Morocco is another place to consider. My wife and I moved here 18 months ago and have not regretted our decision. You can get a one-year residency card before your 90-day visa expires. You next get a 10-year residency card. And as an added bonus, schools are starting to replace French with English as the second language.
RUclips is a valuable source. We vacationed here so we inquired during our travels. I also have the requirements for getting residency for a retired person if you PM me.
My choice is Spain for several reasons. While I grew up in the US I am of Spanish heritage.....I love the culture, I am fluent in Spanish and recently got my Spanish citizenship. Just waiting on my passport then I am off to my next aventure.
@@palirvin1871 Spain does not allow dual-citizenship if the other one is US. The US does not allow citizens to renounce IF THEY BEING COERCED by the policy of the other country. So that Spanish passport is impossible for US citizens. That's how Marc Rich got into so much trouble, later pardoned by Clinton.
I was stationed in South Korea for a year at Kunsan Air Base, I have the utmost respect for the Korean people. I always felt comfortable there, the language barrier could be difficult the farther away from the base you got but getting around was pretty easy, they have very good public transport and that was 30 years ago. Thanks for another great video!
As a seasoned world traveler I just want to say Thanks for these informative and inspiring videos. The staggering amount of untreated mental illness in the USA is both astounding and disturbing. Knowing that there’s alternative healthy options abroad keeps me sane.
You can't cure personality disorders (psychology) aka characterological disorder (psychiatry) so no insurance company is going to pay to "treat" something that is largely untreatable. All of these individuals with narcissistic personality disorder running aorund the US were largely created by their own parents. Of course, not everyone who had a narcissist for a parent becomes a narcissist, but they generally do end up living abroad or cutting the parent off completely if they remain in the US. American is a HUGELY narcissistic culture, overly focused on individualism, winning, workaholism, and being wealthy and/or famous. Only Korea (both North and South) are G narcissisitic than the US. Germany and Japan once were that way, but the shame of WWII has driven them to become less narcissistic culturally. To be entirely fair, you can treat *some* people with NPD, per the experts who make their living off doing so, but they never recover completely and they only develop a small amount of empathy for others, and that is largely cognitive empathy (like sociopaths and psychopaths have), not emotional empathy, so they will never stop enjoying the harm they cause to other people.
@malcolmnicoll1165 As an American expat I just want to say that you speak truth. The amount of mental illness in the USA is staggering BUT I don't want to let it go by without this comment because I have family members are who are eff'd up mentally and it's BECAUSE of the drugs they are being 'treated' with prescribed by doctor. I don't haee my countrymen and women but the USA has too many mentally deranged/mislead/unbalanced and other just outright druggies, legal and illega drugs. The other drug is the toxic media that I've seen just destroy minds..
Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world, slightly smaller than India. But only has about 45 million people(compare that to India!). It has some of the world's most beautiful scenery. Right now if you send yourself a thousand dollars through Western Union you'll receive over $2400 worth of Pesos. Makes it extremely affordable for Americans as well as Europeans and Brits. Despite its financial crisis it's safe unless you frequent bad parts of the biggest cities. The people there are great and easy going. From what I saw it's more a first world nation with severe financial problems than a developing nation with bad infrastructure. If only people would give it a chance.
I've always enjoyed your informative videos so very much. I moved to Ajijic 3 years ago and, you are right, the prices have gone way up. It is still affordable and the people are so very friendly here. Thank you for your work!
If you get a job - like teaching English with a certificate - BEFORE you go there, you can go almost anywhere you want. I've lived in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Belize, Chile, Ecuador and Morocco.
You guys forgot the Philippines. US citizens can renew a tourist visa for 36 months, leave the country one day, and then renew for another 36 months. Their SRRV visa is one of the best retirement visas around and it even allows you to work. It's why I retired here from America. The people are very friendly and they speak English.
We didn’t forget it. This was a response video about another list. They currently only have a 30 day tourist visa: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Philippines.html
@@kellyname5733I live here. Your initial visa will be for 30 days. You can renew for another 30 days. Then you can renew for 60 days. Then 6 months. After that, you can renew every 6 months for up to 36 months. You leave the country, you start the process over again. It’s basically just a money grab. But it’s not difficult.
@@kellyname5733 ..... when u get there, like bfore ur 30 days are up u can go to a nearby immigration office [*think there's one in every major city there] and just keep extending ur visa for a nominal fee f'course
Korea is amazing. My original plan was to work there for six months to avoid a North American winter. I got a job teaching English at a university and stayed for 14 years. It boasts the best outdoor drinking culture and food scene in the world (yes, these are hills I'm willing to die on.) As if that weren't enough, the women are stunningly beautiful!
South Koreans absolutely know how to eat. I recall dinner with a colleague (as in , 2 of us eating) that had a table for six overflowing with plates. :)
@@KB3TLE Up north, absolutely. Similar to northern parts of the US and probably all of Canada. The southern parts of Korea, however, have mild winters.
Starting the expat journey this coming year! I have Italian citizenship, speak the language, and have family in the south. Italy also has good healthcare. Beauracracy yes, but so does the US. My local consulate has responded much more quickly than the US, so it all depends on who you get. There's also a 7% flat tax rate in some regions.
@voiceyourresilience209 Good for you and good luck. I am already an expat and live in Asia but if I had Italian passport & spoke the language I'd live in Italy for sure. What a country!
I'm blown away by how welcoming the Philippines is! Americans can stay up to 36 months on a renewable tourist visa, plus they have a retirement visa (no term limit) with a low $10K fixed deposit and reasonable income requirements. The cost of living is super affordable, gorgeous beaches and modern cities like BGC and Makati, delicious food and yay, it's English-speaking! The only downside is tropical humid weather with a rainy season. I'm spending 2 months there soon to check it out...
Just visited Makati and BGC, and trip to an island by ferry, Puerto Galera. The east side of Makati, and BGC, are tiny oasis surrounded by shabby endless city. Be prepared for a poor country experience. But stay in BGC especially, you will think you are in urban California. Upscale California.
great option, only cons are the poverty and nat. calamities like typhoons, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions [*which doesn't happen everyday f'course] ... if u don't mind those things ur good to go! 👍
Goodbye to all who are leaving. Try not to ruin more cities, educational systems, and quality of life wherever you go. Nature will hopefully heal itself here in your absence.
Mexico has become more restrictive on their 6 month tourist card(not a visa). Border runs can be hit or miss and often comes down to which immigration officer you deal with. Was a real problem for numerous people a couple of years ago. I got 180 days but read numerous people were only getting 2 weeks or so. Including people with apartments with all their belongings. Told they had two weeks to get their stuff and leave.
Mexico has gone back to the 6 month tourist visa for most people. They might call it a card but it’s essentially a visa, which is the globally used term.
I've been in Mexico for about three years and only once was I denied 6 months and that was when I flew into CDMX(I still got 93 days) that happened when they were cracking down. I've flown in twice in 2023 and was given 180 days each time.
I moved to Portugal, two years ago, and I hope to be able to be on track for citizenship in the next year, in which case I can move anywhere within the Schengen zone of Europe, which is a great benefit. Moving to a foreign country by one’s self, and not knowing the language is a challenge for anyone in liquids for me, and the bureaucracy here has been the main headache. But it is lovely in terms of its weather and culture, natural beauty and the people.
