The 7 Most Common Expat Types and Why They Move Abroad

Although every expat journey is unique, there are similarities when it comes to their motivation for moving and their lifestyle abroad.

Based on the insights of more than 18,000 expats living in 187 countries and territories in the annual Expat Insider survey, InterNations presented comprehensive findings into the 7 most common expat types that roam the word.

1 THE GO-GETTER (21%)

Reasons for moving abroad:

found a job abroad on their own: 58%

recruited by a local company: 31%

start a business abroad: 10%

Go-Getters are highly educated expats who move abroad to boost their career: 10% of Go-Getters hold a PhD, 45% a master’s degree, and 33% have a bachelor’s degree. In their new country of residence, they mainly work in education, IT, and manufacturing & engineering. “Working life in Germany is very satisfying, especially for engineers like myself, as there is an abundance of jobs and opportunities,” says a Go-Getter from Singapore.

“The job I have is very exciting in terms of the future, and the salary is very good,” reports a British Go-Getter living in Vietnam. In fact, close to three in five Go-Getters believe their salary abroad is higher than what they would make in a similar job back home.

2 THE OPTIMIZER (16%)

Reasons for moving abroad:

better quality of life: 60%

financial reasons: 28%

Out of all expat types, Optimizers see the most potential benefits in moving abroad. Additionally, close to nine in ten Optimizers feel safe abroad, and are satisfied with their financial situation.