Is ‘expat’ just a fancy way of saying ‘immigrant’?

There’s a growing trend of Americans living abroad—whether it’s Millennials working remotely from more affordable locales than LA or retirees looking to make the most of their pensions. Interestingly, these groups tend to use the term “expat” rather than “immigrant” to describe themselves. But is this distinction classist or even a bit elitist? Let’s break it down:

An immigrant is someone who moves to a foreign country with the intention of living there permanently. On the other hand, a migrant refers to someone who moves for a temporary period.

The term “expat” is broader and doesn’t specify whether the stay is temporary or permanent. However, it does carry a certain air of exclusivity. The term “immigrant” often comes with a connotation of economic hardship and necessity, while “expat” implies a choice and, frequently, a higher socioeconomic status.

The reality is, if you’re living outside your home country, you’re an immigrant or migrant, regardless of the reasons behind your move. Whether it’s Californians relocating to Mexico City to escape sky-high living costs or retirees enjoying a pension in a sunnier locale, the label “expat” seems to be a way of avoiding the stigma associated with being an immigrant.

So, perhaps it’s time to call a spade a spade and recognize that expats are, in essence, high-class immigrants.

What are the nuances of expat versus immigrant and how to be culturally appropriate when living abroad. We’re joined by mompreneur Dhana Bunel and Karina Magallon and we end up the show with Aliyah interviewing and Ramon Vega on the latest episode of Get it Girl! Now available on the LatiNation App!

WATCH: Ramon Vega on his fashion sense and music style