International Living Community

Hi David, Costa Rica, being a Catholic country, is socially conservative for the most part. However, the tide is changing. Same-s*x marriage was legalized in May 2020 under President Carlos Alvarado Quesada’s administration. It is one of the first countries in Latin America to not only recognize same-s*x marriage, but to legalize it. The Costa Rican people (especially in the cities and in the international expat communities) continue to be welcoming towards expats and tourists, regardless of sexual preferences or gender identification. However, in the more rural areas, it is still best to avoid obvious public displays of affection. There is a large LGBTQ scene around San José, where you can find a variety of bars and events supporting the community. An online search can point you in the right direction. Each year, the city hosts a big pride parade and event. Manuel Antonio, on the Central Coast, continues to be the number one alternate lifestyle tourist destination. There you will find hotels, bars, and tours catering to this growing tourism demand. Tamarindo, on the Gold Coast, hosted the country’s first ever Glitter Festival to promote diversity in Guanacaste tourism. It also recently opened a popular gay bar further cementing this Guanacaste beach area as an LGBTQ-friendly option in the country. It’s reopened for the season as of last weekend, and its drag shows are reportedly super fun.

Hi Karl, For individuals in the LBGTQ+ culture who are looking for social acceptance and legal protections, Ecuador is a viable option. Study Ecuador’s political history, and you’ll find this forward-thinking county protects more rights than expected. In 1998, Ecuador became one of the first countries in the world to constitutionally ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. Since 2008, same-s*x couples can engage in civil unions with all of the rights of marriage (except for adoption), including participating in things like the national health care system or other legal contracts with all the rights of a married couple. Under the 2016 Gender Identity Law, transgender people can now change their legal gender solely based on self-determination, without undergoing surgery. Ecuador is also one of the few countries in the world to have banned conversion therapy. In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that same-s*x marriage is a human right protected by the American Convention on Human Rights, legalizing it in Ecuador. Because LBGTQ rights are part of the constitution, there’s no worry about the supreme court taking away your rights. There are also much-needed treatments in Ecuador for HIV medicines and doctors in Ecuador who specialized in HIV/AIDS treatments. It’s easy to find friends at local expat events, gay friendly bars, and through social media like Nomadicboys.com and the LGBTQ Expats Living in Ecuador Facebook page. But mostly, members of the gay community just make friends with expats and Ecuadorians, regardless of sexual preference. Cuenca is a gay-friendly community and there are many couples here. Because it’s a cultural center, there’s more of an understanding of different lifestyles as writers, artists, and musicians bring a more open ideology. As for other locations in Ecuador, Quito and Guayaquil are the two major cities in the country with the largest gay scenes due in part to the younger millennials living there. The city of Montañita, a village by the coast is famous for its bohemian vibe and very liberal attitude. It is a tourist town where if you are gay, you can feel extremely comfortable walking down the streets holding hands. In other Ecuadorian cities, it’s suggested that you do not show overt PDA, especially in smaller villages where there is less of an understanding of changing ideals on sexuality. You can read an overview of how the countries on our beat rate for LGBTQ rights on the dedicated page on our website.

Hi Eny, In the more popular expat areas of Belize general acceptance of the LBGTQ+ community is growing… thanks to the influence of expats from the US and Canada. The country’s first Pride parade was held in 2017, with Pride week also being celebrated in subsequent years. You’ll find many networks on Facebook to connect to the gay community, and especially on Ambergris Caye, you will find a well-established and visible gay community. That being said, I would not expect acceptance to equal what you have come to expect in the US or Canada at this point. Megan Rodden, an American expat living in Placencia, summed things up very well in one of her blog posts: “The experience in progressive and touristy hot-spots such as San Pedro is going to be light years apart from the experience in say, a rural, conservative Mennonite community in Toledo. Belizeans in general are a very live-and-let-live people but it was only in 2016 that they finally abolished their anti-sodomy law, recognizing discrimination based on sexual orientation unconstitutional. I think, in general, there’s mostly apathy regarding LGBTQ issues with a small population on either side of the spectrum either condemning or crusading for equality.” So, there has been movement in the right direction, and in most expat areas you should be fine. But there is still work to be done.

