Expatriate Consultancy - Poland, Russia, Eastern Europe and Brazil Blog

Citizenship

How to get citizenship of Poland? Part 1

How to get citizenship of Poland via Karta Polaka (Polish Card)

This is the first part of a series where we will discuss the paths to Polish citizenship.

Subscribe to our page to receive updates for the next part. If you already decided to move to Poland, take a look at our article about living in Poland & cost of living in Warsaw.

The Polonia – people of Polish descent living outside Poland – are composed of near 20 million people. It is one of the most widely dispersed diasporas in the world. In some places, like the United Kingdom, the majority are first-generation immigrants that arrived after Poland joined the European Union free-movement zone. In other parts of the world, however, the Polonia presence dates from decades, even centuries ago.

With a resilient economy, in the last twenty-eight years (!!!) Poland experienced non-stop growth and a sharp increase in its quality of life. That improvement raised the interests of Polish descendants worldwide to return to the land of their ancestors.

In a situation like this, the first question asked is:

How to get citizenship of Poland?

You do not always need to be a Polish citizen to move to Poland. If your company is sponsoring your expatriation, if you are coming to pursue a college degree or post-graduation, or even if you are already married to a Pole, you can resort to the temporary (and later, permanent) residence permits, which allow settling in the country. We will write about those possibilities in a future post.

However, citizenship has an almost irrevocable status, which grants extra security that you will not need to leave if a company fires you or if you cannot pay for university.

A piece of good news is that recently Poland made a series of favourable moves to facilitate for descendants of Polonia to immigrate to the country of their ancestors. The boldest happened in July of 2019, with the extension of the Karta Polaka (Polish Card) privilegesto polish descendants everywhere (before it was restricted to Polonia living in former Soviet states).

What is Karta Polaka?

According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is a document endorsing that you are part of the Polish nation. It benefits people that for various reasons are not eligible to Polish citizenship, but still fulfil the requirements to be considered a Pole.

What are the conditions for Karta Polaka?

The main conditions are:

Basic level of Polish language (at least enough to understand the questions of the consular office and answer them) & Polish traditions.
You must declare, in a written form to the consul, that you are part of the “the Polish Nation” — it is a document signed during the interview.
The applicant must prove that at least one of your parents or grandparent, or two great-grandparents were Poles or had Polish citizenship. If you cannot prove it, there is an alternative path (more difficult though): you should present confirmation from a Polish diaspora organization indorsing that you have been actively involved in activities within the Polish community of their area for at least the previous three years

Karta Polaka – What are the benefits?

The main benefits of the Polish Card are:

Apply for National Visas without paying fees;
Be able to start and run a business with the same conditions as a Polish citizen;
Possibility of study free of charge and applying for special scholarships;
Free healthcare in situations of emergency.
37% discount on public transport.
Entrance free of charge to state museums;
After living in Poland for one year, you can apply for Polish citizenship.

How to apply for Karta Polaka?

To apply for the Polish Card the first step is to find the nearest Polish Consulate and schedule an appointment. In some consulates, the nearest time slot available can be almost a year ahead. If this is your case, try to find other polish diplomatic missions around where you can schedule an appointment sooner.

The appointment you schedule might be already the interview, so be prepared in advance. Put together all the documents and evidence that you fulfil the requirements. Remember to bring a sworn translation (to the Polish language, of course) of all foreign documents, and present it together with the original version. If you are in doubt about how to find a competent translator, contact us.

Karta Polaka – The Interview

Book in Polish language. — For the *Karta Polaka* interview, you should know basic Polish language. Image by pikabum from Pixabay

The questions during the Interview depend on the Consul (or whoever represents him) and vary according to location. Still, they obey a common logic. Kristina Volchek, a Belarussian that applied and obtained her Karta Polaka, wrote that she answered questions about the following subjects:

National Anthem of Poland (telling by heart, not singing);
Christmas traditions: 12 dishes and why 12 of them, Chrismas songs, the process of sharing a special wafer when exchanging Christmas greetings, and so on;
The reason I applied for Karta Polaka;
Public Holidays (dates, history);
My favourite historical person;
What are the main three symbols of Poland (National Anthem of Polan, Flag and Coat of arms of Poland)?

After applying for it, the decision may take a few months. Once you have a positive answer, you receive a code and collect your Polish card (or Karta Polaka).

After having your Polish Card, what is the next step for citizenship?

If you have a Karta Polaka, after living in Poland for one year you can acquire citizenship. This is a considerably shorter time than any other path, which can take from 3 to 10 years.

One curiosity: the new rules of Karta Polaka and the faster way to citizenship gave the possibility to residents of Ukraine with polish ancestry to escape the war in Donbas that started a few years ago. As Michał Dworczyk, chairman of the Committee for Connection with Poles Abroad then stated:

They will be treated like Polish citizens, of course with respect to international law. There was no legal basis to evacuate Poles from Donbas, but after the changes in the law [of Karta Polaka], it will be.

In the following weeks, we will publish the second part of our series How to get citizenship of Poland? In the next post, we will clarify other paths to citizenship, like via permanent residency in the Polish territory.

Author: Levi Borba, founder of Colligere Expat Consultancy, former RM specialist for the world´s greatest airline, and author of the books Moving Out, Living Abroad and Keeping Your Sanityand Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide. You can check some of his articles here.

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Brazil

Living in Brazil – Reasons to move to Brazil

Moving to Brazil from the USA or Europe have its particular challenges and rewards.

If you tell most Brazilians (even myself) that you plan to leave a stable country to live in a developing economy with a shaky history like Brazil, they will get surprised. After the astonishment comes the the question: Why?

While people in cities with higher-living standards – like Curitiba – may give you a few reasons, this will not be the case for most of the country. In fact, it is more likely that they will upfront inform you of some challenges you will face.

And those challenges are not few. The same, however, must be said of the opportunities.

In this article we will tell you:

What to consider first when moving to Brazil.
Reasons to move to Brazil.
Most important costs to ponder.
Best place to live in Brazil for young professionals, families and pensioners.

Moving to Brazil – What to Consider First

1 – Brazil is far, and either you will spend considerable money on airline tickets, or you will see your family and friends rarely.

If you live in Europe, only a few of the major cities (mostly in Western Europe) have flight connections with Brazil. The majority of those flights depart either from São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. If you live outside those two cities, you will need to purchase an additional domestic flight or bus ticket. The roads in Brazil (outside few states like São Paulo) are not in the best conditions and bus rides can be tough.

Americans are luckier since prices from Brazil to the USA tend to be cheaper than to Europe.

2 – It is one of the most diverse countries on the planet, therefore advantages – and disadvantages – often do not apply to all states.

