Expat Careers?
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Expat Careers?
What's the expat journey looking like these days?
Is there or do you know anyone looking to go overseas anymore?
Is there or do you know anyone looking to go overseas anymore?
Re: Expat Careers?
I looked into it seriously during the covaids tyranny years. Now it's on the backburner after a serious talk with the missus. Here's what I discovered:
MENA: Still hiring many expats, but starting to favour locals. Pro: Lots of tax-free money flowing, Cons: Cultural differences/shocks, lots of redeyes
Good potential candidates: FlyDubai, Qatar, Etihad, Oman Air
Africa: Still not many options, Ethiopian and Kenyan Airways are still best expat airlines. Pros: Very low cost of living Cons: Far from home, culture
Asia/Oceania: Turning away from expats as well, though seemingly not as quickly as the MENA states. Hard to get a job in AUS/NZ
Good candidates: Korean, Peach, Skymark, Vietnam, Fiji. Multiple Chinese airlines have a reputation of shoveling money at you "until there's a problem"
Europe: Starting to hear of DEC expat entries into Europe WITHOUT citizenship/work permit and/or EASA license. So far still rare, but pilot shortage starting there too. Pros: Western living, potential - if you don't have it yet - of EASA/citizenship Cons: Western taxation
Good candidates: Ryanair, Wizz, Air Malta, Corendon
Latin American/Caribbean: Strong economic growth, but still a lot of protectionism/nepotism/corruption. Close to Canada, good cost of living, most pay in USD. Many countries are income tax shelters
Good candidates: Copa, Caribbean, Windward Island air. I hear LATAM is also looking at expats
US: Still a few airlines open for sponsoring the right candidates, but there is still not enough of a shortage to hurt yet. Give it a few years. Atlas Air was reputed to take candidates from anywhere in the World as recently as 2023, not sure if they still do.
Good luck. For me, "family" was the main reason not to leave.
MENA: Still hiring many expats, but starting to favour locals. Pro: Lots of tax-free money flowing, Cons: Cultural differences/shocks, lots of redeyes
Good potential candidates: FlyDubai, Qatar, Etihad, Oman Air
Africa: Still not many options, Ethiopian and Kenyan Airways are still best expat airlines. Pros: Very low cost of living Cons: Far from home, culture
Asia/Oceania: Turning away from expats as well, though seemingly not as quickly as the MENA states. Hard to get a job in AUS/NZ
Good candidates: Korean, Peach, Skymark, Vietnam, Fiji. Multiple Chinese airlines have a reputation of shoveling money at you "until there's a problem"
Europe: Starting to hear of DEC expat entries into Europe WITHOUT citizenship/work permit and/or EASA license. So far still rare, but pilot shortage starting there too. Pros: Western living, potential - if you don't have it yet - of EASA/citizenship Cons: Western taxation
Good candidates: Ryanair, Wizz, Air Malta, Corendon
Latin American/Caribbean: Strong economic growth, but still a lot of protectionism/nepotism/corruption. Close to Canada, good cost of living, most pay in USD. Many countries are income tax shelters
Good candidates: Copa, Caribbean, Windward Island air. I hear LATAM is also looking at expats
US: Still a few airlines open for sponsoring the right candidates, but there is still not enough of a shortage to hurt yet. Give it a few years. Atlas Air was reputed to take candidates from anywhere in the World as recently as 2023, not sure if they still do.
Good luck. For me, "family" was the main reason not to leave.
Re: Expat Careers?
If you're not happy with what AC or Westjet have to offer, it's unlikely you'll be happy at Ryanair.
As an AvCanada discussion grows longer:
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
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CaptDukeNukem
- Rank 10

- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2022 9:33 am
Re: Expat Careers?
