Top five countries for expat life - The Expat Explorer Survey 2014 from HSBC

The Expat Explorer Survey 2014 from HSBC Expat has compared 34 different countries, and ranked them across three categories – economics, experience, and raising children abroad.

According to expats, when it comes to quality of life, Switzerland comes top of the league table, followed by Singapore and China.

The USA and the UK did not fare so well, ranking near the bottom of the table for expats in 30th and 33rd place respectively. According to the survey, Egypt has been voted as the worst place to live abroad.

Let’s take a look at the top five countries which are getting it right when it comes to being a host country for expats.

Switzerland

Coming in first place, Switzerland is an all round winner for expats, being a well-balanced country and offering a high quality lifestyle. In terms of economic satisfaction, 87% of expats living in Switzerland are happy with the economy, and 85% earn a greater salary since moving there.

Nevertheless, this prosperity is somewhat counteracted by the high cost of living, be it food, accommodation or health care – things in Switzerland don’t come cheap. It’s not hard to see the attractions however, from its natural beauty creating great resources from outdoor activities to its oh-so-delicious chocolate.

However, the main downside to this high flying country would be the slightly “boring” reputation – being a reserved and conservative nation, Switzerland didn’t score so well for integrating expats into their new society. Nevertheless, despite the not so friendly attitude, Switzerland clearly had enough charm to win its title as 2014’s number one expat destination.

Singapore

Singapore skyline at night, the second favorite location for expat life

A popular expat hub, Singapore was the runner-up destination for expats. Similar to Switzerland, it was another top country with regards to economy and in addition it is a country which has embraced cultural diversity.

For those business minded expats, Singapore offers fantastic opportunities, with huge freedom in the market and low taxes. If that isn’t enough to convince you, Singapore is great for the entire expat family, being considered a safe destination with a great education system.

However, no country is perfect, Singapore has recently changed its foreign policy laws in favour of local Singaporeans. In addition, there are some laws in Singapore that some expats won’t be accustomed too – such as the ban on importing chewing gum (chewing gum is only allowed for therapeutic purposes).

China

China snatched third place on the leader board with regards to expat life, and came in first place in the expat economy category. Foreigners certainly seem to do well in terms of monetary issues with 23% of expats earning over $300,000. China has some interesting cultural customs which may add to its expat appeal, such as doing business over karaoke. Expats in China have the highest disposable income and also manage to have a very active social life, therefore its not big surprise that China ranked so highly in the survey.

Germany

Germany is great for expat families, but be prepared to learn the language.

Europe’s economic powerhouse, Germany is a well rounded country for expats, with 87% feeling satisfied with the local economy. It was also ranked as the third best country for raising children abroad. Overall Germany is seen as a good expat destination for work, family life and overall quality of life, however, almost a third (31%) of respondents said they found it hard to make local friends.

Bahrain

The highest ranking Arab country, Bahrain comes in fifth place this year. Almost two-thirds (62%) of expats living in Bahrain were satisfied with their work-life balance, as well as an enjoyable commute to work, in comparison to their home countries.

Expats in Bahrain also enjoy the culture (84%) and local food (74%) but tend to stick to expat communities, with three-quarters saying they tend to make friends with other expats rather than locals.

NewZealand

Raising a family

New Zealand came sixth in the overall rankings, but was voted the best destination for raising a family abroad.

The majority of expat parents living in New Zealand commented on the improved health and well-being and safety of their children, as well as saying they are bringing up more confident and well-rounded individuals.

Read More New Zealand to move from rock star to rock solid economy 

"Life is what you make it here - there are more opportunities for children, both educationally and socially," an expat parent in New Zealand told HSBC.

6 ways to get your working visa

So many countries offer working holiday visas these days, allowing you to earn some extra money while you travel and take in the culture. Here are the countries that offer such visas and how to go about applying for them – and, for those that don't, the other visas that are available to you.

1. Australia

Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Australia's Working Holiday programme allows people aged between 18-30 to travel and work within the country for 12 months. Travel is open, you can enter and re-enter as much as you want during this time, but the employment must be the secondary purpose, and only be for six of the 12 months. Employment can only be extended in exceptional conditions.

Visitors from America apply for the Subclass 462 visa, while travellers from the UK, India and Canada for the Subclass 417 visa. New Zealand passport holders can work in Australia without restriction.

For non-US applicants, generally you can apply for a second working holiday visa after completing three months of work on your first visa. Working holiday visa holders are permitted to undertake any kind of temporary or casual work.

2. UK

UK Border Agency

The UK's Youth Mobility Scheme is available to nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand aged 17-30, allowing holders 24 months to work and travel during the full two-year period. Although this is a time limit which cannot be extended or put on hold, travel is open for you to leave or re-enter the country to your heart's content.

There are no restrictions on the type of work you are allowed to do, except that you can't start up your own business, work in professional sports or as a trainee doctor. You also don't need a UK sponsor.

Indian citizens require a general visitor visa for tourism, which extends to no longer than six months and does not include employment. However, if you visit the UK on a regular basis, you can apply for a multiple-entry, long-term visa for one, two, five or ten years.

