Expats (an abbreviation of expatriates or people who live outside their home country) normally stay in a foreign country for a period from three to five years, representing either their own country (diplomats) or representing an organisation (mostly a company), headquartered elsewhere. This may be for instance a Dutchman, living in Indonesia, representing an American company. Just because expats work on a daily basis with people in the guest country (often called locals, although this may be used with a negative connotation) a thorough understanding of the guest culture and the ways and means of dealing with it are necessary conditions for success.

Expats need all elements of the website www.culturalcompetence.eu, just because they are living and working abroad and facing cultural differences all the time (possibly even in their dreams). However, not all labels are equally important, depending on the person in question (e.g. previous knowledge and experience, personality, upbringing).