When we say Brazil is like this or Brazil is like that, likely we are rather talking about specific regions instead of general concepts.

Phrases like “In Brazil they horrible highways!” will sound obvious to someone living in Tocantins, but unfair to a São Paulo state resident – used to their world-class, toll-charged roads.

A similar statement applies to popular behaviours. In general, Curitibanos (people from Curitiba) are considerably more reserved than Cariocas (from Rio de Janeiro).

3 – The Shock for most westerners will not be cultural shock per se, but rather a structural shock, be it from the legal or governmental aspects.

Even with all those contrasting characteristics, the biggest reason for the shock is not from the population behaviour alone. Cultural shock, in its 4 dimensions, might be heavier for non-westerners. However, the biggest challenges we – at Colligere Expat Consultancy – solve for our clients are the heavy bureaucracy, complicated tax system and warped sense of urgency from public offices.

Reasons to move to Brazil

1 – Instability creates opportunities

The constant ups-and-downs of the Brazilian economy have its own idiomatic expression by the locals: Vôo de Galinha (chicken flights), due to its short-lived duration.

While this instability creates the need for safeguards like a low-risk (and often dollarized) savings account, varied investment portfolio and multiple sources of income, it comes with few advantages.

Not everyone can protect themselves against one or two economic turmoils per decade. Therefore, after each one of them, the survivors have plenty of good-quality real estate, assets and even companies to invest for advantageous prices.

2 – The exchange rate is very favourable, for now.

The constant economic turmoils, especially in the last two decades, created an opportunity for people with income in foreign currency: the exchange rates.

Brazilian Reais lost near 70% of their value in the last decade. With this devaluation came some serious bargains, like beachfront apartments in one of the best state capitals for less than 500 dollars per month.

3 – Amazing places to retire or relax amid nature.

Beach in Santa Catarina, a favourite among pensioners. Photo by Cassiano Psomas on Unsplash — Beach in Santa Catarina, a favourite among pensioners

With the above mentioned favourable exchange rate, and the recent easing of procedures to purchase real estate, some parts of Brazil are becoming attractive for those seeking a sunny place to escape from the north-hemisphere winter. It is also attractive for pensioners and retirees, which have an additional advantage, mentioned below.

4 – Good quality private healthcare.

Brazil has a universal healthcare system (SUS). Its quality, however, is questionable when compared to international standards.

The same does not apply to private healthcare services in metropolitan regions like São Paulo or cities with high-standards medical universities, like Ribeirão Preto.

The city of São Paulo alone have 2 hospitals among the 100 best in the world.

Brazilians often will say that private healthcare is expensive – especially when considering the local reality – but compared to similar standards abroad, the prices are considerably lower. The cost of giving birth at Hospital Albert Einstein (the 38^th best hospital in the world) is less than four thousand dollars, compared to the 32.140 dollars estimated by Mayo Clinic.

Living in Brazil – Costs to consider

1 – Education

The widespread middle-class habit of send kids to private schools may be a surprise, especially for Europeans used to decent public educational systems.

Brazil also has a public education system with national coverage. But the quality is truly awful (with few exceptions, like schools kept by research centres or armed forces).

It is enough to say that Brazil is among the 10 worst countries in the PISA international ranking.

There are also safety concerns, with many schools harbouring gangs and used as recruitment fields for criminal organizations.

Given the near-necessity of sending children to private education, expatriates must consider those costs. Ideally, education possibilities should be researched in advance (Colligere Expat Consultancy can help you with it).

Another surprise may arise from the lack of vacancies in some private schools and application of admission tests due to the high demand.

2 – Health

The considerations in this point are very similar to the ones regarding education.

Brazil has a free-of-charge and universal healthcare system, but unless you live in cities with high-quality public medical schools, you would be taking additional risks relying on it.

The SUS (Brazil public healthcare system) lags far away from similar systems like the british NHS – what is understandable considering the wealth differences between Brazil and The United Kingdom.

With an ample offer of planos de saúde (the local version of healthcare insurance operators), foreigners living in Brazil should look for one with good local coverage and reviews.

3 – Security

A residential block in São Paulo surrounded by electric fences. Source: Wikimedia Commons — A residential block in São Paulo surrounded by a electric fence.

Unless you lived in a war zone like Iraq or Somalia, it is unlikely that you ever imagined spending money in electric fences, infrared movement detectors or even hiring armed guards for your house or ranch. In Brazil, if you live outside a guarded apartment block in a metropolitan zone, it may be the case.

On the other hand, if you live in a closed apartment block, most of them have fees (taxa de condomínio) to pay for the security and conservation of the common areas.

Additionally, expatriates with children should consider the costs of private transportation to to and from schools in big cities. Rarely is responsible to let them go alone.

Best place to live in Brazil

Hopefuly the extra costs listed above were not enough to make you give up living in Brazil. Now it is time for some good points. Starting by the best place places to live, according to your stage in life.

1 – Best place for young professionals living in Brazil

If you are looking for professional opportunities allied with an entrepreneurial environment and leisure possibilities, coastal cities like Florianopolis – the capital of Santa Catarina is the place to go for Digital Nomads and technology entrepreneurs – and Santos comes first in the rankings.

They have the additional benefit of living standards better than huge cities. However, in sectors like finance, banking and services it is unlikely to escape from the duo São Paulo-Rio.

2 – Best places for expat families living in Brazil

Best place to live in Brazil for families. Jundiai is only 59km from the financial center of São Paulo. Source: Wikimedia Commons — Jundiai is only 59km from the financial center of São Paulo.

Families with working adults will find their place in cities like Campinas or Jundiai. They are close to the economical centre of Brazil, São Paulo.

Their plus?

The price of an apartment in a good neighborhood in São Paulo is similar to a comfortable house there. They are also safer, with a cleaner atmosphere and have cheaper schools.

3 – Best place to live in Brazil for pensioners

Curiously, the same cities that top the list for young professionals are also the first here: Florianopolis and Santos. In the ranking made by the portal Envelhecer Sem Vergonha, completing the top5 are Porto Alegre (capital of Rio Grande do Sul state), Niterói (Rio de Janeiro state), and São José do Rio Preto (São Paulo state). All of them have good scores in terms of quality of life and health services.

Living in Brazil – Conclusions

The idea of a foreigner leaving his country and moving to Brazil may surprise Brazilians more than other nationalities.

In part, due to self-depreciation, in part due to an idealization of life out of their own country made by telenovelas.

Brazil has a continental size and continental contrasts. The idea of moving should must balance with a careful provision for the additional costs (namely: education, health and security) and particular characteristics of each region. While northern regions are rich in natural gifts, the southern portion tends to better standards of life and infrastructure.

