The following sites are primarily geared toward people moving or living abroad:
Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers: Primarily geared toward the business crowd, this website represents a worldwide network of immigration lawyers and provides a wealth of practical information and resources regarding work, immigration, citzenship and doing business in many countries around the world.
@llo Expat Worldwide: Resources and discussion forums focusing mainly on Asia, the Middle East and South America. www.alloexpat.com
Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO): An advocacy group for American expatriates (particularly tax policy). The site also provides some useful data and news. www.aaro.org
AngloINFO Worldwide: Full service guide to 20 countries, and growing. Site keeps an excellent list of English-language media outlets around the world. www.angloinfo.com
BlogExpat.com: A directory for expat blogs, travels and blogs abroad, open to any personal blog of an individual living abroad and sharing their expat experience. www.blogexpat.com
CraigsList: Established in over 80 cities (not including those in the U.S.) in 50 different countries, with more being added all the time, this unique web resource offers bulletin boards for buying, selling, renting, jobs, activities and personals. Not specifically designed for expatriates, but most of the posts are by English speakers even in non-English-speaking countries. www.craigslist.org
Easy Expat: Focus mainly on Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, U.K.
www.easyexpat.com
Expat-Blog: Active expat forums, searchable user databases (by name, nationality, current residence, etc.) with active links to users’ offsite blogs.
www.expat-blog.com
Expat Focus: Although geared slightly toward British expats, this general resource site covers around 40 countries, with more added frequently.
www.expatfocus.com
Expat Exchange: Another general expat website, geared more toward the upscale traveler and corporate transfers.
www.expatexchange.com
ExpatFinder.com: Comprehensive country-by-country guides to moving, living and working abroad.
www.expatfinder.com
Expat Forums: People helping people. Expat Forums offers a number of active online forums to ask, share and receive questions and information and opinions.
www.expatforums.org
Expatica.com: Plenty of detailed information aimed at the business and professional set. Limited to: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Russia, Spain, South Africa, and Switzerland. Well-researched news, information, forums, and employment opportunities for expats.
www.expatica.com
Expatify.com: “Inspiring expatriatism”; information, resources, destination guides, etc. www.expatify.com
Globe Dweller: General expat site with country guides, forums, job boards, etc. Membership consists of those “wishing to integrate into their host country and immerse themselves into its culture and help othors do the same.”
www.globedweller.com
Just Landed: Offers excellent coverage of Spain, Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria, U.K., Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, New Zealand, Greece, Cyprus, and South Africa.
www.justlanded.com
Living Abroad: Membership site geared toward business transfers.
www.livingabroad.com
Meetup: This site lists group meetings in cities around the world and has extensive listings in the “Expat American” category. www.meetup.com
Overseas Digest: This site provides resources for living, studying and working abroad; also publishes a weekly online newsletter. Geared toward business and bureaucratic types.
www.overseasdigest.com
Tales from a Small Planet: This excellent webzine provides news, stories, links, active message boards, and other resources for travelers and expatriates: www.talesmag.com. The mag also maintains the discussion group “Small Planet” at:
groups.yahoo.com/group/smallplanet
Transitions Abroad: One of the best expat resources on the web. Transitions Abroad offers an online gateway to hundreds of articles, books, and resources about every aspect of moving, living, studying, and working abroad.
www.transitionsabroad.com
CouchSurfing: An International non-profit that connects travelers with locals willing to share couch space and hospitality in over 230 countries.
www.couchsurfing.org
Squatter City: Blog covers squatting and squatter cities across the globe. squattercity.blogspot.com
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF): Links volunteers with organic farmers. www.wwoof.org
Workaway: Work exchange for room and board abroad. www.workaway.info
The following websites allow you to convert the value of any amount of any currency into any other currency (and offer currency broker services):
The Currency Site: www.oanda.com
XE: www.xe.com
Currency, Brokers
Forex Fraud: Offers a directory of currency brokers with reviews as well as general articles and how-to on safely navigating the foreign exchange market. www.forexfraud.com
Mercer Human Resource Consulting:
Catering to the corporate transfer and per diem set, this outsourcing/consulting firm keeps data on various costs associated with living in cities around the world. www.mercer.com
Numbeo: Free Internet database about cost of living and housing indicators worldwide wiki-type database of various types of cost of living data plus averages and rankings by city and country.
www.numbeo.com
Xpatulator: This website charges a fee for in-depth reports, but you can certainly make do on what is provided free—information on cost-of-living indicators for various goods and services around the world, plus other articles on relocating and expatriation.
