How to Move Out of the US Workshop

[IL Moderator]

Hi @ANNEBLAKE1 We’ve checked in with Glenda Cole, our expert in Portugal, to get an answer to your question. This was her response,

Single and moving to Europe? Great idea! Europe is safe, people are welcoming, especially when you are on your own. I came to Portugal on my own for three winters. I sat with a British expat couple at a charity event. Four years later, I am about to vacation in Ireland with those charming people! Challenges are the same you face as a single anywhere. But it's hard to be lonely when you're an expat. There are social clubs, facebook groups and events in most European countries that focus on expats. The Algarve in Portugal has an exceptional number of events where you can meet new people around your age.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @EMMI154 We’ve checked in with Ted Baumann, our Global Diversification Expert, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

Well, as always the answer depends on your individual circumstances. But if you don't have any possibility of getting an ancestral citizenship somewhere, I would say that Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay top my list in terms of safety, affordability, and ease of establishing residency. All three countries allow you to become a resident without too much trouble as long as you meet the basic requirements in terms of monthly income. Costa Rica and Panama also have the benefit of having fully territorial tax systems, which means that you only pay tax on income earned inside the country. If you're living on money from the US or Canada, or another country, you wouldn't pay tax on it in those countries. Another possibility is Belize, but it's slightly less safe than the others.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @RONALDGREGORYLUCE We’ve checked in with Jeff our Editor of Global Intelligence, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

Sure. Portugal, Spain, Greece, France, Thailand, Uruguay, Malaysia. The list is long. Not really sure how to answer your question. If you’re earning income online, then pretty much anywhere you go you can continue to do that. If you’re talking about working locally, then that’s going to be more challenging in some places because they don’t allow certain types of visa holders to earn locally. For instance, if you have a “retiree” or “independent means” visa in a place like Portugal, you will not have any way to work locally. So it really depends on the means by which you earn extra income.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @YHONG8 We’ve checked in with Jeff our Editor of Global Intelligence, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

I don’t speak Portuguese, and I get along fine. Lots of English spoken here, and where it’s not spoken, like in supermarket checkout lines on occasion or with handymen, you can still get by with pidgin English and pointing and such. Plus, I will use Google Translate when absolutely necessary to convey a specific point. But you’re really not likely to face any meaningful challenges not speaking Portuguese in Portugal.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @DRJOHNAOWENS We’ve checked in with Suzan Haskins, IL's Senior Lifestyle Editor, to get an answer to your question. This was her response,

This is the universal dilemma, isn’t it…the quest for the “perfect” place? I have come to understand that there is no such thing as perfection so we need to find the place that best suits our individual needs. But…do you and all your friends all want the same thing? By that I mean, do you want a city, a village, to be on the beach or in the mountains, in a 4-season environment or in the tropics? There are lots of decisions to be made—some more important than others, such as access to good healthcare and cost of living. Not to toot our own horn, but this book might prove helpful to you: https://www.ilbookstore.com/live-richer-spend-less I’d suggest your group agree on what your priorities are and then try out a vacation or two in the places you are considering. Compare notes and see what you like or dislike. Understand that political regimes can change quickly and climate issues are affecting many countries and communities so sometimes being light on your feet is the best policy. And don’t let the fact that you only speak English stop you. English is the universal language, after all, and you will find English speakers close at hand pretty much everywhere in the world.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @LABO We’ve checked in with Ted Baumann, our Global Diversification Expert, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

When it comes to getting residency abroad, everything comes down to money. Most countries in Europe and Latin America offer visas for people with independent passive incomes like pension or investments. There are usually minimums for how much you receive every month from passive sources, and sometimes a requirement for bank savings as a backup. In Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece, the minimum is around €3,200 a month for an individual, with 20% or so more for each family member.

Once you become a long-term resident of a country, the clock starts ticking on the time required before naturalization. Typically, this is between 5 and 10 years, but I think Portugal is the only European country that offers European citizenship after five years. In Latin American countries, some offer citizenship after as little as two to three years of full-time legal residency.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @BRANDI-SCHUTTE Thanks for your question.

