What Is An Expat Or Expatriate?

One question we often get asked is, “what is an expat?” (Or, “what is an expatriate?”)

To put it simply, an expatriate – which is often shortened to expat – is someone who has moved to a foreign country to live, work, study, or retire.

The word expatriate derives from the Latin word expatriatus, which is made of the words “ex–” (meaning “out of”) and “patria” (meaning “fatherland”).

So, you might say an expatriate is anyone who has left their homeland to live in another place – and you would technically be correct. However, in the modern day, we also use words like “immigrant,” which raises the question: what is an expatriate and how is it different from an immigrant?

As a provider of expat health insurance, we’re here to answer the question to the best of our knowledge. So, let’s start with the easiest question: what is an expat?

What is an expat?

An expat is a person who lives outside of their native country. They may be living abroad temporarily, or plan to stay permanently. They may be working, retired, studying, investing, starting a business, or indeed living abroad for any other reason.

In general, expats are considered people who have moved abroad temporarily and who intend to return to their home country at some point. Most expats do not intend to apply for citizenship in their new country, and are likely to remain a citizen of their home country.

However, in recent times, more and more expatriates have found they can experience a higher standard of living and a better quality of life abroad. Thus, an increasing number of expats are choosing to live abroad permanently.

Why do people become expats?

According to a survey by InterNations, some of the most common reasons for becoming an expat include:

1/ Starting a new job

25% of expats said the reason they moved abroad was to start a new job. 15% said they had found a new job on their own, while 10% said they had been headhunted by international recruiters.

2/ Sent by an employer

A further 9% said they were moved by their current employer. Many companies choose to relocate employees when they expand into new territories, want to place specific talent in different locations, or help their employees develop in their careers.

3/ To start a new business

While just 2% of expats said the reason they moved abroad was to start a new business, many people are tempted to start their business abroad in order to capitalise on fairer tax incentives, stronger business networks and brighter talent pools.

4/ Lifestyle choices

Many expats move abroad simply because they seek a new adventure. Moving abroad can offer a better quality of life, a lower cost of living and the opportunity to experience a new culture. 22% of expats cite various lifestyle reasons as the reason they moved abroad.

5/ Retirement

Many people dream of retiring abroad – especially in tropical places like Thailand and Kenya, where they can spend their retirement years lying on the beach. 4% of expats call themselves retirees.

6/ To study

Whether it’s for school, university or to attend a language school, 10% of expats said they moved overseas in order to further their education.

7/ Relationships

Another common reason for people to become expats is the chance to live with their partner. 10% of expats said they moved abroad to live in their partner’s home country, while 6% said they followed their partner overseas for work.

8/ Any other reason!

Of course, every expat is different, and so are their reasons for moving abroad. 12% of expats say their reasons for moving abroad did not fit into any other category, but mentioned reasons such as volunteering and missionary work, family commitments, and political, religious and safety concerns as their motivation for moving abroad.

How many expats are there in the world?

The number of expats worldwide continues to increase year-on-year. The most recent report by the United Nations, produced in 2020, found that there were around 281 million expatriates living worldwide, making up 3.6% of the global population. This figure has nearly doubled, from 150 million, since the year 2000.

It remains to be seen how this number will change in the coming years – especially given recent changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts causing mass displacements, the cost of living crisis, and the rise of the digital nomad lifestyle.

As of 2024, the country with the highest proportion of expats was the United Arab Emirates, while the United States has the highest number of expats overall, at around 50 million. The country that produces the largest number of expats is India. Around 52% of expats are male and 48% are female, while 10% are children. 169 million are workers.

While many people tend to believe that expats are typically people who migrate from poor countries to rich countries, it’s also true that people from wealthy countries become expats. For instance, the 2024 British Expat Report found that 22% of British people are planning to move abroad at some point in their lives. In 2024, 479,000 people emigrated from Britain.

What’s the difference between an expat and a digital nomad?

Digital nomadism is a popular trend that has arisen due to the rise of remote and flexible working worldwide. Digital nomads are people who live and work abroad while earning an income from a company in their home country, by freelancing or by running their own business.

Digital nomads are like expats, in that they live and work in foreign countries. There are now more than 50 countries that offer a special ‘digital nomad visa’, granting remote workers the opportunity to live in that country for anywhere from a few months to several years.

While they are living and working abroad, digital nomads can be considered a type of expatriate. However, there are some key differences that can help to distinguish an expat from a digital nomad.