You can renew your tourist card in Mexico if they give you less than 180 days. Just go to a local immigration office. It's a pain in the butt & it costs (but not much). Giving less than 180 days is more or less an annoying money-grab.
@@pbohearn - You could've made a teeny effort to learn the language of the country you wanted to move to....but I guess the colonialist mindset is hard to shed.
the sooner you leave the country, the better off you are. I trust me. I left North America more than 3 years ago,,,,, was probably one of the best decision I've made in my life.
So many countries mentioned, but not a single mention about Belize. I am immigrating there next year and the only down side to the country is serious healthcare. What i mean is that basic care is great, but serious issues means a trip back to the states. Cost of living is lower, renewable visa for life each month and a retirement visa that starts at age 45. Residency in 1 year is available and english speaking. Would love to hear your thoughts!
I’m considering traveling to Belize in 2025 (have applied for a passport) to see what it’s like for a retiree. I’ve heard serious warnings about the crime spurred by the sudden growth of the cocaine trade in all of Central America. I’ll see in person whether it’s really less safe than the U.S. city where I live now.,
Do not go as a married couple. There is a large population of “white women ruined my life” North American divorced men. Expats go there with their mini social security checks and look to find a poor young girl. Live and let live right? Not when they are so blatantly hostile to long time married couples. This is no fault of the Filipino’s. It’s a weird sub culture.
@@Mexicobeanpole I first moved to the Philippines in 1999. Your comments have elements of truth in that there is this type of expat in the Philippines, but there are really many types. There are young couples from Europe, Koreans, Americans young and old, even a few Mexicans. The typical expat does NOT have a "Mini social security check because even with low costs for many things, it is still not dirt cheap, just somewhat cheaper than most of Mexico. Mexico is not without it's share of "White women ruined my life" types either. Myself, I cannot say that American white women ruined my life because I avoid most Western women like the plague. In general, Filipinos tend to be far more inclusive of Westerns than Mexicans- I think in part beause most Filipinos speak English, but they also have a stong sense of being a guest culture. Mexicans often have a sense of underlying resentment towards Gringos, which can dampen things a bit(Not that they don't have their reasons!) Again, poor expats with mini retirment payments will not have a good time in the Philippines. We live on a medium sized Island (Bohol) with it's many small farms (Including ours), very friendly people and beautiful beaches. It is a very safe area and very friendly to most foreigners. You can likely rent a house near the beach for far less then even Mexico. Mexico has a far higher risk factor for crime (Look up the stats) but of course, there are some pretty safe areas. One of the most annoying things about Mexico is some of the Americans who move there. LIve and let live, right?
@@griffith500tvr Go to the visayays- nothing like Manila, small towns, some really beautiful beaches and generally kind friendly people who are glad to see you.
Albania has a 1 year Visa for US citizens, which seems interesting. EDIT: 1 year stay, Visa free! Estonia has a digital nomad visa, and an e-residency. It seems easy enough to stay there if you create a business. It tends to be very cold though! 🥶
Grenada is a good choice but Healthcare is the issue but they are part of a compact that let's you go to other countries to get specialized care. They are very friendly too and being far south they actually rarely get hit by Hurricanes.
I also read that Portugal is doing away with favored income tax status for foreign residents starting 2024. They will be subject to the same income tax requirements up to 48% on anything above €79k that Portuguese nationals have to pay. Ouch! A lot of people who were planning to move there are probably looking for alternatives about now.
@@luisfilipe534 Portuguese nationals do not have to pay taxes on income earned outside of Portugal when they’re living in another country. U.S. nationals are already paying income taxes to the IRS no matter where they live or where that income is earned. They don’t need to pay any additional taxes to Portugal on income earned outside of Portugal. If you’re paying 48% taxes to Portugal and 48% to the U.S. then I don’t see any point in working or starting a company and employing anyone. What’s the point?
@@luisfilipe534 It is a problem isn't it? There are times when the tax treaty will fail and an individual or company will have tax liabilities to both countries. Regardless the new laws seem to be having the intended effect. New residents and foreign investment will stop coming into Portugal.
So, at my near retirement age (in 8 years) the best I could hope for in relocating nearly anywhere worthwhile is 2 - 3 months. That's probably all I'd want anyway. Incidentally, we have family in Barcelona and they don't drink the water because it's not safe. My wife and kid go there for a couple months every summer. But, in the north (Burgos) it's ok. Portugal is getting very expensive, expats are leaving. The bottom line, nowhere is perfect. I think travel for 90 days and then go back to the U.S.
Grenada is absolutely fantastic. Sailing toward the Island you will enjoy the wonderful aroma of spices that actually permeate the air. I've been there, as well as to all of the Caribbean Islands. However, to live permanently (or short term) in any of the islands does require a ton of available money. Turkey is a great place to live, notably in the south of the country. It's the only place I've ever been that I truly could not find even one thing that I did not like. Also, it's extremely affordable. Be aware that a 90 day visa is easy to get and can just be bought at the border for a few dollars. However, for Americans wishing to extend the visa beyond 90 days it is a formidable endeavor and quite likely will be denied. On another note, the language barrier is minimal in Turkey since many do speak at a minimum, rudimentary , if not fluent English. Also the Southern areas have a very large Brit population so that does make it much easier to function there language wise.
I think they are taking somebody else's list and adding details. It is some magazine that came up with this list of ten, and they are just going over that list.
Since Japan runs in a north-south direction, its climate ranges from tundra to tropical. Most of the population centers have very mild winters -- similar to Washington DC. Also, getting around on mass transit is super easy and in most urban areas, you don't need a car. Although they seem to be tech-savvy, very few govt services are available online. The internet is just not a big thing there. But, they do have a lot of other high-tech things that make life easier. Also, housing can be much less expensive than in many US cities. I was looking at rent in Colorado and Japan (family in both), and I found that I could get much lower prices in Japan and not much smaller than rentals in Colorado. You can also get some super small places as well. Older homes go for very low prices in Japan.
@@maidenthe80sla Yes, that seems to be correct, if you don't have Japanese ancestry or aren't married to a Japanese citizen, it can be hard to get in if you don't plan to work. But, I didn't say it was easy. I was just responding to Amelia and JP's comments about Japan.
@@kloatlanta I guess, it's all relative. I was comparing it to a place that gets snowy sub-zero (F) winter weather. I guess, WDC is probably snowier and a bit colder than Japan. Maybe Atlanta or Charleston would be more accurate comparators.
It's not so much the treatment plants especially not the newer ones . It's the old piping . As it's replaced .whole lot safer to drink . My advice but bottled water . Safer yet . It's not a fun thing getting sick from the water . Not even a little bit.. which cheek today for twelve days .
Love this video!!!! I choose Mexico, because it’s so close to the states. I’m living in San Antonio, one block from ajijic! The prices have gone up, like everywhere else. But still so affordable. Lots of expats, but, for me that’s good because I’m struggling to learn Spanish! The saving grace is the Mexican people! They are so wonderful and stand by patiently as I use google translate! It’s beautiful here, the weather is extraordinary and it’s easy to navigate. I received my temporary visa in Orlando. The financial requirements are a little stiffer (I heard McAllen, Texas was low). But I can easily afford to live here at a higher standard of living. Thank you for all you do because these videos helped me immensely and still do!