Ted Baumann's Global Citizen service includes consultations. You can sign up at this link https://secured.globalcitizenliving.com/journey/120SZTCC3-EVG/1?promocode=W1204303&origin=ILPOSTCA&origin_type=list&organization-abbreviation=ILProd

[IL Moderator]

Hi @DJLESTER Thanks for your question.

Ted Baumann's Global Citizen service includes consultations. You can sign up at this link https://secured.globalcitizenliving.com/journey/120SZTCC3-EVG/1?promocode=W1204303&origin=ILPOSTCA&origin_type=list&organization-abbreviation=ILProd

[IL Moderator]

Hi @AMHANDZEL25 We’ve checked in with Jessica Ramesch, our expert in Panama, to get an answer to your question. This was her response,

There are a great many ways to meet expats, we recommend you start networking ahead of time via Facebook, and you can also check other networking apps and sites like LinkedIn (website: www.linkedin.com), Instagram (website www.Instagram.com), Internations.org.

Facebook Groups is generally the number one most powerful online tool. You can create a profile for free and search groups for the particular town you’re interested in. You’ll find groups for many areas. You can peruse the information that has been posted and ask about expat gatherings, expat hangouts, and meeting expats, etc.

As a single lady myself, I am proactive. When someone is kind to me in answering my questions I generally offer to buy them a coffee or something once I get into town. That way I already have one or more “expat dates” to look forward to when I land. Often they will in turn introduce me to other expats. I generally ask if they know any single ladies I can ask questions of. Of course I also check out any expat hangouts or activities I may have read about in the Facebook group. In towns with visible expat communities you will find it easy to talk to expats that you will encounter in restaurants, shops, etc. as well.

Happy networking!

[IL Moderator]

Hi @EGC-HARTMAN Thanks for your question. Although we at International Living do not have any expertise in this area, International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index can help you look at countries that perform well across a range of categories: https://magazine.internationalliving.com/internationalliving/library/item/january_2024/4158109/
You'll probably want to discuss your plans to move with your child's teacher(s) and any other trusted experts (perhaps your kid's doctor, for example).

Also, we always recommend that prospective expats start networking ahead of a move via Facebook, and you can also check other networking apps and sites like LinkedIn (website: www.linkedin.com), Instagram (website www.Instagram.com), Internations.org.

Facebook Groups is generally the number one most powerful online tool for expats. You can create a profile for free and search groups for the particular town you’re interested in. You’ll find groups for many areas. You can peruse the information that has been posted and ask specifically if anyone has autistic kids in the schools there or knows of local resources. People on the ground with kids in local schools can offer important insight.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @DTINTERVAL Thanks for your question. We have reached out to two of our experts to give you the best answer.

Our Portugal expert Glenda Cole says "I can't speak to financing a home in France or Mexico, but I did finance my home in Portugal. I was 63 when I purchased the villa. Mortgages here have to be paid off by the time you are 80. (75 at some banks) The solution? I put it in my son's name. It's a very common practice here. As a result, I have a very affordable 36 year mortgage."

And our Real Estate Guru Ronan McMahon says "I would say that for all 3 countries age is an issue. Portugal e.g. it is relatively easy for foreign buyers to get bank finance but most banks have an upper age limit which is typically 75 so the mortgage would have to be paid off at 75. In Mexico bank finance is usually very difficult to get for foreigners full stop regardless of age, and interest rates are normally a chunk higher than they would be in the US. Many RETA deals come with developer finance and age is normally not an issue with that."

[IL Moderator]

Hi @UNIVERSALPOWERSCEO We’ve checked in with Jeff our Editor of Global Intelligence, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

In most countries, you’ll find that you become a tax resident if you live locally for at least 183 days per year. As for rentals in Portugal, Airbnb is probably your best bet. You can find rentals on Idealista.pt, but those tend to be longer term rentals of at least a year. You might might Airbnb rentals for a 5 or 6 month stretch, but you might need to communicate with the owner first to make sure they’re ok with a long-term lock up.

