We moved to France a little over a year ago. We had planned the move for several years. We wanted to gear down, live a slower, calmer life in retirement, and we have succeeded in this. Here’s what we didn’t know, what it taught us, what hurt us and cost us time and money that we could have prevented had we known better. I hope this helps someone do better than we did.

1. You cannot predict the American real estate market. Wait until your house is sold before making the move or buying a home in France (unless you are one of the lucky ones with funds to spare). Apply for your visa regardless (if you can currently tick all of the necessary boxes). When your house sells, this gives you the ability to move immediately while still having a stable U.S. address.

2. If moving to any country where your native tongue is not the norm, start your language learning journey now and in earnest. As if your life depends on it. There is nothing that makes you feel more helpless than a doctor’s appointment and you cannot communicate readily with a health professional without using a translation app.

Start by learning the basic phrases you will need in day-to-day life, and memorize them. Speak them out loud to yourself. Get used to saying them on demand. An important one from the start is, “Could you please speak a bit more slowly? My French is not good yet.” Also, train your ear to hear French. At first, you will only be able to pick out a few words here and there. As you work at it, more words will become recognizable. Watch familiar shows dubbed in French (Friends is a good one to start with if it’s highly familiar to you). This way, you know the context and can concentrate on the words rather than trying to follow a plot line.

Do not assume that everywhere in France you will find someone at the store who speaks English. French jobs are very protected and go to the French. It’s unlikely that anyone who works anywhere outside of Paris and other large metro areas will speak a stitch of English. And because of the strict and (I’m told) critical nature of school instructors here, even though someone’s English skills may be quite good, they may be hesitant to speak it.

If you flub through your French with an occasional English word here and there, and do a little charades to get your meaning across, most (not all) people are very kind and will help you! There are many people here who do not even try to learn French. Some have been here for decades and simply refuse to try. Those who try hard are appreciated and it will go a long way to endear yourself to French people (and make your own life much easier because you won’t be dependent on others to communicate for you).

Last point on language learning—not all tutors are good. Not all learning apps work for everyone. Find
the people and resources that work for you.

1. On a related but separate note, there are only thirteen (maybe more now?) states that have French driver’s license reciprocity. If you are one of the lucky ones where you can exchange your U.S. license, count your blessings and do it ASAP upon arrival. The exchange (and French government administration in general) is notoriously slow. If you are from the majority where exchange isn’t possible, know that the written driving test you must take is hard: 40 questions, 20 second allotment per question (the test is timed), in French. You can hire an approved interpreter, but with the time constraints, you can see how difficult this could be. There are two driving schools that have some English instructors (Pau and Paris), but these add to your costs. Another good reason to gain fluency as quickly as possible.

2. You are an immigrant if you move here. Being an immigrant is tough and comes with a range of worries that you rarely have to think about if in your native country. (No need to beat the dead horse of current administration exclusion.) Being an immigrant means that you are a guest in their country, and all that this implies. It also gives you a brightly lit new perspective and appreciation for the difficulties that immigrants encounter all over the world. Figure these difficulties into your decision. Will this cause you too much stress long term? Are the trade offs worth it? It’s something to consider.

3. Because of the strict tenant rental protections in France, renting can prove difficult. We’ve been lucky in this regard because we have a French friend who has helped us to obtain rentals. Just know that this can be a hurdle and try to plan accordingly. We are on our third rental in our first year here and we are finally someplace that we want to stay. Good landlords, nice location, nothing too objectionable for American sensibilities. Also know that long term rentals often can come with no light fixtures and sometimes, not much if anything in terms of a kitchen. Here, people take their light fixtures with them when they move and sometimes, their kitchens if they’re the ones who have outfitted it. Yes, it seems strange to Americans, but that is the custom here.

4. France is as diverse as the U.S., and there are similar cultural differences across its many departments. It’s good to maintain some flexibility until you find the place that feels like home to you.

