Family abroad — Living & working abroad

Residency

Residency abroad has become increasingly popular among workers, contractors and retirees in recent years, as more and more people are seeking new and exciting opportunities to live and work in different parts of the world. Whether you're looking to relocate for work, retirement, or simply for a change of pace, there are many benefits to living and working abroad that are worth considering.

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For workers, the opportunity to gain international experience and expand their professional skills can be extremely valuable. Living and working in a foreign country can help to develop cultural awareness, language skills, and a broader perspective on business and industry. This can be particularly beneficial for those in fields such as international business, finance, and marketing, where understanding different cultures and markets is essential. Additionally, many workers find that the cost of living in certain countries is much lower than in their home countries, which can make it easier to save money and achieve financial goals.

Contractors also benefit from living and working abroad, as it allows them to take on international projects and build their portfolios. This can lead to increased opportunities for future work, and can be a great way to gain experience and exposure in different parts of the world. Additionally, many contractors find that the cost of living in certain countries is much lower than in their home countries, which can make it easier to save money and achieve financial goals.

Retirees also benefit from living and working abroad, as it allows them to enjoy a new lifestyle and explore different cultures. Many retirees find that the cost of living in certain countries is much lower than in their home countries, which can make it easier to save money and achieve financial goals. Additionally, many retirees find that living and working abroad allows them to experience new cultures, meet new people and make new friends.

While there are many benefits to living and working abroad, it's important to remember that there are also challenges and risks. These include navigating different legal systems, dealing with language barriers, and dealing with cultural differences. Additionally, it's important to be aware of the risks of living in a foreign country, such as crime, political instability, and natural disasters. It is also essential to have a comprehensive health insurance in place.

Overall, living and working abroad can be a great opportunity for workers, contractors and retirees. It can help to expand professional skills, increase financial opportunities, and provide a unique and exciting lifestyle. However, it's important to be aware of the risks and challenges, and to be well-prepared before making the move. With the right planning, living and working abroad can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Residency in Europe

Each country can set its own rules and the EU has a framework to enshrine EU Citizens right to freedom of movement plus the integrity and enhanced of the Schengen Area including the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

Currently citizens from outside the EU without visa free access to EU countries needs an Schengen Visa for short stay travel.

From 2024 any non EU citizen with visa-free travel rights into the EU will also need electronic authorisation via the ETIAS.

Anyone who is from outside the Schengen Area & is no at a citizen of member countries can only spend short stays of 90 in 180 days in the Schengen Area and the management of this is enforced for those using a Schengen Visa and the new ETIAS.

Expats relocating overseas into an EU country need to apply for rights for longer stays in any EU country which includes visits to overseas property homes, staying with family or working remotely abroad.

This starts with an annual visitors visa and includes longer term residency visas and permits for 2-10 years that could also allow tax residency for expats.

In the longer term a country could introduce paths to citizenship, including dual citizenship, to allow a more permanent long term residency in the country for expats.

Each EU country is different. Residency permits & visas must be supported in an application bearing different requirements for capital, business, property, income and healthcare.

Cyprus

Tax residency in Cyprus is available from as little as 60 days in the country making it an ideal tax base for contractors working around the world.

Cyprus offers a generous income tax allowance along with a special 5% flat rate for overseas pensions making it a popular destination for retired expats.

Portugal

Residency in Portugal offers a blend of rich cultural experiences and attractive benefits for both EU and non-EU citizens. The country has become a sought-after destination for expats, retirees, and investors, owing to its pleasant climate, welcoming locals, and relatively low cost of living.

For non-EU citizens, the Golden Visa program provides a pathway to residency through investment, allowing access not only to Portugal but the wider Schengen Area as well. Obtaining residency might require fulfilling certain criteria, including proof of income and health insurance, but the process is generally considered to be straightforward, with various options catering to different individual needs and intentions.

United Kingdom

Residency in the United Kingdom offers a different set of opportunities and requirements.