I just hope places like Ajijic don’t become californicated and ultimately become an exclusive playground for the wealthy elite while forcing locals to move away due to the high cost of living.
I agree on all aspects of your comment. We have an apartment in SanAntonio also! My husband is there now and loves it. Im here in States waiting for house, cars, and small motorhome to sell or rent. Received out TR visas 2 years ago.
need to know what countries are good for retirees--have elevators, banisters, European toilets, assisted living, rehab or nursing homes that are decent and affordable, senior centers
Love your channel and its content. Seasoned world travelers know it’s not uncommon for locals to take advantage of foreigners, especially by often times charging them higher prices. It’d be great to see a video on how NOT to get ripped off or scammed as an expat.
Don't plan it out for too long or you'll never leave. I'm 68 and recently moved to Ecuador. It's nice and really affordable. Now that I'm an overseas traveler, I might even explore some other options.
As someone who left the USA 12 years ago knowing where things were going I wish to give you some advise even though you did not ask for any. Don't make big plans, get your footprint down to a minimum and have everything in the USA 'done' / 'manageable' and then take off and do some affordable slow travelling to a few of the countries that you are interested in, just be a tourist and stay a month or two in each before you start spending big money or making big plans. Me? having some affection for Latin America I left the USA and lived in Colombia, spent time in Costa Rica and Panama, realized that I'd not found a good match so I moved to Vietnam, but now I am actually at retirement age and I have found that Thailand is the best for me, in the process of relocating now-ish. None of my biz, I just give you my example that it may take a few tries before you find something long term.
@@mnob1122 Good Luck on that. Out of respect for pets, I don't do pets because I moved around a lot in my career and did not want to abandon pets. My life has not be typical.
Türkiye is $400,000 now, not $250,000 anymore. Barely anyone speaks English. Extended tourist (residency) visa is no longer easy to get unless you buy a property for $200,000 or more and then you only get a year at a time. Rules changing quickly. Only one person can get the residency visa with the home buying unless you are married. It’s very changed here now.
Not being able to drink the water in Mexico, is not true for all of Mexico, in my state: Veracruz can drink tap water, because this: The INEGI evaluation tool shows that Veracruz had a rating of 8.6 percent in terms of the potability of the water, that is, you can drink it without fear of getting sick. I myself confirmed that, I was drink tap water without any fear.
Sometimes Amelia wears what appears to be a wedding band, sometimes she doesn't. Also, I've been to Grenada (the first a in Grenada is a long a like in NAY, the short a in Granada is a city in Spain). Grenada is outside the hurricane belt, therefore it does not experience them nearly as much as the islands within the belt. Not being able to drink the water in Mexico is not true for all of Mexico. Puerto Vallarta's water been rated as perfectly safe for human consumption with a certificate of purity for 17 consecutive years.
Three years ago . I thought I would die From drinking enough tap water to get my meds down . It had been raining for few days . The town above old town up river few miles had river go over the banks . Into the town sewer system . I had to have a shot every day for twelve days . For the most part people can drink the water just not from their faucets. Bottled most homes for drinking . Ps I was a water contractor for thirty plus years. Thanks for all you do . I enjoy much.
We would like to learn more about places that have passive income visas and what that is. We were also shocked when you mentioned Nicaragura has a retirement visa that starts at age 45! I've never heard of a country have one so young!
Idk how you can suggest Turkey without addressing its political climate and intolerance toward freedom of expression. For Americans, griping about the government is practically a national sport … doing that in Turkey could really land you in hot water.
WOW - THANK YOU SO MUCH ! We never knew there were so many other "official English language" countries in the Caribbean area, that actively sought expats from the USA ! Grenada and St Kitts sound very appealing, especially with their ties to the EU access. Our first choice - Costa Rica - has been going thru some rough times lately (narco crime wars, high prices, and volcanic eruptions). SO, maybe we'll consider the Caribbean, mon !
A Spaniard living in Orange County CA. My advice about Spain. Be willing to hire professionals regarding bureaucracy, taxes and properties. Spain, like most of Southern Europe, is not a country as regimented as the USA or Northern Europe. There are plenty of options open for expats but I recommended to hire experts to do it. Every autonomous region of Spain is different with different laws (Kind of like the States in USA) and it is important to hire local agencies (In the area that you want to live) to get much better results. It is not an outrageous cost and the good results will give you a much better piece of mind and conditions for a better life in the country.
Very reliable and it's a fantastically beautiful place to live. BUT the big HOWEVER is that it's super expensive to live. If that's not a problem then it certainly gets the blue ribbon.
I taught fitness in Spain and Japan. Had tremendous experiences in both countries, along with some frustrations! Was in my late 20's-early 30's. I'd consider returning to either or perhaps Portugal or Northern Italy. Dang...where is that $15 million I had saved up for NZ!
I think International Living's Global Retirement Index would be a more accurate/applicable list for your audience. Still love your informative videos though. Keep 'em coming! 😊
Because of dividends, I first began investing in stocks. It's important, in my opinion, to be able to live off of dividends without selling if you invest and make other income in addition to payouts. It suggests that you may pass that down to your kids and give them a leg up in life. Over the years, I've invested over $600k in dividend stocks; I continue to buy more today and will keep doing so until the price drops even further.
Many americans Re very happy in albania. I live it here. Many speak english! All yoju need is 3000 in their bank. Also, amwricans can stay one year..italy expensive and out in 3 months.
Thanks. When are you two going to wander around the world and cover other countries? I’m curious about more details about Spain vs. Costa Rica in particular.
My wife and I just got back from a two-week vacation in Spain, beautiful country. We went to Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Córdoba, and Sevilla. The latter three cities are in Andalusia and it was hotter than blazes, first week of October 99F in Granada! The humidity was only 15% but still hot. And in some other videos I've seen about Spain those southern cities get up to 115F. The other interesting thing is that Barcelona most people speak Spanish but the prominent language is Catalan, what looks to be a hybrid of Spanish and French. Good day is Bon Día for example. But most everyone relating to tourists could speak English pretty well.
@@barrycoughlan1695 how is the skiing in Spain? I have friends who have skied the Sierra Nevada but I haven't skied it myself. Most of my skiing has been in Tahoe/Soda Springs area, and a week at Whistler/Blackcomb in BC.
The six-month tourist stay for Aemericans visiting Mexico is no longer guaranteed. I just entered via Mexico City, they asked me a few questions, and gave me 90 days based on my answers.
I'm posting in late 2024 regarding Mexico. When I applied for Temporary Residence 6 years ago the monthly income requirement was $1450/month. It is now 3x, $4500 with a commensurate rise in savings. There are over 1 million US citizens in Mexico. Mexico decided it no longer wanted poor gringos. And btw money fixes everything. Buena suerte, America.
New Zealand has always been a pain in the rear… In the 90’s they weren’t allowing immigration at all from anyone outside the commonwealth and the only reason they allowed commonwealth was they didn’t make those rules. But beyond that, your list should have been titled countries tgat like RICH Americans, all others stay home.