5. There are some scammers on Facebook who will try to take advantage of your insecurities as an immigrant. Do NOT talk to people who will, on the expat/immigrant threads, DM you on messenger, and attempt to gain your confidence and be your friend, then sell you a house. If they’re legit, they can say what they want to say on a public thread. There are some shady people in real estate, and shady notaires that they work with in some parts of the country. Find your own notaire that speaks English as well as French. It costs you no extra (if there are two notaires, they split the fees), and having two sets of eyes, one that has your back, is a very good thing. There is a lot to learn about the French real estate market. Do not assume that France is just America with a different language. It most certainly is not.

6. And lastly, as I could go on about many other things in great detail but just wanted to hit the big points, maintain your sense of humor and ability to laugh at yourself and your own shortcomings in a society you didn’t grown up in. It’s a learning experience—that’s part of why you want to move is to grow and learn, right? There will be plenty of opportunities to have a good laugh at your own expense. It’s part of the deal. Happy travels!!!

I know this is a privileged route and not everyone can do it. I have a Henley proposal and Astons call still on the calendar, people keep telling me to skip both for a smaller firm. Can anyone who has actually finished give a rundown of who they used?

Looking for astons vs henley vs boutique firms golden visa agency experiences from people who already paid. Who filed, and what did the agency do after the invoice?

Hey everyone, I’m a 30 year old Black American working in law enforcement in California. I’m making a career change and considering moving to Santiago de los Caballeros to teach at a bilingual private school.
The offer is RD$45,000 a month, free housing and all utilities paid. I’d be within walking distance of work. I speak conversational Spanish, around B1.
I have close to six figures saved, so I’m not looking for the highest paying job. I’m more interested in the experience, feeling welcome and having a good work-life balance. I’d like to settle into the community, improve my Spanish and enjoy life outside work.
For anyone who’s lived there, how was adjusting to the culture and making friends? I’d especially like to hear from other Black Americans about how they felt living there.
How was dating and everyday life? Were you able to build a relaxed routine? I’m into the gym and sports, so those would be part of my life too.
Would appreciate hearing the good and the bad, especially anything you wish you’d known before moving.

I’m a 22F child of African immigrants. I do have a quick way to get a passport/citizenship to my parents country of origin (already in the process) but ngl the situation there is not good even with comparison to other African countries lol (tysm colonization and corruption 🫩)

I have always wanted to live abroad and even more so since COVID. I have some health problems and as we all as know healthcare in america sucks and is expensive. As I get older, I want reliable and affordable healthcare. In addition, I want to have a family with 1 or 2 kids but I do not want to have a child nor raise them in the US unless serious change is implemented which I cannot see happening for the foreseeable future.

I currently have a bachelor’s in chemistry from a high ranking university as well as experience in the pharmaceutical industry through and internship as well as 2 years of experience working in a retail pharmacy. Currently I’m also in school for a pharmacy degree but my graduation date is in 2030. I am willing to pivot somewhat but i want to stay in pharmaceuticals/healthcare/STEM.

Realistically, where can I move to and live permanently. I have been learning spanish and i used to be almost fluent when i was a teenager (i could watch shows with no subtitles) but my skill has decreased unfortunately. I am willing to get it back though! I can understand my mother tongue but I am not good at it and it’s spoken in a few African nations. In regards to other languages I am willing to learn languages similar to english or spanish due to similar vocab but I’m less willing to learn a language like Mandarin bc I would have to start from square one tbh lol. Not completely unwilling though, I am willing to adapt!

Currently I’m leaning towards UK because I have family in London and I want access to Europe.

Canada is also an option to because of family friends being there.

Australia is also good because it’s similar enough to the US in a way so it wouldn’t be as drastic of a culture shock if I live in the big city but there is quite a small black population. I wouldn’t completely rule it out though because it’s a lot easier to move there if you’re in healthcare and I really like beaches and large cities.

