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