what is an expatriate

An expatriate, or expat, is an individual who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional or skilled worker who intends to return to their country of origin, but it may also refer to retirees, artists, and others who have chosen to live outside their native country. Expatriates may leave home for work reasons and seek more lucrative employment in a different country. They may also live for a while overseas or completely renounce their citizenship of one country in favor of another. Expatriates are often paid better by their employers than if they stayed home, and they may find their new locale has a lower cost of living than their original home, providing a nice lifestyle or savings boost. However, living the expat life isn’t always glamorous and can be a lot of work, and expatriates may experience challenges such as leaving family and friends back home and watching their lives move on via social media highlights, emails, and telephone calls.