Certainly, the countries on your list will accept some American expats under certain conditions. As you said in the video. That being said, I would NOT have bothered with New Zealand at all nor had it been on the list Australia They absolutely DO NOT want anyone over 50 (unless you are extremely wealthy) ;or have a highly needed skill such as being a Medical Doctor. Think James Cameron types for the investor type or Mark Zuckerburg types. Most American expats do not have large sums of cash to invest in properties or bond programs so countries offering those I would not have bothered with IF that was the only pathway to live there nor would I have bothered with ANY country requiring an annual pension income of more than $24 thousand US dollars because most retirees do not meet that requirement. I also would not have bothered with countries that do not have long term residency options for pensioners. Why go somewhere that you will have to leave within months or a couple years. I became an expat back in 2017 and I did look at many of the places on this list and other expat websites and I settled on a country that I met the income requirements, could afford to purchase a cheap house and had a central location for my travel plans. Unfortunately that meant having to live in a country that has a real winter and 4 seasons. I have lived in southwest Hungary ever since I left the USA and have zero regrets. I am in the process of obtaining permanent residency. Hungary is not for everyone but if you have reasonable expectations and are retired it is not a bad place to live and you can easily drive or fly to the the popular European vacation spots like Greece, Italy and other locations for not a lot of money.
Many young people have taken English in school but for the most part I use google translate or just get one of my Hungarian friends that speaks English to help if I need help. Most of the time I manage without any help with very basic Hungarian word knowledge. Hungarian is extremely difficult to learn but I have been a resident of Hungary since 2017 and have not had much difficulty.@@Betty-my3tw
This is the only possibility I agree with you. And I am saying that from here in Australia which is paradise but it’s so expensive. If I live to be 67 I have dual citizenship I can dust off my American ssi and maybe move
SSI is a needs based welfare program for those who do not have sufficient means to support themselves and do not have enough quarters paid into the regular Social security system. You are not allowed to have many assets and cash. I think right now the monthly SSI payment is around $850USD per month...sounds like a lot until you see how much the cost of living is in the USA. You will not likely find housing for less than what SSI pays much less be able to do much of anything about eating. I would not count on that plan if I were you unless you have a relative that will feed you and let you couch surf you will be a homeless person living on the street. @@mashton6631
Tbilisi Georgia is still a fascinating and abortable city to live in ....I stay here 9months and then go home to Maine for the summer ,,,,been doing that for 12 years on limited budget , able to save enough for round trip ticket and extra money for high cost of Maine summers . I absolutely love living in Georgia ( despite the current politics ) It is still a very safe city .
Enjoy your channel. Subscribed! I have traveled extensively but now that I've retired I am looking at Tirana for a year at first. Any recommendations for a rental agent there? Peace and thanks
A big concern for older migrants is healthcare insurance. We have been looking at Spain. At 70, with preexisting conditions it is much more complex and expensive a problem.
Question: did you post a video on which country you have chosen for your 2nd residency? I watched the video that you discuss the countries that you didn't pick
We shared our top 10 list but won’t make a decision until we’ve visited most of them. ameliaandjp.com/10-countries-to-consider-for-secondary-residency/
True enough. If you're lacking health insurance living overseas could ease the problem. However, if you are among the millions who are covered that's a big thing you will probably lose by relocating overseas. At any rate I enjoy your channel and was just offering another perspective.@@AmeliaAndJP
It's about quality of life. 120+ countries are ranked higher in safety. 30+ are ranked better in health care. It's much cheaper to live outside of the U.S.; even in places where it seems expensive. You just have to know how to structure your life.
Absolutely great country especially the Romanian Carpathians. We go there frequently and love it. For an out of this world experience, drive the Transfagarasan Highway.
We'd consider Romania. It's exotic, the language is easy -- it's Latin-based -- the weather is temperate, the terrain varied, and both the latitude and soil are those of the wine regions of Italy. It's also a firm US ally and a NATO member.
is that cathedral shown in the section about Granada (Caribbean island) on the island? from that brief glance, it strongly favors the one in Nicaragua.
Its an attractive idea to retire in another country, but many large risks and challenges are rarely mentioned. For retirement visas, many countries require a pension, yet most careers stopped providing one 30 or 40 yrs ago. Note also that if you have most of your nest egg with U.S. investment companies, they do not allow you to manage those investments once you have a foreign address. Further, exchange rates can erase a considerable portion of your assets. In the last 20 years, Euro to dollar has been as high as 1.57 : 1. Relocation overseas is more than just learning a new language, high (and complicated) taxes, and a very long distance move.
Social Security counts as a pension and some countries allow stable payout investments like annuities. We recommend keeping a U.S. address for financial purposes. Everyone we know still manages their investments from abroad. That is not an issue. Ecuador, Panama and Belize are on the dollar or pegged to it so you don’t lose any money to the exchange rate in those countries. Many other countries like Mexico, Colombia, Paraguay, Thailand, the Philippines, Albania, Bulgaria, etc have weak currencies compared to the dollar. Euro countries aren’t the only option.
@@AmeliaAndJP Some very true points. EU is not the only option, and SSA is considered "passive" income. It will come down to each individuals situation. I just retired early and it looks like U.S. is do-able, but I am not eligeable for SSA for some years yet. And when eligible, it won't cover the $3k / month that many countries require. Having earned over median salary, my situation is probably not unusual. I have heard of schemes to keep a virtual U.S. address, but this seems risky to rely on to manage U.S. assets. Alternately, maintaining a second home in the U.S. is not workable for many who are looking at cost reduction as part of the reason to leave U.S. Not looking to knock your channel. It really is great insights that would be difficult for people to get without going to these countries and doing a lot of research. These are very useful for some, but again, comes down to the individual.
Japan would give most Americans culture shock. It is a modern country and it is very safe. You have to learn a lot of new customs, but they do like Americans. I have been there and I am half Japanese too.
I traveled alone twice to Japan for three weeks and enjoyed it. No culture shock just loved all the food and everything and even studied and learned some kana and phrases before I went. Enjoyed the Shinto shrines and many other things.
@@enjoystraveling Since I am a relative, my relatives let me know when I did something that was culturally wrong. It only happened once or twice. If they don't know you well, they don't tell you, But I am glad you enjoyed Japan.
@@robinpettit7827 Yes, of course if you’re only in the country a few weeks, especially Japan they’re gonna be polite not tell you if you do something culturally wrong I did read several books and the Internet about the culture in Japan and how to be polite there and where to take off shoes etc. but of course I could’ve done wrong things without knowing it. I just meant even though Japan is a very different culture from the United States, I enjoyed it, instead of felt shocked or lost.
I see there is some confusion about the Caribbean island of Granada (pronounced Gran - AY - da) with the charming town of Grenada (pronounced Gran - ah -da) in Nicaragua. Many of the photos are of the town in Nicaragua, especially of it's historic domed church. Oops. You goofed!
My most significant ex-gf of my life moved to Portugal a year ago. If this is an easy country to move to, I'd hate to see the hard ones. Lots of time, flying from Denver to San Francisco for an interview. It took many months.
What I don't understand is why these countries that require you meet a certain monthly income level do not lower that requirement if you were to buy a property outright. Obviously, you need less money to survive on if you already own a property. If I own a house in Italy, why, as a single person, do I need 31k euros to survive? It is certainly not that expensive.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Morocco is another place to consider. My wife and I moved here 18 months ago and have not regretted our decision. You can get a one-year residency card before your 90-day visa expires. You next get a 10-year residency card. And as an added bonus, schools are starting to replace French with English as the second language.
God forbid you have to be inconvenienced by having to learn the language of the country you decided to move TO.....
@@petep5207I already speak French. English is the language of business and computing.