I am also interested in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries, like Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Portugal or Chile.

What I want is a major city with reliable and safe public transit, good for families with free/affordable education, and diversity. I would like there to be a relevantly significant Black/African population.

With my background both culturally and academically, what and where would be the best move for me. Should I just stick it out and finish my degree program so that I can have more places to move to or should I start making plans now and do a MSc and PhD abroad. I do not need to leave immediately but idk the political state rn has made me look into this again lol.

For those who have already left, how long did it take for your baseline stress to finally drop? For those still planning, what’s the main thing you’re hoping to feel relief from?

——

Update: Oh man, I’ve been reading ALL of your comments and I can’t appreciate you guys enough for you sharing your stories. Most part felt so relatable and I’m so glad to hear a lot of you made it out of the US happy and safe, or at least in the process of planning on it!

Hi everyone!

I'm an American considering moving to Germany in the future, and I'd love to hear from other Americans who have made the move.

I've heard very mixed opinions about living in Germany. Some people absolutely love the quality of life, work-life balance, and social benefits, while others struggle with the weather, bureaucracy, language barrier, and social culture.

I'm curious about what the experience has actually been like for those who moved.

A few questions:

• What originally motivated you to move to Germany?
• Are you happier living in Germany than you were in the US?
• What are the biggest improvements and drawbacks you've experienced?
• How has moving affected your career, salary, and financial stability?
• Was it difficult to make friends and build a social life?
• Did you experience culture shock or struggle to adjust?
• Do you see yourself staying in Germany permanently, or do you eventually want to return to the US?
• If you could go back in time, would you still make the move?

I'd especially love to hear from Americans who moved in their 20s or early in their careers, as well as those who initially had doubts but eventually settled in.

I'm interested in both positive and negative experiences. I know no country is perfect, but I'd love to understand whether people genuinely feel their overall quality of life improved after moving.

Thanks in advance!

Any general advice is appreciated!

I’ve done some research, and Scandinavian countries have consistently matched what I’m looking for. I’ve been recently learning some Swedish, but I definitely wouldn’t say I’m fluent yet.

I don’t have any family members from any Scandinavian countries, I’m not rich, and I don’t have a degree in STEM/medical fields or a trade.

Would pursuing a grad school to get a student visa be a viable option? It really seems like the best option I have, but I don’t know for sure how hard it’d be.

Again, any general advice is appreciated, thanks!

American almost 26 so I'm eligible for a Working Holiday Visa. I only have retail and office work experience. I have no savings right now but if I saved like 6,000 dollars and just up and moved could I do it or would I completely fail in like even getting a job to not be homeless? I'm not expecting to stay there past the 1 year visa.

I'm currently in the midwest of the US [born + raised] and have been considering relocating to Canada [Toronto, Ottawa] via the skilled worker visa. I've been going back and forth mostly because it just seems like it feels drastic with life just carrying on as usual here. Though, I see the signs and I'd like to continue towards taking steps toward a better life and safer future.

I wanted to walk through my thought process and I have a few lingering questions that I'd like to get answered, please and thank you! My family is MAGA and I don't feel like I have a lot of people who I could seriously ask about moving/leaving without them saying I'm being dramatic and/or not really getting helpful information from regardless.

-
It's just me and my dog, who would absolutely be coming along. I have 11 years of experience as an elementary/primary educator, with specializations in reading and special education and a Master's degree.

I currently own a home and have had it for 3 years. I have lived abroad before, so I'm generally familiar with the concept of visas and the challenges that can await on the other side of all of this.

I've looked up the skilled worker visa and feel that that would be my best bet given my area of work.

Questions:
*I just turned 40. How much is this truly going to impact by ability to get a visa and get hired?

*Do I need to get an immigration lawyer to obtain the visa? Or is it doable on my own?

*How much did you have saved before you left? I'd be selling everything, and I just want to make sure it'd be enough, or whether I should just scrap the idea/keep saving.

