There are millions of Canadians who, for personal or professional reasons, have chosen to live outside of Canada. Some are away only for a few months, while others may remain abroad for years. No matter where they find themselves, Canadians living abroad often have the same question: How can I vote in Canada’s federal election?

To be eligible to vote by mail, Canadians living abroad must meet four criteria:

1) Skype/FaceTime
As an Expat, connecting with home can be difficult. Ensuring that you have access to Skype, FaceTime or some other video chat service can help you remain connected to your family and friends back home. Regardless of where you are, an internet connection is all you need to “drop in” for family dinner or catch up with Grandma.

1) The United States of America
Being an Expat in the United States, especially coming from Canada, can be a seamless yet difficult transition. With so many things similar, ranging from culture to lifestyle, there are also a lot of aspects of daily life that are difficult to adjust to. One major aspect that ranks the U.S. lower on the list is the health care situation, along with the focus on politics. For us Canadians, it’s just not different enough to feel like you are moving to a new country.

1) Ecuador

The tiny country of Ecuador is high on the list of the best places to be an Expat. With friendly natives, it is easy to settle into this country and make a home for yourself. You should have no trouble making friends with the locals. The average age of an Ecuadorian Expat is more than 40 - it’s a great place to retire to!

1. Experience different cultures by immersion

 While Canada is a wonderful hodgepodge of different cultures, the best way to experience any culture is by fully immersing yourself in it. It’s proven that the fastest way to pick up a language is to give yourself no other option. If you’re looking to experience different cultures, drop yourself in that environment and see how quickly you pick up the customs and traditions of that locale.

How Do You Save Money on Global Health Insurance?

You may have just moved abroad, or you may be considering a move.  Regardless, almost everyone would agree that getting health insurance is a smart move.  With the cost of medical care skyrocketing around the world and faced with the immense costs of repatriation in the event of a serious accident or illness, health insurance is a necessity.  Today on the Canadian Expat, we ask about the costs of purchasing global health insurance.

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Where are the best countries for Canadians to retire abroad?

Canadians have been looking abroad to retire for a very long time. Many snowbirds have looked south and there are lots of great reasons to do so.  Watch our video on this topic here.  Don't forget to like the video and subscribe:

Can Canadian Companies in China Succeed With the Current Political Situation?

Mathiew Cormier the Executive Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai moved from the Quebec Government office in China to being a private consultant, finally ending up with the chamber just over 5 months ago.  We discussed opportunities for Canadian Companies under a difficult political situation and he lays out suggestions for Canadians thinking about bringing a product to the Chinese market.

Interview and video with up and coming singer-songwriter Kalon Hart