Unpacking “Expat”: Identity, Status, and Mobility Among Contemporary Western Residents in Türkiye

ABSTRACT While terms like “immigrant” and “migrant” have become commonplace in our globalized world, the term “expatriate” is used much less frequently, even though self‐described “expat” communities abound within many countries. The main difference between immigrants and expats has frequently defined simply as whether people are moving to another country permanently or with no definite timeline. Yet colloquially, the term expat often involves preconceptions of privilege and status, reserved for more educated and wealthy people from developed Western countries. In recent years, migration researchers have critically interrogated this concept, particularly in relation to whiteness, nationality, and class. However, many studies have focused only on narrowly defined groups, especially within the West or from the West to Southeast Asia, with a dearth of case studies from developing countries like Türkiye. This study adds to this literature by conducting in‐depth qualitative interviews ( N = 38) with contemporary Western migrants residing in Türkiye from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Specifically, we examine how these migrants socially construct the concept of “expat.” Findings reveal complex, contradictory, and largely self‐critical understandings, primarily revolving around the theme of “choice.” We conclude that scholars should move beyond disparate domain‐specific definitions to embrace a more diverse view of expats. Specifically, we propose that the theoretical frame of “mobility justice” can help better conceptualize expats within the full spectrum of migration.