Library
Guides for moving abroad as an American
In-depth, no-nonsense reading on the topics that come up over and over when planning a move abroad.
All guides
Visa basics for Americans moving abroad
How long-stay visas, residency permits, and digital-nomad routes work — and how to figure out which one fits your situation.
Read guideCost of living abroad: how to estimate your real budget
What changes, what doesn't, and how to build a realistic monthly number for the country you're considering.
Read guideHealthcare for Americans living abroad
Public systems, private insurance, and what to do about the gap between leaving US coverage and being eligible locally.
Read guideTaxes when you move abroad as an American
FEIE, FTC, tax residency, and the basics of staying compliant with both the IRS and your new country.
Read guideMoving abroad with pets
Health certificates, microchips, rabies titers, and the realistic timeline for getting a dog or cat across the ocean.
Read guideMoving abroad with kids
Schools, paperwork, healthcare, and how to set up the soft landing kids actually need.
Read guideHow to keep your US phone number when moving abroad
The cheapest and most reliable ways to keep your US number active overseas for 2FA, banking, and family — Google Voice, Tello, NumberBarn, and VoIP options compared.
Read guideDoes moving abroad affect your US credit score?
Moving abroad doesn't directly hurt your US credit score — but the things people accidentally do during a move usually do. Here's what actually moves the needle and how to keep your score intact from overseas.
Read guideHow much money should you save before moving abroad?
A realistic savings target for moving abroad: one-time costs, three months of landing expenses, and a six-month runway. Worked examples for Portugal, Mexico, and Spain.
Read guideMoving to Portugal from the US: The D7 visa guide for Americans
A step-by-step D7 (Passive Income) visa guide for US citizens — income thresholds, the VFS Global process, document checklist, timelines, and what living in Portugal as an American actually looks like.
Read guideSpain Digital Nomad Visa for Americans: moving to Spain from the US
A complete guide to Spain's Digital Nomad Visa for US citizens — income requirements, the Beckham Law tax benefit, application timeline, and what moving to Spain from the USA actually looks like.
Read guideMoving to Costa Rica from the US: Retirement visa guide
A complete guide to Costa Rica's Pensionado and Rentista visas for Americans — income thresholds, the CAJA healthcare system, document checklist, and what retiring in Costa Rica actually looks like.
Read guideMoving to Thailand from the US: Retirement visa guide
A complete guide to Thailand's O-A and O-X retirement visas for Americans — financial requirements, health insurance rules, the 90-day reporting system, and what retiring in Thailand actually costs and feels like.
Read guidePassive income visas: how to live abroad without a local job
A practical comparison of the best passive income visas for Americans — Portugal D7, Spain Non-Lucrative, Italy Elective Residency, and other top options for retirees and financially independent movers.
Read guideCountry comparisons
Side-by-side breakdowns to help you choose between two finalists.
Portugal vs Spain
Visa, cost, climate, healthcare, and taxes compared — how to choose between Portugal and Spain as an American considering a move to Iberia.
Spain vs Italy
Visas, healthcare, costs, climate, and bureaucracy compared for Americans choosing between Spain and Italy.
Portugal vs Mexico
EU residency vs same-time-zone Latin America — costs, visas, healthcare, and tradeoffs for Americans choosing between Portugal and Mexico.
Costa Rica vs Panama
Visa programs, costs, healthcare, climate, and lifestyle compared for Americans choosing between Costa Rica and Panama.
Japan vs South Korea
Visas, cost of living, healthcare, work culture, and English usability compared for Americans choosing between Japan and South Korea.
Best countries for…
Curated picks by lifestyle, work situation, and priorities.
Best countries for digital nomads
Countries with dedicated remote-worker visas, fast internet, expat infrastructure, and a reasonable income threshold.
Best countries for American retirees
Affordable healthcare, friendly retirement visas, English-speaking communities, and a slower pace.
Best countries for relocating families
Safe, kid-friendly countries with strong schools and accessible visa routes for parents and dependents.
Best countries for US remote workers
Where to base yourself when you keep your US job and want time-zone overlap plus quality of life.
Best low-cost-of-living countries for Americans
Countries where $2,000–3,000/month buys a comfortable middle-class life, not just survival.
Countries with the easiest residency for Americans
Where the visa-to-permanent-residency path is most accessible without an employer sponsor.
Best countries for autism services
Countries with strong special-needs infrastructure, inclusive schools, and accessible therapy for autistic children and adults.
