You re right staying in a country while you are working does not constitute being an expatriate The definition of expatriate is someone that takes up residence there residence does not constitute staying at a local hotel or renting a house as you re a guest and not a resident of the region I think we need not confuse living in a country with staying in a country When you re there for a couple of months that isn t taking up residence Now if you re there for a couple of years then you re talking about a move that will most likely require one to uproot their family for the duration of the stay Contact me