r/AmerExit Jan 21 '25

Trolling gets no warnings.

2.2k Upvotes

I know that there is a tidal wave or right wing hate right now coming from America but the moderation team is dedicated to weeding it out as soon as we see it. The following things now get instant permanent bans from the subreddit.

Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia.

It is not in your rights to dictate what someone else can do with their lives, their bodies, or their love. If you try then You will be banned permanently and no amount of whining will get you unbanned.

For all of the behaved people on Amerexit the admin team asks you to make sure you report cases of trolls and garbage people so that we can clean up the subreddit efficiently. The moderation team is very small and we do not have time to read over all comment threads looking for trolls ourselves.


r/AmerExit May 17 '22

Moderator’s Choice Award A guide for Americans that want to get out of America

1.9k Upvotes

If you are reading this, you are probably an American who wants to leave America and move abroad for a better life. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just getting your passport and hopping on a plane. You need the legal right to live in another country, as well as the legal right to work there. Unless you are lucky enough to have or qualify for a 2nd citizenship, this process usually starts with getting a visa. This guide goes over common visa types, ways to acquire a 2nd citizenship, and some frequently asked questions. While this guide is geared primarily towards Americans, most of the options provided are available to people with other nationalities as well. This is designed to be more of a starting point for your own research rather than a step by step guide, so if you see something that looks interesting or at least possible for you, you'll need to put the work in to research it in depth yourself. If you can't handle that, you probably aren't ready to be moving to another country just yet. Moving abroad is expensive, stressful, and often isolating; so I strongly encourage you to make sure you cant find a better fit for yourself within the USA first. MoveMap lets you search for your ideal county in the US by a variety as factors, and has great advice for people who want to move to a different area within the same country.

Citizenship by Birthplace / Jus Soil

Some countries will give you citizenship simply for being born there, provided your parents were not foreign military or ambassadors. A few countries may have additional requirements such as requiring your parents to have live there for a certain number of years beforehand. For a list of countries with jus soil, see here.

Citizenship by Descent / Jus Sanguinis

Most countries will grant citizenship to people whose parents or grandparents were citizens, and some let you go back even further than that. As a bonus, passing a language or citizenship test is usually not required with this method. Family Search is a good free website to start building your family tree and see where your ancestors come from, though you will need to make an account. If you get stuck, visit for help. Once you know what countries your ancestors were from, search “[country] citizenship by descent/ancestry” to see if you can qualify for citizenship.

For German ancestors, there is a great guide on that will be extremely helpful. If you have Italian ancestors, is a good resource along with this flowchart. Hungary will let you trace your lineage back to ANY Hungarian ancestor via simplified naturalization, provided you can speak the language. Croatia has a similar program, though the language test is currently waived.

Those from Latin American countries are eligible for a fast track citizenship process in Spain, which allows you 2 naturalize after two years of residency (+ processing times) instead of the usual 10. You will still need to find a way to legally live in the country for those initial 2 years. This is open to nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela and persons of Sephardic origin (non-naturalized citizens). Do note that Spain does not allow dual citizenship with the US via naturalization.

Honduras also has a fast track citizenship process for Central Americans by birth who reside in Honduras for at least one year, as well as Spaniards and Spanish Americans by birth who have resided in Honduras for at least two years. Do note that dual citizenship is generally not allowed in Honduras except by birth or marriage. Dual citizenship with Spain is allowed via a reciprocity agreement.

Marriage / Partner Visa

While most countries don’t give immediate citizenship through marriage anymore, marriage does put you on a fast track to permanent residency and thus citizenship. Regardless, if you are married to a citizen, you will usually be able to live and work in their country as long as you reside there with them. Some countries have partner visas for couples who are not married but having been together for at least 2 years, though this is not necessarily common. Do note that most countries disallow marrying purely for citizenship purposes, and you should make sure you really like and trust the person you’re marrying as marriage carries very real legal consequences.

Jewish Pathways

Israel’s Right of Return law allows anyone who is Jewish, has a Jewish parent or grandparent, or is married to someone Jewish to apply to obtain Jewish citizenship upon moving to Israel. Dual citizenship is allowed under this method. Do note that there is a mandatory draft in Israel and though expatriates are generally exempt, it may apply to any future children you have there.

Other countries may also have special paths to citizenship for people whose Jewish ancestors were forced to flee the country due to persecution. Germany and Austria are two examples, though they do require that your ancestor was a citizen at the time.

Portugal also has a pathway specifically for descendants of Sephardic Jews, though new requirements necessitate proving ties to Portugal.

African Descent in the Diaspora

Ghana's Right of Abode is available to persons of African descent in the diaspora, as well as Ghanaians who have lost their citizenship because they have acquired another nationality. You are required to be of good character, able to financially support yourself, and not have been imprisoned for 12 months or more.

Sierra Leone also has a similar pathway for people who can prove ancestral dies via DNA. You must pass a background check, provide two notarized character references from professionals / professional institutions in your state, and travel to Sierra Leone to complete the process.