Personally, I’d suggest switching Airbnbs every month so that you can live in various parts of Portugal or various neighbourhoods within Lisbon. It’s a better way to experience real Portugal by seeing how locals live in different neighbourhoods and cities, since each can have such a different vibe.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @SHANA1DAWN45-0 We’ve checked in with Jeff our Editor of Global Intelligence, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

That’s going to be a challenge. A rental agreement is a necessity and it needs to be for 12 months at least. If you happen to know someone who is a resident of Portugal, they can sign a document stating that they are responsible for your housing, and that can buy you the time you need to get to Portugal and look around.

Other than that, your best option would be to come to Portugal and spend a week or so looking around the area where you want to live and try to find a neighbourhood you think you’ll be happy living in, and then sign the 12-month contract. There really are not a lot of options here. You might find a visa-agency that offers access to some kind of digital address or generic address that you can use on your applications, but I haven’t seen those around, frankly. Moving to Portugal is a true financial commitment, for sure, and the necessity of a rental contract is part of that.

Also know that rental agreements in Portugal for foreigners can often require that you pay the entire cost of the contract up front. So if you find an apartment you like for, say, $2,000 per month in a neighbourhood you’re happy with, you could very well have to put about $24,000 for the entire first year’s rent. That’s not universal, but it is common, particularly among landlords renting to foreigners. So be sure you understand what the deposit is before you agree to a contract.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @KAPINCINCY We’ve checked in with Jeff our Editor of Global Intelligence, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

Inflation has certainly impacted Europe, without question. Prices have been rising broadly, particularly for energy, since the continent imports so much natural gas for its utilities infrastructure. For Spain, in particular, inflation is still running in the high-3% range, though that’s down sharply from north of 10% just two years ago. Part of the reason inflation remains a challenge in Spain is the soaring price for olive oil, which is a staple in Spanish food. Olive oil prices have been running so hot that the government recently eliminated the sales tax on olive oil to help consumers better manage the rising cost. Elsewhere, housing costs are rising as well, though Spain remains a largely affordable housing market, particularly for foreigners living on a Western income.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @YHONG8 We’ve checked in with Glenda Cole, our expert in Portugal to get an answer to your question. This was her response,

Assisted living in Portugal is a fledgling business. There are several small homes for infirm seniors in the Algarve, but you certainly don't see a huge senior living place on every corner, as you do now in the US. I have recently read an article about entrepreneurs seeking building permits for several large locations in the Algarve. Also, I have seen signs recently on the way to Lisbon about a very large senior living complex there.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @IRENE-DINUBLIA We’ve checked in with Ted Baumann, our Global Diversification Expert, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

The current minimum monthly passive income for a non lucrative visa, i.e. a retirement permit, is 2400 euros per month. This is the minimum, however, and each Spanish embassy or consulate has the discretion to evaluate each applicant to decide whether to require a larger amount.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @ROBERTSROBERTR We’ve checked in with Ted Baumann, our Global Diversification Expert, to get an answer to your question. This was his response,

For all countries that are part of the European Union,you must apply for a Schengen tourist visa. This is a standard visa that allows you to visit the EU for a maximum of 90 days out of every 180. This would allow you to spend three months out of every 6 in Spain looking for a property to buy.Note that the total time you are allowed to be in the EU on a tourist visa is 6 months out of every one year - but a maximum of three months in the first half of the year and the second half of the year.

The only way that you can get a longer stay visa in Spain is to apply either for a non lucrative visa or a digital nomad visa.The former requires that you have sufficient income to support yourself and is generally valid for one year and is renewable.The digital nomad visa requires that you have sufficient income from a non Spanish job to be able to support yourself, and is also one year, renewable.

