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Settling in overseas: older expats know best

Rather than looking for a quiet life, retired expats throw themselves headfirst into the social whirl, and settle in more quickly than the young

older tourists at cafe in Rome
Older expats delight in discovering new cuisines, according to the survey Credit: Photo: Alamy

Rather than putting their feet up, expats who retire overseas enthusiastically embrace the fun side of life and become part of the community faster than their younger counterparts it seems.

Almost half (49 per cent) of people who retired overseas told HSBC Expat Explorer researchers that it took them less than six months to feel at home and 52 per cent said it took less than a year.

In comparison, only a third of expats aged 18 to 34 settled in so quickly.

The secret, according to the researchers – who any asked 22,000 expats in 100 countries about their lives – is to make the effort to find local friends.

“Retired expats immerse themselves in life abroad and rather than opting for a quiet or expat-focused lifestyle, have become true members of the local communities they live in,” said the report.

Less than a third of expat retirees say they go out more with expat friends than locals, a much lower figure than the global average of 42 per cent of expats. For a third of retirees, the key milestone to feeling at home is when they join local community events and activities, higher than the global average of 23 per cent.

second best exotic marigold
Like the elderly British expats portrayed by Judi Dench and co in the Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, real-life retirees know how to have fun and integrate too

Hitting the social scene also benefits expat retirees in other ways, according to the research. More than two in five report leading a more active social life than at home.

Meanwhile discovering new cuisines plays a major role in socialising, with seven in 10 retired expats enjoying cooking or eating the local food.

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As a result, 63 per cent found it easy to form new friendships abroad. Nearly three-quarters believe they are integrating well overall with the local people and culture.

Among the most popular spots for retirement are Spain, France, south-east Asia and Mexico.

Regardless of location, it seems to be a rewarding decision as 67 per cent of those who moved abroad to retire reported their quality of life is now higher than back home.

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Dean Blackburn, head of HSBC Expat, said: “The key thing we’re seeing is a departure from the stereotype – retired expats are looking for more than a quiet life inside the expat bubble. Instead, they’re thriving on the experience to discover new things: jumping head first into different cultures, building circles of friends with expats and locals alike and relishing the cuisine.

"Whatever our age and wherever we are in the world, there’s no question that we can all take inspiration from this group of expats when it comes to making the most of life abroad.”

How to settle in:

Asked to list the ways they made themselves feel at home, the expat retirees recommended:

  1. Making friends and/or developing their social life (51 per cent)
  2. Starting to understand the local culture and etiquette (38 per cent)
  3. Successfully using the local language (28 per cent)
  4. Taking part in local or community events or initiatives (23 per cent)
  5. Being sure their family were enjoying life in their new country (21 per cent)