Hopping between multiple countries versus staying in one country

As the name suggests, digital nomads are known for living a nomadic lifestyle. Because they can work from anywhere, they are not required to stay in one country – indeed, many digital nomad visas are only valid for a few months at a time, meaning digital nomads must vacate the country after a certain period and move somewhere else. For this reason, digital nomads tend not to ‘settle down’ in any one country.

Expats, on the other hand, are more likely to stay in one country for a long period. They will typically take out a special working visa, and may even apply for permanent residency. They are more likely to work for a company based in the country they are living in. They are also more likely to settle down, taking out long-term tenancy agreements, putting their kids into local schools, and opening a bank account.

Working remotely versus working locally

Digital nomads are a very particular breed of expat. Being remote workers, they work almost exclusively in the kinds of jobs that require them to be in front of a laptop. Many digital nomads work independently, while those who work in teams will typically keep in touch via telecommunications software such as video conferencing.

The type of jobs digital nomads work include software development, web development, product management, digital marketing, graphic design and virtual assistants. Many digital nomads are also self-employed or work as freelancers.

Expats, on the other hand, may work in any type of field. They tend to work for a local company and may even change careers while living abroad. You can expect to see expats working in everything from field sales to construction, as train drivers and teachers, as engineers, scientists, beauticians, and indeed any other type of job under the sun.

Paying taxes

Digital nomad visas are designed in such a way that a digital nomad need not pay local income tax while living abroad. Instead, they will continue to pay taxes to their home country while travelling abroad. A digital nomad is expected to source 100% of their income from their home country, and may be forbidden from working for clients or selling to customers in the country they are living in.

Expats, meanwhile, are usually expected to pay income tax in the country they are living. They will be expected to file for any residency and work visas that entitle them to a local tax code, and they may also be able to receive benefits from paying local taxes, such as access to local healthcare and a state pension.

Of course, this may not apply in countries where expats are not expected to pay income tax.

What is the difference between an expat and an immigrant?

To put it in the simplest possible terms, there is no difference. All expats are immigrants, and all immigrants are expats. The two words have exactly the same meaning.

Like expatriate, the word immigrant also derives from Latin (“immigrare”). It’s made up of the words “im–” (meaning “into”) and “migrare” (meaning “moved”). So, an immigrant is someone who has “moved into” a different place.

These two terms have picked up very different associations over the years. As such, there are some implied, colloquial differences between the words “expat” and “immigrant.” Some of the most common implications you may discover include:

1/ Staying temporarily versus staying permanently

It is often suggested that an expat is someone who lives and works in a foreign country temporarily, while an immigrant is someone who intends to stay permanently.

Therefore, an expat is more likely to rent property as opposed to buying, may work a contracted position rather than taking a permanent job, and is unlikely to apply for citizenship, preferring instead to take a fixed-term working visa. They are also considered less likely to start a new family abroad.

Of course, there is no basis to this suggestion, and in fact many expats decide to settle down permanently in their new country.

2/ Professional versus unskilled

It is also suggested that expats are typically people who have professional class jobs, while immigrants work in positions of unskilled and semi-skilled labour.

An expat is therefore often considered to be of a higher social class – they are stereotyped as people who work in white-collar industries, have university degrees and earn a lot of money. Meanwhile, an immigrant is stereotyped as someone who works a blue-collar job, is less educated and earns a low wage.

But the truth is that expats come in all shapes and sizes. It doesn’t matter whether a person moves abroad to be the CEO of a bank or a humble labourer – they are expats all the same.

3/ Working versus non-working

Another suggestion is that expats move abroad specifically for work. The implication here is that an expat will only move when they already have a job offer lined up.

While this can indeed make it easier for a person intending to move overseas – for instance, if the country they are moving to requires an employer to sponsor their visa – it’s not necessarily true.

This stereotype can be harmful, because it implies expats are productive members of society, whereas immigrants are not. However, expats may just as well be students, retirees, digital nomads, or people who are starting their job search in a new country. It doesn’t matter whether or not someone intends to work abroad, they are an expat nonetheless.

4/ From a rich country versus from a poor country

Perhaps the most insidious stereotype of all is that an expat is someone who comes from a wealthy country, whereas an immigrant is someone who comes from a poor country. Some even venture a step further and apply racial connotations to this claim.

It’s not worth us giving this stereotype the time of day – it’s simply not true at all – so we’ll finish by saying once again that all expats are immigrants, and all immigrants are expats.

What is the expat lifestyle like?