www.xpatulator.com
Drug Policy Alliance: A non-profit dedicated to progressive, harm-reduction strategies to combat addiction and facilitate debate about current drug policies in a number of countries around the world. www.drugpolicy.org
Erowid: Global drug policy, information, and resources. www.erowid.org
International Harm Reduction
Association: Non-profit devoted to pursuing more enlightened drug policies. Monitors drug laws and legislation around the world. www.ihra.net
Media Awareness Project: Searchable directory of news articles relating to drug policy around the world. Updated daily. www.mapinc.org
Webehigh.com: Worldwide marijuana traveler guide with dispatches by local, er, “correspondents.” Laws, prices, where to go, etc.. Not always completely reliable, but that’s stoner culture for you.
www.webehigh.com
Environmental Performance Index: Yale
Center for Environmental Policy and Law conducts an annual study that ranks the environmental policies of 163 countries based on 25 performance indicators. www.epi.yale.edu
Happy Planet Index: Information and ranking on countries and their ecological footprint. www.happyplanet.index.org
World Electric Guide: Country-by-country guide to the voltage, frequency and plug and outlet types used in every country in the world. www.kropla.com
Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide: Geared toward diplomatic families, this site provides helpful resources for any family living overseas, including information on education, finances, and domestic issues. www.aafsw.org
Families in Global Transition: Resources and information for expatriate parents. www.figt.org
Family Life Abroad: For and by expatriates on family life outside the U.S. www.familylifeabroad.com
Ori & Ricki: Cartoon couple Ori and Ricki star in this website that was actually created for expat children. Games, stories, links and more than a few resources for Mom and Dad as well.
www.ori-and-ricki.net
TCK World: Essays, resources and articles devoted to “Third Culture Kids” including military brats, preachers’ kids, Foreign Service and corporate kids, and others who have lived as children in foreign cultures. www.tckworld.com
Travel with Your Kids: With particular emphasis on parents traveling or moving abroad with children.
www.travelwithyourkids.com
Gay Times: Well-researched listings give the legal as well as cultural situation for gays and lesbians worldwide. Website contains a searchable database of the rules and customs of every country as well as links to other resources.
www.gaytimes.co.uk
International Lesbian and Gay
Association: Reports on gay and lesbian issues around the world. www.ilga.org
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission: Information about government policies pertaining to gay and lesbian communities around the world. www.iglhrc.org
International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association: Website of trade association focusing on travel options for gays and lesbians. www.iglta.org
OutTraveler: Provides city guides, travel basics, information about events, and guides to clubs, bars, and nightlife in a number of different countries.
www.outtraveler.com
SodomyLaws.org: Worldwide monitor of sodomy laws, gay rights, etc. www.sodomylaws.org
Freeexistence.org: Everything you want to know about gun rights anywhere in the world. www.freeexistence.org
European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control: U.N.-affiliated organization focused on crime and justice issues.
www.heuni.fi
Maplecroft: This global risk management company assesses, rates and ranks risks of everything from terrorism to climate change.
www.maplecroft.com
Small Arms Survey: Keeps track of small arms proliferation worldwide. www.smallarmssurvey.org
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Publishes reports and surveys on crime around the world. www.unodc.org
Governance, Regulatory
Environment, Human Rights
Amnesty International: Worldwide watchdog of human rights. Offers country-by-country human rights reports.
www.amnesty.org
Doing Business Project: The World Bank’s Doing Business Index measures and rates the business and regulatory climate in over 183 countries. www.doingbusiness.org
Freedom House: Nonprofit watchdog groups that monitors human rights and the growth of democracy and freedom across the world. Country profiles on webpage. www.freedomhouse.org
Human Rights Watch: Publishes annual human rights report covering the human rights situation in 90 countries around the world.
www.hrw.org
Transparency International: Global organization that monitors corruption in government. www.transparency.org
World Bank: Data, resources, and publications about the performance of governments around the world.
www.worldbank.org
English-Speaking Doctors: The
International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers provides a searchable database of English-speaking physicians around the world.iamat.org
The following sites list up-to-date information regarding recommended vaccines, infectious disease outbreaks and other health issues worldwide:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/travel
U.N. World Health Organization:
The following sites provide information and up-to-date information on food safety and outbreaks of food-borne illnesses.