You can also apply under British ancestry if you are want to work in the UK and are a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that at least one of your grandparents was born in the UK. This allows you to stay and work in the UK for five years or more.

3. America

American Visa Bureau

Those hoping to visit America just for travel from the UK, Australia or New Zealand can be covered for three months' travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as long as an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application is completed. Under the B2 American Tourist visa, you can extend this up to six months, however no employment or financial gain is permitted. The J1 visa does cover on the job training for the extent of an exchange program, both for casual and more specialised work environments.

America unfortunately does not offer work holiday visas, but there are temporary employment and tourist visas available. The H1B required a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in the specialty, the relevant work experience and any lisence, registration or certificate needed to authorise practice. These are generally issued for three years, and may be extended. L1 applicants must be related to an American organisation, have continuously worked for the organisation for at least one year in the past three and be a person of specialised knowledge.

There are 10,500 E-3 visas open on a first-come, first-serve basis to Australian nationals, provided they have an offer of specialty employment already in place. These are valid for two years and can be renewed indefinitely on a two-year basis. Canadians can also be employed under a TN visa as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

4. New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand

Conditions for a working holiday visa in New Zealand vary from country to country, but Australian nationals are able to live and work in New Zealand at any time for any duration. Working holiday visas are available for US, UK and Canadian citizens. British eligibility requires that applicants be between 18-30, and can apply for a 12 or 23-month stay, although must not work for more than 12 months of this time.

Americans and Canadians have the opportunity of 12 months with a working holiday visa. Applicants from the US must be between 18-30, whereas Canada extends this up to 35. Most travellers can also enrol in one training or study course of up to three months during this time. Visa holders are free to leave and re-enter the country at will during the allotted time.

For purely tourist purposes, Canadians can visit New Zealand for up to three months without a visa. British citizens for up to six months.

5. Canada

Canadian Visa Bureau

Canadian working holiday visas, or International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits are open to nationals of Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and the age restrictions, type of work allowed and duration varies.

New Zealanders between 18-35 can apply for a year's work permit, while British nationals between 18-30 can apply for a year. Australians aged 18-30 can apply for a visa for up to two years.

In terms of temporary work visas, not all jobs require a visa (such as clergy, film and media crew, public speakers, judges etc), although may need a temporary resident visa. The Canadian Visa Bureau has also advertised that certain IT workers can have their work permits processed faster, due to demand.

Most don't need a visa just to visit Canada, although Indian nationals do. A temporary resident visa may be required. Under NAFTA, US citizens are also able to access Canada more quickly and easily for business.

6. India

Indian Visa Application Centre UK

India unfortunately does not offer working holiday visas; those hoping to visit the country must instead apply for a tourist or an employment visa.

Employment visas for India require that you be employed by an Indian company or do honourary work with registered NGOs in India. The visas will have limited validity, irrespective of the length of contract you have with your organisation, but can be extended for up to five years.

Tourist visas are available for three months, six months or a year, and are non-extendable and cannot be converted into any other type of visa. Depending on how often you plan to leave and re-enter the country, you must apply for a single, double or multiple-entry visa.

This visa advice has been sourced for citizens of the UK, US, Canada, India, New Zealand and Australia. Many visas are open to other nationalities. Please see individual visa application websites (above) for further info.

Top 5 things to prepare before moving abroad

Research Visa Requirements

Visa requirements will vary from country to country, so it is important to research the different types of visas and find out which one suits you and your situation best. Some visas, such as the Canadian International Experience Class visa, have very limited places and fill up quite fast. For this reason, it is useful to research your visa options well in advance so as to be best prepared should a limited places approach apply to your desired visa. Our website has detailed information on the visa requirements of all of the countries listed from Australia and America to Germany and New Zealand.

Make copies of your I.D., Passport Photos and documents

Before you leave for your new country make sure to make photocopies of your ID and passport. Perhaps leave one of the copies with a friend or family member, so if you ever lose something you have a copy of it for the Embassy. Also make sure to bring along a few spare passport photos, these are handy to have when you first arrive and need to apply for local ID cards or travel cards.

Get your Qualifications Recognised

Remember that your qualifications may not be compatible to the qualification standards of your chosen country. Make sure to research if your qualifications are recognised and if not, you will have to get them recognised by the local authorities in the country. For more information on getting your skills recognised see the Where to go section on our website.

Update your C.V.

The layout of a C.V. will differ from country to country. Some countries prefer detailed descriptions on previous work experiences while other countries will only be looking for concise details of your experience. You should update your C.V. to suit the requirements of your chosen country as it will work in your favour when applying for jobs. Remember also for some countries it is a good idea to get your C.V. translated into the local language, even if it is not a requirement it will present a good image of you being prepared.

Create a Budget

It may sound like a boring idea but creating a budget will enable you to know how long you can live in your new country off your savings and what is your time limit for finding a job. You should also check if your destination country requires you to have a minimum amount of money in your bank account, and factor this into your budget. Something else that is important to factor in, is the cost of living in your destination country, as this will have a huge influence on how far your money will go.