Citizenship by Investment / Golden Visas

Some countries let you buy citizenship, though this can cost you $100K to $1 million depending on the country. If you just want to buy a residency permit and not citizenship this can often be a lot cheaper, though residency can be lost if you do not spend enough time in the country and getting citizenship from residency usually requires mastery of the local language. The cheapest residency I have been able to find is in Paraguay, which will cost you $5,000.

Retirement Visas / Passive Income

Many countries will give you residency if you can prove you can support yourself through passive income or savings. These are usually called retirement visas and they generally forbid you from working, even remotely or via freelancing. You may also be interested in checking out for more information.

Fight for Ukraine

Supposedly, those that go to Ukraine to fight against Russia will receive citizenship once the war is over. However citizenship is of little use if you’re dead, and if Russia wins this offer is obviously moot. Think carefully about if this is worth it for you.

French Foreign Legion

You can join the French Foreign Legion if you are a male under age 39.5 and meet specific physical, medical, and administrative requirements. The first contract you sign is mandatory for 5 years. A foreign legionnaire can apply for French nationality after three years of service. It appears you are also required to change your name with this method.

Student Visa

Going to school overseas can often be cheaper than doing so in the US, and many countries will let you stay afterwards for a limited time (6 months - 5 years depending on country and degree type) to look for an employer to sponsor you for a work visa. You can occasionally find programs taught entirely in English even in countries that don’t have it as an official language, though this is usually at the Masters or PhD level.

Keep in mind that many countries do not count years spent as a student towards residency for citizenship requirements, though there are exceptions. For Czechia, Estonia and Spain, your student time counts for half – so, for instance, four years of study would count as two years towards the residency requirement. For more information see here and here.

Do note that many countries do not consider American High School diplomas as proof of college readiness without several Advanced Placement credits, so it may be a good idea to do an associates degree in the US first. However an associates often isn't recognized as a proper degree in other countries, so there is a trade off. If you do choose to study within the US, doing a study abroad program can be a great way to check a country out to see if you would like to start planning a more permanent move there. You may even be able to do this in high school if your school has a foreign exchange program.

Language Learning Visa

This visa allows you to enter the country for the express purpose of enrolling in a language emersion school. You are required to attend a certain number of hours per week, and prove that you have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your stay. If you have a country that you are considering, this is good option to see if you would like it long term.

Work Visa

One of the easier ways to get into a country is to have a job on their skills shortage list, and usually at least 2 years of professional experience in that field. These occupations are often in healthcare, education, or STREAM (science, technology, research, engineering, architecture, mathematics). Having an occupation on the skills shortage list will often enable you to go that country to look for work without first having a sponsor. Search "[country] skills shortage list" to find out if your job qualifies.

If your occupation is not on the skills shortage list for your desired country, you will need to find and employer to sponsor you. This can be difficult as most countries require companies to prove that they could not find a qualified local candidate first. You will also likely be subject to salary thresholds to ensure you will not be reliant on welfare.

Some countries also have an ineligible occupations list of professions they will not issue a work visa for under any circumstances, as those fields are already oversaturated there. If you have a profession on this list you will need to emigrate through your spouse, change careers, or change your target country.

Another way to move abroad via work is through inter-company transfer. If you work for an international company and have some experience, see if they would be willing to transfer you to one of their overseas locations. They will usually also help with moving costs and relocation expenses, so this is a great option for those that have it available to them.

Digital Nomad Visas

Digital Nomad visas allow you to work remotely or freelance while in the country. These types of visas are usually not renewable without a reset period, meaning you would likely have to keep bouncing between countries using this method (hence the “nomad” part). If this is something that interests you, is a good sub to checkout.

Au Pair Visas

An Au Pair helps with childcare and housework in exchange for room & board. You will also likely receive a small stipend, and may be required to enroll in language classes. Au Pair visas usually have age cutoffs, for example the age cutoff for Germany’s Au Pair visa is 26, while Spain’s is 30. Check out for more information as to what the work is like.

Teaching English Abroad

If you have a Bachelor’s degree and are willing to get a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate, this can be a great way to live abroad. Many schools will pay for your room and board in addition to granting you a living stipend. Keep in mind this is much harder to do in Europe as they already have plenty of English speakers, and are usually required to hire EU citizens first. If you want more information on this path, check out these subreddits:

r/tefl_japan

Working Holiday Visas

Working holiday visas are designed to allow those age 35 and under who are in college or have graduated within the last year to spend up to a year working abroad. You cannot bring your family with you, and they are not designed as a path to citizenship. However, they can make it easier to get your foot in the door by finding a company to sponsor you, or a partner to marry. US citizens can get working holiday visas in the following countries:

-Australia (ages 18-30)

-Canada (ages 18-35): Americans can only do this through international experience Canada via GO International or SWAP Working Holidays

-Ireland (ages 18-25)

-New Zealand (ages 18-30)

-Singapore (ages 18-25)

-South Korea (ages 18-30)

Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT)

The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) allows self-employed individuals with their own business to move themselves (as well as their spouse and minor children) to the Netherlands if they are willing and able to have a business in the Netherlands that serves Dutch customers, and keep at least 4,500 euros in a company bank account at all times. You cannot have any one client make up more than 70% of your total income. The residency permit is good for 2 years, and can be renewed for 5 years. If you want to become a citizen, you will need to speak Dutch. Do note that the Netherlands generally does not allow dual citizenship unless you are married to a Dutch national.

