You know you want to live abroad. What’s less clear is what that actually looks like for your life — your career, your family, your finances, your timeline. The truth is “moving abroad” isn’t one thing. There are corporate expats, digital nomads, part-time expats, retirees, and everything in between. The path that makes sense for a senior professional on a corporate assignment looks nothing like the path for someone splitting time between two countries while running a business. This guide breaks down every type of expat so you can stop researching in the abstract and start figuring out which one actually fits you
In its simplest form, an expatriate (or expat for short) is defined as an individual who lives outside of their native country. Historically, it referred to individuals who resided abroad because they were sent by an employer—diplomats, business personnel, and military families. However, the term has evolved to be far more inclusive, encompassing retirees, digital nomads, students, and anyone choosing to build a life across borders.
It’s worth noting that the term “expat” itself has become somewhat controversial. Critics point out that “expat” is often used to describe privileged, predominantly white migrants from Western countries, while “immigrant” is reserved for people from the Global South or those seeking economic opportunity. This linguistic double standard reflects deeper biases about who gets to be seen as a global citizen versus who is perceived as seeking a better life.
The reality is more nuanced. While the terms can carry different connotations, the fundamental distinction often comes down to intention and circumstance rather than nationality or race. That said, many in the international living community are increasingly mindful of this language and what it reveals about our assumptions.
Historically, being an expat implied a temporary arrangement—an intention to eventually return home or move to another country rather than permanently settling and pursuing citizenship. An immigrant, by contrast, typically seeks to put down permanent roots in their new country.
However, these lines have blurred considerably. Circumstances are fluid, and intentions change. Remote workers might arrive on a one-year digital nomad visa and fall in love with their host country. Retirees who planned a five-year adventure might decide to pursue permanent residency. Corporate assignees sometimes choose to stay long after their contracts end.
It’s entirely possible for someone to start as an expat and transition into long-term residency or even citizenship. The journey is rarely linear, and that’s part of what makes international living so dynamic.
These are individuals who are sent to work in another country by their employer—whether that’s a private multinational organization, a local host country business, or an international governmental entity. Typically, these expats possess specialized knowledge in their field, which makes them valuable for international assignments.
Some seek these opportunities as short-term stretch assignments to gain cross-cultural skills and experience in different units of their organization. Assignments generally last from several months to a few years, and in many cases, the employer sponsors the work visa to provide the employee and their dependents with legal status in the host country for the duration of the contract.
Need More Info?:
Read The Corporate Expat: How It Can Fast Track Your Career
Listen to “Wait..What’s the Drama?” with Juanita Ingram on the Global Chatter Podcast to hear experience trading her old career for a new life abroad.
Listen to “Adjust, Pivot & Engage” with Roxanne Munson on the Global Chatter Podcast to hear her experience as an corporate expat family.
These are individuals who specifically relocate overseas to educate others in educational settings such as international schools, universities, and language schools. Beyond classroom teachers and professors, this category includes educational administrators, student support staff, and student affairs personnel.
Typically, these professionals are trained educators in their passport country with significant experience in primary, secondary, or university-level education and academia. Contracts are usually structured in 2-3 year increments, with the option to renew if both parties agree and circumstances allow.
Need More Info?:
Read International Education Leadership: Career Moves for Experience Black Educators
Listen to “Chasing the Different” with Adrienne Waller on the Global Chatter Podcast to hear her experience as an international educator.
Read “Calling It Out & Calling It In” with Kevin Simpson as he discusses his experiences as an international education leader.
These individuals are pursuing education outside of their home country, whether completing a degree, earning a certificate, or gaining additional training and professional development. Their time abroad depends on their specific program and can range from a few months to several years.
After completing their studies, international students face multiple pathways: they may return to their home country, relocate to a different nation, or choose to remain in their host country if opportunities and visa regulations allow. Generally, maintaining legal status in the host country requires at least a student visa throughout the duration of their studies.
Need More Info?:
Read Why Study Abroad Matters for Black Students to know the benefits of going abroad.
Read How to Study Abroad [Even As A Professional] to learn the basics of study abroad.
Listen to “The Art of Storytelling” with Whitney Marin to hear how study abroad facilitated her career trajectory.
For some, it’s love that takes them abroad. These individuals move abroad because of a romantic relationship. They may have met their partner because of their travels or met someone at home and decided to relocate to a different country to be with their partner.
They generally need to go through the visa process for partners & family members according to country specific guidelines.
Historically, the term “trailing spouse” was used to describe the partner (often the female) as moving abroad because of a husband’s job, especially for those in the military or diplomatic corps. However, the term “accompanying partner” is considered more inclusive of different genders and relationship types such as non-married, cohabiting couples.
The accompanying partner’s legal status can vary depending from country to country and whether or not they are sponsored through their partner’s employer.
This describes individuals who live outside of their passport country between the ages of 0-18. They commonly become expats because the entire family unit relocated to one or more countries. They might have moved once or moved multiple times before the age of 18.
These young individuals may also become expats for other reasons including attending school in a different country, staying with family or friends while family is in a different country, spending a year abroad in a student exchange program, or completing a gap year (working, volunteering, etc).
Their legal status is often dependent (if they move with their family) on the status of their parents. For other situations, it will vary.
Need More Info?:
Listen to “Living on the Move” with Amel Derragui to understand her experiences as an accompanying partner.
Read Raising Future Third Culture Kids to learn more about TCKs.
Read The Third Culture Kid Story I Wish I Had Read to get a first-hand perspective from a Black TCK.
These are the individuals who have decided to relocate outside of their home country after leaving the primary career. They may continue to work part-time or do consulting work. Often, they are motivated by a variety of factors including better quality of life, cheaper cost of living and even favorable weather.
Depending on their location, some retirees may be eligible for specific visas for retirees. Otherwise, they are just subject to the general visa/residency requirements for foreigners in their host country. These expats may stay abroad as long as they choose and are able to do it or never return to their home country.
For those are who are still in the workforce, some are choosing to work from a location different from their home country. They may have their own entrepreneurial business or work for an employer who is based in a country different from their location.
If working for an employer, remote workers may be able to stay in their chosen location based on a visa for digital nomads. Otherwise, they have to explore the available visa options available to them. Depending on the legal requirements of the country, it can vary how long they can stay in-country. However, in some places, they might be eligible for a digital nomad/remote worker visa.
Need More Info?
Learn the difference between remote workers and digital nomads.
Listen to Joyce Barr’s story on how she became a retiree expat on The Global Chatter Podcast.
Read Devin and Lawanson Austin’s story on becoming retirees in Costa Rica.
A new category has emerged that defies traditional definitions: the hybrid or part-time expat. These individuals split their time between two or more countries, maintaining homes, communities, and often work commitments in multiple locations.
They types of expats might include many of the previous categories included above:
While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it covers the main types of expats you’re likely to encounter—and perhaps one you’ll become yourself. The most important thing is finding the right option that makes sense for your unique situation. International living isn’t for everyone, and that’s perfectly fine. But if you’re curious and drawn to the idea of building a life beyond borders, there’s never been a better time to explore what’s possible.
The world is wide open. The question is: where will you go?
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