Overall, there will be a region in Brazil matching your current professional needs and stage in life. With favourable exchange rates and the recent turmoils, there are plenty of investment opportunities, affordable real-estate and business possibilities.

What are your thoughts? Are there any other cost you think people should consider when living in Brazil or moving to it? Any other city you recommend?

Author: Levi Borba, founder of Colligere Expat Consultancy, former RM specialist for the world´s greatest airline, co-founder of Nearby Airport Hostel Warsaw and author of the book Moving Out, Living Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity. You can check some of his articles here.

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Poland

Living in Poland & Cost of Living in Warsaw

Good News! You just received a work invitation from Poland. Now the possibility of living in Poland is real. They offer you a health insurance, benefit card and few other perks that are attractive at first glance.

But just between us: We know this is not what you want to know.

So, you run your eyes through the email and find it: the proposed salary.

Great! They will offer me X thousand zlotys! But… what that does really mean?

In this article I am going to tell you:

✔ How much is enough to live in Warsaw as a bachelor, a young couple and a family.

✔ What is the difference between “just enough”, “comfortably” and “very-comfortably”

✔ Why the cost of living in Warsaw should never be compared to any other city in Poland. I will repeat: NEVER. EVER.

“Just Enough” X “Comfortably” X “Very Comfortably”

During my first year in Warsaw, I was spending just the necessary. Food, a roof over my head (shared with another person) in a district in the city outskirts, transport pass and once or twice per a month a night out to drink in a local pub. Rarely eating out, no shopping sprees, and a gym pass that cost less than 70zl per month. This is what I call just enough.

Some people would say that a gym is superfluous. I give them some reason. But it was cheap. Differently than living alone in a premium location, which is superfluous and expensive.

On the other hand, what I mean by comfortably is a small place to live by yourself. A place not far from the city, but also not in Aleje Ujazdowskie or other fancy addresses. This definition includes occasional dinners in middle-range restaurants, annual trips and a healthy amount of entertainment. But no private schools if you have kids (they can be expensive, at least for polish standards).

Very-Comfortably is the definition that requires the least explanation. It is the complete package, with weekends spent at rooftop bars and fancy bistros, plenty of international trips and a nice apartment near some embassy. Plus education for your children in international, private schools.

How much is Just Enough to live in Warsaw?

Tram Line number 9, in Warsaw — The tram line 9 goes to affordable districts in the suburbs of Warsaw. Photo by Valik Chernetskyi on Unsplash

Probably this is the section tending to polemics. Students that survive in semi-expired food – it is not a shame, I was one of them not long ago – will say that you can survive on much less than that. Young couples which consider a must on international travel per semester may say that it is not enough.

Be aware that any value written below and in this entire article is netto. That means money on hand. Depending on your contract, the discounts over your total salary can be very significant, so to use gross numbers can be misleading.

All disclaimers made, here goes the incomes that I consider just enough to live in Warsaw.

Single person: 1700 zlotys per month. In fact, I was living with a bit less than that when I came to Warsaw. Cost of sharing a 35 sqm mieszkania in the district of Praga: 800zl per person.

Young Couple: 3000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 35 sqm mieszkania in Praga district: 1600zl per couple.

Family with 2 kids: 4000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 55 sqm miezkania in Bielany: 2300 zl per month. Important to stress is that I am considering public education in this point, which is regularly offered in the polish language.

How much is to live comfortably in Warsaw?

(If your idea of comfort is a life similar to the characters of a Warner Channel sitcom, just jump to the next section). The values below includes provisions to build, slowly, a savings account or a private retirement fund.

Single person: 4000 zlotys per month. Cost of living alone in a 36 sqm mieszkania in the district of Ochota: 2000zl.

Young Couple: 7000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 45 sqm mieszkania in Ochota: 2300zl per couple.

Family with 2 kids: 10.000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 70 sqm apartment in Ochota: 3500 zl per month. Here I am still considering public education, or at maximum a private żłobek (nursery school).

How much is to live very-comfortably in Warsaw?

Wilanow Palace in Warsaw — The palace of Wilanow gives name to the surrounding affluent district. Photo by Lāsma Artmane on Unsplash

Single person: 11000 zlotys per month. Cost of living alone in a 70 sqm apartment near Rondo ONZ (the financial district of Warsaw): 5000zl.

Young Couple: 17000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 70 sqm apartment near Rondo ONZ: 5000zl per couple.

Family with 2 kids: 28000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 200 sqm apartment in Wilanow: 12000 zl per month. Here I am including private education.

The rent prices are based on searches made in july 2020 at the website Otodom.

Why the cost of living in Warsaw should never be compared to any other city in Poland.

The Answer to this subtitle is simple: Because Warsaw is much more expensive than any other Polish city. (Not considering resort-cities like Sopot or Zakopane though). The question “How expensive is living in Poland” totally depends if we are talking about Warsaw or, let’s say, Rzeszów.

Cities on the eastern part of Poland (often called, impolitely, Poland B) are famous for having very attractive prices and is not uncommon to find living costs that are half of a similar standard in Warsaw. If you are curious to know about other polish cities where you can have a good quality of life, feel free to schedule a free 15 minute consultation with us.

In fact, nowadays the Polish capital has prices comparable to Berlin.

If you read until this point, there is a good chance that you are holding yourself to criticize me because either you consider I overstated or understated some numbers.

Feel free to tell me your thoughts about living in Poland and make any suggestion in the comment section!

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Brazil

Is São Paulo safe?

I had a relative murdered there. Colleagues assaulted. Acquaintances victims of pick pocketing. For all those motives, when someone asked me Is São Paulo Safe? , the obvious answer should be a big, bold no, certainly not.

However, this is not my opinion. At least not nowadays.

São Paulo can be considered a safe place. In this article, I will tell you why.

First things first: São Paulo can be either one of the 26 states of Brazil or the capital of this same state. The city has a population of 12.2 million people. This makes it the largest city of Brazil, and one of the largest cities in the world.

Only São Paulo state alone have an area equivalent to the entire United Kingdom, and a population comparable to Spain.

It is important to have those dimensions in mind. We must remember that Brazil is a continental country when we talk about violence. While I would classify Brazilians cities like Maceió or Belém as very dangerous, the question is São Paulo safe have a different answer from me:

Yes, it is relatively safe to live there, depending on few conditions.

Below I will list the three main reasons.

1^st – The Violence is very location-specific.

São Paulo (the capital city, not the state) have 96 districts. 33 of those districts have a homicide rate smaller than the USA (4.8 per 100 thousand inhabitants).

On the other hand, 28 districts have a homicide rate higher than Nigeria.

Zona Leste, Cidade Tiradentes — *Zona Leste* (the East Zone), the place where is located the dangerous Jaçanã district.