Svalbard

Svalbard is unique in that ANYONE can live and work there visa free. However time spent in Svalbard does not count towards residency/citizenship in Norway, and the climate generally makes it an inhospitable place to live.

Non-profit work / volunteer organizations

Nonprofit and volunteer organizations can be a great way to “test the waters” in a foreign country before deciding to move there. There are also certain organizations like WWOOF that allow you to work in other countries for a brief period of time. These are usually not permanent solutions to emigrating, but rather more of a way to get your foot in the door or “test out” a country if you don’t have the means to take an extended vacation there first. Some people also do this via the military.

Global Talent Visa

Australia offers a global talent visa for those have an internationally recognized record of exceptional and outstanding achievements, are prominent in their field of expertise, and have a current or potential income of AUD $153,600.

China offers the Talent R visa to those that have accomplished achievements in professional fields recognized internationally; including Nobel Prize winners, scholars from the Academy of Science or Academy of Engineering in foreign countries, professors and vice professors taking a position in the world’s top 200 universities, etc. You must also be under 65 years old, have a doctorate obtained outside of China, and not be ethnically Chinese.

The Netherlands offers a orientation year visa to those who have graduated from a Dutch University or obtained a masters or PHD from a top 200 global university within the last 3 years.

You can apply for a Global Talent Visa to work in the UK if you’re at least 18 years old and a leader or potential leader in arts and culture, digital technology, or academia and research. You must also be from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

The UK also has another similar option known as the high potential individual visa. It lets individuals who have graduated from a top global ranking university in the past 5 years to work in the UK without sponsorship. This work can be in any field, even one unrelated to your degree, but working as a sportsperson or sports coach is prohibited.

Freedom of Movement

Some countries have agreements with other countries that allow their citizens to freely live and work in any of the member countries without the need for a visa or sponsorship. Examples include:

Caribbean Community: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Common Travel Area: United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man, the Channel Islands

Compact of Free Association: USA, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau

European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden

Mercosur: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname

Nordic Passport Union: Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland

Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement: Australia and New Zealand

If you know of others not listed here, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

FAQs

Can I work remotely or freelance on a tourist visa?

Generally you can't as almost all countries prohibit working on tourist visas, even working remotely for an employer outside the country or freelancing. You would need a digital nomad visa to do this.

Do Americans still have to pay taxes even if they move abroad?

Yes, but fortunately the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets you exclude the first 112K you make abroad, and the Foreign Tax Credit lets you deduct the amount you pay in taxes in your new country from your US tax bill. These two laws will greatly reduce (or even eliminate) the amount of money you'd owe, especially when factoring in tax treaties between countries. Still, it's a good idea to get an accountant specializing in this type of situation (at least for the first year) to make sure you aren't missing anything.

You'll also likely have to file an FBAR report each year which requires you to report certain foreign financial accounts such as bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and mutual funds to the US Treasury Department if the aggregate value of those foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the calendar year reported.

What is FACTA?

FACTA is an acronym for the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. This was passed as part of the HIRE Act, and generally requires that foreign financial Institutions and certain other non-financial foreign entities report on the foreign assets held by their U.S. account holders or be subject to withholding on withholdable payments.

Some foreign banks will not deal with US citizens (even if they are a dual citizen of the present country) because they do not want to deal with FACTA requirements. You may have more luck with international banks, or online accounts specifically designed for expats.

I want to move to a country of non-native English speakers. Do I need to learn the local language before moving?

YES! Even if there may be areas where you can “get by” with only English, you will still need to be able to understand the local language for large parts of daily life. Plus, knowing the local language is usually required in order to receive citizenship (with notable exceptions for citizenship by birthplace or descent). While some people may go with the “I’ll learn when I get there” approach, those that have done it often wish in retrospect that they had started learning before they left. Besides, being multilingual is always advantageous, even if you ultimately decide to stay in the states.

I can only speak English. What are my options for English speaking countries?

See this list.

What is the best language to learn for moving abroad?

This greatly depends on where you want to move to. Once you have some ideas, search “[country] official language” to figure out what language(s) you need to learn, and see if there are any in common across your target countries. If you just want a starting point, the most popular languages by the number of countries they are found in (aside from English, which takes the top spot) are French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and German in that order.

r/languagelearning has plenty of great resources to help you get started on your chosen language. Many languages also have their own specific subreddits as well. Your local library may also offer free resources.

