Thinking About Moving Abroad? Here's How to Start

In 2016, after President Donald Trump was elected for the first time, reports surged of United States citizens exploring their options for emigrating — or at least stating their desire to do so.

Now, it’s become a theme on social media once again, with some Americans expressing their desire to leave the country now that Trump is in power for a second time. And against the backdrop of the new administration’s attempts to reshape federal policy around transgender rights, access to abortion, climate change and criminal justice, immigration firms have reported a spike in U.S. citizens interested in relocating abroad.

But as many immigrants who moved to the U.S. can attest, packing up and starting your life in another country is not easy — even if it’s somewhere nearby, or if English is the spoken language.

If you usually travel with a U.S. passport, then you are able to visit more than 180 countries without needing to apply for a visa beforehand. But many countries have much stricter rules for American citizens who plan to stay longer than a vacation.

So what are the paths that Americans can take to legally move to another country? Keep reading for some of the options, from pursuing new citizenship and traditional skilled worker programs to the more recent visa initiatives designed for “digital nomads” — people who are able to work remotely and travel the world doing so.

Seek out new citizenship

One of the perks of having dual citizenship is the option to live and work between two different countries, without the restrictions imposed on visa holders. But if you currently only have American citizenship, how can you become a citizen of another country while you live in the U.S.?

If you are married to someone who’s a citizen of another country, you may be eligible for naturalization on the basis of your marriage, and can begin that process at a consulate office within the U.S. However, several countries — Singapore, for example — require that you live there for a specific period of time with your spouse before you apply for citizenship. In other countries like Germany or Australia, being married to a citizen does not in fact guarantee you citizenship.

Some countries also grant citizenship to individuals who can prove that their family originates from that nation. Italy is the prime example: While you can request citizenship if your parents or grandfather are Italian citizens, you may even be eligible if either of your great-grandfathers — or even your paternal great-great-grandfather — were born in Italy.

American citizens living in the Bay Area can begin the application process at the Italian Consulate in San Francisco, but keep in mind that you’ll need to provide documentation of every single person in your Italian line of descent — and if your Italian-born ancestor became an American citizen before August 16, 1992, that may disqualify your lineage.

If you’re exploring this route, be aware that not all countries permit dual citizenship, and some may require you to renounce American citizenship in order to obtain citizenship of that country.

Become a ‘digital nomad’

When the COVID-19 pandemic made remote work widespread, many picked up their laptops and temporarily moved to a new city — and some to a different country entirely.

Since then, it’s become more common to see Americans adopting a “digital nomad” lifestyle, living abroad but still working for a U.S.-based company, and several countries have created visa programs in response for these types of travelers. In 2023, Uruguay launched a “residence permit for digital nomads” that allows foreigners to work from that country for up to six months, as long as they declare that they can support themselves financially. You can renew this permit for another six more months or have the option to apply for a permanent residency. Other places like Brazil, Argentina and Japan have similar visas.

Even countries with historically strict immigration laws are seeking out digital nomads. New Zealand, for example, announced last month that foreigners who arrive on a visitor visa or New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) can work for overseas employers during their visit. These new rules also exempt Americans from local taxes for a period of up to six months, as long as they’re working for a company based out of New Zealand.

Arrive with a temporary visa — and then transition to a permanent residency

Out of the 180+ countries that allow Americans to visit without a visa beforehand, a few dozen allow foreigners to apply for a permanent residency while you are already there — versus having to return to the U.S. and apply from a consulate.

For example, U.S. passport holders don’t need to apply for a visa if they are planning to visit Mexico for a period less than 180 days. But if you’re thinking about living in Mexico for a lot longer — say, a year — you can apply for an FM2 visa, which covers stays lasting between 180 days and four years.

You may have heard stories about Americans staying in Mexico for years without a visa — that’s correct, about a million Americans live in that country without the necessary legal documents. However, many Mexican employers require foreigners to prove that they are in the country with a visa that allows them to work in Mexico. And if you do end up working for a Mexican company, you will be required to pay Mexican taxes and could face legal consequences for not doing so, even as a U.S. citizen.

Other countries may have additional requirements for temporary visitors who want to become permanent residents. South Africa, for example, requires applicants to either have a work offer in South Africa already set up, have exceptional skills, intend to open a business or plan to retire in that country.

Applying to an immigrant worker initiative

Some countries have programs that welcome immigrants for extended stays as long as they are qualified to work in specific fields.

In 2021, Japan announced its “Specified Skilled Worker” residency that accepts individuals from overseas that are trained in one of 16 specific fields, including construction, nursing care, automobile repair and forestry.

Canada has several “Express Entry” programs that process applications within six months, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program — which prioritizes individuals with management experience or a college degree — and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, which favors tradespeople that have multiple years of experience and apprenticeships under their belt.

Explore a ‘golden visa’

For those with sufficiently deep pockets, some countries offer additional visa options — as long as these immigrants invest the right amount into their economies.

Portugal, for example, has the Residency Permit for Investors (commonly referred to as the country’s “Golden Visa”) which grants foreigners permanent residency, allows for immediate family to join and grants permission to travel through the 29 European countries in the Schengen area. In exchange, you are required to invest in the Portuguese economy by either creating at least 10 jobs, buying at least €500,000 worth of real estate, investing that same amount in either investments or scientific research institutions or donating at least €250,000 to cultural projects within the country.

These types of visas have received strong criticism from locals — including in Portugal, where residents partially blame wealthy foreigners for escalating housing prices — but dozens of countries in several continents still have their own versions of a “golden visa.”

Other considerations for Americans hoping to live abroad

Taxes

As an American citizen, you’ll have to file an income tax return in the U.S. even if you live abroad, depending on your income, filing status and age. However, the U.S. has tax treaties with many foreign countries which could reduce the amount of U.S taxes you’d have to pay.

Health care and insurance

Do not count on your U.S. insurance to automatically cover your health needs while abroad.

While some providers — like Kaiser Permanente — do cover care for certain emergencies, other kinds of care like check-ups require prior approval. Other insurers, including Anthem Blue Cross and UnitedHealthcare, offer specific plans for Americans living abroad long-term.

Certain countries have universal, free, public health care but don’t assume that this always includes foreign visitors. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) provides free hospital treatment to British citizens and foreigners who have settled as “ordinary residents,” but will charge visitors with short-term visas up to 150% of treatment costs.

Housing 

Airbnb has sought to make itself the go-to housing option for people remote working while abroad. And while this app offers an almost infinite list of homes in places popular with digital nomads like Buenos Aires, Barcelona and Mexico City, these cities have also seen local movements calling for — and securing — stricter regulations on short-term rentals to reduce the displacement they cause.

But there are many alternatives to Airbnb. For solo travel, check out Facebook groups where you can find other Americans, as well as locals who have experience hosting foreigners for long periods of time.

If you’re travelling with family, there’s also Kindred, which requires a membership and users must also make their home available for hosting. And if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and looking for housing options either hosted by other queer individuals or allies, you can try misterb&b, which focuses on serving LGBTQ+ travelers.

This story contains reporting by KQED’s Carly Severn.