What is an expat, and how is this different from being an immigrant? These questions are asked time and time again. This article explains what is meant by the term expat, the difference between an expat, an immigrant and a migrant, and where expats are most commonly found around the world.
What is an expat?
Expat is short for ‘expatriate’. It is the word used for a person who lives outside of their home country, whether it’s for work or by choice. The word expatriate itself comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“native country, fatherland”). So, literally, it means someone who has gone out of their native country. You’ll see that patria has obvious links to patriotism, while ex means ‘out of’ or ‘no longer’. Generally, expats intend to return to their home country one day, or have not yet decided how long they will stay.
The key facts about expats are explained below.
What is the difference between an expat and an immigrant?
In practice, there isn’t much difference between the two. Unfortunately, often the use of the two words comes down to class and/or skin colour. ‘Immigrant’ is often steeped in negative connotations – and there have often been arguments trying to ban immigrants, but rarely does anyone try to ban expats. However, there has been an attempt to boil the two terms down to actual differences. Malte Zeeck is the CEO of InterNations, which is an expat network. It is one of the largest networks of its kind, with millions of members in hundreds of cities worldwide.
He defines an immigrant as follows: “Immigrants are usually defined as people who have come to a different country in order to live there permanently, whereas expats move abroad for a limited amount of time or have not yet decided upon the length of their stay,”
Whereas he defines an expat as: “I use expat in a much broader sense of the word, describing rather someone who decides to live abroad for a specified amount of time without any restrictions on origin or residence,”
These definitions may not change much in terms of politics and socioeconomics, but it is important to understand that there are not many differences between immigrants and expats. The main one seems to be the (intended) length of stay!
What is a migrant?
Where do migrants fit into this? By definition and as the name suggests, migrants migrate. The term is often used for people who move to find work. This includes migrant farmers and those who do seasonal work that doesn’t happen year-round in every part of the world.
Recent events have had a big impact on migrant workers. Brexit ended freedom of movement between the UK and the EU in 2021, so seasonal workers from the EU now need visas to work in the UK (for example, through the UK’s Seasonal Worker visa scheme), while the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted much cross-border travel for both work and leisure.
What is an expat- a few statistics
According to Finaccord, there were around 66.2 million expatriates worldwide in 2017, up from 52.8 million in 2013 – a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%. More broadly, the UN estimates that there were around 304 million international migrants (people living outside their country of birth) in 2024, equivalent to around 3.7% of the world’s population.
InterNations publishes an annual Expat Insider survey ranking the best and worst places to live as an expat, based on factors such as quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad and personal finances. In the 2024 survey, Panama, Mexico and Indonesia were ranked as the top three destinations for expats.
The survey also ranks countries on individual factors, such as travel and transport, safety and security and quality of the environment, where countries such as Switzerland, Singapore, Finland and Norway tend to score highly. Full results are available from InterNations.
Where do expats live?
Where do most expats live? This is a hard one to answer accurately, just like the ‘what is an expat’ question. Of course, it is likely there are expats in every part of the world who have moved there for one reason or another. But there are certain trends that expats seem to follow, as outlined below.
Brits in Spain and France
Many British expats leave the UK in search of sunshine and sandy beaches. This trend grew from the 1970s, with retirees heading to Spain’s Costa del Sol. Since Brexit, British citizens can only stay in the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa or residence permit, making it more complicated to move there. There are now many retired expats in the south of France, too, for example in the Dordogne region. These places are warm and sunny, and offer a slower pace of life for those who want it. There is also plenty to see and do nearby, so it’s the best of both worlds.
Oligarchs in London
An oligarch is a very wealthy and politically influential business leader. When people talk about oligarchs in London, they are usually referring to Russian billionaires who rapidly accumulated wealth during the privatisation of state assets after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. Many invested heavily in London property and other assets, earning the city the nickname ‘Londongrad’ or ‘Moscow on Thames’. Roman Abramovich, for example, owned Chelsea FC from 2003 until he was forced to sell the club in 2022, after the UK government imposed sanctions on him following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tax exiles in Monaco
Some people choose to become expats in order to pay less (or no) tax. Monaco is widely regarded as a tax haven, because it does not levy personal income tax on its residents (with the exception of French nationals), and it does not have a wealth tax. It’s easy to see why many wealthy expats choose to move there.
The Beat Generation
The Beat Generation was an American literary movement of the 1950s and 1960s, including Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. They settled in Tangier in Morocco during the 1950s, and in Paris in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were considered to be expats at this time. In Paris many members of the Beat Generation lived in a hotel at 9 Rue Gît-le-Cœur in the Latin Quarter. The building is still a hotel today, now called the Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris.
Expats in Dubai
There are many global expats now living in Dubai. Recently there has been a huge uptake in (especially young) people moving to Dubai to live and work. It is estimated that there are now over 240,000 British expats alone, and many more from other countries. But why? Dubai offers no personal income tax, a warm climate, strong job prospects in sectors such as finance, tourism and construction, and long-term residence options such as the UAE Golden Visa. There is also the glamour and wealth associated with Dubai which attracts many people.
What about visas?
Where people can live as expats depends on the visa and residence rules of the country they are considering and the passport they hold. Some countries require a large amount of paperwork, job offers or minimum incomes, while others make it relatively easy – including the growing number of countries that offer digital nomad visas for remote workers.
What is a diaspora?
A diaspora is a scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographic place. So for example, the Welsh diaspora refers to Welsh people living in other places. It is a concept rather than a specific group, but many people of the same nationality find each other (on purpose or by chance) when living abroad. They may engage in activities that keep their culture going and help to avoid loneliness or homesickness. Groups of expats are, indeed, an example of a diaspora.
The term diaspora was historically used to describe the dispersion of Jewish people from the Land of Israel, and it is important to recognise this history when using the term.
What is an expat: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about expats.
What is an expat?
An expat, short for expatriate, is a person who lives outside their home country, usually for work or lifestyle reasons, and often with the intention of returning home at some point.
What is the difference between an expat and an immigrant?
An immigrant usually moves to another country to live there permanently, while an expat typically moves abroad for a limited or undecided period. In practice the terms overlap, and critics argue that their use is often linked to wealth, class or race.
What is the difference between a migrant and an immigrant?
Migrant is a broad term for anyone who moves from one place to another, often for work, and it can include temporary and seasonal workers. An immigrant is someone who moves to another country to settle there.
How many expats are there in the world?
Estimates vary depending on definitions. Finaccord estimated that there were around 66 million expatriates in 2017, while the UN estimates that there were around 304 million international migrants in 2024.
Where do most expats live?
Popular expat destinations include the UAE, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Panama, Singapore and Thailand. In InterNations’ 2024 Expat Insider survey, Panama, Mexico and Indonesia were ranked the top destinations.
What is an expat? Further reading
If you found this article answering the question ‘what is an expat?’ useful, these articles may also be of interest:
- What is worldschooling and how does it work?
- The pros and cons of being a self-employed travel agent
- Digital nomad jobs- A complete list
- Workation explained: What it means and how it works
- Jobs in travel and tourism
