Europe’s citizenship-by-investment programs are alive and well, despite calls from across the political spectrum to end them. In Greece and Portugal, the number of visas granted in recent months has been on the up, and demand in Italy and Spain has hit record levels. So-called golden visas allow wealthy foreigners to gain EU residency — and by extension, a path to citizenship — by investing in local real estate or financial assets. There are few strings attached, and some programs require...

Mexico is the top spot for expats in 2023. That’s according to a survey of more than 12,000 respondents across the globe by InterNations, which provides online services for people who live and work abroad. Expats living in Mexico, which has been ranked in the top five since the survey was first conducted in 2014, cited “local friendliness,” exciting culture and good housing options in their responses. Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines also ranked in...

Foreign buyers, especially from the US and northern Europe, have been snapping up homes on Spain’s southern coast, driving up demand for the limited supply of seaside villas in the once quiet area. In the Malaga region, which sits on the Mediterranean Sea about 340 miles (550 kilometers) south of Madrid, prices have reached unheard-of-levels. Marbella, the region’s main city, has seen a 39% surge compared with before the pandemic. Homes there are selling for an average of $1.3 million (1.2...

Hong Kong’s luxury rental market is showing early signs of a rebound after languishing behind other major cities during the pandemic. Prime residential rents, defined as the top 5% of the market, rose 1.9% in the first quarter, according to a report from real estate consultancy Knight Frank. More expats are returning to the city after strict pandemic rules fully lifted early this year, and a new talent visa is attracting high-earners and foreign graduates. Knight Frank expects Hong Kong rents...

For many Americans, a love affair with Portugal blossomed over the last three years: The Iberian nation offered cheap real estate, miles of beautiful coastline and a reprieve from divisive US politics at a time when remote work was flourishing. Now, reality has settled in — and the honeymoon is over. From language barriers and bureaucratic challenges to housing costs that have been driven higher by foreign investment, some expats say that life in Portugal hasn’t met their expectations. The...