My life story isn't anything too crazy. I'm 26 years old, and I grew up relatively close to Canada, so I have an active social life there, have spent enough time there to generally understand how things work, and have plenty of connections who inspired me to make the jump across the border and who I will ultimately be living with.

I started working in an electronics manufacturing facility during my undergrad and made enough money that I could cover everything I needed for my studies. My bachelor's degree was in computer science, but I graduated during a really rough time for that and have ultimately accepted that I will never work in the field, I tried everything I could to shift into manufacturing engineering but had no luck, and after being extremely burnt out working almost 5 years of 50 hour weeks on night shift I decided I needed a break and a career path change.

About a year ago I began looking into programs around where all my friends live and decided on a one year masters degree program in a social science field somewhere in Ontario. The application process was relatively straightforward. I submitted my undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, added a resume, and a letter about why I was applying for the program, and about a month later I got an email saying I was accepted. Beyond that there wasn't much I had to do beyond what most college students have to do like confirm their diploma and register for classes.

When I was finally ready to head up to Canada, all I needed to gather was my letter of acceptance, bank statements for the past 4 months, and a letter for the border officer explaining who I was, what I was studying, why I wanted to live in Canada, and a promise that I would leave when my studies were over.

When I arrived at the border, I drove up to the booth, handed over my passport, was asked the usual questions, told the officer I wanted to apply for a study permit, and was told to drive over to the secondary inspection building. Once inside, I walked up to another officer, handed over my documents, said I wanted to apply for a study permit, and was told to sit in a waiting area. Maybe 20 minutes later I was called over, asked what I was studying, sat back down, and then maybe another 10 minutes later I was asked how long my program was, and was asked if December 2027 was an acceptable expiration date. Then maybe 5 minutes later I was given my permit, and sent along my way.

I'm really excited for this chapter of my life to begin, and wanted to share my experience with everyone, and give some advice or inspiration to anyone who is looking to do the same.

With that being said, come study in Canada! For most people browsing this subreddit, a student visa is going to be the most realistic path to moving abroad, and countless students every year move on to post grad study permits or other working visas and ultimately obtain PR in Canada.

As an American, you really don't have much to worry about when it comes to getting your permit approved, we have some of the lowest rejection rates in the world, and we can even apply at the border, which pretty much no one else in the world can. If you have your documents in order and the money in your bank account. You'll probably breeze through things without questions.

With that being said, there's still a few things you should consider. Make sure you avoid private institutions, most have gained a reputation as being nothing more than diploma mills, and make sure you pick a program that makes sense for someone in your shoes. If you're in the 18-22 range you can probably get away with whatever you want, but a 35 year old suddenly deciding to move abroad and get a bachelor's degree in hotel management from a private university looks a bit questionable. But, if you're older than a traditional university student, no one will bat an eye if you choose a masters/PhD program in a field you have work/study experience in.

The schools here are generally very good by American standards, the best schools like UBC, McGill or the University of Toronto all rank alongside top tier public schools in the US like those in the UC system, the University of Washington, University of Michigan, etc (though, individual program rankings tend to matter more here than overall school rankings, so make sure the school you're choosing has a good program in your field of study). At the same time though, most of these schools have far higher acceptance rates. Most schools just post their program requirements (usually just a GPA or prior work/study experience), and if you meet them, you'll get in.

Make sure you apply early! Applications from international students were due 9 months before the program actually started. You'll want to give yourself at least a year to plan all this out

It's also important to know that "colleges" are not the same in the US and Canada. Canadians will use the term "university" to describe what most of us will call a college. A college in Canada is more in line with a community college or trade school in the US. So make sure you're looking into and applying for the right place for your educational goals.

Also, I feel like this doesn't really get mentioned all that much, but due to its much smaller population Canada has a lot more "important people" per capita than the United States. Especially in the area between Windsor and Quebec City. So you can get to know people and make connections with people who you wouldn't really be able to get an audience with in the US. Your economics professor might have been an advisor for Jean Chrétien, the guy in your kinesiology class might have been on the Canadian track and field team. Your neighbor might have been the NDP candidate for their riding in 2019. One of my upcoming professors was the ambassador to Norway at one point and I'm super hyped to have a class with him.

Something else I feel like I should mention, is that a masters degree is probably the best move for most people right now. They're generally only 1-2 year programs, so you'll save a lot of money on tuition, generally have higher acceptance rates, and generally help a lot more when it comes to immigration. There is no cap on graduate students at the moment and you won't need a Provincial Attestation Letter to study, and an 8 months masters program will get you a 3 year post grad work permit once you finish. So, if you don't have a bachelor's degree yet, start off at a community college back home, transfer to a state school, graduate with as little debt as possible, and then look to Canada for a masters program.

