What Do I Need to Move Abroad?

Yes — almost every long-term move requires more than a tourist entry. Americans can stay visa-free in most countries for roughly 30–90 days (the exact limit varies by country), but working, retiring, or staying longer requires a formal visa or residency permit. The type you need depends on your move type (nomad, retirement, relocation) and your destination. The mistake most people make is assuming they can "figure it out on the ground" — by then you've already used up your visa-free days.

A Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is a residence permit for remote workers who earn income from outside the host country. Dozens of countries now offer one, and the income bar varies a lot. For a single applicant in 2026, Spain requires about €2,849 a month (200% of Spain's minimum wage) and Portugal's D8 requires €3,680 a month (four times Portugal's minimum wage). Both are tied to the minimum wage, so they rise when it does. Some countries, including Estonia, set the bar higher, and official sources don't always agree, so check the government page before you apply. Meeting the income threshold isn't the whole test: you also need a remote job or clients outside the country, health insurance, and the required paperwork. Pensions, dividends, and rental income usually don't count as qualifying income for a DNV. If your income is passive, look at passive-income visas such as Portugal's D7 instead.

Timelines vary by country, consulate, and year. Portuguese permits have been slowed by appointment backlogs at the immigration agency (AIMA), so plan for several months rather than weeks. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is often faster, commonly one to three months when applied for from outside Spain. Retirement visas in Latin America (Panama, Mexico, Colombia) are often quicker still, but check the current processing time for your consulate. The key mistake is starting too late: most visas require documents (apostilled background checks, income proof, health insurance) that themselves take 4–8 weeks to obtain.

Your US health insurance generally stops covering you when you leave the country, so you need international coverage before you board. Most visa applications also require proof of coverage, and many specify minimum coverage amounts, so check the exact rules because some travel-insurance plans don't qualify. For nomads and remote workers, SafetyWing and Genki are popular options. For retirees or permanent relocators, a comprehensive international plan from a provider like Cigna Global or AXA is worth the higher premium. Budget roughly $80–$300/month for nomad-style plans; comprehensive plans for people over 55 often cost considerably more. If you're on Medicare, note that it generally doesn't cover care outside the US. Dropping Part B can mean a permanent late-enrollment penalty if you return, so check the rules before deciding.

Two things to set up before you leave: a Wise account for international transfers (transparent fees and the real exchange rate) and a US account that refunds foreign ATM fees. Schwab's Investor Checking and Fidelity's Cash Management account have both offered worldwide ATM fee reimbursement, but confirm the current terms. Your regular US bank's debit card may charge a foreign transaction fee (often around 3%) plus ATM fees, which adds up to hundreds of dollars a year. For longer stays, opening a local bank account is worth doing once you have your visa or residency. One tax rule to know: if the combined balance of your foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point in the year, you must file an FBAR with the US Treasury.

Yes — the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live, and you must file every year. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) lets you exclude up to $132,900 of foreign earned income for tax year 2026 ($130,000 for 2025) if you meet the Physical Presence Test (330 days outside the US in a 12-month period) or the Bona Fide Residence Test. Two limits matter. The FEIE covers earned income only, so pensions, Social Security, dividends, and investment gains aren't excluded, though the Foreign Tax Credit may offset tax you pay locally. And it doesn't remove self-employment tax or every state's tax claim, since some states keep taxing you after you leave. Hire an expat-specialist CPA before you move, not after.

There is no single best country — it depends on your income, lifestyle, and visa situation. Portugal (Lisbon, Porto) offers the D8 visa and a high quality of life, but note that since May 2026 citizenship for Americans takes 10 years of legal residence rather than 5, though permanent residency is still possible after 5. Spain offers a DNV with a lower income requirement than Portugal's D8 and major cities with strong expat infrastructure. Thailand and Indonesia (Bali) remain popular for lower cost of living but have more limited long-term visa options. Georgia (the country) has offered visa-free stays of up to a year to US passport holders, so confirm the current rule before you go. The Rewire Abroad Country Directory scores 150+ countries across cost, visa access, safety, and quality of life to help you compare.

A realistic budget depends heavily on your destination and lifestyle. As rough monthly ranges for a comfortable single-person lifestyle: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Bali) about $1,500–$2,500; Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Greece) about $2,500–$4,000; Latin America (Mexico City, Medellín, Panama City) about $2,000–$3,500. Big cities and couples cost more. On top of monthly costs, budget a one-time moving fund for flights, first and last month's rent, visa fees, shipping, and surprises. Most people underestimate setup costs. For a number based on your own situation, use the Rewire Abroad international move cost estimator.

Yes, but both require significantly more planning. For families: research international school availability and fees early (good schools fill up 6–12 months in advance), check whether your visa type covers dependents, and factor in higher housing costs for family-sized apartments. For pets: international pet relocation typically requires a microchip, rabies vaccination, and a country-specific health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited vet, and some destinations impose a waiting period of up to 6 months (notably Australia and New Zealand). Start the pet process at least 3 months before your move date — 6 months for Oceania.

Geo-arbitrage means earning in a strong currency (USD, EUR, GBP) while living in a country with a lower cost of living. A $5,000/month US income that barely covers rent in San Francisco can stretch much further in places like Medellín, Chiang Mai, or Tbilisi. The principle is simple: your income stays the same while your expenses drop. How much they drop depends heavily on where you live now and where you go, so use the Rewire Abroad Geo-Arbitrage Calculator to see the numbers for your own income and destination rather than relying on a rule of thumb.

The standard advice is: do not sign a long-term lease before you arrive. Book a furnished monthly rental or Airbnb for your first 30–60 days, explore the city on foot, and sign a lease only once you know which neighbourhood suits you. Platforms like Spotahome, Uniplaces, and Facebook expat groups for your destination city are good sources for furnished mid-term rentals. Avoid signing anything that locks you in for 12 months until you've lived there for at least a month. Local rental contracts are often in the local language, so budget for a local lawyer to review anything you sign. Note that some visas require proof of accommodation at application time, so ask what counts before you apply.

The Schengen Zone is a group of 29 European countries that share open internal borders: most EU members plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. As an American, you can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day rolling period, counted across the entire zone and not per country, so 90 days in Portugal plus Spain plus France combined is still 90 days. Since 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System records every entry and exit digitally, which makes overstays much easier to detect. ETIAS, a separate pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers, has been announced but its launch date has slipped before, so check the official EU page for the current status. To stay longer than 90 days legally, you need a residence permit or visa from a member state. Working remotely on a tourist entry is not permitted in most Schengen countries.

You need a US mailing address for tax purposes, banking, brokerage accounts, and government correspondence. Options: use a family member's address (simplest), or sign up for a virtual mailbox service like US Global Mail or Traveling Mailbox, which scans your mail and forwards packages on request (typically $15–$30/month). Do not cancel your US address entirely — many financial institutions will close accounts or freeze assets if they cannot reach you at a US address. Update your address with the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and all financial accounts before you leave.