Some districts, like Jaçanã, are more violent than Mexico.

Jardim Paulistano, RIch zone of São Paulo — Jardim Paulista, Jardim Paulistano and neighboring regions have crime indicators comparable to Europe.

Other districts, like Jardim Paulista, are safer than Germany.

Probably the reader is guessing, correctly, that those enormous discrepancies have their origin in income levels and presence of law enforcement. This may lead to the following conclusion:

If near one third of the districts are super-dangerous, then it is dangerous to live there because people need to go to different parts for different reasons!

This is not entirely true. São Paulo have plenty of traffic jams. Enough to rank among the Cities with the worst traffic in the world. Across the years, the city bypassed this problem by developing a peculiar way of urban organization.

Every district of São Paulo works like a mini-city, having nearly everything you need. This makes unnecessary for someone to go out of his neighbourhood frequently and face gigantic traffic jams.

I lived in São Paulo, in the western region (more specific, in the Butantã district). Never had been to any of the violent Zona Leste (eastern zone) districts, except those closer to the center like Tatuapé. I was once in a very dangerous district in the extreme south, but only because I took a wrong bridge when crossing the Pinheiros river.

If you ask people who lived there their whole lives, chances are their story will be similar. Most of the time they spend in their neighbourhood and adjacent districts. I am not saying this is good. This kind of social segregation is bad in the long term. However, I am just stating a fact: You will not need to cross dangerous districts frequently, unless you live close to one.

2^nd – The Violence is decreasing in São Paulo. Everywhere.

It is a difficult task to define the reasons behind endemic violence in a country like Brazil. It is equally difficult to list the reasons behind sharp falls or rises in the criminality across extended periods.

I am not going to do that here, but just state a fact:

Violence is falling in most states of Brazil consistently for already some years. In São Paulo state this delinquency reduction is even sharper.

Homicide Rate in São Paulo — Homicide rate in São Paulo. Source: São Paulo State Government

In 2001, the homicide rate of São Paulo was 33.3 per 100 000 people. Less than two decades later, this number felt to 6.42.

To put this into perspective, in 2001 São Paulo had a murder rate similar to Mexico. Now it is just a little above the USA.

Criminality in São Paulo — Criminal statics of the ABC region (Metropolitan Region of São Paulo). Source: Public Security Secretary of São Paulo.

The fall in criminality is not only about homicides, but in other crimes as well. It is also not restricted only to specific regions, but widespread. The chart above is about the ABC region, metropolitan cities of the São Paulo conurbation. Even though it is in Portuguese, you can see crimes like latrocínio (robbery + murder) decreasing 58% in the first semester of 2019 compared to the previous year.

3^rd – There are ways to dodge most of the risks.

While there is not a 100% efficient system to avoid thieves and other crooks, most of the paulistanos (people from São Paulo) already mastered the daily habits to not become a victim.

More details on this you can see in one of the chapters of my book Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks and Ways. You can also check this article I wrote for Medium about some of those tricks.

Things like not expose cell phones in the central region, not use expensive photographic machines publicly, or have a dummy wallet. A common accessory of people in the Sé region (a place ridden by pickpocketers) is the pochete (sort of a money belt). It makes you look fat, but is great to keep your documents and cards safe.

Conclusion: Is São Paulo Safe?

Going against the common belief that everywhere in Brazil is dangerous, I would answer the question Is São Paulo Safe? With yes, it is.

It is safer compared to most regions in Brazil, and even in Latin America. It is also relatively safe if you live in half of the districts and do not wander in the other half. But the best news is: São Paulo is getting safer year after year, continuously, during decades already.

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Digital Nomads

The best city for Digital Nomads and (some) expats!…

For already a while, southeast Asian hotspots like Chiang Mai (Thailand) or Bali (Indonesia) top list after list of the finest cities for remote workers. In a year with enormous economical and social changes, a new serious competitor rises. Going forward to my conclusion: right now, this is the best city for Digital Nomads and (some) expats! Forget Chiang Mai!.

Bridge Hercilio Luz, Florianópolis, Brazil. One of the best cities in the planet for Digital Nomads — It is not San Francisco, but that bridge and the exciting technology sector may remind the Californian city.

But… Why some? Because this applies only if your income is not in the local currency.

**How the Brazilian Ibiza, a favourite place of national celebrities, turned (very) affordable.**

Florianópolis is a city with almost 500k inhabitants in the state of Santa Catarina. This state in the southern region of Brazil was called, for few occasions, the Brazilian Ibiza, for being the darling of South American upper-class youth.

Reasons like delightful beaches, pleasant climate and 3 of the best clubs in the planet (including the 1^st place in the annual DJ Mag club ranking, Green Valley) contributed for the just comparison between Santa Catarina and the Mediterranean islands.

But how comparisons with an overpriced European island are useful for digital nomads looking for low living costs?

It is because Florianópolis is not overpriced anymore. At least if you earn in dollars!

There are two reasons for this city turning inexpensive in the last years. The chart below explains the first one better than I could:

Comparison between the Brazilian Real and American Dollar in the last 10 years — How many Brazilian reais 1 dollar could buy. Chart of the last 10 years. Source: www.xe.com

Let’s imagine a good-located, beachfront 1-room apartment. In 2012, it had a monthly rent of 1400 reais. This is equivalent to 700 dollars. Due to its attractiveness, since 2012 real estate in Florianópolis inflated near 53%, so this apartment would cost now 2140 reais.

But since the real lost a ton of value in the last decade, this price is equivalent to only 430 dollars nowadays. For a beachfront apartment.

Not believing me? Just take a look at the properties available in Florianópolis at Airbnb and you may find even cheaper deals.

Canasvieiras beach, Florianópolis. Beach front view. — This is the view I had last year, when I was there (Canasvieiras beach). The price paid for that was incredibly good!

With the strong devaluation of the Brazilian currency in the last 10 years, the once pricey Ilha da Magia (Magic Island in Portuguese, one of the many nicknames for this place) have prices similar to cheap backpacking destinations in Asia.

The second reason that made the capital of Santa Catarina more affordable are the years of economic turmoil in the region. By region, I mean not only Brazil but also the neighbouring Argentina. In fact, not long ago, Argentinians drove to there in such considerable numbers that some places like Canasvieiras beach had restaurants with menus in Spanish instead of the Portuguese (many of them still have, although you can ask for one written in Portuguese or English).

The last time I stayed in that beach, the Uber driver told me:

Oh, you are going to the Argentinian enclave!

Today the numbers of tourists from Argentina and other neighbouring countries (Uruguay and Paraguay) are still significant, but not close to what they were in past decades.

So, are you telling me Brazil is a great place for Digital Nomads?

Definitely I am not telling you that.