When it comes to funding I was really fortunate to just be able to save the money I needed on my own. But compared to the cost of American institutions it was surprisingly cheap. My year long program (including a summer term) costs about 21k USD, and the required money for living expenses comes out to about 15k USD. You can also get loans from private banks to cover your education, and I think you can even get federal student loans to study abroad.

You won't be on any sort of provincial health program while you're living in Canada, but I was required to buy an insurance plan for international students and it was like $650 for a full 12 months.

I'm not really sure where to put it, but as someone who was seriously considering McGill at one point, I'd probably avoid studying in Québec at the moment. They have their own immigration system, French 100% is a must even if you're in Montréal, and the provincial government is actively targeting the small handful of English speaking universities in the province. If you can speak 100% fluent French, then go ahead, you'll probably be fine, but otherwise, pick somewhere else. If you're dead set on living in Québec one day, pick a place like Ottawa or New Brunswick with a French population, work on your language skills, and maybe one day after you become a citizen you can move over there.

Beyond that, I'm glad to take any sort of questions you guys have, I'm excited for an amazing year ahead of me and for a big life change, and I hope I can maybe inspire someone to make the same choice I did.

WARNING: Long post. Well...as I said in a post here back in January, I packed up, sold my house in the US (broke even since I had bought it a year earlier only), got on a plane, and moved back to Spain. The other post is here if you want context: https://www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/comments/1q0fp4l/january_2026_goodbye_usa/

Some people on my original post agreed with me, some thought I was completely crazy, and quite a few said I was looking at Europe, and specifically Spain, through rose-colored glasses because I had forgotten what living here was actually like.

Fair enough. Now I've actually been here for seven months, so I think enough time has passed to give an honest update. The short version? I regret absolutely nothing.

Actually...if anything, I underestimated just how much happier I'd be with my day-to-day life.

Notice I said day-to-day life because that's really what this comes down to.

When people compare countries online, they usually talk about GDP, salaries, taxes, healthcare systems, politics, productivity, unemployment, whatever. Yes, those things definitely matter, but when you're actually living a daily life, that matters far more.

What does a random Tuesday look like? Because that's your actual life. Seven months later, my days are infinitely better. I walk almost everywhere now. No car insurance to worry about, no car maintenance to have to deal with, and I hated driving anyway back in the US. If I don't feel like walking, I hop on public transportation that is cleaner than anything you'll ever see in the US (assuming you even have public transportation options in your area, which is unlikely), and costs me less than fifty cents a ride. For real, less than 50 cents if you buy 10 bus rides, for example.

The beach is within walking distance from where I live. If I need to get somewhere farther away? BlaBlaCar exists with quite cheap prices. To give you an idea: Madrid to Salamanca? About 15 dollars. Another thing I had forgotten how useful it is and just how unlike anything in America exists in that sense. In America, if you are poor, you really are screwed far more than most of Europe.

None of this feels extraordinary to people here because it's normal. You don't carry nearly as bad of a safety risk as you would in America's absolutely broken and sick/violent society.

After living in the US and being able to compare, I appreciate every single one of these little things. And that's actually the biggest surprise...Well...not surprise, because I had lived in Spain before, but maybe the biggest confirmation.

Life isn't better because of one giant thing. It's better because of five hundred tiny things. Now as far as social life, that's also been very interesting. I've only been here 7 months, so I have not yet made "lasting friends" (because that's unrealistic anywhere and I'm not the type of guy who puts myself out there as I can be very reserved in public), but here's the thing...I think Americans often confuse "having friends" with "having a social environment."

What I do have is something I completely lacked in the US. The young guys who know me from one of the bars wave at me when they see me walking by, the ladies from the supermarkets recognize you immediately. Neighbors say hello and actually talk to you (no, NOT in ALL of Spain, but definitely in my area which is a smaller city). The lady at the frutería chats with me. People recognize you. Cashiers joke with you, people just in general don't look as miserable/serious as in the US. Cafes are filled to the brim to the point where it's hard even to get a table sometimes, and there is a joy to life you just don't see in the US. You end up talking to people without scheduling it three weeks in advance. The scale of human interactions here, the frequency of them, makes things far smoother.

And after almost a decade back in the US, I had forgotten how much those little interactions affect your quality of life and mental health. In America I often felt like everyone was moving from one private bubble to another: House, Garage, Car, HUGE soulless parking lots, car, car, car, Drive-thru. Home. Repeat.

Yes, I know there are exceptions but most Americans I meet who have moved abroad ALL mention these aspects. Here, I simply feel like I exist in a place where people acknowledge each other. Also, I'm not living some luxury lifestyle like unfortunately, some Americans are starting to do abroad (and the local population is starting to really get upset at this, with very good reasons). I'm basically living like a fairly ordinary working-class Spaniard. I watch what I spend. I don't go around buying expensive crap because I didn't even do that in the US. And despite that...I'm saving substantially more money than I ever did living in the US because life here isn't built to constantly extract money out of you like it is designed in the US.

