Expatriation is when someone moves to live in another country, which can involve giving up citizenship and taking up citizenship in a new country. It can also refer to people living abroad. Leaving a country may have legal repercussions, and historically, expatriation involved forced expulsion or denial of citizenship. Expatriation can imply living and working abroad, and retaining the right to vote in one’s home country. More formally, expatriation involves leaving with no intention of returning and renouncing citizenship. It’s important to consult with an embassy or state department before making a move. Historically, expats often gathered in enclaves in their new surroundings.
An expatriation is when someone moves out of their homeland to reside somewhere else. This term has a narrower legal meaning involving giving up citizenship and taking up citizenship in a new country, but it can also be used more generally to refer to people living abroad. There may be legal repercussions to leaving the country, depending on which country you are leaving and which country you are moving to.
Historically, expatriation involved the forced expulsion of citizens or the denial of citizenship. For example, some nations have revoked the citizenship of wartime deserters, leaving them stateless. In the modern era, the legal authority to deprive people of their citizenship and forcibly leave the country is limited. Instead, the decision is usually a choice made by the citizen.
Broadly speaking, expatriation implies living and working abroad, not necessarily with the intention of remaining abroad. Many multinationals post their employees abroad for varying periods of time, as do national governments with their diplomatic corps. While expatriate, a person retains the right to vote in his home country and may have tax debts at home, as well as tax debts in the countries where he works.
More formally, expatriation involves leaving with no intention of returning and renouncing citizenship and allegiance to take up citizenship in a new country. Some nations consider nationalization or military service in another country as a sign that someone wishes to relinquish citizenship. It is also possible for naturalized citizens to be stripped of their citizenship if they stay abroad too long or, in some cases, become naturalized in another country.
Consulting with an embassy or state department can provide more information on expatriation. It’s important to be aware of any legal ramifications before making a move, so people can plan ahead. People who want to keep their citizenship at home, for example, may need to take steps to protect their interests, such as returning home periodically.
Movement between nations has been a common theme in human history. Historically, expats often gathered in enclaves in their new surroundings with people from their home nation. During the 1920s, for example, a group of American artists and writers lived in Paris to enjoy the company of people from their home nations and produce their art while also experiencing the environment of a foreign country. They were known as the Lost Generation and included such greats as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound. A few other notable artists’ communities in various regions, from Cuba to South Africa, feature large numbers of expatriates who have come together to form closely related international communities.
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