the demand for experienced health professionals in many countries has increased. Canada, Ireland and Australia are currently offering attractive incentives to welcome expats working in healthcare.

Some countries' defense forces allow the recruitment of foreign nationals, generally under some conditions. These conditions can be permanent residency, citizenship in a limited number of allied countries, language proficiency and/or previous military experience. In many cases, military service provides a fast track to citizenship. 

Until now, Malta has been the only country in the European Union with a total ban on abortion, but that might soon change. Safe and legal abortion is available on request in most EU countries and is often even fully funded by the state. Apart from Malta, only Poland currently has highly restrictive access to abortion. Meanwhile, the rise of the far-right in Italy has awakened the fears of pro-choice citizens and expats there.

Driven by a thirst for adventure, the lower cost of living abroad, and political dissatisfaction, Americans are moving abroad in rising numbers again in 2022, when most of the world's border restrictions have been lifted. Mexico and Portugal, in particular, have recently gained a lot of popularity as expat destinations for Americans, especially digital nomads. 

In October, the United Arab Emirates started implementing a series of visa reforms. In an effort to standardize work visas, in November, it reduced the free-zone visa's validity from 3 to 2 years. This visa allows expats to fully own companies in designated free-zones. While this change is not deeply disrupting the business plans of free-zone visa holders, it is indirectly increasing the cost of renewing their visas.

By late 2022, most countries have already eased all Covid-related travel restrictions. However, a few countries, for instance, the US, the UAE and Indonesia, still require vaccination. Japan even requires a booster shot to consider a foreign national fully vaccinated. Some countries also accept a negative PCR test or a quarantine period as an equivalent to vaccination.

British expats in countries without social security agreements with the UK receive “frozen pensions.” This means that their pension is locked at the level it was when they first relocated abroad. Many feel it is unfair because they had contributed to the National Insurance only to get back low amounts. This reduced pension amount makes some struggle financially amidst rampant global inflation.

The German government might soon reduce the number of years of residency needed to apply for citizenship from 8 to 5 years. In addition, dual citizenship might soon be finally allowed for all expats, not just a select few. At a time when the country is suffering from labor shortages, these amendments will likely attract more expats who hope to become EU citizens.

Some work visas explicitly target younger applicants in their 20s and 30s. Some visas with age cutoffs are working holiday visas, Australian permanent skilled work visas, and work permits in Gulf countries. Canadian points-based immigration systems also grant more points to younger applicants.

Portugal is currently overhauling its visa system. In July, reforms made to the Law on Foreign Nationals created a 120-day Jobseeker Visa for third-country nationals to look for employment in the country. Later, in November, the Prime Minister also announced that the controversial Golden Visa could soon be scrapped.

International education was one of the sectors most affected by the lockdowns and border closures of 2020 and 2021. In 2022, it is picking up again in the most popular education destinations. However, the number of international students from China has decreased. Vaccination and quarantine requirements, arrangements for hybrid classes, political stability and post-work study rights are also affecting the popularity of each destination.

In late October, the Sultanate of Oman issued a circular to announce that all legal residents of other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can now receive a visa on arrival in Oman. This move will help boost tourism and trade in the Sultanate.

As work-from-home becomes the new normal, more expats feel tempted by the possibility of being a digital nomad who works from a Brazilian beach or a European summer house. However, some expats are doing it without the prior consent of their employers. This can create serious compliance and regulatory issues for the company, issues for which the worker can get sacked.

Like many countries after the pandemic, Germany is currently suffering from labor shortages. Hospitality, construction, manufacturing, services, healthcare, engineering and the sciences are all sectors needing foreign labor. The EU Blue Card and Job Seeker Visa are two common employment pathways for skilled non-EU immigrants. In addition, the country has recently announced a new points-based work visa called the Chancenkarte. 

On 25 October, Australia's recently elected Labour Government announced its first budget. To solve the country's labor shortage and visa backlog, they've increased the number of permanent visas as well as the funding of the Department of Home Affairs.           