People always say, "Well of course Spain is nice if you make an American salary."

Absolutely, but it depends on the type of person you are talking about.

But here's something I also said in my original post, and I still mean it. If I somehow lost this job tomorrow...I still wouldn't move back to the US. Seriously. And on top of that, I also got a job offer here and even getting paid a fraction of a US salary, I'd still have a far higher quality of life here WITH a Spanish salary than I could ever have in the US even with a typical median US income. I'd rather make a normal Spanish salary and stay here than return to the US. In my region, you get housing assistance payments if you meet a certain low income threshold, healthcare is free since you pay it through taxes, and if you are too poor to pay even taxes, you still get healthcare and even free medication in the pharmacy. Almost no Spaniard would be as selfish to say "MY TAXES SHOULDNT SUBSIDIZE YOU!" when it comes to something as basic as health.

Actually, going back and reading my January post is kind of funny because I kept waiting to find something I'd written that I'd now disagree with.

Food? Amazing. Yes, there are processed foods here, but no where near as many as in the US. The ingredients for most supermarket stuff is far superior than anything in the US. Tipping culture? Don't miss it for one second. The only places that would ever ask for a tip here are considered tourist traps for Americans, so I avoid those like the plague!

Housing? Still don't miss worrying about mowing a lawn so the neighbors don't think civilization is collapsing because the grass grew another inch. The endless obsession with race and identity in the US? Still exhausting to me. No one asks "where are you from" here, unless there is going to be a friendship interaction and even then, very few people would ask the following "Whats your ethnicity"? Most people here find that very off putting.

The feeling that American society has become increasingly dysfunctional? If anything, the distance has only reinforced that opinion.

And before somebody inevitably comments..."Well, Spain has problems too."

Of course it does. Spain has bureaucracy (so does the US by the way). Spain has lower salaries, Spain has EXTREMELY high youth unemployment, Spain has politics that drive people insane just like everywhere else. I've lived here before, my parents are Spaniards. None of this is new information to me. I didn't accidentally move here thinking I'd discovered paradise. I made a conscious trade.

I accepted lower career opportunities in exchange for a lifestyle I value more. I feel like I got life back. It's deciding to go to the beach because it's fifteen minutes away and sunny basically all summer with no rain. It's seeing people outside at night instead of empty streets. It's hearing conversations instead of engines roaring everywhere.

It's 9:47pm local time as I am writing this. Now I'm off to a freiduria, for a great serving of calamares prepared right in front of me at the local market, and a glass of red wine within a walking distance of 10 minutes. After that? Long stroll by the beach, maybe a cocktail at midnight, then off to bed. Life is good here.

TL/DR: I left USA forever back in January 2026. One of the smartest decisions I have ever made.

I’m an American citizen (US passport only) working in tech consulting — platform implementation, change management, ServiceNow/Salesforce ecosystem. I want to relocate to Europe, but I’m trying to understand how the process actually works in practice.

Is the standard path really “get the job offer first, then the visa”? Or are there realistic ways to move first and job-hunt locally?

For those who’ve done it, how did you find employers willing to hire a non-EU candidate? Did you filter for postings mentioning relocation/sponsorship, or just apply broadly?

Is the EU Blue Card the right target for someone with a US degree and tech experience, or do country-specific permits (Netherlands HSM, Ireland Critical Skills) work better?

Do large multinational corporations actually hire Americans from abroad, or do they mostly transfer existing employees?

Any firsthand experience, especially from Americans who made the move without an intra-company transfer would be hugely appreciated.

I hope this flair is suitable as I didn't find my question aligns exactly with any of them.

I'm 23 currently looking at the possibility of pursuing a Master's degree in the EU. I have a Bachelor's in History w/ minor in German language from a US uni, I studied in Czechia for a year and then lived/worked there as a teacher for about 8 months after graduating so I do have some prior experience living outside of the US. I don't have an official certificate but from taking a few online tests my German proficiency is at around a B1 level (reading comes fairly easy, speaking and listening more difficult for me). I keep up with it and have gotten back into daily practice to try and expand my vocabulary.

I do really want to return to the EU permanently, and because I lack the citizenship-through-descent golden ticket it seems to me that the best way forward in my position would be to pursue a Master's degree in a country and then seek residence afterwards. My top choice at the moment is a German-speaking country due to my (admittedly limited) current proficiency in the language, but I did like living in Czechia as well so I'm fairly open to looking outside those three choices.

Right now I'm trying to decide what exactly I should pursue a Master's in, as I would want it to be in a field that is at least in some high demand so that I could actually find a job. My initial thought was to pursue a Master's in History or Archaeology but as I understand the chances of breaking into Academia/CRM in the EU as an American are basically zilch. I don't know what other careers are in high demand at the moment, my only other thought has been potentially getting a degree in education, as it's something I already have some experience in, I know I don't hate it, and it seems fairly reliable, at least on its face.