People tend to make many assumptions about the expat way of life.

Some people envision expats as sun-seeking retirees heading off to tropical countries like Spain, Thailand and Mexico.

For others, the quintessential expat is a businessman or businesswoman moving to a thriving city like Singapore or Hong Kong to further their career.

What is healthcare like for expats?

As an expat, it’s incredibly important to protect your health and well-being while living overseas. Moving to a foreign country can be especially challenging as you navigate a new healthcare system, while also getting to grips with a new diet, a new culture and a new way of life.

Many expats struggle with their health and well-being after moving abroad. They may find it difficult to access the services they were used to in their home country. For instance, if you take regular medication, would you know how to get a prescription and find a pharmacy in a foreign country? Could you be sure that the quality of medical care was the same standard as you were used to back home? And could you be sure that you could find a doctor who speaks your native language?

It’s questions like these that lead many expats to choose international health insurance. With private medical insurance, you can not only be sure that will you always have access to high-quality private medical care (with professionals who speak your language), but that you will always be able to afford the cost of healthcare too.

We’ve created a handy guide to help new expats find their ideal health insurance policy. If you’re considering becoming an expat, be sure to check it out here.

Expat FAQs

How long do you have to live abroad to be considered an expat?

It’s hard to say – no one has ever quantified the exact time it takes for someone to become an expat. But there are a few factors that tend to distinguish expatriates.

The first factor is how long an expat intends to stay in a foreign country. Typically, an expat is someone who intends to live overseas for a long time – anywhere from a few months to several years.

They will often stay for a period longer than that permitted by a normal tourist visa. They may therefore have a special working or residency visa.

It’s also likely that an expat will make various financial and lifestyle commitments. They may agree to a tenancy contract, open a bank account, put their children into a local school, and have a permanent job.

How can I become an expat?

The only thing you need to do to become an expat is to move to a different country. Of course, this is easier said than done – there are a number of boxes you’ll need to check in order to accomplish this.

You may need to find a new job overseas, find a place to live, open a new bank account, and get accustomed to a new tax system. There’s also the issue of culture shock, and you’ll need to make sure you’re looking after your health and personal safety.

At William Russell, we’ve been helping people like you to become expats for over 30 years. We’ve written a number of handy guides to help you get started. Here are a few you may be interested in:

• Moving abroad for the first time (including a handy checklist)
• How to get a job abroad as an expat
• What are the best countries for expats to live and work?
• Which countries have the best healthcare in the world?
• What are the safest countries for expats?

Do expats require international health insurance?

Some countries specify that expats must have international health insurance. They may need to demonstrate proof of health insurance in order to apply for a visa or residency permit.

However, this is not true of all countries, and in fact many countries allow expats to receive healthcare from the public health system. If you are intending to move abroad as an expat, it’s important to check whether or not you will need international health insurance.

Even if it’s not a requirement, you may still benefit from having private health insurance, especially if the country you are moving to has a poor standard of public healthcare. International health insurance grants you access to private healthcare and comes with a host of other benefits, such as medical evacuations and the option of worldwide cover.

Are refugees expats?

Technically, refugees are not expats, as they are afforded special status under the Refugee Convention. Unlike expats, they are not moving abroad to seek new opportunities and start a new life abroad, but to escape persecution and conflict.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, there are currently around 122 million refugees worldwide. This number has increased dramatically since 2011, where there were just 38 million refugees in the world.

Refugees are usually allowed to live and work in the countries that shelter them, and may be offered other rights such as access to healthcare, state benefits and housing. Refugees may be expected to return home after a certain period, but the UN Refugee Agency emphasises that any return must be voluntary, safe and dignified.

What does expat stand for?

Expat is not an acronym. It’s a contraction of the word “expatriate.” An expatriate is someone who is no longer a patriate, i.e. living in their home country.

Expatriate is both a noun (“John is an expatriate of the United States who moved to Canada”) and a verb (“Jane has expatriated to France from the United Kingdom”). It can also be used as an adjective (“Sammy is living the expatriate lifestyle in Vietnam”).

Are you thinking of becoming an expat?

There has never been a better time to start a new life abroad. Wherever you decide to move, make sure you have the confidence of international health insurance.

At William Russell, we have been providing worldwide health cover for over 30 years, helping expats like you and their families to settle into their new homes. Speak to us today to find out more about how expat health insurance could support you.

This article is for general information only—we don’t provide professional advice on moving abroad (we’re an expat insurance provider). If you want to know more – please seek independent advice.