Being a continental country, Brazil have immense contrasts, with the same order of magnitude someone can see in Europe between Portugal and Ukraine, for example.

Brazil has many problems. The most famous of them is violence. And in this point, the state of Santa Catarina is like an oasis.

While in 2019 Brazil had a homicide rate of 19.7 per 100 thousand people (a considerable reduction from the 32.4 of 2017), Santa Catarina have a rate of 2.8 per 100 thousand. This is a similar level to European countries like Hungary.

Other common problem of Brazil is the small share of English-Speaking population. This is a fair complaint. According to the British council only 5% of the Brazilians speak English. However, due to its touristic-driven economy, high-standards of life and level of education, in Florianópolis you will not find much problem to live without speaking Portuguese.

If you took our quiz of The best country to visit after the lockdown? and your result was Brazil, this is the kind of place you are meant to be.

Right, so going back to costs: The rent is cheap (in dollars) in Florianópolis, but what about the rest?

The comparison I made at the beginning of this post was not an accident. According to Expatistan (a great source for global prices), Chiang Mai and Florianópolis have virtually equal costs.

Living costs comparison between Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Florianópolis, Brazil, making it the best city for Digital Nomads and (some) expats — Price comparison between Chiang Mai, in Thailand, and Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Source: Expatistan.

In the comparison jumps to the eyes how cheap are the food costs in Florianópolis. In fact, even though Brazilians complain that everything is expensive there, when they travel out, they realize how in fact grocery articles are more expensive worldwide. After all, you can buy a liter of milk in Brazil for less than 70 cents of a dollar.

The entertainment prices in Florianópolis may look expensive in the comparison above, but as you may remember from the beginning of this article, in the summer it turns into a party-island for jet-setters. However, cheaper alternatives exist in plentiful numbers.

A Caipirinha at the beach (exception for the overpriced Jurere beach) will cost around 10 reais, or 2 dollars. This is almost half of the price of other Brazilian touristic cities like Rio. Depending on the type of nomad you are, this will be more important than the lower milk prices.

Safe, inexpensive apartments and cheap drinks! I am almost convinced, but what can I do there in my free time?

1^st – Beach hopping

Some people say Florianópolis have 42 beaches. Others put this number near 100. What you can be sure is that there are options for every taste. In the eastern side, surfers have an ideal playground at Mole and Joaquina beaches. In the North are popular beaches like Canasvieiras. Just at the side of Canasvieiras is Jurerê Internacional, with its beach huts called “paradores”, bars and nightclubs. Upper-class youth have sunset beach parties in clubs like P12 and Posh. In the south, fishing villages offer peace and typical cuisine, as well as empty spots like the beaches of Pântano do Sul and Ribeirão da Ilha.

In the summer, the tanned and good-shaped youth of the region flocks to its sunny beaches. Daily physical practice is almost a rule. Besides beach football and volleyball, there are two other sports whose practice have privileged conditions on the magical island. They are Surf and Sand board.

One of the great beachs of the best city for Digital Nomads and (some) expats — Picture I took last time I was in *Floripa*. Even with my very limited photographic skills, still looks wonderful.

2^nd – Party

This city once won the title of ‘Party Destination of the Year’ by The New York Times. In a 100 km radius you have three of the best clubs in the planet. Many other party places of the region could easily be in the same ranking.

3^rd – Learn to Surf (or Sand board)

Florianópolis, or to be more specific, Joaquina Beach, have a unique characteristic: only few meters separate you from “surfing” sand dunes and sea waves. With instructors available, it is a perfect opportunity to learn both sports in a privileged scenario.

What about the local communities of digital nomads and expatriates in Florianopolis?

Maybe this is the single point where my comparison between Floripa and Chiang Mai favours the Thai city. The nomad community and the expat numbers are much greater in Chiang Mai, however they are quickly developing in the capital of Santa Catarina state.

One common type you will find there is the tourist-turned-a-resident. Being such an attractive place with remarkable quality of life and good-quality real estate, is not uncommon to find foreigners that bought apartments or villas to spend long periods on this magical island.

Conclusion – the best city for Digital Nomads and (some) expats is Floripa.

The city is booming with entrepreneurship, especially in technology. The IT gross product is nowadays bigger than tourism itself! The devaluated local currency, networking opportunities and good infrastructure make it a very promising destination for remote workers with dollarized income.

There is a crescent number of coworking spaces and cafés friendly to remote workers. You can check a map of them on the island here. In Facebook or Meetup it is possible to find a broad range of networking events and social occasions for expatriates and nomads. Examples are groups like Digital Nomads Floripa on Meetup or the Gringoes in Floripa on Facebook.

Before finishing this article, an important advice: even though the expatriate and digital nomad community in Florianópolis are growing, it would be a wasted opportunity to restrict your social meetups only with fellow foreigners.

Meet the locals too! Brazilian people are very social, and the catarinenses are no different, even though other Brazilians make jokes with the smugness about their land.

Since their island is one of the most beautiful places in the country, who can blame them? ☺

Author: Levi Borba, founder of Colligere Expat Consultancy, former RM specialist for the world´s greatest airline. Co-founder of Nearby Airport Hostel Warsaw and author of the books Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights in a Practical Guide to Travel Plans and Moving Out, Living Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity.

Current Affairs

Travel restrictions update

What countries already lifted the travel bans?

After our previous article, about the new normal of international traveling, there was still a doubt (which appeared among some followers of my facebook page) about travel restrictions update:

Allright, travel corridors (or bubbles) are being established across the planet, but what about the other countries? When my next destionation will open borders?

So we decided to compile a list of the main destinations and their status regarding international travel restrictions update. If there is a place that you would like to know, just write it at the comment section and we at Colligere Expat Consultancy will seek information about it.

Last Update: 03/06/2020

Cyprus will soon reopen borders with Greece and Israel. — Cyprus is one of the countries at the most advanced stages of reopening borders.