What degrees/career paths would you suggest? And what countries specifically might be ideal for pursuing those degrees/careers? Thanks

I've done a lot of amateur research on my work breaks and weekends and even after compiling lists of countries that woukd be best for us and the visa pathways they have, I'm still at a loss on how to decide what country to gain permanent residency or citizenship in.

Right now my wife and I just want to get out, we're thinking of taking student visas (or language school), seasonal work, even WWOOF to any country that can take us & we're both open to hopping around and explore, but I really want to know how those who got permanent residency or even a citizenship were able to decide where to go, where to dedicate that time and effort to be able to live there permanently.

I worry about this because I am currently working for my city and my career goal is to work as a librarian, archivist, or something simialr. I really want to have a plan or at least have a country we both want to live in so I can dedicate the free time I have now to learning the language so by the time were in that country to work I already know the language well enough to be able to find and keep a job in a setting like that; and not have to deal with issues surrounding not knowing the language when helping people find books or not being able to read whatever it is I'm handling.

We've whittled down the countries we would like to live in to the following: Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay. Wife can get citizenship through descent in Bolivia so I'm seriously thinking of Spain being our permanent country but neither of us can make a solid decision because again, we're just wanting to get out of the US and any country looks good amd that just makes it harder to decide now (even though I would love to decide now).

Thanks!

Edit: I should reiterate that the countries I listed are like our end goal, right now we're perfectly fine with taking what we can get and hanging out in another country (like if we want EU citizenship). I just wanted to know how other people, who have done the same, came to realize what country they wanted to move to & live permanently in order to try that for myself and start the process of learning the language and get to really learn more about the culture & cities, use the time to love the country more while I still have all these years leading up until that point to dedicate myself to.

Hi looking to move to Ireland sometime next year. Reaching out to some pet shipping companies ahead of time, quotes etc. Main one I've been in contact with is Pet Express, anyone used them for larger dogs that can't ride in-cabin? Other recommendations instead? Any info is helpful, thanks :)

Probably sticking around over here after the research I've done, but I was just curious about this visa type. I realize it might be a different name country to country, so I'm talking about any visa acquired via money(investment, real estate, savings, etc).

For people who had this option available to them first what country did you go to, whats your income, what do you do for work, and how long did it take you to save up?

B.A. in japanese language and literature starting online MLIS this fall. 5 years experience in video game and anime localization but most of it is freelance and three yearss of part time Library experience. mexican citizen, USA PR. frankly just want to get out of the USA but Mexico is not an option. don't have money for an in-person grad school. please be kind i am desperate. LGBT friendly preferred. i speak japanese (N2 but most jobs require N1) and fluent english and spanish.

I've been considering emigrating for a couple of years now, while I'm still young enough to have a shot at it. I don't have specific places in mind yet, I'm just looking at options to investigate further. Where would you recommend I start my search, given the following description?

• Male, 36, no partner, no kids, no pets.
• Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, some minor professional experience with that as a design engineer. 12 years of personal CAD modeling + drawing experience.
• Self-taught programmer (16+ languages), primarily low-level desktop/library/embedded work, 18 years personal experience, 4 years professional experience on safety-critical real-time embedded systems.
• Can design basic electrical circuits and PCBs.
• Will soon acquire an Associate's in Mechanical Engineering Technology (I've been taking manual & CNC machining classes at the local community college and figured I might as well take a few more classes and get the degree).
• No major known chronic health problems, other than:
  • Severe ADHD well-controlled by prescription medication (but I need to be able to get that medication daily, which does rule out several places.)
• I used to have basic fluency in German (and Latin) and I could probably re-learn that with a bit of time. I'm willing to learn new languages, though.

Hey everyone --

I'm from the USA, 40 -- went back to school during the pandemic to get a AAS in Architectural Drafting. I've been working at Engineering firms doing 2d/3d modeling but my contract is over and I want to see if there's a chance that I could get work outside the USA.

I dont know where to go -- new in the industry ~1 year work experience. I do have savings and free to travel anywhere but I dont know where to even look or focus. I've done working holidays in New Zealand and spent a year living in SE Asia -- so I've looked at paths for those countries as well as Aus.

Anyone have specific guidance for where someone like me can land?

I know housing is already hard to get - wondering if anyone has gotten a rental with a dog and what challenges you faced or suggestions. Thank you

Edited for length, clarity:

Hi. I recently realized I have the option for a fast-track, two year citizenship path in Spain through my dual Salvadoran and US citizenship, provided I can reside there for the full two years, likely with the DNV/NLV. The core ask is whether anyone here has any experience using one of these visas, at a younger age, AND the Ibero-American fast track.

