Exploring the Term for When You're No Longer an Expat
First things first: An expat is defined as a person who lives outside their native country. I'm one such person. If such a person returns to reside in their native land they will cease to be an expat and become a repatriate. “Repat” anyone?
Your Question Unveiled
Your question is a little unclear. If you mean "what is it called when you move back home after having been an expat," I can't provide a definitive term. But if you mean "at what point is a person living abroad no longer considered an expat," I can certainly offer some insights.
The Key Feature of Being an Expat
The thing that strikes me as the key feature of being an expat is that it's a state of mind rather than something dependent on time. When I first moved to the UK, I got in touch with expat groups for information and general fellowship, and pretty quickly felt like I didn't belong. Expats are essentially temporarily displaced persons, even if there's no stated end date for their stay in the new country.
Expats often move to a new country for a work placement and typically group together, retaining much of their native culture while considering their country of origin as "home." However, if someone moves to another country with the intention of staying there as a permanent resident and starts to establish a feeling that home is the new country, they become an immigrant.
Personal and Individual Dynamics
The transition from expat to immigrant is subjective and depends on how the individual relates to their current and home countries. Expats can "go native," and immigrants can repatriate to their country of origin, all depending on their emotional and psychological connection. That said, the U.S. treats all citizens who live abroad as expats, especially in the context of taxation.
Transitioning from Expat to Other Categories
If you permanently move to another country, you are an immigrant. If you move back to your home country, you have repatriated. However, the term "ex-expat" or "former expat" can often be used to describe someone who has made the transition back to their native country.
Understanding the Transition
Understanding the term for when you're no longer an expat involves recognizing the emotional and psychological factors at play. The term can apply at different points in the expat journey, from the moment you leave your home country to the moment you return, based on how you perceive your new environment and your emotional attachment to your native land.
In summary, while there isn't a specific term for "no longer being an expat," the concept of repatriation and the idea of transitioning from an expat to an immigrant or even a former expat reflect the dynamic nature of this state of being. The key is to understand the personal and individual factors that drive this transition.
Note: Immigrant refers to a person who permanently moves to another country with the intention of staying there as a permanent resident, often integrating into the new culture and society.