Hi Rocky, Let’s start with the general issue of taxes on your retirement income. The US is effectively the only country in the world that taxes its citizens’ income no matter where they live or where they earn it. In the case of tax advantaged retirement income, it’s going to be subject to normal US taxes no matter where in the world you may live. The main tax break for US citizens living abroad, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, only applies to income from current employment or business. Passive income like pensions is not included in the tax break. On the specific question about Costa Rica, there’s good news: the country does not tax foreign source income, whether active or passive. So, if you live in Costa Rica, you won’t pay tax on your US pension income. However, once you are a resident, you will be liable for a 12.5% contribution to the National Health scheme. Costa Rica is the exception, not the rule. Most countries, including Portugal, another favorite destination, do tax foreign passive income, including pensions. But most countries have a tax treaty with the US that prevents double taxation of the same income. For example, if you lived in Portugal, you would pay Portuguese tax at normal rates on your US source pension income. But any taxes you’ve already paid on that income to the IRS would be deducted from your Portuguese tax obligations. That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t end up paying tax on your pension; it all depends on what your tax bracket is in Portugal compared to the United States. If your Portuguese tax bracket is higher, you’ll end up paying more tax on your pension than you would if you remained in the US. That’s why it’s critically important to understand relative tax brackets and tax policies in a country before you decide to move there. The ideal scenario is someplace like Costa Rica that has a fully territorial tax system, i.e., one that doesn’t tax foreign source income at all. For more details about taxes in Costa Rica, check out our Escape to Costa Rica guidebook.

Hi Linda, Congratulations on your decision to move to Ireland. As an Irishman myself, let me be the first to say, “céad míle fáilte” to the Emerald Isle. To your question, you’re in luck because of one fact a lot of people don’t know about Ireland: While it is a member of the EU, this green little country is not, in fact, a member of Europe’s Schengen Zone. The Schengen Zone is a European area with a uniform visa policy, which has abolished passport controls and most other border controls within it. This means that, upon arrival in the Schengen Zone, you only need to go through passport control once—and can then travel freely between any countries that are within the zone. So, how is Ireland not being in the Schengen Zone a good thing for you? This is down to Europe’s 90-day tourist visa. Non-Europeans can visit countries within the Schengen Zone as tourists for only limited amounts of time. For citizens of the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries, that limit is 90 days out of every 180 days. That 90-day limit holds for the entire Schengen Zone. So, let’s say you want to visit France and Italy, both of which belong to the Schengen Zone. You can spend up to 90 days either in France or in Italy… or you can divide your 90 days between the two. But you don’t get 90 days in each. But, because Ireland is outside the Schengen Zone, once you’ve spent your 183 days there you can simply hop across the Channel to any mainland European country that’s inside the zone and begin your 90-day visit as a tourist. During those 90 days, you’re free to move around however you like within the 27 countries that make up the Schengen Zone. When your time is up, you must spend another 90 days in a country outside the zone before you can return. You could choose to use that time to visit home for the Holidays, perhaps. Or you could simply stay in Ireland. Remember, the tourist visa limit is 90 days out of every 180. And your 183 days of residency in Ireland does not need to be consecutive, as far as I’m aware. That means you could spend 90 days in Ireland, hop over to the Schengen Zone for 90, return to Ireland for 95 days, then back to the mainland for the remaining 90. And just like that, you’ve spent a full year in Europe while fulfilling your residency requirements for Ireland. While we do not have any contacts with immigration firms in Ireland that we can share, you may find the following contacts useful: Department of Foreign Affairs, 80 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2; tel. +353 (1) 408-2000; website: www.dfa.ie Department of Justice and Equality, 94 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2; tel. 1890 221-227; e-mail: info@justice.ie; website: www.justice.ie Garda National Immigration Bureau, Immigration and Registration Office, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2; tel. +353 (1) 666-9100/1; e-mail: gnib_dv@garda.ie; website: www.garda.ie

