Expat Research Part 1. What stays behind getting a one-way ticket and moving countries

I interviewed 50 expats in 2025, and I’m starting a series of articles sharing the key findings with my personal reflections. In this episode of "Expat Research" you will find a few main insights to get us started, the methology (I feel it's important to mention), and some disclaimers on my bias.

Why?

What inspired me to start this research was my own experience of moving abroad, as well as my work as a coach and mentor for expats. I wanted to better understand what people go through.

Of course, I’ve had my own experience (I’ve moved four times) but I was interested in learning about other people’s journeys, different contexts, and the emotions behind them.

My goal is to provide future expats and relocators with greater insight into the emotional side of relocation, and to increase awareness of the emotional well-being aspects of relocation — a perspective that may also be valuable for the employers, international mobility teams, relocation agencies, and the families and friends of those relocating, and most importantly expats themselves.

Key findings

Relocation can be a powerful accelerator of personal growth

Many research participants described a strong sense of achievement, increased self-confidence and resilience, and significant growth in their problem-solving abilities. The feeling of, “If I’ve done this, I can do anything.”

The invisible emotional layer

It's not only a quite emotional process, it's not only a quite rich mix of different emotions (joy, grief, loneliness, excitement goes together), but more than that - it can all stay hidden.

Relocators can choose to hide how they really feel from their family and friends. As a result, much of the emotional reality stays unspoken. Potentially, increasing the isolation. We will explore the reasons behind that and what stays "locked".

People can experience a significant identity shift

To say it simply, people change a lot. Moving countries does not just change the address, it can, to a certain extent, change how people see themselves.

I began this research intending to explore the emotional side of relocation, but it became clear that we are talking about a very deep personal change.

Methodology, Scope and Research Disclaimers

Who are expats

Expat (expatriate) is a person who lives outside their native country, according to the Oxford dictionary.

All participants volunteered to take part in the “Expat Research.” During the interviews, they were free to describe themselves differently and to define their identity or status in their own terms, especially in regions where the term “expat” is less commonly used than “relocator” or “high-skilled migrant.”

• Expats
• Expat partners
• Digital nomads
• Global citizens
• Migrants
• International professionals
• Relocators

Participants have had complex and diverse relocation histories. Although their legal or social labels differed, their lived experiences of relocation, adaptation, identity shifts, and emotional transition shared important common patterns.

Participant Profile

• Moved internationally at least once
• Represent multiple nationalities and geographic regions
• Come from diverse industries, career stages, family structures, and visa situations
• Age 18 and above
• The sample included participants across different gender identities

Some participants moved only once, while some moved multiple times, under different circumstances

At least 10 different nationalities are represented, and participants relocated to at least 10 different destination countries.

This is a qualitative study, not a quantitative one. The data does not focus on differences between experiences based on specific origin or destination countries.

The research focuses on voluntary relocation and does not cover forced displacement or refugee experiences.

All participants were 18 or above on the moment of the interview. At least one international move in their experience have happened when they were above 18 years old. Although, some participants have had experience of their first international move when they were younger than 18, this research is not focused on the experience of children.

In this research, I intentionally set aside political and legal categorizations. While, from a legal perspective, terms such as "migrant" or "immigrant" could technically apply to many internationally mobile individuals (including expats), these terms carry significant political and social connotations.

Participants included individuals who relocated across varied economic and cultural contexts. Some described their move as being from a “developing” country to a “developed” one, while others experienced relocation in the opposite direction. The research acknowledges this diversity of contexts; however, it does not analyse or compare experiences based on economic development status. The focus remains on the psychological and identity dimensions of relocation rather than structural or geopolitical classifications.

Scope

The primary focus of this research is:

• Emotional adaptation
• Identity development and shifts
• Personal changes
• Career and life transitions linked to relocation
• Learning and collective knowledge

The research does not focus on legal classification, immigration policy, or political frameworks. The emphasis remains on lived experience rather than formal status.

Methodology

50+ in-depth interviews

1:1 audio or video calls or in-person conversations

Semi-structured interview format (open questions)

Bias disclaimer

As I am part of the expat community myself, some degree of bias is inevitable. Yet, during the interviews, I remained mindful of this, asked open questions, and avoided sharing judgments. Some participants knew me personally; others did not. This research has its limitations, but I trust it's contributing meaningfully to raising awareness on the subject.

In my articles, I will separate my findings from my personal reflections, tips, or points of view.

Let's discuss it

Share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear what you think.

Coming next

Part 2: Work, comfort, love and other reasons to move countries.