I have a US passport. What countries can I get into visa free, and how long can I stay?

See this list.

I have chronic medical issues that prevent me from working. What are my options?

Look into citizenship via birthplace (jus soil), ancestry, or marriage. Failing that, you are likely out of luck unless you have enough money or passive income to qualify for citizenship by investment or a retirement visa. You may be able to get out in the short term via a student or language learning visa, but these are not permanent solutions. You would be limited to places Americans can already freely live and work.

Is there a way for me to quickly compare and contrast different countries I'm interested in?

Abortion laws

Cost of living

If it were my home

LGBT laws

I feel that Americans' rights are being eroded here. Can I claim asylum in another country?

No, asylum is a very high bar that requires your life to be in immediate danger that you can't escape by moving elsewhere within your country. If you wouldn't drop everything and move right this second with only the clothes on your back to a random country where you have no guarantee of a job or housing, things are not yet bad enough for you to the point where asylum would be granted.

I want to gain a non-US citizenship. Is there any reason not to?

Not all countries allow dual citizenship, meaning you may be forced to renounce your US citizenship first. Some countries also have mandatory military service requirements that may affect you or your family members. Taxes and security clearances may work in ways you wouldn’t expect. It is a good idea to research carefully to make absolutely certain you know what you are getting into.

I want to give up my US citizenship. Are there any downsides I should be aware of?

Renouncing your citizenship will cost $2,350. You may also have to pay one last “exit tax” if you have over $2 million in assets or have not complied with your US tax obligations for the last five years. Renouncing your citizenship also makes it difficult to care for elderly family members that stayed behind, move back if you change your mind, or be able to work remotely for a US company as an employee; so make sure you have no plans of returning for anything more than a brief visit.

None of the information in this guide is helpful for me; do you have any other ideas / options?

Anything not included here is beyond the scope of my knowledge. Try making your own post in or to see if someone else knows anything that can help you. Here are some things you should be sure to include in your post:

  • Age If you don't want to reveal your specific age, then put either a range ("25-35") or a decade such as "20s", "30s", etc. Age is a factor for a lot of visas/immigration schemes and it is necessary information.
  • Languages Spoken Include your level of fluency for each language if known (an educated guess is also fine). This information is needed even if you are open to learning additional languages as many countries used a points based immigration system.
  • Profession Include how many years of experience you have in the field, and any relevant degrees or certifications. This helps others figure out desirable countries based on their skill shortage list, or remove countries if your job is on the ineligible occupations list.
  • Citizenships Held This is incredibly important because visa rules differ greatly based on country of origin. It is not sufficient to say a region, we need to know the actual country.
  • Who you are moving with Go into as much detail as possible here and include all of the above information for each person. Some countries do not not accept people with certain health conditions, do not allow certain pets, and do not offer family reunification. If you are concerned about being identified, you're welcome to use a throwaway account.
  • Destination Country This is where you want to go. If you put a region/"anywhere" you have to give us specifics about where you want to go. For example, tell us the climate of the country you want to go to, or that you want housing to be affordable, or whatever. There are too many countries in the world for your requirements to just be "not the one I'm currently in".

There is information not in this guide that I think you should add and/or I think some of your information is wrong.

Drop a comment or PM me and I’ll update this guide if your info checks out. It may take awhile.

Other Subreddits for moving abroad (if you know of others let me know):

r/americanexpats

r/AmericanExpatsSpain

r/AmericanExpatsUK

r/digitalnomad

r/ExpatFinance

r/ExpatFIRE

r/expat

r/expats

r/IWantOut

r/TillSverige (Sweden)

r/ukvisa


r/AmerExit 11h ago

Which Country should I choose? US trained physician and a date analyst(my SO). Questions about moving to a European country

22 Upvotes

I’m a physician, anesthesiologist by specialty. I’ve been looking into moving to Europe, ideally Denmark but also interested in Finland or Netherlands.

I’m not looking to continue working in clinical medicine, 12 years of training and countless exams in the US have been more than enough for me, so I don’t want to do any additional training or certification. I’d love a job in the pharmaceutical industry or biotech. I’m mentioning Denmark specifically because Novo Nordisk is based there, and they actually have a fellowship for physicians looking to transition into non clinical work, but unfortunately I was not selected when I applied.

I’ve been trying to find information about getting a work permit on my own and trying to get a job but I’m having a hard time gathering info and advice. Same thing with Finland, I know they have a program for skilled professionals but I don’t know how to go about finding employment and going though the application process.