Thank you!

I have a romantic idea of my husband and I moving from Oklahoma to Europe...not sure where, but somewhere with a little property, an old house and a walkable town and church I can go to. For background, I've been to Spain once and loved it. I currently live in a small Victorian town in Oklahoma that is walkable and I live in a 100+ year old house. I like the idea of moving because I want my future kids to be involved in history, lots of nature time and lots of intentional family time.

Currently just married, but hoping to have kids sometime soon. My husband and I both have very flexible jobs that we could take with us, but we wouldn't mind just finding something there (we aren't high earners).

I know that it wouldn't be as easy moving as I think and visas are hard to get. I don't want to know any of that part; I want to know about what my experience would be.

For context, I am a more conservative christian who would like to homeschool her kids. How are European laws with that?

I have a vision of a ton of time outside and just lots of time enjoying being a family. Am I wrong about this? Have I romanticized this too much?

Other than going to Spain last September, I don't have a lot of experience with Europe or a ton of knowledge, so I'd appreciate it if you are gentle with my questions and dreams. Be honest, but please don't beat me up.

Now...Convince me to move, or convince me NOT to move!

Has anyone moved to Bali with their cat from the US? If so, how did it go? Was the process difficult?

I’m currently picking majors as im heading off to college soon and I’m trapped between environmental engineering and biology for eventual an eventual pa degree.

Overall salary and career wise I really want to be a physicians assistant but I don’t know if it fits around the life I want. Ive always been sure on leaving the USA. I don’t really have any vehement hatred for it here but I know this isnt where im going to grow old and raise a family in. I plan on moving to either Japan or France and should have it narrowed down to one before going to college.

I know engineering is the more transferable of the two careers but is there really no way to put a pa degree go use in these countries?

I recently posted on this sub asking which career path would be best for moving abroad as I’m about to be applying to colleges(in the usa), and now im back asking which is the better country to live in between France and Japan. After I graduate I plan on moving to a new country. Since I’ll be outside of the country as a freshly 21/22 year old I’ll need a support system and since my parents were in the military and were frequently stationed abroad they have very close friends in both countries who were basically my uncles and aunts growing up. Which is why those are my two options, along with the fact that I genuinely am very interested in both of the countries cultures.

I’ll need to decide soon even though I’m not planning on leaving for a few years because I’m fluent in neither French nor Japanese so I’ll be starting from scratch(well not completely from scratch with Japanese since I roughly know kanji, hiragana, and katakana from a phase in middle school).

I’ll be in my early twenties and will hopefully have a degree in environmental engineering so im wondering which country will have better opportunities in those industries. Im fairly extroverted so ive never struggled with socializing in unfamiliar places though I’m sure it’ll be different in a whole new country. But on that note I am a biracial woman but honestly as bad as it sounds I can deal with racism. As long as it’s not an actual hate crime I have thick skin growing up in a small southern town where getting called the hard r or having neighbors with confederate flags wasn’t uncommon.

Another very important thing for me is that while I absolutely love rain i also love sunshine and greenery. I want to escape the blazing heat of the south while living somewhere very sunny and with a lot of nature to enjoy. I would also love living in a place with very little violence or crime.

The sheriff only does live scan for employer-sponsored applicants, and the banks either stopped offering prints or wanted an appointment code I didn't have. DC mobile notary finally did it and handled the apostille too, which saved me another round of running around. If you're in DC, VA, or MD and applying for residency abroad, call first and say it's for personal use, not a job, and you can either go to their office or have them come to you.

Hey everyone, I am likely moving back to the UK in Jan from Buffalo, NY and I have a cat with me who i got while I lived in the states.

I wanted people's experience with brining a cat back to the UK. I know they cant go in the cabin to the UK, but I hoped I could do this via flying to Ireland but it appears as though I also cannot fly to Ireland by most airlines with a cat in the cabin?