Atlas is not taking people “from anywhere around the world”.BigQ wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 1:57 pm I looked into it seriously during the covaids tyranny years. Now it's on the backburner after a serious talk with the missus. Here's what I discovered:
MENA: Still hiring many expats, but starting to favour locals. Pro: Lots of tax-free money flowing, Cons: Cultural differences/shocks, lots of redeyes
Good potential candidates: FlyDubai, Qatar, Etihad, Oman Air
Africa: Still not many options, Ethiopian and Kenyan Airways are still best expat airlines. Pros: Very low cost of living Cons: Far from home, culture
Asia/Oceania: Turning away from expats as well, though seemingly not as quickly as the MENA states. Hard to get a job in AUS/NZ
Good candidates: Korean, Peach, Skymark, Vietnam, Fiji. Multiple Chinese airlines have a reputation of shoveling money at you "until there's a problem"
Europe: Starting to hear of DEC expat entries into Europe WITHOUT citizenship/work permit and/or EASA license. So far still rare, but pilot shortage starting there too. Pros: Western living, potential - if you don't have it yet - of EASA/citizenship Cons: Western taxation
Good candidates: Ryanair, Wizz, Air Malta, Corendon
Latin American/Caribbean: Strong economic growth, but still a lot of protectionism/nepotism/corruption. Close to Canada, good cost of living, most pay in USD. Many countries are income tax shelters
Good candidates: Copa, Caribbean, Windward Island air. I hear LATAM is also looking at expats
US: Still a few airlines open for sponsoring the right candidates, but there is still not enough of a shortage to hurt yet. Give it a few years. Atlas Air was reputed to take candidates from anywhere in the World as recently as 2023, not sure if they still do.
Good luck. For me, "family" was the main reason not to leave.
You need to have a right to work in the US. End of story.
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Eric Janson
- Rank (9)

- Posts: 1483
- Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:44 am
Re: Expat Careers?
Expat jobs are generally for Type Rated, Experienced Captains.
There are a few places that will take FO - but again there are experience requirements.
These are not entry level jobs.
Plenty of Expat forums to give you an idea of what life in some of these countries looks like.
For what it's worth: - Don't give up a stable job in your home country to become an Expat
I joined my current employer so I don't have to go to the ME or China.
There are a few places that will take FO - but again there are experience requirements.
These are not entry level jobs.
Plenty of Expat forums to give you an idea of what life in some of these countries looks like.
For what it's worth: - Don't give up a stable job in your home country to become an Expat
I joined my current employer so I don't have to go to the ME or China.
Always fly a stable approach - it's the only stability you'll find in this business
Re: Expat Careers?
Quite possible, who said OP wanted to leave either? The way OP wrote, he/she wants to leave Canada
Re: Expat Careers?
Atlas takes people from around the world as long as they have the work permit. They had advertised for at least a few months that they fly, business class or better, their pilots from their homes to their base of employment. It is now $1250 month of commuting costs paid.CaptDukeNukem wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 6:22 pmAtlas is not taking people “from anywhere around the world”.BigQ wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 1:57 pm I looked into it seriously during the covaids tyranny years. Now it's on the backburner after a serious talk with the missus. Here's what I discovered:
MENA: Still hiring many expats, but starting to favour locals. Pro: Lots of tax-free money flowing, Cons: Cultural differences/shocks, lots of redeyes
Good potential candidates: FlyDubai, Qatar, Etihad, Oman Air
Africa: Still not many options, Ethiopian and Kenyan Airways are still best expat airlines. Pros: Very low cost of living Cons: Far from home, culture
Asia/Oceania: Turning away from expats as well, though seemingly not as quickly as the MENA states. Hard to get a job in AUS/NZ
Good candidates: Korean, Peach, Skymark, Vietnam, Fiji. Multiple Chinese airlines have a reputation of shoveling money at you "until there's a problem"
Europe: Starting to hear of DEC expat entries into Europe WITHOUT citizenship/work permit and/or EASA license. So far still rare, but pilot shortage starting there too. Pros: Western living, potential - if you don't have it yet - of EASA/citizenship Cons: Western taxation
Good candidates: Ryanair, Wizz, Air Malta, Corendon
Latin American/Caribbean: Strong economic growth, but still a lot of protectionism/nepotism/corruption. Close to Canada, good cost of living, most pay in USD. Many countries are income tax shelters
Good candidates: Copa, Caribbean, Windward Island air. I hear LATAM is also looking at expats
US: Still a few airlines open for sponsoring the right candidates, but there is still not enough of a shortage to hurt yet. Give it a few years. Atlas Air was reputed to take candidates from anywhere in the World as recently as 2023, not sure if they still do.