Due to the delays of the Swedish Migration Agency in issuing Work Permits, many non-EU/EEA expats are currently unable to get a personal identification number that allows them to find housing, open a bank account, receive their salary or even leave the country.      

While Switzerland's great quality of life keeps attracting new expats, a new study by the Federal Statistical Office reveals that most are likely to leave within a decade. This might partly be explained by how integrating into Swiss culture in the long-term presents many challenges.            

In September, Malaysia's Immigration Department issued a new policy requiring employers to pick up foreign workers at the airport no more than 6 hours after they land. The lack of clarity and very short time limit left the management of Malaysian companies feeling confused. In response, in early October, the department gave a leeway of 4 extra hours and allowed agents to represent the employers at the airport.      

In September, two Democrat senators introduced a bill in congress that could make over 8 million people in the United States become Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). The “Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929” would transform the immigration registry cutoff date of 1972 into a permanently evolving one. This way, irrespective of when they entered the country, immigrants who've been in the US for at least 7 years can obtain a Green Card.        

In October, Germany increased the minimum wage for the third time in a single year. It also raised the income cap of mini-jobs, a form of short-term employment. These are efforts by the government to help people adapt to inflationary trends and the cost of living crisis.

The end of the pandemic has changed many things in the international labor market. Many developed countries seek highly-qualified economic immigrants to compensate for the workforce lost due to increased mortality, border closures and the Great Resignation in the USA. On the other side, countries providing these highly-skilled immigrants are losing them through a brain drain. 

On November 1, Canada will announce its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan. Each year, this plan resets permanent immigration targets for the next coming years. It gives a breakdown of how many newcomers of each migration class the country wants to welcome. The federal government is also intent on increasing immigration in Quebec despite the Quebecois government's opposition to it.

Immigration to the United States has nearly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. In spite of that, some sectors, namely hospitality, construction and services, are still experiencing severe worker shortages. These sectors have historically been staffed by working-class migrants, especially from Central and South America. Some analysts say that increasing legal immigration pathways for that demographic is a solution. 

Multiple countries on all continents offer residence permits to retirees who have a secure source of passive income from abroad. A retirement visa allows elderly expats to enjoy the country's lifestyle and boost its economy as consumers without putting pressure on its public services.

Spain and Portugal, the sunny Iberian countries of southern Europe, have both recently launched new one-year digital nomad visas to attract full-time remote workers. On another continent, Costa Rica, another destination that is popular for its great weather and lush nature, is converting short-term tourist visas into longer digital nomad visas. The post-pandemic world has new work and travel trends that these countries want to make the best of. 

In late November, Qatar is set to become the smallest country to ever host the FIFA World Cup. This exciting sporting event is being marred by international boycotts over the treatment of workers who built the World Cup facilities. The event is also affecting accommodation prices, visa issuance, and the school calendar for expat families. 

The Netherlands' population grew by over 250,000 in 2021, and this trend might be set to persist due to a rising number of non-EU immigrants. However, the Dutch government is looking to temporarily curb immigration, especially among asylum seekers, because it puts unsustainable pressure on this small country with limited housing.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) of Ireland, the country's public healthcare system, has announced that it will now offer relocation packages worth over €4,000 to foreign health professionals who want to move to the country. This is the latest in a series of measures to solve the labor shortage in Irish public healthcare.

Studying abroad involves many formalities, such as applying for a student visa, taking language tests, opening an overseas bank account, and, very importantly, finding a place to stay. Students can choose between on-campus student residences provided by the university and off-campus options – a single or shared apartment, a homestay, or a private hall of residence. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?  

China has been losing foreign investment and expat talent since 2020 when the country imposed strict lockdowns and border closures which are still ongoing in 2022. Meanwhile, in the last two years, other Asian destinations have proved themselves to offer excellent conditions for expats: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, the Indian city of Bangalore and, to a lesser extent, Singapore. 

Some countries have a special family reunification visa that allows elderly parents and grandparents to come live with their children, who are citizens or residents, usually under the condition that the parent/grandparent will be financially taken care of by the family and will not rely on public services. Which countries have this type of visa?