Travel restrictions updates by country:

Argentina: Argentina’s borders are closed to foreign nationals and non-residents entering the country. Ski resorts like Las Lenas already announced that may not open for the winter season.
Australia: All foreign travellers are banned.
Austria: Anyone entering Austria from Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia or Switzerland, or has in the last 14 days been in an area with travel warnings from the Austrian Foreign Ministry must present a medical certificate no older than 4 days.
Belarus: Arrivals from countries affected by coronavirus must self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of symptoms.
Belgium: You will only be able to enter Belgium if you live there or if you work there. The government has announced plans to gradually reduce restrictions and reopen borders.
Brazil: The Brazilian Government have banned entry for all foreign passengers.
Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Government has announced severe restrictions on international travel, forbidding various nationalities.
Canada: Canada has closed its borders to most foreign visitors.The border between the US and Canada is also closed except for essential journeys.
Colombia: Borders closed, including with Ecuador, and airports closed to international traffic.
Croatia: Croatia has reopened border crossings on major routes for limited people, including foreign nationals who have real estate in the country, who own a boat in the country, have close family in Croatia or invited for business purposes.
Czech Republic: EU citizens making business trips of three days or less can enter the Czech Republic. They need to have evidence that they have tested negatively for Covid-19. In the last week of May they entered the final phase of easing restrictions and now pubs, restaurants, hotels and museums are reopening their doors.
Cyprus: While travel restrictions are still enforced for foreign tourists, the government is advancing on plans of easing them, together with Greece and Israel. Cyprus is so keen to get its tourism industry back on track that they are offering to cover the costs of any travelers who test positive for Covid-19 while on vacation in the island. Flights from Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Hungary, Israel, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania will return first, with Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Estonia and the Czech Republic also to be back in June. UK is absent of the list.
Denmark: Travel restrictions still applied, but advanced plans to reopen the border with Germany.
Georgia: Domestic tourism will re-open on 15 June. From 1 July Georgia’s land and air borders should re-open in line with the principle of safe corridors. There will be a gradual resumption of flights and international tourism.
Germany: The Austria/Germany land border is reopening — travel between Austria and Germany will come back from June 15 — and restrictions around the country are being relaxed. Bars are still closed but hotels are permitted to open again since May 29.
Greece: Together with Cyprus, Greece is gradually beginning to ease its lockdown restrictions and is hoping to be open to tourists by 15 July. Citizens are now able to take ferry’s to Greece’s Aegean islands as the country started its summer holiday season three weeks earlier than expected.
Egypt: All international flights are suspended.
Estonia: Only citizens of Estonia, holders of an Estonian Residency Permit or foreign citizens whose family member lives in Estonia are permitted to enter Estonia. Plans to reopen borders with other Baltic countries.
Iceland: The Icelandic Government intends to ease restrictions on international arrivals by 15 June at the latest. Details have not yet been finalised, but it is expected that arrivals will have the choice between a test on arrival or two weeks self-isolation.
India: All scheduled international and domestic commercial passenger services will remain suspended until at least 31st May. India has also now made the decision to close the Taj Mahal. All foreign nationals are barred from entering and transiting through Indonesia.
Indonesia: Tourism officials have been calling for a“travel bubble” to be implemente d between Bali and Australia.
Ireland: Flights and ferry services continue to operate between Ireland and Great Britain but at a reduced service. New visitors will have to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Italy: Italy has announced it will reopen for travel on 1 June. St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican reopened on May 18 after closing for over two months
Israel: Foreign nationals are not permitted to enter unless they are citizens or residents of Israel.
Japan: Foreign visitors who have visited affected countries are not allowed to enter Japan. State of emergency is lifted from 25 of May onwards.
Finland: Will reopen its borders for foreign workers from the Schengen zone from May 14. Was closed since March 19, due to the Coronavirus developments. From June 1, cafés, restaurants and bars will resume their normal work, but with certain limitations that are still being worked out.
France: The French Minister of Interior has agreed with his German counterpart Interior Minister Horst Seehofer to reopen the common borders by June 15. It was announced on May 29 that the country’s most visited museum, the Louvre, will reopen July 6.
Hungary: Hungary and Slovenia have agreed on a road map towards a gradual reopening of their border by June 1. Hungary started lifting coronavirus restrictions in Budapest from Monday. Residents returning to shops or travelling on public transport will have to wear face masks.
Lithuania: While travel restrictions still on place, there are plans to Lithuania reopen its borders with other Baltic countries in the coming months. Starting from May 15 2020, nationals of Estonia and Latvia will also be allowed to enter the country
Mexico: On 20th April, the Mexican government confirmed that the land border between the US and Mexico will remain closed to all non-essential traffic for a further 30 days. On May, border restrictions got extended due to the increasing number of Covid19 cases. Marisol Vanegas, the state’s tourism secretary, said that We want to revive tourism and expect to start opening sights and hotels sometime between June 10 and 15 but don’t know which ones yet.
Netherlands: Netherland’s government has decided to prolong the entry ban for non-EU citizens, the United Kingdom and the Schengen Area until June 15 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, the Ministry of Justice and Security announced.
Norway: Norwegian authorities have decided to prolong internal border controls for another 90 days, from May 16. This is part of the country’s efforts to stop the further spread of the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), according to the Ministry of Justice.
Poland: Poland’s borders remain closed for now, but authorities have announced plans to start to re-open to tourists, with new policy measures for visitors and organisations within the tourism sector ahead of expected border openings.
Portugal: There are strict measures in place and there are significant restrictions on movement within the country. The land borders between Portugal and Spain will remain closed until 15 June due to the covid-19 pandemic, according to a resolution by the Councils of Ministers.
Russia: On the 16th March, Russia announced that it will restrict entry into the whole country for almost all foreign citizens from 18 March until further notice.
South Korea: All foreign national travellers are being tested for COVID-19 on arrival in South Korea. Testing may take up to 24 hours and you may be held in a separate facility during this time. If you test positive for the virus you will be transferred to the appropriate healthcare facility.
Spain: Closed borders to all except citizens and those with a Spanish residency. Spain has announced it hopes to reopen to tourism in June.Restaurants and bars in Spain’s biggest cities, including Barcelona and capital Madrid, reopened on 25 of May. From July 1, the they will allow EU travelers to enter without having to quarantine for 14 days.
Slovakia: Travel restrictions still in place, but talks with Austria and Czech Republic to reopen land borders by June.
Slovenia: Airports in Slovenia have now re-opened for passenger transportation. According to the newly adopted changes, borders will be crossable at several checkpoints on-road connections with Austria, Italy and Hungary..
Thailand: Barred all foreign nationals and international passenger flights to Thailand are suspended. Thailand’s borders are expected to remain closed to foreigners until at least the end of June. The ban on International Commercial Flights – excluding repatriation flights — was extended until June 30, but some resorts and hotels have already been given the go ahead to reopen — Hua Hin, located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) of Bangkok, is one of them
Turkey: Passengers who are not Turkish nationals or residents of Turkey are not permitted to enter Turkey. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest markets, is open again, for the first time in two months, since June 1.
USA: General travel ban, although some states like Texas eased its own restrictions. As of Monday 16 March, European travellers are denied entry into the USA. Travel ban to and from South-American countries like Brazil are a possibility in the coming weeks.

Slovakia is reopening its borders with Czech Republic and Austria — One of the first countries to declare lockdown, Slovakia is also one of the first to start reopening borders. Picture of Bratislava.

If you found any mistake or would like to add any country at this list, please write it at the comments. We will be grateful!