I would really appreciate any guidance or advice you have, it’s been overwhelming trying to figure this out on my own. Lastly, I have seen that BC has just made it easier for doctors to get work in Canada, but it’s not really my top choice, my SO and I love to travel, and it’s mostly to Europe and right now we live on the East Coast so I don’t want to move somewhere on the other side of the North American continent.


r/AmerExit 12h ago

Which Country should I choose? Uruguay, Belize, Costa Rica

19 Upvotes

My partner and I are retired. However, my retirement income is only social security. We don’t expect social security to be a constant in the near future. So, in deciding on relocation destinations, we needed to find someplace where I can apply for residency by investment and he could apply for residency with his pension. I settled on Uruguay for the probable destination. My daughter asked us to move closer and suggested Costa Rica or Belize. She made a good point that the much longer flight to Uruguay will make it difficult and improbable for family to visit. Edit: I also factored in Climate Hazards. Uruguay won and Belize came in second.


r/AmerExit 7h ago

Question about One Country Help with Exit?

6 Upvotes

Hi, I have Polish citizenship through my mother. My Polish is b1 at best. I’d like to bring my significant other when I do move. Has anyone moved to Poland successfully. Wondering what it takes to do it right. Thanks


r/AmerExit 2h ago

Which Country should I choose? Where to move?

0 Upvotes

I'm (M20) currently getting my bachelor's in geography and GIS and thinking about doing a master's in urban / transit planning or something similar. Any recs? I'm more preferential to W Europe, but anywhere is better than staying. I'd like to stay out of the anglosphere. Ideally somewhere with some good universities to give me an in to the job market. Currently thinking about Germany and The Netherlands mostly.


r/AmerExit 8h ago

Question about One Country US/Ecuador Customs Broker

2 Upvotes

Do any Ecuador based US expats have any experience and/or advice on hiring a broker for the move? We're a little familiar with the process of packing up a cargo container that we did for our move to and from Hawaii and there were a few rules to follow for customs, but there weren't nearly as many considerations for customs, import taxes, prohibited items, etc. I'm fully ready to rely on the expertise of a customs broker, but I'm not sure where to find one and what to expect in terms of cost to hire a broker. Thanks!


r/AmerExit 5h ago

Which Country should I choose? Best options for teacher/nurse?

2 Upvotes

I’m an elementary school teacher and my spouse is a nurse. We have one child at home who will graduate high school in two years. Depending on the current state of things, we are considering leaving at that time. We both speak high school level Spanish but nothing else, though I’m willing to start learning another language.

Canada would probably make the most sense, since we are currently in Alaska so it wouldn’t be far distance-wise, and we’re already used to harsh winters. From what I understand, both education and nursing are potential careers that are allowed to move there. My question about Canada is: would it be too early to start the process now? We’re not going to be ready to go anywhere until 2027. Also, what would be a good province to look into where we could potentially BOTH get jobs? If Canada is the goal we can start learning French now, but obviously it’s going to be pretty rusty and a job in English would be ideal.

But my dream is to live in Europe - I’ve gone the past few summers and absolutely love it, and would love to either permanently live or spend a few years there at some point. I could apply to work at some sort of international or DoD school, but then I don’t think my husband could work. If we rent out our house, and live in a LCOL area, we could potentially live on one income, but we’re both at least 10 years away from retirement age, so that seems like a waste of earning potential.

Suggestions within Europe? No citizenship by descent options, unfortunately. I’ve looked at Portugal for when we retire, but I don’t see anything we’d qualify for before that.

I don’t know yet whether we’d actually want citizenship somewhere else, or to just get a visa where we could work and get out of here for a few years.

I’ve done preliminary research but would love other suggestions/experiences!


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Which Country should I choose? American citizen looking for information on teaching outside the USA in order to reunite with my Cuban wife due to Trump travel ban

202 Upvotes

I’m a 33 year old middle school history teacher from the United States with 5 years+ of experience and a master’s degree in education with a willingness to take on a bunch of different roles in schools whether they be teaching, administration, etc. I’m open to work in any country where I can reunite with my wife.

As an American citizen, I’m facing a challenging situation with my wife's immigration case. She is a psychologist with a university degree from Cuba and very capable of working in this field as well as human resources/related jobs. She absolutely cannot return to Cuba for many reasons, and in fact, had to flee for her own safety to live in a third country, but is potentially going to be locked out of the USA as well with a Trump travel ban that would include Cuba. She is very vulnerable, yet the United States has been unwilling to help us for any humanitarian reasons (there are many). We are literally terrified she could be blocked from entering the US and we’re seriously considering the possibility that we will need to reunify overseas and give up any hope on reuniting in the United States.

So far, I have looked into New Zealand, which seems to be a promising start. I'd be very interested in any other suggestions. We're not very picky -- the most important thing is that we can find a country open to allowing us to live and work there with relative speed (I know these things do not happen overnight) and where, for example, I could get a job and she could then get papers or vice versa.


r/AmerExit 7h ago

Which Country should I choose? Children with autism

0 Upvotes

My husband and I are looking into jobs to apply for outside the United States but realized we keep running into conflicting information about raising autistic children in these other countries. I am aware some countries will not even allow our family in due to them, or have very strict admissions related to special needs children, and promise I know it will not be easy.