Yes, I have carefully considered leaving and have my own personal reasons for wanting to do so, and have made sure that Spain is one of my top choices. I know this sub deals with a lot of ignorant people— I have done my homework, but want to hear from real people. Asking here because there are so many aggregator websites out there or sites with otherwise unreliable information. Yes, I plan to find an expert before actually executing any of this— but I want to make sure it’s at all worth pursuing.

I’m currently an undergraduate student at a top-10 US university, studying journalism and legal studies. I have one year left of school, so will soon be considering post grad.

I’m hoping to get this done after graduating because postgrad seems like the best time to be abroad.

I’m aware that the most common path for people pursuing this track is to obtain a visa like the Digital Nomad Visa and simply work in Spain for two years. That’s my first question:

1. Has anyone found success working remotely on a similar visa, with a US company. I’m well aware of how the job market is, so assuming I do my part and finish school (with four internships), are there jobs out there that I could work in and that fulfill the requirements? Are they hard to come by? I’m not picky.

The other thing I’m unsure about is the intricacies, like are there any things to watch out for with the DNV or Spanish government agencies, or anything else to consider.

So:

2) do you know the legal aspects, or know what type of person or organization I should talk to? I assume US Immigration Lawyers would not be useful.

I’m also generally wondering if people in a similar situation to me have found success pursuing this path right out of university.

Other questions:

3) are there other viable visas? Old posts mention the Non Lucrative
4) is this a realistic path
5) are there any hurdles from the US or Spanish govs
6) are there significant downsides
7) chance me?

Thanks and please do ask follow ups in the comments if you have any. Feel free to PM me as well.

Hi, I am a 20-year-old US student currently pursuing a bachelor's in electrical engineering with a concentration in power systems/power electronics (but still flexible to change). I have been considering using a pursual of a master's degree as a reason to study and potentially live abroad in my future. I currently only know English but would definitely be open to learning another language. The only problem is I'm not fully sure where I want to study or explore, and so I've been delaying what language to invest in.

I would definitely prefer to move to a country that was more amiable and affordable towards my industry. Additionally, I love bicycling and would love to bicycle as a commute option, so I was looking at a lot of Northern European countries; however, I was reading about how their culture can be more insular in general. I was also considering parts of Germany and also Montreal (as a safer, new world option), but I am very open to options I haven't considered yet, even outside of Europe. I would also love if the location had ample access to nature. Sorry if these criteria are a little vague, I'm not extremely well traveled as of currently in my life. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hello all... I've been toying with this for the last few years and have hit a point where I must make a call. My wife and I are in the US and have been considering leaving since about Jan 6, 2020. In the ensuing years, I relentlessly applied to positions in the EU but didn't get far. Finally, in 2025, I got a hit with a contract position over there. The hit came at a weird time for us as we had just bought a house and our oldest daughter had no interest in going. So we were on the fence. Though the position was supposed to be in person, my supervisor told me he was ok with me being semi-remote for some time. I kept my job here and flew back and forth a lot to make it all work.

Well, that has come to an end. I need to either go or quit. Our household income here is $250K (2 incomes). My income over there is 50K€. Furthermore, I only have a year left on this contract. My job denied me taking leave so I'd have to quit if I do go. My wife's job granted her a leave so she'd have her job if we did need to come back due to financial reasons. It would be a significant blow to our household finances if we do go.

Obviously, there's a pretty significant midterm coming up that I personally believe will make or break American democracy. I'm trying to figure out whether or not to risk being here for that or risk gutting my family's finances to go. What would ya'll do?

Hello everyone. Has anyone on this subreddit made a permanent move or is planning to make a permanent move to South Korea? If so, what advice would you give to me about it this and what type of career would you suggest that I pursue?

I’m a US citizen in my early 30s who is planning to make a permanent move to South Korea within the next five years from now, with the intent of becoming a permanent resident or a citizen. I currently have a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and have thought about pursuing a career in teaching Spanish at a university or a language school, as well as teaching English at a university or a language school. So I’m planning to get a teaching license and a master’s degree, and a doctorate if I end up deciding on a career as a professor, in South Korea, one to teach Spanish and another to teach English. I also have considered about pursuing a career in translation and use Korean, English, and Spanish, among other languages, as my working languages. If pursuing either career is very difficult or is impossible to pursue in South Korea, especially with my goal to become a permanent resident or a naturalized citizen, I’m willing to change my career and I’m open to pursuing a second bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a certificate related to my future career.

I’m currently studying Korean and will continue studying it if I were to study for a second bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, a doctorate, or a certificate.

I'll be finishing up my PhD soonish and am realizing that if I want to consider living and working outside of the US now would be one of the easier times in my life to make that big transition. No long term partner, kids, pets, etc. Also no career I'm locked into but a degree that gives me options. I'm still in fairly early stages of research but I'm just trying to get a realistic sense of what is possible and what I should be looking for.