The most important thing to remember is research. Some people will move to a country with little or no research completed and as a result they are not prepared for what is ahead. Once you research and plan you will be prepared for whatever your new move throws at you and you can enjoy it to the full, as it is going to be one of the best times of your life.

New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category(Skilled PR)

The New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is for foreign skilled workers who are under 50 years of age, healthy, of good character and who speak English. This is an opportunity for them to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently.

Eligibility for New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category

To fulfill the basic requirements to be eligible for residence under Skilled Migrant Category you must:

• be 55 or under
• be healthy
• be of good character
• speak English.

To qualify under the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category a minimum of 100 points needs to be scored in a points based assessment. You score points for age, experience, employability and qualifications. Candidates for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category who have an offer of employment, work experience or qualifications in an area of absolute skill shortage identified on the LTSSL(Long Term Skill Shortage List), may gain bonus points towards their application for residence, which may also help them to qualify for Skilled Migrant Category.

Once you qualify, the first step towards skilled migration can be made by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Skilled migration to immigration New Zealand.

If you have claimed 100 points or more on your EOI, you can submit it into the Pool. 100 points will get your EOI into the ‘Pool’, but the more points you have, the more likely you are to be selected.

Once your EOI is drawn from the pool, after assessment the department sends an Invitation To Apply (ITA) and now you will have to show proof of the claims made on your EOI. This means medical and police certificates, proof of English language ability, and documentation regarding your skills, experience, and other factors.

After you submit application and the documents asked, department starts assessing you for residence. They will once again make sure that you meet all requirements, and that your points claimed are valid.

The department will also assess you on your ability to settle in New Zealand successfully. They may consider you able based on your application, or may wish to interview you.

There are three possible outcomes:

• The department grants you residence.
• The department thinks you have potential, but want to see how you settle, they will give you a job search visa, which you can use to help obtain an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand for up to nine months. If you obtain skilled employment in this time you will have shown your ability to settle and contribute, and your residence application will be approved.
• The department declines your application.

Important Note on Occupational registration: If your occupation needs occupational registration in New Zealand and you do not have it, you will not be able to work in your chosen occupation under the Skilled Migrant Category.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA?

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship once they live in New Zealand for a certain period of time.

Partner and dependent children are allowed to accompany the principal applicant under SMC and can study, work and live permanently in New Zealand.

Newzealand Skilled Migrant Category Points and bonus points

Skilled Migrant Category

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for residence under SMC you must:

• be 55 or under
• be healthy
• be of good character
• speak English.

To decide if you can apply we use a points system. You get points for age, experience, employability and qualifications.

How to apply

There are two steps:

1. You complete an Expression of Interest, telling us about yourself, your family, your skills and your experience.
2. If you have enough points, we accept your Expression of Interest, and send you an Invitation to Apply. You complete it, and return it to us with your supporting documents.

Find out more

• Points indicator – Gives you an idea of how many points you could claim when you apply.
• Can I apply? – Gives you the basic requirements you have to meet, and more about the points system.
• How to apply – How you lodge your Expression of Interest, and what you’ll need to provide later with you application.
• After you’re approved – Some things you need to know about when your application has been accepted.

Points and bonus points

All of the available points are listed below. 100 points will get your EOI into the ‘Pool’, but the more points you have, the more likely you are to be selected.

Age

• 30 points: 20-29 years
• 25 points: 30-39 years
• 20 points: 40-44 years
• 10 points: 45-49 years
• 5 points: 50-55 years.

Close family

10 points for close family in New Zealand.

Skilled employment

• 50 points: job offer
• 50 points: working in a skilled job in New Zealand for less than 12 months
• 60 points: working in a skilled job in New Zealand for more than 12 months.

Bonus points

• 10 points: work in an identified future growth area
• 10 points: work in an area of absolute skills shortage
• 10 points: work in a region outside Auckland
• 20 points if partner has a skilled job or job offer.

Work experience in skilled employment

• 10 points: 2 years
• 15 points: 4 years
• 20 points: 6 years
• 25 points: 8 years
• 30 points: 10 years.

Bonus points for work experience in New Zealand:

• Five points: one year
• 10 points: two years
• 15 points: three or more years.

And if the work experience is in an identified future growth area:

• 10 points: 2 to 5 years experience
• 15 points: 6 or more years experience.

And if the work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage:

• 10 points: 2 to 5 years
• 15 points: 6 or more years.

Qualifications

• 40 points: recognised level 4-6 qualification (e.g. trade qualification, diploma)
• 50 points: recognised level 7 or 8 qualification (e.g. bachelor degree, bachelor degree with honours)
• 60 points: recognised level 9 or 10 post-graduate qualification (masters degree, doctorate)

Bonus points for qualifications:

• 10 points: two years full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised bachelor degree New Zealand qualification 
• 10 points: One year of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification
• 15 points: two years of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification
• 10 points: qualification in an identified future growth area
• 10 points: qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage
• 10 points   if your partner holds a level 4-6 qualification
• 20 points: if your partner holds a level 7+ qualification.

Click the link for points calculator:  http://www.immigration.govt.nz/pointsindicator/