Inpatriate vs. Expatriate — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
An inpatriate is an employee brought into a country to work for their company’s local operation, while an expatriate is someone who lives outside their native country.
Difference Between Inpatriate and Expatriate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Inpatriates are individuals brought into a country to work, offering their skills to the local branch, whereas expatriates leave their country to work abroad.
Inpatriation enhances a local operation with global expertise; expatriation spreads a company's culture and practices to its international branches.
Inpatriates may face challenges adapting to a new culture, much like expatriates, although the latter often engage in a broader international community.
The process of inpatriation can invigorate a domestic team with fresh perspectives; on the other hand, expatriation can lead to valuable international experience for the employee.
Inpatriate assignments often aim to develop a global mindset within the local staff, while expatriate roles may focus on global integration and leadership.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Brought into a country for work
Lives outside native country for work
Direction of Movement
Into a country
Out of a country
Purpose
To strengthen local operations with expertise
To represent and spread company culture abroad
Company’s Perspective
Gaining international expertise locally
Sharing and applying homegrown expertise globally
Employee Perspective
Learning about a new corporate culture locally
Adapting to a foreign work environment
Compare with Definitions
Inpatriate
Inward international transfer
Our team gained an inpatriate software developer.
Expatriate
Expat community member
She found comfort in the expatriate community.
Inpatriate
An employee relocated to the home office
She was an inpatriate from the German office.
Expatriate
Someone working abroad
She accepted an expatriate position in Dubai.
Inpatriate
Local integration of global staff
He became an inpatriate to lead the project.
Expatriate
Outward international transfer
The company's expatriate program was expanding.
Inpatriate
A foreign national working in a local branch
The inpatriate brought valuable insight.
Expatriate
International assignment
His expatriate assignment was for two years.
Inpatriate
Global talent acquisition
The firm's inpatriate program was highly competitive.
Expatriate
An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person residing in a country other than their native country. In common usage, the term often refers to professionals, skilled workers, or artists taking positions outside their home country, either independently or sent abroad by their employers.
Inpatriate
(business) An employee of a multinational company who is from a foreign country, but is transferred from a foreign subsidiary to the corporation’s headquarters
Expatriate
To send into exile
They were expatriated because of their political beliefs.
Inpatriate
Of or relating to people who are inpatriates, or to inpatriation.
Expatriate
To remove (oneself) from residence in one's native land.
Expatriate
To give up residence in one's homeland.
Expatriate
To renounce allegiance to one's homeland.
Expatriate
One who has taken up residence in a foreign country.
Expatriate
One who has renounced one's native land.
Expatriate
Residing in a foreign country; expatriated
"She delighted in the bohemian freedom enjoyed by the expatriate artists, writers, and performers living in Rome" (Janet H. Murray).
Expatriate
Living outside of one's own country.
An expatriate rebel force
Expatriate
One who lives outside one's own country.
Expatriate
One who has been banished from one's own country.
Expatriate
(transitive) To banish; to drive or force (a person) from his own country; to make an exile of.
Expatriate
(intransitive) To withdraw from one’s native country.
Expatriate
(intransitive) To renounce the rights and liabilities of citizenship where one is born and become a citizen of another country.
Expatriate
To banish; to drive or force (a person) from his own country; to make an exile of.
The expatriated landed interest of France.
Expatriate
Reflexively, as To expatriate one's self: To withdraw from one's native country; to renounce the rights and liabilities of citizenship where one is born, and become a citizen of another country.
Expatriate
Voluntarily absent from home or country
Expatriate
Expel from a country;
The poet was exiled because he signed a letter protesting the government's actions
Expatriate
Move away from one's native country and adopt a new residence abroad
Expatriate
A citizen living outside their country
He became an expatriate after moving to France.
Common Curiosities
Can expatriates be considered immigrants?
While both live abroad, expatriates maintain their citizenship and often intend to return home, unlike immigrants who seek permanent residency.
What is an expatriate?
An expatriate is a person residing outside their native country, often for work.
Are inpatriates permanently relocated?
Inpatriate assignments can be temporary or lead to permanent relocation, depending on the company's needs.
What is an inpatriate?
An inpatriate is an employee transferred into a country to work at a company’s local office.
Do inpatriates receive special training?
Yes, inpatriates often receive cultural and professional training to integrate effectively.
What challenges do expatriates face?
Expatriates often face cultural, linguistic, and adjustment challenges while living abroad.
How do companies support inpatriates?
Companies may support inpatriates with language training, cultural assimilation courses, and logistical support.
What is the goal of inpatriation?
The goal is to bring international knowledge into the local office, fostering global business competency.
Are there financial benefits for inpatriates?
Inpatriates may receive benefits such as relocation allowances or cost-of-living adjustments.
Why do companies use expatriates?
Companies use expatriates to ensure that their international offices align with their home country's business practices and culture.
Can an expatriate become an inpatriate?
Yes, if an expatriate is transferred from a foreign office to the company’s home country office, they become an inpatriate.
Is it common for expatriates to learn a new language?
Learning the local language is highly recommended for expatriates for better integration.
What are the tax implications for expatriates?
Expatriates must often navigate complex tax situations, dealing with both home and host country tax laws.
Can inpatriates help with diversity in the workplace?
Yes, inpatriates can greatly increase diversity and global perspective within a local team.
Do expatriates always work for multinational companies?
Not necessarily, expatriates can also work for non-governmental organizations, as independent contractors, or in various international roles.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