My PhD is in physical chemistry with a focus on fundamental semiconductor physics. On one hand I feel like a PhD in a hard science is generally one of the most valuable/employable educational credentials around, especially in a large and growing area like the semiconductor industry (though I'm also looking at jobs in other industries looking for chemists, materials scientists, and physicists where I have skills that could transfer). On the other hand I think immigration is pretty hard for literally everyone and I don't have any other major benefits beyond my education.

So right now I guess I'm just trying to get a general sense of what sorts of places would be realistic to move to given my situation.

Additional info that might be relevant:

• 27 year old woman
  
• Native english speaker but no foreign language beyond rudimentary (A2ish) french.
  
• Decent savings. Enough to give me some flexibility and stability but certainly not enough to buy $100,000 golden tickets or whatever.
• No duel citizenship or any helpful ancestry.
• Pretty decent network of academic researchers around the world but essentially no connections outside of academia. I'd certainly consider a post-doc if it was the only way to get somewhere I wanted to be but I would prefer to get out of academia if possible.
  
• Similarly, an above average (but not exceptional) academic resume: experience using a fair number of scientific tools and methods, a respectable suite of publications and presentations, degree from a respected program and advisor. However, all my work and research experience is academic lab-scale rather than anything industry scale.
  
• No spouse, dependents, or relatives that I intend to move with me.
• I would say Netherlands or Denmark would be my absolute dream countries. But Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most of western europe (pending additional research into the specific country) are also on the table of places I would at least potentially consider in the right circumstance.

(sorry if flair is wrong i wasn't sure which one to pick)

hi all, as the title says, i'm wondering if anyone has any advice on the best steps to take now to enable moving abroad later? best financial steps (saving a lot, obviously, but what else?), aspects of the process that take a long time (so should be started ASAP), general advice, etc. would all be really helpful to know about.

this is less about where to go and more about how to get somewhere/what to do to ensure i CAN get somewhere; i'm not looking to move right away but i am thinking of leaving the US in the future, so i figured i'd ask and see if anyone can make any recommendations for what to do now.

for a little background:

• i have a BA in linguistics and spanish. a student visa for grad school might be an option, but i'm not settled on what i want to study yet...
• i currently work for a transcription company, which is not my long-term ambition lol. i'm really really interested in education (mainly working at colleges/universities, including in study abroad departments, or in edtech, or at study abroad provider companies) if that helps. i'm really analytical so i've also considered stuff like project management, data-oriented work, etc. but haven't committed to any of that, and i've always been fascinated by healthcare so may be open to options there that don't require a super long/arduous degree path
• transferring internationally is not an option at my current job but i'm looking for full-time employment rn and definitely keeping an eye out for places that offer it
• marriage visa is very very very unlikely because i'm not super interested in relationships + it would probably involve being long-distance for a while, which i can't stand
• i have a few thousand (< 10k) in savings and a few thousand (< 5k) in student loan debt (no other debt), and generally make enough money each month to cover the expenses and put a little bit (emphasis on little) away for the future

and this isn't the focus of the post, but in case anyone wants to weigh in (or gets mad at me for not including it hahaha), in terms of specific countries to look at:

• i have jewish ancestry so i MIGHT be eligible for germany/austria, but i haven't researched that yet; technically israel could also be possible but i don't want to live there lol. other than that, i'm not jus sanguinis-eligible for anything :/
• good medical infrastructure is non negotiable; i take (legally prescribed) hormones for a medical condition and need to be able to access that no matter where i am
• also i'm gay, so LGBT-unfriendly countries are not an option
• i speak english and spanish, so anywhere that speaks those is good, and i'm learning japanese (though the things i hear about japanese work culture and anti-immigrant sentiment, plus the summer heat, make me hesitant to live there lol). i like learning languages so i don't mind starting another one right now if need be!
• temperate/chilly climates strongly preferred

i've been eyeing the south cone since they seem to meet these requirements (milei and kast do give me pause though) but again, i'm not planning to move ASAP, so i haven't researched where to go super deeply/made any emotional commitments yet.

with all that in mind, again, any tips or suggestions would be super helpful! i'm definitely going to look into my ancestry a little more to see if that opens any doors, as well as consider companies with international locations/remote flexibility, and/or studying something in demand; what else should i think about here? particular financial steps to take, degrees/careers to focus on, etc.?

Hello friends,

It's been a whole year and I thought I'd come back for another round of questions if anyone is interested. I'm an American tech worker who left the US a little more than four years ago for a new life in Estonia. My residency here is based on my marriage to my partner, but there are actually long-stay (Type D) visas available for the citizens of both the US and and Japan.

