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Expats & Newcomers
A guide to expats & newcomers friendships

For anyone who has just arrived in a new country and is rebuilding a social life from zero.

01 — The first ninety days matter most

The first ninety days matter most

Moving abroad compresses everything: paperwork, language, work, and a social life that has to be built by hand. Most people who feel settled a year in did one thing early — they picked two or three recurring things and stuck with them long enough for strangers to become regulars.

02 — What actually works

What actually works

  • Join a mixed group, not only an expat one. Both give you something the other cannot.
  • Learn ten sentences of small talk in the local language. It changes how people meet you.
  • Go to the same place weekly. Cafés, courts, choirs, classes — the format matters far less than the repetition.
  • Accept that the first month is awkward for everyone who has ever moved. It passes.
How expats & newcomers friendships form

How people actually meet through Expats & Newcomers.

Newcomers are temporarily open in a way settled locals often aren’t. Expat dinners, language exchanges and city orientation groups exploit that window. The mistake is bouncing between ten events; the fix is picking two recurring rooms and staying for six weeks.

Locals appear when you join something that isn’t labelled ‘expat’ — a run club, choir, volunteer shift. Mix one newcomer space with one local hobby.

Homesickness peaks when the calendar is empty. Fill Tuesday and Thursday first; weekends take care of themselves later.

Typical hangouts

  • Newcomer / expat dinner

    High empathy, high turnover. Use it to find your smaller circle.

  • Language exchange

    Mutual need. Excellent bridge to locals.

  • City walk / orientation

    Low pressure way to learn neighbourhoods with other new people.

  • Hobby that isn’t ‘expat’

    Sports, arts, faith, volunteering — where longer-term friendships live.

Your first month

  • Week 1 — Two recurring events

    One newcomer, one local hobby. Put them in the calendar like work.

  • Week 2 — Exchange three contacts

    Not a hundred. Follow up with a concrete invite.

  • Week 3 — Host something tiny

    Tea, a walk, a museum. Hosting accelerates belonging.

  • Week 4 — Say yes twice

    Accept invitations even if you’re tired. Month one is for roots.

About Expats & Newcomers

Meeting new friends through expats & newcomers — questions, answered.

How do I make friends as an expat?
Combine one newcomer group with one local recurring hobby. Stay with both for at least a month before judging the city.
Where can I find the expats & newcomers community?
We're actively mapping expats & newcomers circles in cities worldwide. Bookmark this page or check back soon — the directory grows every week.
Why do expat friends feel temporary?
Because many leave. Keep making new connections and invest extra in locals and long-stayers.
Language barrier tips?
Language exchanges, slow conversation groups and hobby rooms where talking isn’t the whole activity (sports, crafts).
I’m shy and new — where to start?
Structured formats: language exchange, class, volunteer shift. Avoid big mixer nights at first.
Apps vs IRL for newcomers?
Apps help you find the room. Friendship needs the room weekly.
How long before it feels normal?
Often two to three months of consistent showing up. Loneliness in month one is common, not a verdict.
Families vs singles?
Parent groups, school gates and sports teams are parallel tracks. Singles often use dinners and hobby clubs.
Is this only for internationals?
No — ‘newcomers’ includes people who moved cities in the same country. The social problem is the same.