What is the most affordable and easiest pathway to doing this whilst keeping my cat close-by where possible?

Thanks for all the input!

Hi all,

I’m 99% sure this question has been asked approximately 100 times before, but here I am, adding to the collection.

I’m looking into investment options where I could potentially get a golden visa in EU. Ideally, I’d like the investment to actually make sense financially rather than just being an expensive piece of paper that says “congratulations, you may now reside here.”

Based on my research so far, I’ve been looking at Greece, Portugal, and Malta. I’m also aware that some countries, like Spain, have removed real estate as a residency-by-investment option, so I’m trying to make sure I’m looking at the current rules and not information from some random 2022 blog post.

For anyone who has recently gone through this process, I’d love to hear your experience:

• Was it actually worth it?
• Which country did you choose and why?
• Did the investment generate decent returns (or at least hold its value)?
• If the residency/investment policies change in the future, do you think the underlying investment would still be worthwhile?
• Did you use an immigration/investment agency or lawyer? If so, was it worth the cost?
• Any hidden costs, annoying surprises?
• Can I invest incrementally rather than all at once?

I’m especially interested in real experiences from people who have gone through the process recently, given how much these programs have changed. I’m just trying to do my homework prior.

I will keep this short in the event that this post gets deleted for some reason.

30M and 28F that were born and raised in Illinois, US. I have a Bachelor's in Social Work with 4 years of experience and numerous other certificates. Wife mostly has various retail experience and is looking to go into vet tech or something similar in the future.

I have thoroughly researched the Skilled Worker Visa pathway from the NZ government websites and am wondering if I am doing something wrong since I have heard almost nothing. I have applied to hundreds of jobs at this point with no luck on offers.

I was looking into the South Island (Christchurch), but have applied to many positions on the North Island (Auckland). Any advice from others that have successfully obtained the Skilled Worker Visa or more specifically, Social Workers would be much appreciated.

EDIT: Thanks for the many great responses. I want to add some information. I am currently awaiting SWRB decision. I feel the slow progress and no updates, so what should I be doing? I plan to visit New Zealand when I am allowed to take a vacation. The Maori are a unique culture that I have no current experience with, but am welcome to learn about them or any other groups for that matter. I think I am well informed about being filtered out due to not having NZ license yet.

TL;DR: After selling his Gulf Shores condo for $372,000, Britt McAlister moved to Cebu in January 2024 with a $3,000 monthly budget planned to last until Social Security and pension eligibility. Amanda Goh recounts how the 56-year-old, who had worked 12-to-15-hour days in Alabama after his divorce, built a new social circle through expat meetups that now happen three times a week.

https://www.businessinsider.com/left-america-retire-philippines-found-community-social-connection-2026-10?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social_manual&utm_campaign=reddit_dist_r_amerexit&utm_content=manual_v1&utm_term=6e9e5e65

Hi all!

I have a dual citizenship, Swedish and American. Can somebody please suggest a couple possible career opportunities where I can use my dual citizenship as an advantage?

Or some key benefits that come with having access to both Europe and America.

I’m an American attorney with 5 years legal experience. I’m applying to legal programs in Europe. Mostly in Germany as that’s where I have the most connections and speak the language, but will also be applying to a few specific focus programs in other countries (total of 14-16 schools).

Why I’m doing this: my entire immediate family is moving to Europe in the next few years (sister’s spouse is French, parents have a golden visa to Portugal). I also have several friends and cousins in various countries. Also, Im more and more scared of US politics tbh.

I have to write a personal statement for the programs. I’m mostly focusing on explaining my legitimate professional interest and relevant background. However, I keep wondering if it makes sense to explain why I’m trying to move to Europe. I’m not quite sure if they’d wonder or not. Any other advice would also be appreciated!

Hi r/AmerExit. I'm Ariel. I live outside Barcelona, and I started Zenith Concierge because in Spain everyone showing you a flat works for the person selling it.