Bites: bites.ksu.edu
World Health Organization (WHO)
Food Safety Division: www.who.int
Aetna Global Benefits:
Bupa: www.bupa.com
Clements International:
eGlobalHealth Insurers Agency, LLC:
Expatriate Health Ins. Protection Plans:
IMG: www.expathealthcentre.com
GlobalTel: International callback
numbers. globaltel.com
Kallback: Low-cost international calling service operates from anywhere to anywhere. Internet or VolP not required. www.kallback.com
Satel Call: Offers low-cost long distance from anywhere to anywhere via a “callback” number. Internet or VolP not required. www.satelcall.com
Embassy World: This site lists embassy/consulate locations, phone numbers and websites for most countries.
www.embassyworld.com
U.S. Global Mail: Offers a dedicated U.S.-based address where you can have your mail delivered or forwarded. Mail can then be forwarded to anywhere in the world. www.usglobalmail.com
My U.S.: Offers a dedicated U.S.-based address where you can have your mail delivered or forwarded. Mail can then be forwarded to anywhere in the world. www.myus.com
American Moving and Storage
Association (AMSA): Offers advice, information and helpful hints about international moving, and posts listings of AMSA-certified companies.
www.moving.org
Household Goods Forwarders
Association of America (HHGFAA):
Offers searchable directory of HHGFAA-certified members.
www.moverworldwide.com
International Association of Movers:
(ISM): Professional association of movers and forwarders. Database of global movers and online shipping guide.
www.iamovers.org
International Shippers Association
(ISA): www.isaship.org
Mover Worldwide Directory: Offers searchable database of moving companies based on the location you are moving to and/or from.
www.moversworldwide.com
The following sites offer searchable databases to find Internet Cafés worldwide:
Cyber Captive: www.cybercaptive.com
CyberCafes.com: www.cybercafes.com
Travel Island:
www.travel-island.com/internetcafes
Internet Access Providers Meta-List:
The List: www.thelist.com
The Bandwidth Report: News, statistics and technical information regarding Internet usage worldwide. www.websiteoptimization.com/bw
Internet World Stats: Offers news, statistics and technical information regarding Internet usage around the world. www.internetworldstats.com
Speedtest.net: Compiles user-supplied stats on various countries and Internet providers, particularly average upload and download speed.
www.speedtest.net
Skype: Free downloadable software allows free unlimited VolP calls to any other Skype user and low-cost calls to other landlines and cellular phones. Also available for a small fee are voicemail and “Skype In” which allows incoming calls from cellular phones and landlines. www.skype.com
Vonage: Fee-based VolP provider, requires yearly contract. Allows incoming calls from all phones. Calls are free within the U.S. and Canada and are billed at discounted rates to the rest of the world. www.vonage.com
Voip-info.org: A global reference source for “all things VoIP.” www.voip-info.org
The following websites offer searchable directories of Wi-Fi spots worldwide:
JiWire: www.jiwire.com
Hotspot Haven: hotspothaven.com
WeFi: www.wefi.com
WiFinder: www.wifinder.com
Wi-Fi Hotspot List:
Anywork, Anywhere: Seasonal, temporary and permanent job listings and resources. anyworkanywhere.com
BUNAC USA: Provides temporary work permits for students and recent graduates for Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. bunac.com
InterExchange: Hooking up Americans with cultural/work/volunteer opportunities abroad.
www.interexchange.org
Manpower Group: Corporate employment firm provides quarterly labor market outlook reports showing where the jobs are. www.manpowergroup.com
Relocate Magazine: For HR Global Managers and Relocation Professionals, this site is packed with articles and resources covering every aspect of corporate relocation and labor migration.
www.relocatemagazine.com
Workpermit.com: Information and assistance with immigration/work permits in U.K., Australia, and Canada.
www.workpermit.com
The following sites offer job listings for international jobs:
Career Builder: www.careerbuilder.com
Careers Without Borders:
www.careeerswithoutborders.com
Craigslist: www.craigslist.org
Eurojobs.com: www.eurojobs.com
ExpatCareers.com: expatcareers.com
International Herald Tribune
(classifieds): www.iht.com
International Job Center:
Overseas Jobs: www.overseasjobs.com
Stepstone: www.stepstone.com
Wall Street Journal Online:
The following sites match au pairs and families worldwide (unless otherwise indicated) and offer discussion forums, resources and other advice for au pairs and host families.
Au Pair Box (Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, USA, U.K.)
www.au-pair-box.com
Au Pair Connect: aupairconnect.com
Almondbury Au Pair & Nanny Agency: (Europe Only): www.aupair-agency.com
Great Au Pair: www.greataupair.com
E-Au Pair: www.eaupair.com
Au Pair World: www.aupair-world.net
The Au Pair Company:
Find Au Pair: www.findaupair.com
International Au Pair Association
at www.iapa.org where you’ll find a searchable database of au pair agencies around the world.
