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Expat Guides

We focus on finding the most important topics for expats living in different countries around the world and turn them into simple, digestible and informative guides for our users. We provide impartial advice on a range of issues and challenges expats face regularly and cover everything from cost of living through to tax implications.

Keith Hodges
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Keith Hodges
6 minutes
November 29th, 2023
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Having access to funds as an expat requires different considerations than what you are used to in your home country. You need to figure out the local limitations and differences to manage your finances effectively. Whether you are buying property or paying for a wedding, there are money transfer companies and tax laws to consider.

We are here to hold your hand throughout the process of figuring out how to best send money internationally as an expat. We provide a choice of money transfer companies and present different use cases that require sending money. Finally, information is provided on what expats should know about a country before moving there.

Expat Banking

Many expats decide to open bank accounts when moving to live in a different country. The first thing you should consider is if you can legally open an account. Some countries require you to have residency or a particular visa to open a bank account.

You also need to determine the top banks that operate in a country. Choosing a popular bank gives you access to more branches and ATMs in that country. This can help you save money on fees because withdrawals from a bank’s official ATM may be free of charge.

Alternatively, you can choose an international bank that offers services worldwide. These have branches in countries across all continents. However, do not expect the same number of branches as banks native to that country.

Sending Money Abroad as an Expat

Sending money abroad means you need to consider factors that you would have never thought about back home. This includes:

  • Where the get the best conversion rate for your home and local currency

  • What transfer methods allows me to save fees when sending money internationally

  • What transfer companies have fantastic customer service that can help me in a pinch

  • What transfer methods are the fastest in an emergency

  • What transfer caps exist, and will they be enough to pay for living expenses

The good news is that transferring money is now easier than ever before with the horde of top-tier transfer providers. Services such as Wise, TorFx, Xe, and WorldRemit offer many advantages that expats need to manage their finances abroad. They offer an extensive network of countries, competitive transfer fees, match the mid-market rate, and provide fast processing times.

Living Abroad

There is a lot to consider about the country an expat will move to for an extended period. This helps you plan ahead of time and assess your financial needs more easily. Once you know how much money is required per month to live in a country, then you can choose an appropriate specialist transfer provider to accommodate your needs.

Our expat guides on living abroad cover topics such as lifestyle, weather, transportation, healthcare, education system, banking system, renting and buying real estate, and the top places to live. They are worth reading to find out what adventure you are getting yourself into. Once you have a clearer picture, then you can make arrangements to support yourself financially while you are there with an industry-leading money transfer service.

Getting Married Abroad

Many couples choose to get married abroad to create a memorable experience. But, first, you need to figure out the costs of getting married abroad. Our guide provides information about the average cost of getting married worldwide.

We also share details of how you can save money. This includes shopping around, using forward contracts to lock in exchange rates, watching out for hidden fees, and selecting a money transfer company that charges low fees & a small exchange rate margin.

The top destinations for getting married abroad include Antigua, Mauritius, Los Cabos, Saint Lucia, and Bali. Getting funds to each of those destinations with a competitive money transfer is cost-effective and straightforward.

Retiring Abroad

There are many reasons to retire abroad. It provides a change of pace, and it can be the start of a new chapter in old age. However, you need to bring your pension money with you to pay for living expenses. Therefore, it is best to send your pension abroad with a money transfer provider because you can save money on fees and receive competitive FX rates. Also, the transfer time is fast, so you do not have to wait long to receive funds.

Remittance Guides

Considering remittance, whether you are an expat or want to send money to an expat, allows you to get the best deal. Our remittance guides provide helpful information on buying property abroad, receiving a pension, and helping you understand how the process works.

Buying Property Abroad

You may want to have your own property abroad as an expat. It provides more control over your living standards and the security of being in a foreign country. Our guides share details of what you need to know about buying property abroad. This includes information on the details of buying a house, property inspection, getting an agent, understanding taxes, signing the contract, and how to transfer money to pay for real estate.

We also provide guides on how to buy property in specific countries. For instance, you can read our guide on buying property in Spain to learn the intricacies of the process. These guides will help you understand the local challenges you will need to face to purchase real estate.

Staying Up to Date With Expat News

Our team of professional writers will keep you updated on any changes to the regulations, fees and will keep you updated with other money transfer news. Here are some topics you might be interested in to stay updated:

Other Expat Guides

This section includes links to random guides and listicles that provide helpful information for expats. For example, check out our top blogs lists for various countries. Reading these blogs allows you to get the lay of the land before you arrive. You will also find lists of the top removal companies and car shipping companies to help you move.

Remittance Statistics 2024Where Do American Expats Go?Do Expats Pay Taxes?The Country With the Most Car Accidents in the WorldThe Cost of a Destination Wedding — A Detailed BreakdownThe Key Reasons Why Expats Are Leaving SpainUK Expat Population TrackerThe US Expat Communities Favorite DestinationsThe Top 20 Most Expensive Colleges in the USMoving to India: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Australia: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Colombia: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Turkey: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Thailand: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Ireland: The Ultimate Guide for Expats Moving to the Philippines: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to South Africa: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Italy: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsExpat Bank AccountsWhat the Richest and Poorest Countries Receive in Remittances Top 15 Charities in PolandTop 35 Charities in Germany Top 35 Blogs for Remittance AdviceTop 30 Charities in the USTop 30 Asia Expat BlogsTop 25 Blogs from US Expats Top 20 Italy Expat BlogsTop 20 France Expat BlogsTop 20 Blogs From UK ExpatsTop 20 Charities in NigeriaTop 15 Expat Blogs in Germany Top 10 Latin America Expat BlogsTop 10 International Removals CompaniesTop 10 International Car Shipping CompaniesThai Expat's Guide to Living in the UKReceiving Pension AbroadRetire AbroadExpats: United States RemittancesExpats: United Kingdom RemittancesExpats: Australian RemittancesWhat‌ ‌is‌ ‌Remittance‌ ‌&‌ ‌How‌ ‌Does‌ ‌it‌ ‌Work‌Moving to the United Kingdom: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsLiving In SwedenMoving to Spain: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsLiving In PortugalMoving to Mexico: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Japan: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Indonesia: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to Germany: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsMoving to France: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsGuide to Living and Moving to Costa Rica as an ExpatA Guide to Moving to and Living in China as an ExpatMoving to Canada: The Ultimate Guide for ExpatsA Guide to Moving and Living Abroad in Bahrain as an ExpatLiving AbroadHow to Transfer Money Online as an Expat A Guide to Getting Married AbroadMoney Transfers for ExpatsGuide to Buying Property In Spain Buying Property AbroadA Guide to International Bank Transfers for ExpatsBest International Banks for Expats, Ranked for 2024Moving to the United States: The Ultimate Guide for Expats8 Best Cities for Remote Workers

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Contributors

Keith Hodges
Keith is an experienced Content Specialist with a rich background in both marketing and journalism within the financial sector. At MoneyTransfers.com, Keith plays a pivotal role in driving the business forward and broadening its reach in various international money transfer markets. His expertise is a key factor in the company's expansion and success.