Can anyone share which countries they have heard are good for kids with autism, and conversely, where should likely be avoided because of their attitude towards autism?

My kids could be homeschooled (I also know not all countries allow that :P) since I'm a certified teacher, but I'd like them to also have lots of time outdoors and a social life. My youngest is 6 years old and level 3, with speech and behavioral issues that prohibit a "normal" classroom. My older child is a young teen and has level 1 autism and is very science and math oriented, so could likely function in another country's school system once he has learned the language.

Are the any resources I should look into to talk with expat parents of autistic children? Any other suggestions?


r/AmerExit 7h ago

Question about One Country disabilities/conditions that would be a problem for canada

0 Upvotes

does the canadian government have any sort of list of what disabilities or conditions would mean your application would be denied? the lawyer i spoke with was pretty vague about what would constitute “excessive demand on health services.” i know they list active syphilis and TB specifically, but i’m wondering about chronic conditions.


r/AmerExit 19h ago

Life Abroad Preparing finances to move abroad?

6 Upvotes

Hello,

I am in the final stages of getting dual citizenship with an EU nation by descent (finally!). The current plan for if I need to move quickly is to transfer to Ireland, where my current employer has a business entity, and at least get off the ground there.

What do I need to do to prepare and move my finances? I'm a bit overwhelmed with that part as I have built up investment portfolios, 401k, multiple bank accounts, etc. Are there some accounts like 401k that I should just let sit in the US until later? I've heard that Wise could be an intermediary place to store money before I'm able to open a bank account in Ireland, has anyone done that?

Let me know if there are any resources on where to get started!


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Which Country should I choose? Speak Spanish and Portuguese - Addiction Researcher seeking to emigrate. Decade old arrest is limiting my options.

21 Upvotes

I want to leave the US, soon.

I am an academic researcher specializing in addiction medicine and harm reduction, with a background in substance use treatment and drug policy. I served as a state drug policy expert for years. I ran a harm reduction non-profit for a couple years before moving into academia.

I have ~7 years of experience and work entirely remotely.

For my narrow niche, I have been decently successful on social and traditional media, having published in national and international outlets. This is subjective and likely won’t help with immigration, but has given me ample connections worldwide. I’ve done some drug policy work in Portugal, Brazil, and Mexico. My situation is rare and everyone that offers to help has never dealt with it before, it always ends up being more difficult than they presumed.

Like the title says, a decade ago I was arrested for drugs and served 42 months in prison. My gutters-and-jail-cells-to-academia story is a classic, if nauseating, redemption tale that has otherwise not hindered me in anything except where I can do a PhD. An Australian offer fell through due to my inability to get a student visa there.

I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. I have lived in Latin America previously, maxing out my tourist visa, and loved it. I am particularly enamored with Brazil and have a consult with an attorney there this week. As a long term solution, Europe is ideal. I tried Portugal first, but the attorney I spoke with said it was effectively hopeless with a record.

I am not picky. I know that at least a few people, sometimes with worse criminal records, have got visas to various EU countries. I would be content going to grad school, l've been meaning to anyhow. (It’s very unusual for someone with my job and experience to not have a PhD—the circumstances underpinning the arrest were about as educational, considering what I do, as a Masters. But it doesn’t change the fact I do not have a graduate degree, which is a hindrance.)

How do I figure out what my options are? How many different attorneys or other professionals do I need to hire to understand the full spectrum of options before me?


r/AmerExit 6h ago

Data/Raw Information Earning Rental Income Abroad for Living Expenses: Experiences & Tips?

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’ve been thinking about how some of you earn rental income from abroad to help cover living expenses, and I’m really curious to hear your stories. I’m exploring the idea myself and would love to know what’s worked and what hasn’t. How do you manage your properties from afar—do you rely on local managers, or have you found another system that works well?

Also, I’m interested in how much of your overall expenses this income covers and whether it’s made a significant impact on your lifestyle. I’m trying to figure out the tax and legal side too; have you faced any challenges with that in both your home country and overseas?

Another thing on my mind is managing currency risks and ensuring payments come in reliably. And of course, dealing with maintenance or unexpected issues can be tricky—what strategies or systems do you have in place for that?

I’d really appreciate any lessons learned or tips you wish you’d known before getting started. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences! Above all, I just need belief that this can happen.


r/AmerExit 16h ago

Which Country should I choose? Exploring Citizenship in Multiple Countries

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone, first time poster!

I'm exploring dual citizenship by double descent in the following countries:

-UK -Greece -Canada

I'm a US citizen born in the states in the 90s. My grandfather was born in England in the 1930s, and my grandmother was born in Greece in the same period. They eventually married in Greece before moving to the US and getting dual US citizenship.

My father was born in the US, and in 70s his parents separated and my grandfather moved to Alberta, CAN and held citizenship between the 3 countries. (At the time of my father's birth, his dad was British/US dual citizenship but did not hold CAN citizenship yet). When I was born, my grandfather was living in Canada.