Hi Rob, Mention the word Caribbean and most people think of Barbados, Puerto Rico, Antigua… crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. Great for a vacation, but moving there… just too expensive, right? Not necessarily. The Caribbean isn’t restricted to just those few islands. By broadening your horizons, and your perceived idea of “the Caribbean”, you can still find a home at an affordable price. These are places with Caribbean coastlines where you can purchase a house for a lot less money than you’d spend in Barbados, or even the US. Places where the cost of living won’t leave you penniless, and where you have every amenity that you have back home. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of our top five recommendations for Caribbean island living that won’t break the bank… as well as two that just might. You can find it on our newly revamped website, right here: 5 Best Affordable Caribbean Islands to Live On…and 2 to Avoid.

Hi Mark, You are correct. The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory. Although it has control over its residency procedures, it cannot offer citizenship, since that is a prerogative of the British crown. If I interpret your question correctly, it seems as though you’d like to continue living in the Caymans, but you’d like to acquire a second passport as well. And you’d prefer not to spend too much time in the country that offers that passport to get it. What you’re looking for is called Citizenship by Investment or CBI. This differs from naturalization in that you get immediate citizenship and eligibility for a passport because of an investment in or donation to the country in question. There are usually two avenues: you can either donate a fixed sum to a government fund or charity, or you can invest a minimum amount in a real estate or other economic project. Generally, the real estate investment route is overpriced, and you may find it difficult to liquidate your investment once you’re allowed to do so, which is typically five years after getting citizenship. But making the donation means you won’t see that money again, albeit you will have a second citizenship. Currently, most countries that offer CBI are in the Caribbean basin. They include Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda. CBI through these programs ranges from $100,000 in Dominica to over $450,000 in St Lucia. Another island country that offers CBI is Vanuatu, an island in the Pacific Ocean. But I would strongly recommend against that one, because it is widely associated with corruption and doesn’t give you much in the way of visa free travel. In and around Europe, countries that offer CBI or CBI adjacent programs include Turkey, Malta, and Jordan. The Turkish program is becoming more expensive every year and is currently at around $750,000. The Maltese program is similar in price but doesn’t result in immediate citizenship. Plus, it requires lengthy residence for the first two years before you’re eligible for a passport. The advantage is that you are then a citizen of an EU country and can live and work anywhere in the Union. Jordan’s program is also around $750,000, but its passport is also not as widely accepted. Given that you are already living and working in the Caribbean, I’d suggest you have a look at one of the island programs. But do it soon… These countries are under pressure from the European Union to make their programs more expensive and difficult to access, in order to reduce the threat of undesirable people using their passports to get into the European Union. You’ll find breakdowns of the various programs in the book written by my father, former Congressman Bob Bauman: The Passport Book.

Hi Raymond, France has a modern and sophisticated dental system. You will find dentists in practically every town of any size, all of whom are well trained. Basic dental care is efficient and by world standards very affordable, and you will find most dentists speak some English. A basic check-up will cost €25 ($26), the same as a visit to the GP. If you need a basic filling, it will be an additional €18 ($19), but can be much more depending on the complexity of the procedure. An extraction will start from €35 ($37). When it comes to more sophisticated dental work, prices start to go up significantly, with a crown costing from €400 ($427). As with all healthcare in France, you will be given a precise quote for the work before you proceed, which is a legal requirement. You can be reimbursed by the government for dental work, but this only applies to basic procedures and not cosmetic dentistry. As with the doctor, you pay the dentist directly after the consultation, so make sure you have enough cash. Many people get top-up insurance to cover the 20-30% of dental costs not reimbursed by the French government—and to cover procedures like dental implants which don’t have the standard price ceiling that most healthcare services have. Top-up insurance plans start at €38 ($40) a month. Charges can be dramatically different from dentist to dentist. There are additional charges if you require treatment on a public holiday or on a weekend, as well as extra charges for emergency dental treatment. Nonetheless, the prices are generally low compared to those in the U.S. Read more about dental care and healthcare in France in Chapter 8 of Escape to France.