@@petep5207 English is the language of computing and international business. I speak French, so go kick rocks.
RUclips is a valuable source. We vacationed here so we inquired during our travels. I also have the requirements for getting residency for a retired person if you PM me.
What city has been the best for you in Morocco?
Regardless of general perceptions it's not hard to be liked personally when you are a genuine person who shows respect to the locals
My choice is Spain for several reasons. While I grew up in the US I am of Spanish heritage.....I love the culture, I am fluent in Spanish and recently got my Spanish citizenship. Just waiting on my passport then I am off to my next aventure.
@junuc Good for you, I love Spain though not been there in many years. I envy that Spanish passport you're getting.
@@palirvin1871 Spain does not allow dual-citizenship if the other one is US. The US does not allow citizens to renounce IF THEY BEING COERCED by the policy of the other country. So that Spanish passport is impossible for US citizens. That's how Marc Rich got into so much trouble, later pardoned by Clinton.
You are so lucky!
I was stationed in South Korea for a year at Kunsan Air Base, I have the utmost respect for the Korean people. I always felt comfortable there, the language barrier could be difficult the farther away from the base you got but getting around was pretty easy, they have very good public transport and that was 30 years ago. Thanks for another great video!
Glad you liked it!
Very safe too, and they are used to a variety of folks as long as American b/c of base, they have services that cater to US needs.
I want to go there!!!
I loved it there as well
Worked there for a short time and loved it!
As a seasoned world traveler I just want to say Thanks for these informative and inspiring videos. The staggering amount of untreated mental illness in the USA is both astounding and disturbing. Knowing that there’s alternative healthy options abroad keeps me sane.
You can't cure personality disorders (psychology) aka characterological disorder (psychiatry) so no insurance company is going to pay to "treat" something that is largely untreatable.
All of these individuals with narcissistic personality disorder running aorund the US were largely created by their own parents. Of course, not everyone who had a narcissist for a parent becomes a narcissist, but they generally do end up living abroad or cutting the parent off completely if they remain in the US.
American is a HUGELY narcissistic culture, overly focused on individualism, winning, workaholism, and being wealthy and/or famous. Only Korea (both North and South) are G narcissisitic than the US. Germany and Japan once were that way, but the shame of WWII has driven them to become less narcissistic culturally.
To be entirely fair, you can treat *some* people with NPD, per the experts who make their living off doing so, but they never recover completely and they only develop a small amount of empathy for others, and that is largely cognitive empathy (like sociopaths and psychopaths have), not emotional empathy, so they will never stop enjoying the harm they cause to other people.
@malcolmnicoll1165 As an American expat I just want to say that you speak truth. The amount of mental illness in the USA is staggering BUT I don't want to let it go by without this comment because I have family members are who are eff'd up mentally and it's BECAUSE of the drugs they are being 'treated' with prescribed by doctor. I don't haee my countrymen and women but the USA has too many mentally deranged/mislead/unbalanced and other just outright druggies, legal and illega drugs. The other drug is the toxic media that I've seen just destroy minds..
I think the most expat friendly countries are the ones that will let you continuously renew a tourist visa. 🤷♀️
That is THE defining factor!
Which are those ?
@@houseofroos only Albania that I know of...and that is because it uis like a colony of 🇺🇸
Philippines let's you extend up to three years.
A lot more countries used to do that in the past than they do now.
Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world, slightly smaller than India. But only has about 45 million people(compare that to India!). It has some of the world's most beautiful scenery. Right now if you send yourself a thousand dollars through Western Union you'll receive over $2400 worth of Pesos. Makes it extremely affordable for Americans as well as Europeans and Brits. Despite its financial crisis it's safe unless you frequent bad parts of the biggest cities. The people there are great and easy going. From what I saw it's more a first world nation with severe financial problems than a developing nation with bad infrastructure. If only people would give it a chance.
Are you from Argentina?
I'm interested in Argentina.
I want to live in Argentina but I have no idea where to start.
Start by going there first. @@CharleyB23
No, spent 3 months there last year.
I've always enjoyed your informative videos so very much. I moved to Ajijic 3 years ago and, you are right, the prices have gone way up. It is still affordable and the people are so very friendly here. Thank you for your work!
Hello, friends! Thank you for your informative, and adventurous, and great videos! Greting from pre-winter Czechia!
My friends that live in New Zealand love it. They were all born there too.
If you get a job - like teaching English with a certificate - BEFORE you go there, you can go almost anywhere you want. I've lived in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Belize, Chile, Ecuador and Morocco.
You guys forgot the Philippines. US citizens can renew a tourist visa for 36 months, leave the country one day, and then renew for another 36 months. Their SRRV visa is one of the best retirement visas around and it even allows you to work. It's why I retired here from America. The people are very friendly and they speak English.
You didn't watch. They were responding to a travel magazine article.
We didn’t forget it. This was a response video about another list.
They currently only have a 30 day tourist visa: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Philippines.html
A dictatorship, no thanks have enough dictators in Germany, no need for even worse dictators.
@@kellyname5733I live here. Your initial visa will be for 30 days. You can renew for another 30 days. Then you can renew for 60 days. Then 6 months. After that, you can renew every 6 months for up to 36 months. You leave the country, you start the process over again. It’s basically just a money grab. But it’s not difficult.
@@kellyname5733 ..... when u get there, like bfore ur 30 days are up u can go to a nearby immigration office [*think there's one in every major city there] and just keep extending ur visa for a nominal fee f'course
@ 4:17, that church is in Granada Nicaragua. It's not on the island of Granada.
I've had that problem my whole life, mixing up my Grenadas. Don't get me started on the Montenegros!!! 😅
Yep. That was a mistake 🤦♂️
And I think you showed Rome, N.Y.! (Just kidding.) 😉
Korea is amazing. My original plan was to work there for six months to avoid a North American winter. I got a job teaching English at a university and stayed for 14 years. It boasts the best outdoor drinking culture and food scene in the world (yes, these are hills I'm willing to die on.) As if that weren't enough, the women are stunningly beautiful!
South Koreans absolutely know how to eat. I recall dinner with a colleague (as in , 2 of us eating) that had a table for six overflowing with plates. :)
Uncomfortably cold but not bitterly cold. Then again, I'm from Canada.
@@KB3TLE Up north, absolutely. Similar to northern parts of the US and probably all of Canada.
The southern parts of Korea, however, have mild winters.
Korea safe?
@@Fegga1955 Absolutely without question one of the safest countries in the world ....
Do be careful in the crosswalks and driving though!
Starting the expat journey this coming year! I have Italian citizenship, speak the language, and have family in the south. Italy also has good healthcare. Beauracracy yes, but so does the US. My local consulate has responded much more quickly than the US, so it all depends on who you get. There's also a 7% flat tax rate in some regions.
@voiceyourresilience209 Good for you and good luck. I am already an expat and live in Asia but if I had Italian passport & spoke the language I'd live in Italy for sure. What a country!
I'm blown away by how welcoming the Philippines is! Americans can stay up to 36 months on a renewable tourist visa, plus they have a retirement visa (no term limit) with a low $10K fixed deposit and reasonable income requirements. The cost of living is super affordable, gorgeous beaches and modern cities like BGC and Makati, delicious food and yay, it's English-speaking! The only downside is tropical humid weather with a rainy season. I'm spending 2 months there soon to check it out...
