While the pandemic has dramatically reduced international relocations and business travel, our clients have continued to access Living Abroad’s International Relocation Center and Global Business Travel Center. It’s no surprise that usage remained reasonably robust, but we wondered: What destinations generated the most interest in a time when most business travel, as well as many business plans, were so uncertain?
Below, you’ll find our ten most frequently accessed country reports from March 16, 2020 to June 23, 2021. Some have always been in our “top ten,” but others are new and interesting surprises. Given all the changes that have occurred around the globe in the last sixteen months and that will continue to happen — especially in the world of work — looking at IRC usage by destination will be a fascinating metric in the coming months and years.
Since all of these countries are undoubtedly important destinations for upcoming assignments and business travel, we’ve included a current official immigration resource with each entry here. (By the way, all of the IRC’s 230+ country reports have this information, as well as links to Fragomen’s comprehensive immigration reports where available, on their very first page.)
10. Denmark
Danish Immigration Service: Corona (COVID-19)
Top 10 in 2019? No
9. Sweden
Swedish Migration Agency: Living in Sweden
Top 10 in 2019? No
8. Germany
Federal Ministry of Health: Current information for travellers
Top 10 in 2019? Yes
7. Guyana
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Top 10 in 2019? No
6. Netherlands
Government of the Netherlands: Coronavirus COVID-19
Top 10 in 2019? Yes
5. Switzerland
Federal department of foreign affairs: Focus coronavirus (website in German)
Top 10 in 2019? Yes
4. USA
USAGov: COVID-19
Top 10 in 2019? Yes
3. United Kingdom
UK Visas and Immigration
Top 10 in 2019? Yes
2. Singapore
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
Top 10 in 2019? Yes
1. Australia
COVID-19 and the border
Top 10 in 2019? Yes
The biggest surprise was seeing Guyana in the top 10. Further investigation revealed that only a small number of clients, all in the same energy and construction industries, accounted for this surge. Keep an eye on Guyana! Japan & India, previously always in the top-ten, fell off this list during the pandemic – no surprise, given that both countries are still mostly locked down.
Written by Erin Fitzgerald, GMS, Content Manager & Michael Cadden, GMS-T, VP – International Operations