Bonjour from France, Dalila, and thank you for your question. Sanary-sur-Mer is very popular with the French, and other Europeans alike, so consequently has a higher cost of living than other places in Provence. Although that doesn’t mean that it’s out-of-reach, especially considering that housing costs in France tend to be around 34% less than those in the United States. The starting budget for Sanary will be around $2,800 a month for a couple. This will depend largely whether you plan to rent or buy. I would recommend renting, even short-term, before planning to purchase a property. You can find a small, furnished, one-bedroom apartment in the center of town for €890 ($944) per month, and the rates go up from there. I know an American expat couple who moved from Arizona and have decided to rent long-term in Sanary for their retirement. Depending on your budget, this could be a good strategy and also the most cost effective. Apartments and houses to purchase are more expensive than surrounding cities like Toulon, La Seyne-sûr-Mer, and Six-Fours-Les-Plages. A 679-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bath apartment near the port starts at €350,000 ($372,000). Prices go down if you look a bit further away from the center. The nearby beach town of Six-Fours-Les-Plages is only about a 10-minute walk away, and a lot of retirees choose to purchase there, and take the pedestrian pathway to Sanary. If you’d like to buy a home in Sanary-sûr-Mer, a two-bedroom, one-bath will start at around €490,000 ($519,474). For retirees, the town is a very safe bet as far as real estate is concerned, as properties continue to go up in value. Also, you’ll find that you save in other areas. Sanary is very walkable, and you can navigate almost everything on foot—so having a car is optional. You’ll also benefit from France’s low-cost and excellent healthcare system. Lastly, the town has a wealth of activities for retirees right in the city center. Language classes (French, Italian, and Spanish), dance and aerobics lessons, tennis, music, local folklore, and food and wine immersions are all possible at the local community center. You can read another article I wrote about Sanary-sur-Mer on the IL website here.

Hi Natasha, Belize is very protective of its workforce. Any non-Belizean working for a Belizean company from within Belize must possess a Temporary Employment Permit (more commonly known as a “Work Permit”), or they must be a Permanent Resident. Essentially, the government has the mandate to protect jobs a Belizean could do. What does this mean? If you are looking to work in a job that requires specialized training or experience, like a rocket scientist, it should be easy to prove you’re not taking a Belizean’s job. However, if you’re looking to work in a position a Belizean would reasonably be able to train for, like a diving instructor or real estate agent, you’re going to have a hard time getting a work permit. That being said, there are a couple of options available that may make working in Belize a little easier. Consultancy: Build yourself a business working for non-Belizean businesses as a contractor while living in Belize. In this case, Belize is just where you live and work from, and you are not taking a potential job away from a Belizean. Entrepreneurship: Start a business in Belize. You’ll still need a work permit, but a business with a plan that includes the hiring, and training, of Belizeans would get serious consideration. In this case you’re not taking a job away, you’re creating jobs. When it comes down to it, ask yourself, “Would a reasonable person believe that the job I’m looking to take could be accomplished by a Belizean?” If the answer is yes, you will likely struggle to get approval. If the answer is no, or you are creating jobs, approval is very likely. Read more about working in Belize on the dedicated page of our website here.