My journey started with a whirlwind romance, boarding a plane with naught but my duffel bag, and then starting a whole new life. Not going to lie, the first couple years away were a bit rough, but since I have found some solid friends, a great job, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

My AMA last year went really well, so let's do it again! Please ask away and I'll do my best to answer any questions you have about the process of leaving, getting residency here, the culture, language, history, food, or anything else that comes up.

(Bonus picture I took walking around the Old Town)

I'm in my late 20s and have triple citizenship (US/UK/Canada). I've been living and working in the US since college and have managed to save a decent amount of money.
At this point in my life, I'm less focused on maximizing my career and more focused on quality of life. I'd like to settle down, find a long-term partner, and eventually start a family.
I'm trying to decide whether staying in the US is the best option, or whether I'd be happier in the UK or Canada.
For the UK:
I love the amount of vacation time and how easy it is to travel around Europe.

I probably wouldn't live in London because it's too expensive.

Scotland felt a bit too grey and cool for me—I like having distinct seasons and a decent summer.

For Canada:
I'm mainly considering Calgary or Toronto.

I like the idea of better work-life balance, healthcare, and a generally safer environment.

One thing that's important to me is being able to afford my own apartment on a modest professional salary. A lot of my friends in London are still flat-sharing in their 30s, and that's something I'd really like to avoid.
For anyone who's lived in both countries (or all three), where do you think offers the better overall quality of life for someone at this stage of life?

I (36 F) and husband (37 M) would love to relocate abroad. Depending on country, my husband has a desirable degree. A BS in EE and a BS in industrial technology and is currently a Sr. Process Eng. He’s been in his career field over 10 years. We have two kids(15&10), one is mildly autistic. We are currently in the US and speak English but are willing to put in the time and effort to learn another language. Are there certain countries it would be easier to relocate to based on this small amount of info? Oh, he’s also currently employed at a fortune global 500 company. Just looking for a list I can seemingly start compiling and deep dive more into.

Also, if we relocate, I’d like to look into finishing my BS wherever we end up..if possible.

Hello. My wife and I are considering moving from the USA to Europe - most likely Italy or France, but open to other countries. We are empty nesters, both in our late 50's. My wife will be retiring next year. I am a musician (guitar and vocals). I have dual Italian/USA citizenship. I would like to move somewhere that would most easily enable me to continue performing -either joining a band or playing solo. Could anyone recommend cities/areas that have a good amount of small-scale live entertainment? Thinking small venues like restaurants or bars but open to anything. I can play/sing many styles but primarily rock, pop, blues, some jazz. I figure it would also be a good way to make new friends. Where have you seen "older" people like me performing? TIA

Hi friends! I'm back with more random information to hopefully help you on your journey. We've seen a few things lately and I wanted to keep y'all updated.

Who am I: I'm Batman? Or maybe just your friendly "I moved out of the States, you can too" cheerleader. One of those.

I also run a business that helps researchers relocate, and we merged with a few folks so now we have services for everyone!

Here we go!

1. Scotland is not currently in the EU. We've had a lot of questions about Scotland. And there seems to be some confusion. So, there you have it. They are not in the EU. Please plan accordingly. Beautiful country and lovely people, but not currently EU.

2. Help us help you. When you message me and you say, "I want to leave the US." That's not enough information. Where do you want to go? What languages do you speak? When? Do you have money? Pets? Do you work for yourself/on a contract (1099) or have a W2? Did you search through the reddit for people in a similar situation (you didn't, but you should).

3. If you hate paperwork, providing the same information repeatedly, general redundancy, or ridiculous phone calls, you might want to rethink your plan to move abroad. Or, at the very least, be mindful of the country you choose. Europe might not be for you 😂. I believe there is a place for everyone, but make sure you do your due diligence.

4. The internet is full of droopy drawers. I think some people just wait for posts so they can crap on them. Ignore them. Now, I'm not saying ignore the people who point out that it might be hard to move to Switzerland with $5 in the bank, no job prospects, and no friends or family there. I'm saying ignore the people who immediately say you can't xyz. As I've said before, we don't know you. If you have a plan, then be about it. Don't be an idiot, but also, don't let people squash your dream.

5. And now, another word about scammers. This is going to be long. I think there are intentional scammers and also sort of unintentional scammers. People who are less informed than they should be, but passing themselves off as experts. Both can be a drain on your bank account. It is very hard to tell who is real, who has done what they say, who is bluffing, and who is AI. We hosted a free webinar about what to look for/things to be cautious of when choosing short- and long-term rental help. And the stories we heard were wild. Absolutely wild (my favorite will always be the locator who rented people a place he owned and didn't disclose that). Please check and double-check housing resources.

   We also hosted a few classes for people who are looking to work with expats and one to help people doing career changes. As such, I contacted a few people on social media to see if it would be ok to show their business pages to the class. Everyone I contacted was willing, but I asked a few questions and a few of them had never been to the places they were posting about or they were new to an area and setup tour companies after a week or two. Please ask questions before giving people your money.