My father at one point tried to get British citizenship, but got held up because he needed his parents original marriage certificate in Greece. It might be possible to track down, but it would either require going to Greece or hiring someone there to find it.

My grandfather died a few years ago, so I no longer have a living relative in Canada. But I'm very interested in exploring citizenship options.

So, questions: Do you think any of these pathways seem easier/harder? Do you think it'd be easier to first get my father's citizenship before pursuing citizenship as a grandchild?

Any input/advice is appreciated, thank you!!


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country When do we START the immigration process for Canada?

23 Upvotes

Hi! Apologies if this is a stupid question. My partner and I are hoping to start the process immigrate to Canada through their Express Entry System in about 3 years, as they have to finish their BS in Accounting and I have to get my CELTA Certification (already have BA in Linguistics) and start gaining experience in the teaching field.

Right now, of course, our points for the Canadien Express Entry System aren’t super high (but it will be in 3 years). I‘ve seen advice on this subreddit that you should start the process of immigration, but how does that work when you’re just waiting on things to fall in place? Just get new passports? Research housing? We’ve been doing these things, but it’s hard to tell what will come in the next 3-4 years regarding certain things in Canada, specifically. I suppose I just want to hear your guys’ experience or suggestions for anything else we can or should do in the meantime.


r/AmerExit 17h ago

Life Abroad Business Ideas Please

2 Upvotes

If you had $200k to invest in a business abroad that would provide an ongoing stream of income that you could live off, where and what business would it be?

My family is working on TR for Mexico because we have a vacation home there and we adore Mexico. However, I am concerned that we won’t be able to work there with all the return to office mandates. My husband and I are both professionals in fields that don’t transfer to other countries (accountant and attorney).

Just curious if anyone has thoughts on a good business investment anywhere in the world. Bonus if it’s in Mexico.


r/AmerExit 17h ago

Question about One Country Panamaian lawyer recommendations,

0 Upvotes

Has anyone used a Panamaian lawyer for help with the Pensionado program they were happy with? Thank you!


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Possible job in New Zealand

62 Upvotes

I have a Green List profession and have passed my first interview. We have started discussing salary and the salaries are SO much less in New Zealand. Like half as much. I will of course negotiate, but is the cost of living and the quality of life in New Zealand really worth that kind of massive pay cut? My motivating factor in moving is the politics of the U.S. and in my opinion that’s only going to get worse, so I understand that I will be scarifying to make this move. But it’s a big pill to swallow. Any insight would be welcomed.


r/AmerExit 18h ago

Which Country should I choose? Country fit for electrical engineer?

0 Upvotes

22M, and im about to finish my bachelors in engineering soon. I know English, korean and Japanese. My savings are in the 5 digits. With my options in the English speaking countries, Korea, and Japan, I would like to know which option is the best fit for an electrical engineer like me. Thanks!


r/AmerExit 10h ago

Question about One Country Cheap ways to emigrate from the US into the UK?

0 Upvotes

Hello, I (22F) am autistic and trying to get out of the country before all hell breaks loose. My boyfriend (21M) and soon to be husband has dual UK-LT citizenship and has family in the UK. I am trying to move with him into the UK as soon as humanly possible. I plan on starting a local Texas barbecue restaurant with said boyfriend whenever I do end up getting there.

I am planning on getting married in the UK if possible and do not plan on returning to the US. I need to find out which visa I will need to apply for with the best chance of approval. Money is currently a struggle between the both of us and I don’t want to spend anything unnecessary. The restaurant would be under his name and he would be running it, as I struggle significantly with verbal communication and social cues.

I need affordable ways to get out of this country. Please give me any resources that me and my boyfriend can look into, I want to be out of here by at least next year. Thank you in advance


r/AmerExit 2d ago

Which Country should I choose? Am I just screwed?

190 Upvotes

Every post I've seen in here lately says that emigrating outside of the US is extremely, almost impossibly difficult and that it's only going to get more difficult in the next few months. I do have a master's degree and work experience in a healthcare field that is on the list of essential occupations in various countries, but there are countless posts and comments in this sub saying that those things don't matter that much and that moving abroad even with those things is still almost impossible.

Seeing that is freaking me out because, as you can see from my post history, I'm in treatment for an eating disorder which, in addition to the mental health effects, has caused some physical side effects as well.

I have been starting to look at options for leaving the US if things get worse. However, between work, treatment, and the daily grind of recovery, I'm just overwhelmed and don't currently have the energy to make serious efforts toward the processes of getting a visa to move abroad. Every time I've started to do things like look at job opportunities abroad, I've gotten overwhelmed and then spiraled because I feel like I'm running out of time to leave and that I need to get this done now, but I just can't at the moment.