Hi Jim, Thank you for sending in your question. Here are a few things to consider about renting in Ambergris Caye: Your preferences will drive rental costs. For instance, beach rentals will always be more expensive than “near the beach.” Many expats learn to settle within walking distance or a golf cart ride from a beach they like in order to save a bit on their rent budget. The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) states that anyone in Belize on a tourist visa is considered a tourist, regardless of how long they are staying. This means that if the rental you’re considering is following the rules, a 9% “hotel tax” will be added to your rent each month. That being said, enforcement of this is mostly non-existent, but I wanted to make you aware that some rentals you look at may tack this tax on. If the BTB does start to actively enforce this, you may have this added expense somewhere down the road. Ambergris Caye is the #1 tourist destination in Belize. This means during the high season (Thanksgiving through April), it will be very crowded. It also means that rent and other monthly expenses will be higher than other locations here. If you have not already, I would recommend taking a trip to scout around a bit and make sure you find the perfect place for you and your wife. All that being considered, I believe you will be able to find something within your budget near a beach… but probably not on the beach. Your best bet would be to connect with a real estate agent who knows Ambergris Caye very well. Getting International Living’s Escape to Belize guidebook would be a great step. It has tons of useful information, along with a rolodex of contact information for agents that will be able to help you with more localized knowledge of Ambergris Caye.

Hi John, That really depends on where in Thailand you would like to live, and how integrated with the locals you plan to get. If you’re living in one of the major cities, a popular tourist area, or a known expat community, you can get by with speaking English. However, when you move out of these areas English is not widely spoken, and some Thai language is needed. Learning the language can improve your understanding of the culture, make it easier to communicate within businesses and officials, make new Thai friends, get better prices at markets, keep your brain active and help you find out what is happening in your town by being able to read or communicate with Thais. It’s also respectful, and Thai people appreciate foreigners who try—even if you’re not especially fluent. And that’s understandable, because the Thai language can be quite difficult for English speakers to learn. It’s a tonal language, which means individual syllables have a corresponding tone and may result in different meanings. Most expats learn minimum greetings, polite requests, and thank you. That’s generally enough to get by in expat areas and to show willingness with the locals, given the complexity of the language to Western ears. If you choose to go further than this, identify precisely why you want to learn Thai and to what level. Do you want to be at a beginner level and understand greetings and make polite requests? Are you aiming for advanced, detailed conversation in Thai? Do you want to be able to read and write? Having a clear picture in mind can help you refocus if you lose your mojo. A clear goal will help you choose the right learning methods for you and your budget. Fortunately, there are many resources online and a fantastic range of ways to learn Thai. Initially, I would recommend an online program like ThaiPod 101. This site sometimes offers packages giving full access to their online programs from about $7 per month, and you can upgrade to receive online tuition. The company also has a YouTube channel with lots of free lessons, which you can find here.

Hi Greg, One big benefit to living in Thailand is its excellent, inexpensive healthcare. The quality, particularly in the private system, is as good as what you’ll find in the U.S. or Canada. And prices are low. They’re a third to a half of what you’d pay back home for similar services. In fact, because of the low cost of treatment, most expats do not bother with insurance for outpatient care. Inpatient-only coverage combined with a reasonable deductible can result in affordable monthly premiums for most people. Some expats only purchase accident insurance, which is much cheaper than full health coverage. Others forgo medical insurance altogether and rely on the money saved from living abroad for unforeseen medical emergencies. Expats don’t have access to Thailand’s public health scheme. But they do have access to three healthcare options: local clinics, private hospitals, and public hospitals. Local Clinics Local clinics are set-up for the resident population, but expats are also welcome. All are operated by well qualified and experienced medical practitioners. A consultation with an English- speaking doctor, treatment for any ailments, plus any required medications (which is usually dispensed by a pharmacist on staff at the clinic) typically cost no more than $14 a visit. Private Hospitals Outpatient departments at the major hospitals serve as an alternative to the local clinics. And Thailand has a large network of public and private hospitals. In fact, the country has 51 private hospitals that are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the gold standard for hospital care. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai’s private hospitals, you can expect a quality equal to standards in the U.S. There are also some very good private facilities in Hua Hin, Udon Thani, Phuket, Pattaya, and Koh Samui where most primary and secondary medical care problems can be dealt with. Public Hospitals Public or government run hospitals are much less expensive than their private counterparts, but they are generally more crowded and sometimes less well-equipped. However, all the medical facilities in the country are staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses who provide excellent care to both expats and locals alike. Read more about healthcare in Thailand on the dedicated page of our website here.

