VisaProAdviserVisas, migration and life abroad
Living abroad beyond the paperwork: Ukrainians' taxes and pensions in Poland, the cost of living in Ireland, attitudes to foreigners, culture and history.
Most Mexican banks require residency status before opening an account, and some also ask for an RFC tax number. Here's what to check before you apply.
Public healthcare in Spain is free at the point of care; private cover runs about €60/month, social security contributions €300–400/month.
Thinking about the US vs Europe? No glass ceiling for foreign founders, English as the global default, and visas open to any profession, not just tech.
Most Mexican banks require residency status before opening an account, and some also ask for an RFC tax number. Here's what to check before you apply.
Public healthcare in Spain is free at the point of care; private cover runs about €60/month, social security contributions €300–400/month.
Thinking about the US vs Europe? No glass ceiling for foreign founders, English as the global default, and visas open to any profession, not just tech.
UK suppliers must send an engineer within 3 hours on weekdays, 4 on weekends. OVO and British Gas paid millions in fines in 2026 for breaking these rules.
A year of rent paid upfront, notarized lease, residency, and a bank compliance file: what it actually takes for a non-resident to open an account in the DR.
Privathaftpflicht, Hausrat, and Rechtsschutz — three voluntary insurance policies in Germany that protect against losses, property damage, and legal expenses.
A move depends on more than a visa: the cost of living, the tax and pension system and local attitudes to newcomers matter just as much. This section gathers that context for the countries where Ukrainians and other migrants live.
History and culture sit alongside it, from reports on Ukrainian communities to past events that help explain today's immigration politics.
Living costs vary widely within Europe: rent in Dublin or Munich can take most of a salary, while smaller towns in the same country are far cheaper. Tax residence usually begins after 183 days in a country within a year, after which income is declared under local rules. Pension periods earned abroad can count in Ukraine only where a social security agreement applies, as with Poland, Czechia or Spain. Attitudes to migrants follow the economy and politics: where workers are scarce, newcomers are welcomed more readily, but the tone shifts with elections.