For EU citizens, the rules have changed following Brexit, and now both EU and non-EU citizens must follow the UK's points-based immigration system if they wish to live in the country. Points are awarded for specific skills, qualifications, salaries, and professions, with a job offer usually being a key requirement.

The UK offers various visa categories catering to workers, students, investors, and family members, each with its own criteria and application process.

The UK's residency process is known for its rigor but offers a robust set of opportunities for those who meet the necessary criteria.

FAQ

Living & working abroad can seem daunting, here are some key terms explained simply.

DEFINED STATUS NATIONALITY

Nationality means you are from a particular nation including that ethnic group in. This could be the country of your birth and your residence unless you go expat and relocate abroad.

CITIZENSHIP

Citizenship could be the country of your nationality, but you could also have relocated long-term through family or working abroad and adopted a new citizenship or a second dual citizenship.

You would need to be a permanent resident of that country for 5 to 12 years before they would consider allowing a citizenship application to be made on a residence basis, although individual sovereign countries can make their own rules.

RESIDENCY PERMIT

Residency permit is more than a travel Visa and demonstrates the right of a person to live, work, or study in a given sovereign state for a limited period of time from 6 months to 4 years. Any country can set its own rules regarding the requirements for the different types of residency that you may seek. That may be too work as a nomad, use an offshore base for work and travel, retire overseas, stay for longer stays and periods in your holiday home, retire abroad, study or relocate for any other long term stay.

PERMANENT RESIDENCY

After five years or more of residency, an expat could apply for permanent residency, which gives them additional rights equivalent to citizens of the country in which they become permanent residents.

UK Permanent residency is available after 10 years of continuous long term residence and is also referred to as indefinite leave to remain.

Permanent residence are not citizens and do not get issued with a passport from that country of residence. Unlike a citizen, a permanent resident could be deported if they break the law in their country of residence.

A permanent residence certificate could have a limited term. Generally they remain valid for a lifetime if qualifying residency rules are not broken.

SETTLED STATUS

EU expats, living and working abroad in the UK, were able to apply for settled status after Brexit, if they had been continuously resident in the UK for five or more years. With less than five years, UK residency pre-settled status was conferred.

UK settled status is like permanent residency. It is not the same as it was designed specifically under the Brexit withdrawal treaty to treat EU expats in the UK in the same way as UK expats in the EU.

With settled status EU Expats are treated as a ‘UK permanent resident’ and with the equivalent EU citizens rights.

VISA FREE

Many countries around the world have Visa free travel agreements for their citizens to travel without the need of visa for each journey crossing the border with only a passport.

UK citizens, have 148 countries I can travel to Visa free. That includes most of the 27 countries in the Schengen zone at the start of 2023.

The Schengen zone has 68 countries with Visa free travel agreements (read more about the Schengen area).

VISA

A Visa is a short stay certificate usually added to someone’s passport and grants permission to enter or leave the country for a limited period of time.

The requirements for a Visa for short stay as a tourist, student, medical work or transit reasons varies country by country.

SHORT STAY

Generally, under international law countries will allow short trips and stays of up to 90 days without Visa or residency requirements.

The EU is an intra-national organisation of independent sovereign states that includes treaties that bind the individual countries to a common set of rules.

This includes the EU freedom of movement for people and capital a cross-border, and without passports.

SCHENGEN ZONE

The Schengen zone is a intra national organisation loosely based upon the EU, but including other countries that allows cooperation on security and movement across border, using only ID cards.

Generally all Schengen zone countries, also having an ID card system in place for its citizens.

The EU electronic travel authorities ETIAS are issued under Schengen zone rules.

Non-EU citizens can apply for a Schengen zone Visa to allow them freely travel within the zone.

A key restriction of the Schengen zone, is that it defines and applies a ‘short stay’ as 90 days in any 180 days, that is three months in any six months period

Short stay rules will apply to those using a Schengen zone Visa and all EU electronic travel authority ETIAS.

Take our free quiz to find out if you need ETIAS (including what other documents you’ll need to enter the EU / Schengen area) .