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Quiz

The best country to visit after the lockdown?

If you read our previous article, at this point probably you are more optimistic about the reopening of the international travel flows (unless you live in one of the countries that we mentioned as the losing side in our article). So we can wonder: What is the best country to visit after the lockdown?

Which place will make every dollar (or euro, or peso, or…) worthy during my next holidays?

Staying at home and thinking about traveling. — Some of us already spent quite a time at home.

To help you, our head-consultant (and multi continental traveler) Levi Borba designed a simple test. After 7 questions it will reveal a great option for you to plan your next holidays!

If you are wondering about the gradual reopening of travel possibilities, we give some insights about it in this video:

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Current Affairs

When travel restrictions will be lifted.

The New Normal: Connectivity Bubbles

An increasing number of countries see a light in the end of this dark tunnel of the last months. With the gradual control (at least partially) of the Covid19 pandemic by few nations, governments start to announce measures for when travel restrictions will be lifted.

This article is the refined version of a Linkedin post I wrote that made repercussion there. The post itself came after conversations with other entrepreneurs, colleagues from my former career at the headquarters of the world’s greatest airline, as well as acquaintances in the political/public life.

We came to an interesting scenario for the next 2 years about the international travel market.

International movement will come back.

However, not in the same way as before, but in the form of connectivity bubbles.

Countries in more advanced stages of controlling the epidemic (like Poland, where I live) will reopen gradually to others that achieved the same conditions.

What is “control” of the pandemic?

By controlling the pandemic we understand not only a reduced number of victims, but also a reduced reproductive rate. This rate is also known as R0, if no measures are taken, or Re in a controlled scenario. In epidemiology, R0 is understood as the expected number of new cases directly generated by one contaminated person. Therefore, if in each infectious individual transmit the disease to other 2, the R0 in this place is 2. This reproductive rate will vary across regions depending on factors like demographic concentration, social distancing or isolation of suspected patients.

There are plenty of material about epidemiology. If you are interested, it is worth to check them for a deeper knowledge since this is not my area, which is International Travel. Now, back to our previously mentioned concept of connectivity bubbles between countries that achieved a desirable level of virus control.

Where are the possible bubbles?

Some of those bubbles, where we expect that people movement will gradually resume by mid 2020 are:

Australia <-> New Zealand. The Australian prime-minister Scott Morrison in April gave signals during a press conference of a possible reconnection with New Zealand. His counter-part in New Zealand, Jacinta Arden, made similar statements. Thoughts go as far as including some pacific nations in this bubble, since few were not much affected by Covid19.

Australia and New Zealand corridor — *Both the prime-minister of Australia and New Zealand already outlined the possibility of a travel-corridor between them.*

V4 (Czech Republic <-> Hungary <-> Poland <-> Slovakia). The group of Visegrad, also known as V4, had a remarkably quick response to the pandemic in its initial phase. Poland and Slovakia closed their borders before having a single fatal victim. Nowadays, all of them are among the least affected countries in Europe. Some members are discussing to reopen their land borders to each other already by July.

Poland, Czech, Slovakia and Hungary compared to Sweden regarding Coronavirus — *Comparison between V4 countries (Poland, Czech, Slovakia and Hungary) and Sweden regarding Coronavirus victims. Souce: Ourworldindata.com*

Greece <-> Cyprus <-> Israel. Greece is among the countries that most successfully reduced the speed of the Coronavirus epidemic in Europe. Unfortunately, they are also among the most affected economically, given the fact tourism is responsible to near 25% of their total GDP. Similar situation happens in Cyprus. To relief this burden, both nations plus Israel are negotiating a travel-corridor. This would ease the crisis in the tourism sector by allowing movement between those countries.

The losing side

On the other hand, countries like Mexico and Brazil will be for a long time barred from most of the international travel market, due to numbers still quickly rising. In fact, harsher restrictions are implemented in the US-Mexican border. Meanwhile the government of Florida Ron DeSantis recently submitted plans to the American president restrict travel from Brazil.

Personal digression: this would mean thousands of expatriates, like me, restricted from visiting our families at least until 2021.

In Europe, the always-trendy Balearic islands are considering imposing a travel ban for UK visitors for the whole summer. As the tourist minister Iago Negueruela explained to local media:

There are countries like the United Kingdom that have taken too long to adopt containment measures and that also puts us in a different situation with respect to them.

Balearic Islands to ban UK travelers — The balearic islands may impose a summer-long ban for UK travelers.
Photo: Cala Macarella, Minorca.

From a macro point of view, this should be (relatively) good news for the tourism industry in some places. Examples like Colombia, which will partially absorb the demand previously belonging to Mexico and Brazil, or Greece, able to boast the badge of a safe destination for the whole planet.

Thoughts?

Author: Levi Borba, founder of Colligere Expat Consultancy, former RM specialist of the world´s greatest airline, co-founder of Nearby Airport Hostel Warsaw. Author of the books Moving Out, Living Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity and Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide

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Cultural Shock

Quiz – Which country better suits your goals?

We made a quick (but well-based by the experience of our battle-tested consultants) a quiz to help you discover which country better suits your goals, both professionally and personally. Based on specific questions and a method approach, you are about to identify the part of the world where your dreams are closer to be achieved. If you want to know more about Expat life, check our FAQ.

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Business

5 reasons to save our local businesses NOW

I though a lot before writing this article. Maybe it was too off-topic. However, it goes completely in line with what we do at Colligere. To help this specific part of the population will trigger the recover to everyone else. So here i list 5 reasons to save our local businesses NOW. Not after the Coronavirus epidemic crisis or just when things got better, but now.

“In order to progress, modern society should be treating ruined entrepreneurs in the same way we honor dead soldiers, perhaps not with as much honor, but using exactly the same logic . For there is no such thing as a failed soldier, dead or alive —likewise, there is no such thing as a failed entrepreneur”

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder

5 reasons to save our local businesses NOW

1 – All sorts of business are in trouble. But local, small business are the most fragile.

The thing that separates a company from bankruptcy can be resumed in one expression: Cash flow.

If a firm don’t have cash flow and the bank account goes dry, they cannot pay their obligations and suppliers can execute them. This process has some variations between countries but the basic steps are similar in the western world.

Why big corporations have a smaller risk during this crisis?

Even though their cash flow also drops or even stops during a crisis, huge companies have plenty of bank credit lines available. So when things go bad, it is easy for them to access money and keep running their operations.

Small companies don’t have such easy access to credit, or if they have, it is just too expensive.

There are exceptions (small companies with big credit lines and corporations without), but as a rule of thumb, this difficult access to money makes small business much more fragile

2 – The lion’s share of governmental help will go to massive corporations, not to small entrepreneurs.