Just visited Makati and BGC, and trip to an island by ferry, Puerto Galera. The east side of Makati, and BGC, are tiny oasis surrounded by shabby endless city. Be prepared for a poor country experience. But stay in BGC especially, you will think you are in urban California. Upscale California.
great option, only cons are the poverty and nat. calamities like typhoons, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions [*which doesn't happen everyday f'course] ... if u don't mind those things ur good to go! 👍
@@formica. ..... the suburban calif. is in the south of the metro in the alabang area, bgc n' makati cbd are more like manhattan!
If you are rich, everyplace is good to live.
Who’s here after the 2024 US election?
@@midnightcat6116 Best of success to all who are here after the election.
Don't let the door hit you in your butt on the way out 😂
I regret that I wasn’t prepared to leave. I never thought the election could go the way it did. Sad, but I need to get out of the US.
Goodbye to all who are leaving. Try not to ruin more cities, educational systems, and quality of life wherever you go. Nature will hopefully heal itself here in your absence.
Goingtoisa
.....yet another informative post........you two are as consistent as things get on youtube. thanks again for sharing.
Mexico has become more restrictive on their 6 month tourist card(not a visa). Border runs can be hit or miss and often comes down to which immigration officer you deal with. Was a real problem for numerous people a couple of years ago. I got 180 days but read numerous people were only getting 2 weeks or so. Including people with apartments with all their belongings. Told they had two weeks to get their stuff and leave.
Mexico has gone back to the 6 month tourist visa for most people. They might call it a card but it’s essentially a visa, which is the globally used term.
I've been in Mexico for about three years and only once was I denied 6 months and that was when I flew into CDMX(I still got 93 days) that happened when they were cracking down. I've flown in twice in 2023 and was given 180 days each time.
I moved to Portugal, two years ago, and I hope to be able to be on track for citizenship in the next year, in which case I can move anywhere within the Schengen zone of Europe, which is a great benefit. Moving to a foreign country by one’s self, and not knowing the language is a challenge for anyone in liquids for me, and the bureaucracy here has been the main headache. But it is lovely in terms of its weather and culture, natural beauty and the people.
You can renew your tourist card in Mexico if they give you less than 180 days. Just go to a local immigration office. It's a pain in the butt & it costs (but not much). Giving less than 180 days is more or less an annoying money-grab.
@@pbohearn - You could've made a teeny effort to learn the language of the country you wanted to move to....but I guess the colonialist mindset is hard to shed.
I’m 25 and watching. Young people want to leave the us too. It’s horrible.
the sooner you leave the country, the better off you are. I trust me. I left North America more than 3 years ago,,,,, was probably one of the best decision I've made in my life.
True. And so expensive. Most of your money roughly 80 percent or higher will go to rent now. 😢
@@jesslaughs408 same.
Any western country will do.
You have much to learn.
So many countries mentioned, but not a single mention about Belize. I am immigrating there next year and the only down side to the country is serious healthcare.
What i mean is that basic care is great, but serious issues means a trip back to the states.
Cost of living is lower, renewable visa for life each month and a retirement visa that starts at age 45. Residency in 1 year is available and english speaking.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
Don’t tell everybody!
I just saw Belize lowered the retirement age to 40.
I’m considering traveling to Belize in 2025 (have applied for a passport) to see what it’s like for a retiree. I’ve heard serious warnings about the crime spurred by the sudden growth of the cocaine trade in all of Central America.
I’ll see in person whether it’s really less safe than the U.S. city where I live now.,
Very Informative. Thanks Guys
Consider the Philippines, English speaking. Very friendly to Americans and affordable.
Healthcare sucks.
And.. affordable is questionable....this depends on the means of each individual but western comforts and electricity,...not so much on the cheap.
Do not go as a married couple. There is a large population of “white women ruined my life” North American divorced men.
Expats go there with their mini social security checks and look to find a poor young girl.
Live and let live right?
Not when they are so blatantly hostile to long time married couples.
This is no fault of the Filipino’s.
It’s a weird sub culture.
@@Mexicobeanpole I first moved to the Philippines in 1999. Your comments have elements of truth in that there is this type of expat in the Philippines, but there are really many types. There are young couples from Europe, Koreans, Americans young and old, even a few Mexicans. The typical expat does NOT have a "Mini social security check because even with low costs for many things, it is still not dirt cheap, just somewhat cheaper than most of Mexico. Mexico is not without it's share of "White women ruined my life" types either. Myself, I cannot say that American white women ruined my life because I avoid most Western women like the plague.
In general, Filipinos tend to be far more inclusive of Westerns than Mexicans- I think in part beause most Filipinos speak English, but they also have a stong sense of being a guest culture.
Mexicans often have a sense of underlying resentment towards Gringos, which can dampen things a bit(Not that they don't have their reasons!)
Again, poor expats with mini retirment payments will not have a good time in the Philippines.
We live on a medium sized Island (Bohol) with it's many small farms (Including ours), very friendly people and beautiful beaches. It is a very safe area and very friendly to most foreigners. You can likely rent a house near the beach for far less then even Mexico. Mexico has a far higher risk factor for crime (Look up the stats) but of course, there are some pretty safe areas. One of the most annoying things about Mexico is some of the Americans who move there. LIve and let live, right?
@@griffith500tvr Go to the visayays- nothing like Manila, small towns, some really beautiful beaches and generally kind friendly people who are glad to see you.
Albania has a 1 year Visa for US citizens, which seems interesting.
EDIT: 1 year stay, Visa free!
Estonia has a digital nomad visa, and an e-residency. It seems easy enough to stay there if you create a business. It tends to be very cold though! 🥶
And super expensive too !!!
I bought a gorgeous ap in Saranda resort in Albsnia. It is paRadise
Don't forget their famous love of agglutinizing suffixes! :D
@@adrianafernandez3935 not in peak summer it's not! It's chaos!
japan does not snow in all parts of its country. lived there. rainy season but wonderful!!
Grenada is a good choice but Healthcare is the issue but they are part of a compact that let's you go to other countries to get specialized care. They are very friendly too and being far south they actually rarely get hit by Hurricanes.
I also read that Portugal is doing away with favored income tax status for foreign residents starting 2024. They will be subject to the same income tax requirements up to 48% on anything above €79k that Portuguese nationals have to pay. Ouch! A lot of people who were planning to move there are probably looking for alternatives about now.
So strange... Pay as much taxes as locals..
@@luisfilipe534 Portuguese nationals do not have to pay taxes on income earned outside of Portugal when they’re living in another country. U.S. nationals are already paying income taxes to the IRS no matter where they live or where that income is earned. They don’t need to pay any additional taxes to Portugal on income earned outside of Portugal. If you’re paying 48% taxes to Portugal and 48% to the U.S. then I don’t see any point in working or starting a company and employing anyone. What’s the point?
@@viffer94 so you are using portuguese comunal services and paying them to whom?
@@luisfilipe534 It is a problem isn't it? There are times when the tax treaty will fail and an individual or company will have tax liabilities to both countries. Regardless the new laws seem to be having the intended effect. New residents and foreign investment will stop coming into Portugal.
@@viffer94 real estate speculation prevent locals to buy or rent a house... And thats a definition of becoming poor.