Hi John, There are many veterans living in Panama who receive their payments without trouble. The U.S. Embassy here confirms that, “Veterans Affairs beneficiaries residing in Panama are eligible to enroll in the International Direct Deposit Program” to receive payments via electronic transfer. There is even a local hospital in Panama that will accept VA-FMP, TRICARE or CHAMPVA. Applying for the International Direct Deposit Program should just involve filling out a form and attending an appointment with the Federal Benefits Unit. You can see the process in detail on the U.S. Embassy’s website. For detailed information on veteran-related matters in Panama, visit the Panama Veteran’s Commission website, and contact Panama-based Healthcare Alliance via email. Bear in mind that you may have to spend some additional money to get any medication couriered into Panama. If you plan to move to the Boquete region of Panama, reach out to the Healthcare Alliance person there via email.

Hi Jonas, Whether you’re comparing crime statistics, tourist guides, or travel advisories for the region’s different countries, you’ll find that Panama is one of the safest countries in Latin America. In fact, Panama ranks at number 68 in World Population Review’s “Crime Rate by Country 2023” report—lower than the U.S., which ranks at number 56. So, does it follow that Panama is free from crime? No… I’ve traveled the globe and I’ve never encountered a country that was free from crime or corruption. In every country, there will be some dangerous areas (due to localized organized crime or gang-related activity), but also many safe ones. In Panama it’s generally very easy to tell when a neighborhood is poor and thus certain to have more crime. Most are not areas you would accidentally stumble into. In areas popular with expats, your biggest concern is likely to be petty theft or break-ins. Random violence is practically unheard of here. Panama has a large police force and crimes against tourists or foreigners are seriously dealt with. Home-invasion-style robberies can be violent, but they are rare, especially in communities favored by expats. It’s neither quick nor easy to obtain a firearm permit in Panama, and a long-running moratorium on importation has helped keep gun prevalence relatively low. Gun-related offenses have major consequences in Panama. On occasion, visitors to Panama make the mistake of letting their guard down completely—something they’d never do back home. In any unfamiliar city or town, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and to do what you can to blend in. Ask questions, use your city smarts, and you’ll see just how easy it is to live and travel safely in Panama. Read my complete guide to safety in Panama here.

Hi Barbara, I generally prefer to fly from Panama City to David, then rent a car. But let’s break it down so you can decide what works best for you. By land: It’s an easy drive or bus ride from Panama City to David, which is where you’ll change buses or, if driving, turn off the PanAmerican Highway to head north into the Highlands. It takes at least five hours to get to David from Panama City by land, provided you’re not on a multi-stop bus. I like the midnight express bus from Albrook (Gran Terminal Nacional) to David, as you can go to sleep in Panama City and wake up in David. Buses are usually freezing cold, so bundle up. To buy your ticket, go to Albrook Mall & Transport Terminal, buy a Rapi>Pass ($2.50), then buy your bus ticket. By air: You can fly to David (Enrique Malek Airport) from either of Panama’s two major airports: Tocumen International Airport (PTY), on the eastern edge of Panama City, or The domestic hub at Albrook (Marcos A. Gelabert), on the western edge of Panama City. If you’re flying into the country and want to go straight to Boquete, you’ll probably want to fly from Tocumen on Copa Airlines. These flights tend to be the cheapest with the best baggage allowances. If you choose Albrook, you’ll fly with Air Panama. There are several car rental outfits at the airport in David, I usually go with National because I’ve had good experiences with them in the past. Bear in mind that September can be extremely rainy in Boquete. That said, this is an “El Niño” year, which generally means we get a lot less rain than is customary. You should have some sunny mornings and some showers (and possibly some storms). These are usually easy to plan around, so check your weather apps and avoid the rain… or consider bringing a slicker. And lightweight gum boots, because they’re fun. Note that umbrellas aren’t always super helpful, as Boquete can get very windy. I actually enjoy this time of year in Panama’s mountain regions; it’s never too cold, so with the right gear it’s still fun to get out there and sightsee. Splash away I say!