Aeon: Japan-based firm that specializes in English instruction with branches in every prefecture in Japan. aeonet.com
Dave’s ESL Café: The top resource for English teachers Includes articles, job boards, discussion forum and links.
www.daveseslcafe.com
ESL Directory: Directory of ESL lessons and programs around the world. www.eslinternational.com
ESL Guide: Guide to English-language schools and ESL programs worldwide.
www.esl-guide.com
ESL Junction: Job listings, resources, TEFL/TESL courses and forums worldwide, particularly Asia.
www.esljunction.com
ESL Worldwide: General information and listings for English-teaching jobs, TEFL/TESL programs and schools worldwide.
www.eslworldwide.com
English International: Information and advice on TEFL/TESL training, certification, job market, publications, etc.
www.english-international.com
Europa Pages, International Language Job Center: Free service for both English-teaching job seekers and employers. europa-pages.co.uk.jobs
Expat Teaching Recruitment: Specialist recruitment agency that places English teachers in foreign countries.
www.expatteaching.com
The International Educator: A nonprofit publication listing hundreds of English-language teaching jobs. Also provides information on salaries, benefits, and how to secure an overseas position. www.tieonline.com
JET Program
The JET program was started with the purpose of increasing mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the people of other nations. It aims to promote internationalization in Japan’s local communities by helping to improve foreign-language education and developing international exchange at the community level. jetprogramme.org
Jobs, Journalism/Writing/Media
Journalism Jobs: Has listings of journalism jobs worldwide.
www.journalismjobs.com
mediabistro: Media website offers forums and (occasionally international) job listings. www.mediabistro.com
Editor and Publisher: Leading journalism trade magazine has extensive job listings. www.editorandpublisher.com
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ): Along with protecting the rights of journalists worldwide, SPJ offer fellowships to working writers seeking time away “for study and research.” www.spj.org
Jobs, Private Military Contractor
The Exchange: Provider of a lot of “like at home” goods and services to U.S. military personnel overseas. Their job board offers exciting overseas careers in retail store-stocking and food service work on bases around the world. odin.aafes.com
University of Maryland, University College: Job board lists openings for administrative and academic positions all over Europe and the (“downrange,” they say) Middle East. ed.umuc.edu
University of Phoenix: Another education contractor, they operate in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Their website keeps a standing call for graduate-degree-level talent to apply to work as an instructor.
www.phoenix.edu
ASPCA: Includes basic information for traveling with pets. www.aspca.org
Independent Pet and Animal
Transportation Association: Links and resources concerning moving pets overseas. www.ipata.com
Let’s Go Pets: A comprehensive and informative site covering all aspects of pet travel. Contains quarantine rules for over 40 countries. www.letsgopets.com
Pet Travel: All around pet and travel resource site, with quarantine rules for every country. www.pettravel.com
Permanent Traveler/Digital Nomads
Almost Fearless: Website for the permanent travel lifestyle. www.almostfearless.com
Digital Nomad: Information and resources for the digital nomad. www.digitalnomad.org
Exile Lifestyle: Kind of like “Zen and the Art of the Permanent Traveler” in blog form. www.exilelifestyle.com
How’s the Wi-Fi? Website with articles about being a digital nomad. www.howsthewifi.com
Nomadtopia: Articles and resources for living “your ideal travel-centric life” edited by “location independent” Amy L. Scott, currently in Buenos Aires, Argentina: www.nomadtopia.com
PT Club: The privacy and sovereignty site contains lots of useful information for digital nomads. www.ptclub.com
Adherents.com: An A—Z guide to religions around the world.
www.adherents.com
Schools, American and International (Primary and Secondary)
Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA): AASSA is a nonprofit membership association currently serving 43 International schools throughout South America and offshore islands. www.aassa.com
Association of Boarding Schools:
Searchable database of boarding schools in Austria, Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, and Tanzania (and U.S.A.). www.schools.com
U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools: The State Department supports hundreds of schools around the world so that overseas government employees can have a place to send their children. www.state.gov
Worldwide Classroom: Any program, any country, any school, this massive database complete with handy icons helps you find what you are looking for. www.worldwide.edu
Study Abroad Universities: Information, links, and resources for students interested in taking courses abroad. www.studyabroaduniversities.com
Student Network: Up-to-date news for students and recent graduates regarding Internships, Scholarships, Summer Schools, Masters and Ph.D. programs. www.scholarshipandphd.blogspot.com
Scholarships 4 Development: Locate overseas scholarships in developing countries. www.scholars4dev.com
Internal Revenue Service: All the information, forms and latest news and updates from your friendly IRS can be accessed at www.irs.gov
Tax Articles International Articles Directory: Country-by-country business and taxation articles and information.
www.taxarticles.info
Worldwide Tax: Information about taxation worldwide. worldwide-tax.com