Lisbon, Portugal, is hugely popular with American tourists and immigrants, and it’s deserving of all the love it gets. Portugal’s capital city is stunning — pastel buildings, cobblestone streets, river views. It’s a modern city with historic vibes, great culture, and livability. If you got off the plane and decided
Tell any parent it’s expensive to raise a family in today’s economy, and they won’t laugh at you, because they’re too tired. But believe me, they already know. One survey shows that to raise a family of four in 2025, you’ll need a six-figure income in more than half the
Rumors of the death of Portugal’s Golden Visa have been greatly exaggerated. Spoiler: Despite rumors, fears, and even overwrought headlines to the contrary, the Portuguese Golden Visa has not been eliminated. Some changes have been made, some changes might be made, but none of the changes come nearly to the
One of the most frequent questions asked when a person is considering a move to Mexico: “Is it safe?” It’s a fair, instinctive question to ask – instinctive because we like to protect ourselves, and fair because a lot of what we see and hear puts Mexico in a negative
Thank you to our friends at MyExpatTaxes for compiling this data! These are all the countries we visit on our group scouting trips, and they shared this info so you could make the best choice about where to visit. Join us for a free Q&A session to learn more! —Jen
When you’re planning, or even just considering, a move to another country, there are always questions — What kind of visa will I need? Can I afford it? Will I be able to learn the language? But when you’re LGBTQ, those questions come with a few very specific, very important
Most future expats don’t start the process with tons of money to burn. Many of them are looking to burn less money — in our 2024 Expatsi Report, 41% of survey respondents said they wanted to leave the U.S. to save money. In terms of value, 29% wanted great value
Constantly changing tariffs on countries including Mexico have left a lot of plans up in the air. Where are prices going to go? What plans are going to change? That party you’re planning to throw — is it going to suck? Some of your favorite items in your fridge, your
Mexico is famous – and beloved among immigrants – for its climate options, its food, its beaches, its welcoming neighbors, and its low cost of living, just to name a few. But it’s also famous in one other, very specific sphere: As countries go, Mexico is a famously easy one
Inside and outside the U.S., tariffs are on a lot of minds. Despite what some people believe, tariffs are basically taxes on imported goods that are paid by the importer. And then the importer usually passes the cost on to the consumer. The impact on business worldwide is already considerable.
It really applies to any non-English-speaking country, but one of the best things you can do in preparation for a trip to Spain is to learn the language. You’ll often find Spain’s famously warm welcome becomes that much warmer when your new neighbor sees you’re making an effort to engage
Friendly, welcoming locals. Great food. A comfortable climate essentially everywhere in the country. A reasonable cost of living, and a world-class healthcare system. There are countless reasons Spain is a popular retirement destination, coming in at #6 on International Living’s list of Top 10 Retirement Destinations for 2025 and at
Expats relocating from the U.S. to warmer climates often put Costa Rica and Panama at the top of their list. And for good reason — both offer warm climates, stunning natural beauty, and thriving expat communities. In fact, it can be hard to decide which tropical nation will be the
Recent anti-tourism protests might create an image that Spain isn’t a warm and welcoming place to outsiders. And it’s true that in some of the more tourism-heavy areas of the country, tourists might see banners telling them, in no uncertain terms, to go home. But if you’re planning a longer
There’s a reason Spain is a favorite destination for aspiring expats looking to move abroad. The pace of life is slower, the climate is gorgeous, the cost of living is lower. The food is unbelievable. And the people, in general, are warm, friendly, and welcoming. In recent months, however, that
You may have seen this story over the weekend. Hundreds of demonstrators protested in Mexico City against foreigners, and the headlines are scary. They vandalized buildings and attacked people. When things like this happen, or protesters squirt tourists with water guns in Barcelona, people often turn to me for simple
The process of gaining residency in a foreign country can be a long one, with lots of steps involved. But many prospective expats don’t plan on waiting long — our own Expatsi Report revealed that 12% of respondents planned to move in six months or less. And even without that tight
We talk about the happiest country in the world (it’s Finland), or the most prosperous (Denmark), or the one with the best healthcare (depending on the definition of “best,” it could be Norway, the Netherlands, or Australia). The Expatsi test essentially exists to help sort through the most important qualities
To answer the big question first: No, you’re not automatically granted citizenship of a foreign country without knowing it. But you could qualify for citizenship without knowing it, through citizenship by descent or jus sanguinis — when a country offers the option to apply for citizenship based on the fact
Do you know the expression “the cobbler’s children have no shoes”? The same is true of expat service providers — I’ve been too cavalier about securing our own residency while I focused on other people’s moves. Here’s what it cost me, and why you should do as I say and