Big firms can afford entire teams of lawyers and accountants to prepare documentations and cases with the sole target of accessing relief funds from governments.

Meanwhile, in small business, sometimes this is done by the owner or some non-specialized employee. They don’t have the same knowledge (or contacts) of a famous law firm, so they eventually end with the breadcrumbs of all those billions that governments, everywhere, are investing to save companies and jobs.

3 – We must avoid a world like the one of the movie Demolition Man

In 1993, Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes starred a classic movie where they confronted each other in a high-tech future. There, the fast-food chain Taco Bell took over all other restaurants. As the female character starred by Sandra Bullock explains to Stallone in a classic scene, now all restaurants are Taco Bell.

Before I wrote about big corporations having easier access to credit and government money to survive during the crisis. Many of those gigantic companies can use the governmental money (which is your money) to later take over the small businesses that didn’t have the same privilege. Something similar already happened in 2008. Bigger market concentration, less quality of services for you.

4 – More meaningful jobs

I write this item as someone that worked both in multinational corporations and in local businesses.

When you work in a smaller firm, the effects of your efforts are way more visible. You see it advancing, people around talk to you about it and ask questions that you know how to answer.

The same cannot be said in most corporations, if you get enclosed in a cubicle doing very specialized tasks, with an effect in the final product very difficult to distinguish.

It is much easier to be proud of your work when you see your contributions making the difference. You don’t see yourself only as another gear in the machine.

5 – Local Business more often procure their supplies in the local community

Let´s think about restaurants and food-chains.

Mcdonalds, Burger King and alikes buy what they need using large and long-term contracts, generally made with other colossal corporations (like when they buy meat from food-industry behemoths like Marfrig or JBS).

Meanwhile, the local restaurant will procure fresh vegetables in the nearby market, and buy meat with the local butcher. So if this small restaurant goes bankrupt, soon the butcher, the vegetable stand or the laundry that washes their table cloths will all be in trouble.

By supporting the local restaurant instead of the chain restaurant, the local hotel instead of the chain hotel, etc. you are actually supporting your entire environment to cross this difficult moment together.

Just like with the supplies, local firms let a good part of their profits in the neighbourhood.

When you stay in a chain hotel like Ibis or Marriot, a small part of what you pay (aprox. 4%) is profit for the company itself and it’s shareholders. Part of this profit is remitted to some billionaire in his yatch at Seychelles (or some other paradisiac island).

When you reserve an independent hotel, the profit goes to a retired couple, so they can buy a new car in the local dealer. Money stays in the neighbourhood.

Ok, you gave me 5 reasons to save our local businesses now.

So how can we help local business to overcome the Coronavirus Crisis?

Some suggestions are:

1 – Order delivery food from your local restaurant.

2 – Instead of Starbucks, goes to your local coffee-shop. Here in Warsaw, after discovering a small and charming local cafe called Cafe Charlie, I stopped visiting chains like Costa Cafe. It tastes better, and it feels better.

3 – Book a local hotel or hostel when travelling. More important: Book direct with them instead of using websites like Booking.com. Those sites take 15% of the reservation for them and have some very questionable practices against small hotels.

4 – Do good reviews of the local places that you enjoy! In Google, Yelp, or Tripadvisor. As a Hostel owner, i lack words to explain how a good review makes my day better.

5 – Spread the word, share this article and soon we leave that behind. It will pass.

optimism during crisis — *It will pass.*

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How to get citizenship of Poland via Karta Polaka (Polish Card)

How to get citizenship of Poland?

What is Karta Polaka?

What are the conditions for Karta Polaka?

Karta Polaka – What are the benefits?

How to apply for Karta Polaka?

Karta Polaka – The Interview

After having your Polish Card, what is the next step for citizenship?

Moving to Brazil from the USA or Europe have its particular challenges and rewards.

Moving to Brazil – What to Consider First

1 – Brazil is far, and either you will spend considerable money on airline tickets, or you will see your family and friends rarely.

2 – It is one of the most diverse countries on the planet, therefore advantages – and disadvantages – often do not apply to all states.

3 – The Shock for most westerners will not be cultural shock per se, but rather a structural shock, be it from the legal or governmental aspects.

Reasons to move to Brazil

1 – Instability creates opportunities

2 – The exchange rate is very favourable, for now.

3 – Amazing places to retire or relax amid nature.

4 – Good quality private healthcare.

Living in Brazil – Costs to consider

1 – Education

2 – Health

3 – Security

Best place to live in Brazil

1 – Best place for young professionals living in Brazil

2 – Best places for expat families living in Brazil

3 – Best place to live in Brazil for pensioners

Living in Brazil – Conclusions

“Just Enough” X “Comfortably” X “Very Comfortably”

How much is Just Enough to live in Warsaw?

How much is to live comfortably in Warsaw?

How much is to live very-comfortably in Warsaw?

Why the cost of living in Warsaw should never be compared to any other city in Poland.

1st – The Violence is very location-specific.

2nd – The Violence is decreasing in São Paulo. Everywhere.

3rd – There are ways to dodge most of the risks.

Conclusion: Is São Paulo Safe?

But… Why some? Because this applies only if your income is not in the local currency.

How the Brazilian Ibiza, a favourite place of national celebrities, turned (very) affordable.

So, are you telling me Brazil is a great place for Digital Nomads?

Right, so going back to costs: The rent is cheap (in dollars) in Florianópolis, but what about the rest?

Safe, inexpensive apartments and cheap drinks! I am almost convinced, but what can I do there in my free time?

What about the local communities of digital nomads and expatriates in Florianopolis?

Conclusion – the best city for Digital Nomads and (some) expats is Floripa.

What countries already lifted the travel bans?

Travel restrictions updates by country:

The New Normal: Connectivity Bubbles

What is “control” of the pandemic?

Where are the possible bubbles?

The losing side

5 reasons to save our local businesses NOW

1 – All sorts of business are in trouble. But local, small business are the most fragile.

Why big corporations have a smaller risk during this crisis?

2 – The lion’s share of governmental help will go to massive corporations, not to small entrepreneurs.

3 – We must avoid a world like the one of the movie Demolition Man

4 – More meaningful jobs

5 – Local Business more often procure their supplies in the local community

Just like with the supplies, local firms let a good part of their profits in the neighbourhood.

Ok, you gave me 5 reasons to save our local businesses now.

So how can we help local business to overcome the Coronavirus Crisis?

Schedule a free 15 minute consultation!

1^st – The Violence is very location-specific.

2^nd – The Violence is decreasing in São Paulo. Everywhere.

3^rd – There are ways to dodge most of the risks.

**How the Brazilian Ibiza, a favourite place of national celebrities, turned (very) affordable.**