What Do I Need to Move Abroad?

Yes — almost every long-term move requires more than a tourist entry. Americans get visa-free access to most countries for 30–90 days, but working, retiring, or staying longer requires a formal visa or residency permit. The type you need depends entirely 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 burned your visa-free days.

A Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is a formal residence permit for remote workers who earn income from outside the host country. As of 2025, over 50 countries offer them. Most require proof of remote employment or freelance income — typically $2,000–$4,500/month depending on the country. Spain's DNV requires €2,849/month, Portugal's D8 requires €3,280/month, and Estonia's requires €4,500/month. If you meet the income threshold and have a remote job or clients, you almost certainly qualify for at least one program.

Processing times vary widely by country and visa type. Portugal's D8 visa currently takes 2–6 months from application to approval. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa takes 1–3 months if applied from outside Spain. Retirement visas in Latin America (Panama, Mexico, Colombia) are typically faster at 1–3 months. The key mistake is starting the process too late — most visas require gathering documents (apostilled background checks, income proofs, health insurance) that themselves take 4–8 weeks to obtain.

Your US health insurance stops the moment you leave the country. You need international health insurance before you board. Most visa applications also require proof of health coverage as part of the application — so this isn't optional. For nomads and remote workers, Genki Native and SafetyWing are the most 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 $80–$300/month depending on your age and coverage level.

The two non-negotiables: a Wise account for international transfers (no hidden fees, real exchange rate) and a Schwab or Fidelity brokerage account for ATM withdrawals abroad (both reimburse all ATM fees worldwide). Your US bank's debit card will charge 3% foreign transaction fees plus ATM fees — that adds up to hundreds of dollars a year. Set up Wise before you leave. For longer stays, opening a local bank account in your destination country is worth doing once you have your visa or residency.

Yes — the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live. However, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) allows you to exclude up to $126,500 (2024) of foreign-earned income from US taxes if you meet the Physical Presence Test (330 days outside the US) or Bona Fide Residence Test. Most expats who set this up correctly owe little to no US income tax. The catch: you must file every year, and the forms are complex. 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 a straightforward D8 visa, high quality of life, and a path to citizenship in 5 years. Spain offers a DNV with lower income requirements and major cities with strong expat infrastructure. Thailand and Indonesia (Bali) remain popular for lower cost of living but have limited long-term visa options. Georgia (the country) offers visa-free stays for up to a year for most Western passport holders. 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. Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Bali): $1,500–$2,500/month covers rent, food, transport, and health insurance comfortably. Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Greece): $2,500–$4,000/month for a similar lifestyle. Latin America (Mexico City, Medellín, Lisbon): $2,000–$3,500/month. On top of monthly costs, budget a one-time moving fund of $3,000–$8,000 for flights, first/last month's rent, visa fees, shipping, and unexpected costs. Most people underestimate the setup costs by 30–40%.

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 requires a microchip, rabies vaccination, country-specific health certificate (issued by a USDA-accredited vet), and in some cases a waiting period of up to 6 months (notably for 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 salary that covers rent in San Francisco covers a genuinely comfortable lifestyle in Medellín, Chiang Mai, or Tbilisi — with money left over. The principle is simple: your income stays the same, your expenses drop by 40–70%. The Rewire Abroad Geo-Arbitrage Calculator shows you exactly how much you can save based on your current income and your target destination.

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 the best 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 — budget for a local lawyer to review anything you sign.

The Schengen Zone is a group of 27 European countries that share open internal borders. As an American, you can enter Schengen visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day rolling period — across the entire zone, not per country. This means 90 days in Portugal + Spain + France combined counts as 90 days, not 270. To stay longer than 90 days legally, you need a formal residence permit or visa in one of the member states. Working remotely on a tourist entry is technically illegal in most Schengen countries, even if rarely enforced.

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 ($15–$30/month) which scans your mail and forwards packages on request. 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, Social Security Administration, and all financial accounts before you leave.