• Purpose - This paper offers a critical review of how self-initiated expatriation (SIE) is theorized compared to migration in the management literature and indicates avenues for future research on SIE. • Design/methodology/approach – A systematic review has been conducted using the ISI Web of Knowledge database as well as ABI/INFORM in order to include key journals in the management field. • Findings – Despite the importance of present theorizations on SIE, we show that the literature presents a narrow focus on the most privileged of self-initiated expatriates and presents some important knowledge gaps. In order to fill these gaps, we propose a research map for future research on SIE. Our map includes four key dimensions. These are: 1) diversity-informed research on SIE; 2) context specific and multilevel understanding of SIE; 3) reflexive approaches to SIE; 4) triangulated methods to studying SIE. • Research limitations/implications – By proposing a research map with theoretical and methodological implications, this paper increases our understanding of SIE. It offers a guide for future research on SIEs. • Practical implications – Research on self-initiated expatriation needs to be more inclusive and critical in term of studying the diverse human resources in our contemporary societies. • Originality/value – The paper indicates how research on self-initiated expatriation can become more developed in terms of its theorizations. Furthermore, it proposes a research map for future studies on SIE that is reflexive, relational, diversity-informed, and methodologically-triangulated.