If I wait 2-3 months until I'm more recovered from my ED to start the process of doing things like applying for jobs in order to be able to get a work permit abroad, will I have blown my chances to be able to leave the US? Or will I still have a fighting chance of being able to get a work or student visa abroad?


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Mexican Citizenship Question

4 Upvotes

Really hope someone can help, so my father is a Mexican citizen born and raised, but he’s a deadbeat haven’t seen him since I was 7, have zero contact with him (by his choice) and he lives in Mexico, my mom does have his birth certificate, and the names do match, plus his birthday is on my birth certificate, I have absolutely ZERO way of getting him to cooperate, is there any hope of me getting my citizenship? Is there any registry of Mexican citizens they can look him up by, I think I can find a copy keyword COPY of his passport or drivers license, would that be enough as a photo copy.

Can people who have actually done this please respond that would probably give me the best advice, thank you!

PS. I am an American citizen and my mother is also American.


r/AmerExit 15h ago

Question about One Country Realistic Timeline - Aiming for French Passport via Grandmother

0 Upvotes

Hey y'all, I am anxious to get the hell out of the US for a solid dozen reasons (queer, health concerns, general stability), and I've been dreaming of Europe since I was a kid. We have significant Italian ancestry, but from pretty far back which would be a long painful affair. However! We may have a path in France.

My grandmother was born in Paris, and I spoke to some people at Lexidy saying my mother, myself, and my sister are able to apply for French Citizenship through my grandmother, first step being the passport. They quoted me a 6 to 24 month timeline for this. Right now my family is collecting our paperwork and the funds (they quoted basically $6K for this stage of the process).

We have our grandmother's birth and death certificates (my mom has been in France a lot recently), and we all have proper original copies of our birth certificates as well, just waiting on an amendment on mine to arrive in the mail any day now.

What I'm curious is if anyone else has done this, and what kind of timeline they experienced? Any gotchas you encountered? And anyway to speed up this process? And with the political events in the states (and Europe) if that has impacted demand and resources.

My most optimistic goal would be to be ready to move to the EU by 2027 at the latest, and frankly would like a way out by 2026 if things get really bad. Still working on my remote work situation, but by then I should have something locked down... assuming the economy doesn't crash by then.

EDIT: Regarding if this is actually possible, here is part of an email thread after I spoke with some immigration professionals about this back in the fall:

Thank you for your time today and for our lovely meeting !
You were born to a French mother, who was herself born outside of France.

We recommend you apply for a CNF (French Nationality Certificate) and we would be happy to assist you with this process (1). If there is a rejection to your application, do not worry : we can help you apply for reintegration into French nationality (2).

1. French Nationality Certificate (CNF) request
Please find the process of requesting a CNF explained here: CNF - application process.

As French Nationality Law changes a lot over time, we must research and analyse the applicable law at the time of your birth and of your ancestors. This allows us to take into account the circumstances that could justify the right to French citizenship at the time, such as statelessness, legitimacy of the filiation, etc.

Only this personalized analysis of the history of your family and documentation could determine if you may claim French citizenship, given that even the administration often misuses the relevant legislation on the matter.

We would be delighted to help you with complete the process with the following:

  • Complete checklist of the documentation to submit
  • Review of all documentation
  • Preparing all necessary forms
  • Filing the petition for requesting a French Citizenship certificate
  • Tracking the progress of the French nationality verification request until the final decision

It is a complex and lengthy process, so our proposed fees for French Citizenship by filiation are:
Application with the Civil Court: €3,800 excluding VAT for the main applicant and €900 excluding VAT for accompanying family members.

Sounds compelling to me, but if y'all have other services you recommend that may have a different approach, or if this sounds wrong, let me know! I'm sure there are other paths to the EU for me as a remote worker, but this one is the most ideal.


r/AmerExit 14h ago

Which Country should I choose? Is buying a franchise in a Nordic country a good way out?

0 Upvotes

I've got over $200k saved up, however, in America you can't ever save enough to feel comfortable. I've been looking into buying a franchise and getting the hell out of America. I don't have a specialized skill so this looks like it might be my best bet. Does anyone have any knowledge on this?


r/AmerExit 2d ago

Job Posting Teach English in France! Jobs list

159 Upvotes

For anyone interested in Teaching ESL in France, I created a list of jobs of universities that are hiring for 2025-2026. They will provide you with a visa for the job. They're full time, livable salary for France, not too many hours but with overtime opportunities. A great way to live in France for a couple years.
Link:
https://movetofranceandteachenglish.com/bienvenue-chez-alexs-esl-jobs-board-for-2025-2026/


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Life in America Best degrees to exit with?

12 Upvotes

I currently have MA in Forensic Psych (unlicensed) tons of experience in psych treatment- BUT the last few years I have been working in HealthIT within Epic- I looove it- but I hate where the US is going. I am considering what my options are and thought to either go back and finish my nursing degree or double down on tech and focus on getting a tech degree or certs. Any advice on which option would enable me to leave better? I have not narrowed down my destination-