So, at my near retirement age (in 8 years) the best I could hope for in relocating nearly anywhere worthwhile is 2 - 3 months. That's probably all I'd want anyway. Incidentally, we have family in Barcelona and they don't drink the water because it's not safe. My wife and kid go there for a couple months every summer. But, in the north (Burgos) it's ok. Portugal is getting very expensive, expats are leaving. The bottom line, nowhere is perfect. I think travel for 90 days and then go back to the U.S.
Drinking the water in Barcelona is safe, but most people drink bottled or filtered water because they don't like the taste of tap water.
Not only the water is unsafe in Barcelona Trust me on this
Grenada is absolutely fantastic. Sailing toward the Island you will enjoy the wonderful aroma of spices that actually permeate the air. I've been there, as well as to all of the Caribbean Islands. However, to live permanently
(or short term) in any of the islands does require a ton of available money.
Turkey is a great place to live, notably in the south of the country. It's the only place I've ever been that I truly could not find even one thing that I did not like. Also, it's extremely affordable. Be aware that a 90 day visa is
easy to get and can just be bought at the border for a few dollars. However, for Americans wishing to extend the visa beyond 90 days it is a formidable endeavor and quite likely will be denied.
On another note, the language barrier is minimal in Turkey since many do speak at a minimum, rudimentary ,
if not fluent English. Also the Southern areas have a very large Brit population so that does make it much easier to function there language wise.
You missed Hungry! Budapest is a wonderful place to live and relatively cheap.
If you'll actually watch and listen, this was in response to a magazine article, so you need to direct your correction to the author who wrote it. 🙄
@@leapintothewild_original People rarely do that, pay attention to details I mean.
Hungary
Warsaw is just as wonderful if not more so but that’s just my opinion man
Hungary is great if you want to live under a dictatorship
Hi, I'm wondering why you chose Ecaudor over Mexico when Mexico is closer to your Colorado family and jobs. Thank you.
I think they stated that, at the time, Ecuador was much safer.
I think they are taking somebody else's list and adding details. It is some magazine that came up with this list of ten, and they are just going over that list.
Watch their videos for the long answer.
Here’s why: ameliaandjp.com/why-we-chose-ecuador/
Unfortunately, safety and political stability no longer apply 😔
Since Japan runs in a north-south direction, its climate ranges from tundra to tropical. Most of the population centers have very mild winters -- similar to Washington DC. Also, getting around on mass transit is super easy and in most urban areas, you don't need a car. Although they seem to be tech-savvy, very few govt services are available online. The internet is just not a big thing there. But, they do have a lot of other high-tech things that make life easier. Also, housing can be much less expensive than in many US cities. I was looking at rent in Colorado and Japan (family in both), and I found that I could get much lower prices in Japan and not much smaller than rentals in Colorado. You can also get some super small places as well. Older homes go for very low prices in Japan.
DC winter is not mild
@@maidenthe80sla Yes, that seems to be correct, if you don't have Japanese ancestry or aren't married to a Japanese citizen, it can be hard to get in if you don't plan to work. But, I didn't say it was easy. I was just responding to Amelia and JP's comments about Japan.
@@kloatlanta I guess, it's all relative. I was comparing it to a place that gets snowy sub-zero (F) winter weather. I guess, WDC is probably snowier and a bit colder than Japan. Maybe Atlanta or Charleston would be more accurate comparators.
In Mexico you can drink the water in Huatulco due to a relatively new water treatment system.
Is it true that they started charging money to enter the beaches in Huatulco?
It's not so much the treatment plants especially not the newer ones . It's the old piping . As it's replaced .whole lot safer to drink .
My advice but bottled water . Safer yet .
It's not a fun thing getting sick from the water . Not even a little bit.. which cheek today for twelve days .
Love this video!!!! I choose Mexico, because it’s so close to the states. I’m living in San Antonio, one block from ajijic! The prices have gone up, like everywhere else. But still so affordable. Lots of expats, but, for me that’s good because I’m struggling to learn Spanish! The saving grace is the Mexican people! They are so wonderful and stand by patiently as I use google translate! It’s beautiful here, the weather is extraordinary and it’s easy to navigate. I received my temporary visa in Orlando. The financial requirements are a little stiffer (I heard McAllen, Texas was low). But I can easily afford to live here at a higher standard of living. Thank you for all you do because these videos helped me immensely and still do!
I just hope places like Ajijic don’t become californicated and ultimately become an exclusive playground for the wealthy elite while forcing locals to move away due to the high cost of living.
The US dollar has taken a beating against the Mexican Peso.
Find a house in Veracruz, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca, etc. are cheap cities.
I agree on all aspects of your comment. We have an apartment in SanAntonio also! My husband is there now and loves it. Im here in States waiting for house, cars, and small motorhome to sell or rent. Received out TR visas 2 years ago.
@@stevenjb.9275 No it hasn't. It's back up to almost 21 to 1.
You are the most charming couple. There are tons of RUclips creators that could take lessons from you
Thanks! 😊
Thank you both!
I have been checking out Cambodia,as a possible place to retire. Siem reap is nice,and so is phnom phen.
Cambodia is notoriously famous for kidnapping gangs,forced imprisonment and slavery to work illegally as internet fraud, Myanmar too
I thought Jim looked cool with his cap and scarf in Greece. Nice video. Amelia always looks cool
need to know what countries are good for retirees--have elevators, banisters, European toilets, assisted living, rehab or nursing homes that are decent and affordable, senior centers
GRENADA is iut of the HURRICANE BELT! that is ia PRO for Sailboat crowd
Grenada got hit by one of the hurricanes this year. A friend’s son is in medical school in Grenada.
Love your channel and its content. Seasoned world travelers know it’s not uncommon for locals to take advantage of foreigners, especially by often times charging them higher prices. It’d be great to see a video on how NOT to get ripped off or scammed as an expat.
We’ve talked about that several times.
Mexico for me !!
I am almost ready to leave America. Thanks for the information
Don't plan it out for too long or you'll never leave.
I'm 68 and recently moved to Ecuador.
It's nice and really affordable.
Now that I'm an overseas traveler, I might even explore some other options.
As someone who left the USA 12 years ago knowing where things were going I wish to give you some advise even though you did not ask for any. Don't make big plans, get your footprint down to a minimum and have everything in the USA 'done' / 'manageable' and then take off and do some affordable slow travelling to a few of the countries that you are interested in, just be a tourist and stay a month or two in each before you start spending big money or making big plans. Me? having some affection for Latin America I left the USA and lived in Colombia, spent time in Costa Rica and Panama, realized that I'd not found a good match so I moved to Vietnam, but now I am actually at retirement age and I have found that Thailand is the best for me, in the process of relocating now-ish. None of my biz, I just give you my example that it may take a few tries before you find something long term.
@@palirvin1871It’s a good plan, but I have pets who must go wherever I go. I’m a retiree.
@@mnob1122 Good Luck on that. Out of respect for pets, I don't do pets because I moved around a lot in my career and did not want to abandon pets. My life has not be typical.
Türkiye is $400,000 now, not $250,000 anymore. Barely anyone speaks English. Extended tourist (residency) visa is no longer easy to get unless you buy a property for $200,000 or more and then you only get a year at a time. Rules changing quickly. Only one person can get the residency visa with the home buying unless you are married. It’s very changed here now.