I'm not sure whether you would be able to hold a property in Spain with a deposit; my gut tells me probably not.The Spanish property market is very tight,and and it's unlikely that you would get a seller to hold a property for very long.You would need to sign a purchase agreement, which would give you a deadline to finalise the deal. A more feasible approach would be to sell your home in the US, bank the money, and then spend some time in Spain until you find a property you'd like to buy.

[IL Moderator]

Hi @SSOSINSKI Thank you for your question!

Here are some of our resources to give you more information on Ireland as a destination:

Ireland. The Irish: The Warmest People in the World - International Living
The Secrets of Spending a Summer in Ireland: Part One
The Secrets of Spending a Summer in Ireland: Part Two

Best of luck!

[IL Moderator]

Hi @BSMONTY We've checked in with John McGee, who owns Expat Global Medical. John is a long-time exhibitor at our IL events and can help direct you to the best resources. This was his response,

I'll address this particular couple staying part time in Dominican Republic who are of Medicare age .

1)If this couple has a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplemental, they can follow one of two strategies.

a) Depending on how long they stay per trip or if they return to DR several times, they can secure a Multi-Trip Travel policy called Trekker CHOICE with a company named GEO Blue Cross... This allows up to 70 days per trip, if needed thay can extend 1x per year up to an additional 20 days.
Link and EXPLINATION of Benefits and costs. Covers Preexisting if they have Medicare Advantage or Supplemental.
https://go.geobluetravelinsurance.com/4Qs?product=trekker&AffinityPartner=&AffinityPlanID=&link_id=158131

b) If they stay longer than 70 days, they may want to Piggyback a Single Trip Plan called VOYAGER....this plan they can take out a second policy with an effective date of day 71 until they return ,(Covers upbto an additional 6 months).
Link and benefits and costs , Click here:
https://go.geobluetravelinsurance.com/4Qs?AffinityPartner=&AffinityPlanID=&link_id=158131

c) The least expensive approach is to Self Insure and take out a Air Evacuation ONLY plan with Medjet Assist. The strategy is to LIMIT Financial out of pocket in case of an emergency. Covering the Catastrophic Illness or Accident will limit out of pocket costs which they are responsible for, however; once they are stabilized in a hospital ,(48 - 72 hours), they can be airlifted to their home state and city.
Link to see costs and benefits. Look at the Horizon plan...they will front up to $ 60k for the hospital and you can file a claim with your medicare supplemental...which some will pay up to 90 days outside the USA.
https://medjetassist.com/?utm_source=expatglobal&utm_medium=partners&utm_campaign=partner pages

If you have any questions, you can feel free to contact me at 336-705-9080 or Email me jwmcgee69@gmail.com and john@expatglobalmedical.com.

Kindest Regards, John McGee

[IL Moderator]

Hi @BKING91354 Thanks for your question!

You can bring domestic pets such as dogs and cats to Spain relatively easily. However, there is some upfront paperwork that is time-consuming, especially for the first trip. Be sure to check with your local veterinarian for any changes in the process, and to clarify how much time you should allot.
The first time you bring your dog or cat to Spain, you’ll need to get a bilingual health certificate valid for the European Union. (See link for the form here: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/downloads/sp_no_com_pe.pdf.)
This form will need to be filled out and signed/stamped by your state’s APHIS-VS area office. (This is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.) The form must be completed within 10 days of your travel to Spain.

If you’re coming from Canada, you’ll need the certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian and then validated by a veterinary official of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The certificate must show that your pet has been examined and is free of disease and that the pet has been vaccinated against rabies, and it must provide a description and the origin of your pet.

In addition, your pet must be microchipped with a Euro-compatible microchip that can be read by EU scanners—that is, a microchip compatible with ISO standard 11784 or 11785.

Two very important points:
• The microchip must be implanted before your pet’s rabies vaccination. Any rabies vaccination before the microchip is implanted doesn’t count, even if it’s still valid.
• The rabies vaccination must have been administered at least 21 days before travel.

You’ll need to accompany your pet yourself when you travel or send an authorized representative.
The costs of this process will vary depending on what your vet charges and the cost of airline tickets you purchase.