Hi Joe, Marijuana laws in Spain are complicated. Basically, private use is legal in your own home or on private property. Buying or selling marijuana is illegal and could land you in jail. Medical marijuana falls under the same laws as recreational marijuana. Cultivation in your home is legal, but you can only have two plants that are not in public view. It is legal to buy and sell paraphernalia, seeds, and hemp products. CBD oil is legal (for topical use, not consumption) and widely available. Although you may see people smoking openly on the streets, in the parks and on the beaches, don’t do it! You could be fined and/or sent to jail. The legal way to use cannabis in Spain is to join a private, members-only cannabis club. These clubs are considered private spaces, so you can only enjoy your marijuana socially within the walls of the club. No weed can leave the premises and you cannot bring your own onto the premises. Clubs are not allowed to advertise, so you will have to ask around. Some only allow Spanish citizens. Some require a referral from a current member. You pay a membership fee in cash and select from the products they have available. Some clubs have become sources of medical marijuana. In Cataluña, marijuana use is legal but only within the context of the clubs. Beware of sellers telling you marijuana is legal on the streets of Barcelona. For all the rules, visit this website.

Hi Joanne, Although citizens of EU countries have the right of residence throughout the Union, rules for spousal visas depend on the country you want to live in. As an Irish national, you have the right to live in Spain. You must establish residency there before you can apply for a spousal visa for your husband. That means finding a place to live, opening a bank account, getting a cell phone contract, and other things that tie you to Spain. Once you’ve done that, your husband can come to Spain, and on arrival you would declare that he is a family member of an EU citizen resident in Spain. That will give him a one-year renewable residency permit. Once he’s got that, you can apply for a permanent family reunification visa. This would be quite a bit simpler and less confusing than having him apply for a visa on his own account. If he did that, he would have to make the application from outside Spain, and await the outcome before going there. It’s likely that Spanish authorities would even notice that he has an EU spouse already living in Spain and tell him simply to join you there and apply for a spousal visa as above. For more details on how to establish residency in Spain, consider our Escape to Spain guidebook.

Hi Robert, Citizens of Canada do not need a visa to enter Mexico. You only need two things: The first is your Canadian Passport, which has to have at least six months validity (from your arrival date in Mexico) left on it to cover your maximum 180 day stay in the country. The second is a Mexican tourist card. It’s called an FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) and used to be issued on your flight (if flying into Mexico) before landing. Recently, this has changed and now you must apply online and print the form, which you can get here. The same applies if you’re entering Mexico via a land border. The FMM form is mandatory for all travelers entering Mexico from all other countries, including Canada. It will allow you entry into Mexico and a stay of up to 180 days. The FMM has two sections. Both with identical information: name, nationality, date of birth etc. Fill them both in. One section will be retained at the border crossing or customs, the other section you need to keep. You’ll need this second section to leave Mexico after your stay. Once you get through customs or across the border, keep the second half of the FMM with your passport, so there is no problem when leaving the country at the end of your stay.

Hi Matt, No immunizations are required when entering Costa Rica from the US or Canada. However, there are some recommended. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the following recommendations, classed as “routine vaccines”: Chickenpox (Varicella) Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Flu (influenza) Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Polio Shingles Personally, I don’t get the flu vaccine, and having received the others when I was young don’t need to worry about those. Other recommended vaccines by the CDC are: COVID-19 Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Malaria Measles Rabies Typhoid Yellow Fever I got a couple of Covid-19 shots, but I am not continuing with them; the only other two I have gotten are Hepatitis A and B. I don’t know anyone who has ever taken Malaria medicine before traveling to Costa Rica. However, if you plan to spend time in very rural parts of the country, you may want to play it safe and get everything. Also, if you plan to travel to other Latin American countries from Costa Rica, be aware that some vaccines such as yellow fever and typhoid may be required. For everything else you need to know about moving to Costa Rica, check out the dedicated page on our newly redesigned website.