Best countries for healthcare
Top-tier medical systems where Americans can access high-quality care without the US price tag.
Best countries for Black Americans abroad
Welcoming destinations with established Black expat communities, minimal racial friction, and strong legal protections.
Best countries for LGBTQ+ expats
Countries with full legal equality, thriving queer communities, and safe, welcoming day-to-day life.
Best countries for dual citizenship pathways
Where Americans can most realistically obtain a second passport without giving up US citizenship.
Best countries for a better work-life balance
Where shorter workweeks, generous leave, and a culture of personal time make daily life feel sustainable.
Best countries for safety
Low violent crime, stable governance, and the kind of day-to-day safety where walking home late isn't a calculation.
Best countries to escape burnout
Slower-paced, nature-rich destinations where the daily rhythm itself helps you recover from American hustle culture.
Best countries for Americans seeking a fresh start
Welcoming destinations with accessible visas, manageable cost of living, and the social openness to rebuild a life from scratch.
Best countries for early retirement abroad
Where a modest portfolio stretches further, healthcare is accessible before Medicare, and the visa allows pre-65 retirement.
Best countries for Americans living on Social Security
Where the average $1,900/month US Social Security check actually covers rent, healthcare, and a real life — not just survival.
Best countries for single women moving abroad
Where solo women report feeling safe day-to-day, building community is realistic, and the legal protections are real.
Best countries for walkability
Where daily life happens on foot — groceries, school, work, doctor — and a car is genuinely optional, not aspirationally so.
Best countries for Americans with children
Family-friendly destinations where schools, healthcare, safety, and the everyday culture genuinely support parenting.
Best countries for lower-cost healthcare
Where quality medical care costs a small fraction of US prices — out-of-pocket or via inexpensive private insurance.
Best countries for learning a new language
Where the language is genuinely useful, daily immersion is unavoidable, and high-quality affordable instruction is everywhere.
Best countries for Americans who want European residency
The most accessible EU and EFTA routes for Americans wanting to live, work, and eventually settle in Europe.
Best countries for birthright citizenship
Countries where any child born on the soil automatically becomes a citizen — and a strong second-passport option for American parents.
Best countries for entrepreneurs
Countries with low barriers to starting a business, favorable tax treatment, entrepreneur visas, and ecosystems that reward building something new.
Best countries for Americans with the lowest taxes
Where territorial taxation, flat-rate regimes, or special programs let Americans legally keep dramatically more of their income.
Best Mediterranean countries for Americans on a budget
Sun, sea, and historic cities at half the price of Italy or southern France — without giving up healthcare, infrastructure, or visa access.
Best countries where Americans can move without a complex visa
Where US citizens can arrive on a passport stamp, settle in for months or a full year, and convert to residency later — no consulate appointments required.
Best tropical beach countries for Americans
Where year-round warm water, low cost of living, and accessible visas combine for a genuinely sustainable beach life — not just a long vacation.
Best cities abroad for Black Americans
Cities with welcoming culture, visible Black communities, and an existing Black American expat presence — where the day-to-day feels affirming, not isolating.
Countries with established Black expat communities
Countries where Black Americans (and the broader African diaspora) have built durable, visible communities you can plug into on arrival — not start from scratch.
Move to a specific country
Country-by-country checklists covering visas, paperwork, banking, housing, healthcare, and your first 30 days.
Moving to Portugal from the USA
Western Europe
Moving to Spain from the USA
Western Europe
Moving to Mexico from the USA
North America
Moving to Costa Rica from the USA
Central America
Moving to Thailand from the USA
Southeast Asia
Moving to Germany from the USA
Western Europe
Moving to Netherlands from the USA
Western Europe
Moving to Japan from the USA
East Asia
Moving to UAE from the USA
Middle East
Moving to Italy from the USA
Western Europe
Moving to Canada from the USA
North America
Moving to Ireland from the USA
Western Europe
Moving to New Zealand from the USA
Oceania
Moving to Panama from the USA
Central America
Moving to France from the USA
Western Europe
Moving to South Korea from the USA
East Asia
Moving to Greece from the USA
Southern Europe
Moving to Croatia from the USA
Southern Europe
Moving to Montenegro from the USA
Southern Europe
Moving to Albania from the USA
Southern Europe
Moving to Georgia from the USA
Caucasus
Moving to Belize from the USA
Central America
Moving to Philippines from the USA
Southeast Asia
Moving to Cambodia from the USA
Southeast Asia