Expats travelling globally are lucky to be living in the 21st century where they are surrounded by technology that helps them stay connected with their friends and family back home and other expats all around the world. Not only does technology help expats stay connected, but it can also help with the process of getting settled and finding your way around your new city and country.  Here are seven of the top apps that expats can’t do without:

7 Must have apps for expats

Duolingo

If you have just arrived in a new country with a foreign first language, one of the biggest barriers you face is communication. The quicker you can start communicating with the locals, the easier it is to get settled. Duolingo is the perfect app for allowing you to focus on small chunks of your new language before you arrive and it covers all the main European languages – English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German. All you need to do is have a free five minutes and you can practice anywhere at any time.

 WhatsApp

WhatsApp is the one app every expat says they can’t get by without. It’s used by over a billion people in 1105 countries and if you have decent Wi-Fi, you can stay in touch with anyone across the world at no cost. What’s more, it’s not limited to texting, you can make video calls and send video messages all for free with Wi-Fi! Many expats report that they would have felt far more homesick if it wasn’t for the wonders of WhatsApp.

Wi-Fi Finder

Wi-Fi Finder is a great app that enables expats to use Wi-Fi hotspots for free. Instead of searching for the nearest Wi-Fi destination, Wi-Fi Finder will tell you where it is and users can share hotspots, so the app is constantly being updated and expanding. It currently covers over 50 000 cities in the world and is the perfect app for conserving your data!

Business Culture and Etiquette app

If you are doing business in a country where you are faced with a foreign business culture, the success of your deal often hinges on you adhering to the local business norms and practices. This app gives you comprehensive dos and don’ts when it comes to business and provides information on negotiating tactics, behaviour, formal rituals and appearance. It is currently available for ten countries including China, Germany, Brazil and Sweden.

Doctoralia

Doctoralia is an essential app for any expat and provides information on both doctors and healthcare centres in the city you are moving to. Currently it features twenty countries worldwide and includes Brazil, India, UAE and certain European countries.

MeetUp

MeetUp is an app that covers thousands of cities and connects people who share similar interests and passions. Whether you are into dog walking, hiking or photography, you’ll discover a group dedicated to your passion – and you can set up your own profile so like-minded people can find you too.

CityMaps2Go

This is the ideal app if you can’t rely on Wi-Fi or data and your Google Maps is offline. These detailed up-to-date maps feature photos and comprehensive information about public transport, bikeways and footpaths. Currently, it covers 60 000 destinations in more than 150 countries and is the ideal way to navigate when you have no data.

If you are a South African living abroad and would like to know more about how you can maximise your finances through financially emigrating, accessing your South African retirement annuity and our tailor-made tax solutions for South Africans around the world, contact FinGlobal today.