Good luck. For me, "family" was the main reason not to leave.
You need to have a right to work in the US. End of story.
https://pilotcareercenter.com/Air-Carri ... as-Air-Inc.
Re: Expat Careers?
Well, I mean, the symptoms of both the covid spike protein and the reputed chemical concoction designed to fight it are proven to cause immune suppression... so, Aids...
- Ash Ketchum
- Rank 6

- Posts: 451
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 11:52 am
Re: Expat Careers?
I don't know of a single US employer sponsoring right now and I've emailed or called most of them. A lot of them are now requiring a green card as well (even the ULCCs). Atlas doesn't need a green card but won't sponsor so you need a non immigrant work visa to go there.
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CaptDukeNukem
- Rank 10

- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2022 9:33 am
Re: Expat Careers?
Quoted directly from the very link you posted:BigQ wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 9:40 amAtlas takes people from around the world as long as they have the work permit. They had advertised for at least a few months that they fly, business class or better, their pilots from their homes to their base of employment. It is now $1250 month of commuting costs paid.CaptDukeNukem wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 6:22 pmAtlas is not taking people “from anywhere around the world”.BigQ wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 1:57 pm I looked into it seriously during the covaids tyranny years. Now it's on the backburner after a serious talk with the missus. Here's what I discovered:
MENA: Still hiring many expats, but starting to favour locals. Pro: Lots of tax-free money flowing, Cons: Cultural differences/shocks, lots of redeyes
Good potential candidates: FlyDubai, Qatar, Etihad, Oman Air
Africa: Still not many options, Ethiopian and Kenyan Airways are still best expat airlines. Pros: Very low cost of living Cons: Far from home, culture
Asia/Oceania: Turning away from expats as well, though seemingly not as quickly as the MENA states. Hard to get a job in AUS/NZ
Good candidates: Korean, Peach, Skymark, Vietnam, Fiji. Multiple Chinese airlines have a reputation of shoveling money at you "until there's a problem"
Europe: Starting to hear of DEC expat entries into Europe WITHOUT citizenship/work permit and/or EASA license. So far still rare, but pilot shortage starting there too. Pros: Western living, potential - if you don't have it yet - of EASA/citizenship Cons: Western taxation
Good candidates: Ryanair, Wizz, Air Malta, Corendon
Latin American/Caribbean: Strong economic growth, but still a lot of protectionism/nepotism/corruption. Close to Canada, good cost of living, most pay in USD. Many countries are income tax shelters
Good candidates: Copa, Caribbean, Windward Island air. I hear LATAM is also looking at expats
US: Still a few airlines open for sponsoring the right candidates, but there is still not enough of a shortage to hurt yet. Give it a few years. Atlas Air was reputed to take candidates from anywhere in the World as recently as 2023, not sure if they still do.
Good luck. For me, "family" was the main reason not to leave.
You need to have a right to work in the US. End of story.
https://pilotcareercenter.com/Air-Carri ... as-Air-Inc.
Employer Notes
Actively recruiting American FAA Licensed Pilots as well as E3 Visa Holders (Australian Pilots holding E3 Visa).
Restrictions
* Must hold FAA Pilot License, Medical.
* Must have legal right to live/work in USA.
* No Foreign Pilot Visas or Sponsorships