Zenith represents the other side: non-resident buyers, mostly Americans, buying property anywhere in Spain, above all in Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, the Costa Blanca, the Costa Brava and the islands. Site's at zenith-concierge.com if you want the longer version.

Zenith Concierge is a US company, and that is the entity you contract with. It's not a Spanish estate agency: it holds no listings and never represents a seller.

The work Spanish law regulates is done by licensed Spanish professionals. Conveyancing and legal due diligence by an abogado colegiado, a bar-registered Spanish lawyer. Tax by a Spanish tax advisor. You hire and pay them directly, at a quote you see before they start, either from our vetted list or your own, and they carry their own registration and professional liability.

Zenith is not in the regional estate agent registers (AICAT in Catalonia, RAICV in the Valencia region). Those registers are for agencies that broker sales for a commission, and we don't broker sales. We work for the buyer, and only the buyer.

What that means in practice. In Spain the seller signs the listing and the seller pays the agency, usually 3 to 5 percent, already inside the asking price. There is no MLS and nobody sits on the buyer's side by default. The agency showing you the flat works for the person selling it.

What we do is take your side of that table: build the brief, search including off-market, have the lawyer vet each property before you commit to it, negotiate, and run the closing with the lawyer and the notary. We take nothing from sellers or agencies.

How we get paid. A 2,500 euro opening fee starts the work. It is non-refundable, it covers a three-month engagement, and it is credited against the total fee.

The fee is 2 percent of the asking price, with a minimum of 7,500 euros, fixed the day we submit the offer, so anything we negotiate below asking is yours, not ours. Half the balance is due at arras, the deposit contract, and the other half at escritura, completion.

Legal due diligence finishes before arras, so you never put deposit money on a property the lawyer hasn't cleared.

I can answer well on how the purchase actually runs for a non-resident, what it costs beyond the price (transfer tax, notary, registry, legal fees), the two-sided commission trap, mortgages for non-residents, what "off-market" really means here, and what goes wrong and when.

Visa and immigration questions and US tax I'll pass on. Not my field, and I'd rather say so than guess.

If it helps, there's a free step-by-step guide to buying as a foreigner here: zenith-concierge.com/spain-buyers-guide/

Ask here and I'll answer in the comments. I'll be here from 10am to about 4pm Eastern and will come back for anything I missed.

Looking forward to chatting with you all!

Edit: updated the pricing paragraphs to our current terms.

Hi, planning to move to Spain next year on a digital nomad visa. My job is a regular W2 job with a state agency, with specific permission to work remotely from Spain. I’ve talked to several different Spanish immigration attorneys who give conflicting advice about whether the DNV would be granted in my situation (ie, not applicable to government work, not available for W2 employees, etc).

My question is: has anyone successfully moved to Spain on a DNV as a government employee? How did you do it? Can you recommend an attorney to help with the process?

Edit: Everyone wants to fight the premise on this one, but please realize my question is not whether you think I should be allowed, in the abstract, to work from Spain. I have that covered! Employer side is covered. My question is about the Spanish government side only.

Will the UGE grant the visa, is the question, not will my employer provide permission.

My wife and I (43 and 41) are taking a Sabbatical year to test what it would be like to early retire. So far, we are loving it. We decided we’d give it a year, but a bit over four months now I can’t see us ending this with a different opinion in mind: it is worth to hustle and save to live this life. We are taking the trip to check potential places to live.

We passed by Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and now we’re in Southern Brazil. Next stops will be Bahia (still in Brazil), Portugal, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey (in January). Then, we still don’t know where to go next. Any suggestions?

I know phones work, just get a new charger, I assume the laptop is the same.

The tv and printer is rated to 120v but I thought it would work on 240v if you change the cable, since all of them are made in China. It would make sense cost wise to manufacture one that works everywhere so they don't need separate assembly lines.

Any experience?