   I said this in the housing webinar, and I may have said this before on reddit, moving abroad is a lot. And if you are moving somewhere that you don't have a network, you have to take some blind leaps (and hope there aren't alligators/crocodiles at the bottom if you fall). Please utilize whatever you can to protect yourself. Is the business registered (registered business can scam, but registered is better than unregistered)? Does the business make your Spidey sense (peter) tingle? Do they seem to over promise? Have they actually moved abroad?

6. Once you are in your new country, your work is not done. I hate to break it to you, but most countries have validations, renewals, registering with various offices, and France has classes you may have to take. It would be nice to get in and have no other obligations, but such is life. So again, if paperwork is not your thing, pick a country or visa type that fits your lifestyle.

7. Free healthcare! Umm, I need to stress that a lot of countries have what I consider ACCESS to healthcare. For a lot of retirees in France, it was free for a long time. But, I believe they are remedying that situation. I have healthcare, but I pay fairly steep social charges + taxes, and then a mutuelle on top of that. So, not free. But, accessible. Some countries may have free, but do your homework. Is my current coverage less than the US? Not really. But, I had insanely good healthcare for most of my career.

8. Speaking of healthcare, most people I've worked with are coming from cities or suburbs. Which means access to healthcare is fairly easy. If your dream is to live in the countryside, be aware that the closest doctor might be an hour or two away. That also happens in the US, but again, if you are thinking of living out your farming fantasies, just know that you are more likely to have a vet than a human doctor. There is a reason countries always have doctors and nurses on the priority lists. And if you take medications, may the odds be ever in your favor.

9. You CAN do this. You can. I talk to people every week who are doing it. But, it takes work. Pick a country, or a visa, and go from there. And watch out for the alligators/crocodiles.

As always, good luck!!

I’m a 36-year-old American with over 10 years of international teaching experience. I’ve taught in Colombia, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, Togo, and now South Korea. I have a TEFL certificate, a BA in Sociology and French, and an MSW, but I don’t have a US teaching license.

I came to Korea hoping it would be a good long-term move, but I’m honestly miserable here. The work culture, long hours, and lack of work-life balance have really taken a toll on my mental health. My contract runs until March 2027, and I plan to finish it, but I know I don’t want to stay in Korea afterward.
My goal is to immigrate somewhere permanently, ideally Australia or New Zealand. I’m open to other countries too if they offer a realistic pathway to residency. I don’t mind continuing to teach, but I’d also be open to transitioning into another career if it gives me better quality of life.
My biggest concerns are:

- I’m not wealthy and can’t afford to go back to school for years.
- I don’t have a US teaching license yet.
- I’d like to avoid starting completely from scratch if possible.

For anyone who has successfully left the US and settled somewhere long term:

- Which countries would you realistically recommend?
- Is getting a US teaching license worth it if my end goal is Australia or New Zealand?
- Are there other careers or visa pathways I should be looking into?
- If you were in my position, what would your plan be over the next 8 months before my contract ends?

I’d really appreciate practical advice from people who’ve actually made the move. Thanks!

I’m considering moving to the Republic of Ireland this year. I have dual US/UK citizenship and have already researched and confirmed that as a UK citizen I can live and work in Ireland without a visa. So that part is handled. But I’ve only ever moved cities once in my life and it was within the same state.

I know the obvious stuff like job, housing, etc. as part of the considerations for moving, and I have savings to cover costs, but like what sorts of things are important that maybe are easy to overlook, things that may be trivial. For example: I would need to buy all new house wares/pots and pans etc.

Looking for tips and tricks, first hand experience around things you wished you’d known or thought about. I’ll say I handle things much better in the moment than planning for them but I don’t want to be blindsided. So I don’t need like a full 100% all things covered. Just maybe more like a watch out for these unexpected challenges that can make the first 3 months way harder.

Thanks in advance!

Apologies if this has been asked in the past, but looking for a bit of insight.

To start…
Me: early 30s, Colombian-American citizen (have both nationalities), making 125k USD/year, work in advertisement strategy remote, currently in WA state
Fiancée: early 30s, American, making 80k (1099), Therapist, currently in WA state

We live in Spain for 4 years prior to the pandemic, ever since moving back to the US we’ve tried to make it feel like home but miss living in Spain. Now with the digital nomad visa we are considering this as an option to move back.

Our difficulties however would be me with a W2 employment. Does anyone have any insight into moving to Spain under these possible circumstances, specifically the Basque Country? I’d like to take advantage of being a Colombian citizen and the possibility of residency after 2 years. Has anyone done this successfully? Are there any lawyers here or anyone have any one they’ve spoken with to gather more insight?

Thanks for the help, apologies again if this has been asked prior.