If you moved abroad to live there, are you an expat or an immigrant? According to a dictionary, you should be both. But are you?
. . .
Both leave their homes to lead better lives, yet are labeled differently. There’s a weird sense behind how we use the words expat and immigrant differently. It wouldn’t take a sharp mind to notice that these words tend to connotate race rather than life choices. But here at Loline, we don’t just throw accusations; we thoroughly investigate them.
Let’s start with the dictionary
If you Google “Expat meaning,” then the definition you’ll get is “a person who lives outside their native country.” Okay, sounds good. Now, if you google the definition of immigrant, you’ll get “a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.” But there’s barely a difference between the definitions of these words. So, are these words synonyms? Obviously no. Which begs the question: why are they used so differently? Before jumping to conclusions about racism, let’s play devil’s advocate and consider other possible explanations.
One of the main differences between immigrants and expats lies in economic power. Immigrants typically move from lower-income countries to wealthier ones in search of better job prospects and improved living conditions. In contrast, expats often come from high-income countries and relocate to less wealthy nations either to pursue investment opportunities or simply to enjoy a lifestyle where their money goes further. Another differentiator might be perception. While immigrants are often seen as people who are trying to "make it" in a new land, expats are frequently viewed as adventurous or cosmopolitan, even when engaging in similar behaviors.
But let’s honestly ask a question: Have you ever seen a black expat?
The R-Word Yet Again
You’ll be forgiven if the explanation we gave above wasn’t satisfactory. That’s because it isn’t. While economic power and perception offer part of the picture, they don’t fully explain why someone from London is called an expat in Nairobi, while someone from Nairobi is called an immigrant in London. The truth is, these labels often reveal more about global power structures, privilege, and implicit bias than they do about the actual act of relocating.
And yes, racism plays a role. The term “expat” is rarely used to describe Black or Brown people, even when they are working professionals living abroad. Instead, they’re more likely to be labeled as immigrants, regardless of their income or reason for relocating. This distinction often hinges on race and nationality, where white mobility is seen as desirable and sophisticated, while mobility from the Global South is viewed as economic desperation or even a threat. In many ways, the language mirrors colonial hierarchies, subtly dictating who gets to be seen as a global citizen and who doesn’t.
This distinction also evokes different sentiments in people as a result. Immigrant means poor, struggling, unwanted, while expat means rich, desirable, and proper. These associations are not neutral; they shape policies, media portrayals, and even how neighbors treat one another. Now you know why your passport isn’t worth much.
It’d be trivial to conclude by saying “our perceptions need to shift”. Of course they do. But that alone won’t undo the deep-rooted power structures and biases baked into the language we use. What we need is a more honest reckoning with how race, class, and history shape our narratives around mobility. Until then, calling a white professional an “expat” and a Black professional an “immigrant” will remain less about accuracy and more about the world’s enduring double standards.