You’re right about hardly anyone speaking English except in the big cities and along the coast anyway
New Zealand has a new government as of 3 days ago. They will be much more amenable to tourists but the cost of living is horrendous.
Nice 👍 I’m hoping to hear about the best sunny places to live. Particularly, Costa Rica, Spain and the Dominican Republic. Enjoy and stay safe!!
Not being able to drink the water in Mexico, is not true for all of Mexico, in my state: Veracruz can drink tap water, because this: The INEGI evaluation tool shows that Veracruz had a rating of 8.6 percent in terms of the potability of the water, that is, you can drink it without fear of getting sick. I myself confirmed that, I was drink tap water without any fear.
Go, Veracruz!
You’re brave
Sometimes Amelia wears what appears to be a wedding band, sometimes she doesn't. Also, I've been to Grenada (the first a in Grenada is a long a like in NAY, the short a in Granada is a city in Spain). Grenada is outside the hurricane belt, therefore it does not experience them nearly as much as the islands within the belt.
Not being able to drink the water in Mexico is not true for all of Mexico. Puerto Vallarta's water been rated as perfectly safe for human consumption with a certificate of purity for 17 consecutive years.
Where I'm from in the US, there's a boil water notice the majority of the time. It's very simple and inexpensive to clean tap water
Three years ago . I thought I would die
From drinking enough tap water to get my meds down . It had been raining for few days . The town above old town up river few miles had river go over the banks . Into the town sewer system .
I had to have a shot every day for twelve days . For the most part people can drink the water just not from their faucets. Bottled most homes for drinking . Ps I was a water contractor for thirty plus years. Thanks for all you do . I enjoy much.
We would like to learn more about places that have passive income visas and what that is. We were also shocked when you mentioned Nicaragura has a retirement visa that starts at age 45! I've never heard of a country have one so young!
Idk how you can suggest Turkey without addressing its political climate and intolerance toward freedom of expression. For Americans, griping about the government is practically a national sport … doing that in Turkey could really land you in hot water.
WOW - THANK YOU SO MUCH ! We never knew there were so many other "official English language" countries in the Caribbean area, that actively sought expats from the USA ! Grenada and St Kitts sound very appealing, especially with their ties to the EU access. Our first choice - Costa Rica - has been going thru some rough times lately (narco crime wars, high prices, and volcanic eruptions). SO, maybe we'll consider the Caribbean, mon !
Sorry, I take that back, the hate part, but look up Point Pelee Provincial Park butting out into Lake Erie. You learned something today!!!
What about Thailand? I'm hearing good things about this country!
A Spaniard living in Orange County CA. My advice about Spain. Be willing to hire professionals regarding bureaucracy, taxes and properties. Spain, like most of Southern Europe, is not a country as regimented as the USA or Northern Europe. There are plenty of options open for expats but I recommended to hire experts to do it. Every autonomous region of Spain is different with different laws (Kind of like the States in USA) and it is important to hire local agencies (In the area that you want to live) to get much better results. It is not an outrageous cost and the good results will give you a much better piece of mind and conditions for a better life in the country.
Great advice! 👍
Grenada did look most interesting. I wonder how reliable their power and water are?
Very reliable and it's a fantastically beautiful place to live. BUT the big HOWEVER is that
it's super expensive to live. If that's not a problem then it certainly gets the blue ribbon.
I taught fitness in Spain and Japan. Had tremendous experiences in both countries, along with some frustrations! Was in my late 20's-early 30's. I'd consider returning to either or perhaps Portugal or Northern Italy. Dang...where is that $15 million I had saved up for NZ!
I think International Living's Global Retirement Index would be a more accurate/applicable list for your audience. Still love your informative videos though. Keep 'em coming! 😊
What are the top places on that list?
Hi! Thanks! I have no such option. Have the option basic that was first.
Great content as usual. Thank you. The countries in the Caribbean are pronounced Gren-ayda, Nee-vis.
Grenada is considered to be outside the Hurricane belt for insurance purposes.
Spain has a NLV Non-Lucrative Visa - this is good for retirees...
Because of dividends, I first began investing in stocks. It's important, in my opinion, to be able to live off of dividends without selling if you invest and make other income in addition to payouts. It suggests that you may pass that down to your kids and give them a leg up in life. Over the years, I've invested over $600k in dividend stocks; I continue to buy more today and will keep doing so until the price drops even further.
I think you give a good example and I wish that I'd gone down that route.
Grenada doesn’t have hurricane problems, thats why sailboats go there?
the grass is usually browner on the other side
We’ve experienced a lot of greener pastures since leaving the U.S. in 2017. Only a couple brown, but other people think those are green, too.
The answer is: Ecuador. 🙂 And you two are the reason I moved here. Thank you so much!
Poland loves Americans
My major reason for not wanting to live in Italy is Italian isn't spoken much anyplace other than Italy. It is a beautiful country with great history.
Correct. Not much point in learning a language that isn't internationally useful.
Many americans Re very happy in albania. I live it here. Many speak english! All yoju need is 3000 in their bank. Also, amwricans can stay one year..italy expensive and out in 3 months.
Thanks. When are you two going to wander around the world and cover other countries? I’m curious about more details about Spain vs. Costa Rica in particular.
Very soon!
Parts of Italy are like being in Texas. Hot, humid with lots of bugs and mosquitoes.
@@Carole-x9v I think that you may be describing an allergic reaction; the "standard" size of a mosquito bite is typically a "half-penny" in diameter.
Which parts please?
Thanks, I want a place with heat and cool!!!
My wife and I just got back from a two-week vacation in Spain, beautiful country. We went to Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Córdoba, and Sevilla. The latter three cities are in Andalusia and it was hotter than blazes, first week of October 99F in Granada! The humidity was only 15% but still hot. And in some other videos I've seen about Spain those southern cities get up to 115F. The other interesting thing is that Barcelona most people speak Spanish but the prominent language is Catalan, what looks to be a hybrid of Spanish and French. Good day is Bon Día for example. But most everyone relating to tourists could speak English pretty well.
The Costa del Sol (Andalucia) can get super hot and humid in the summer. But other seasons can be quite pleasant.
Sounds amazing!
Spain is the best. Islands , beaches, food , culture , skiing, history , lifestyle , weather
@@barrycoughlan1695 how is the skiing in Spain? I have friends who have skied the Sierra Nevada but I haven't skied it myself. Most of my skiing has been in Tahoe/Soda Springs area, and a week at Whistler/Blackcomb in BC.
The six-month tourist stay for Aemericans visiting Mexico is no longer guaranteed. I just entered via Mexico City, they asked me a few questions, and gave me 90 days based on my answers.
You can renew your tourist card at a local immigration office.
How a country treats it’s immigrants and marginalized citizens is an indicator of how one’s social interactions may be.
Turkey raised the real estate citizenship by investment threshold from 250K to 400K a year or so ago.
I'm posting in late 2024 regarding Mexico. When I applied for Temporary Residence 6 years ago the monthly income requirement was $1450/month. It is now 3x, $4500 with a commensurate rise in savings. There are over 1 million US citizens in Mexico. Mexico decided it no longer wanted poor gringos. And btw money fixes everything. Buena suerte, America.
New Zealand has always been a pain in the rear… In the 90’s they weren’t allowing immigration at all from anyone outside the commonwealth and the only reason they allowed commonwealth was they didn’t make those rules.
But beyond that, your list should have been titled countries tgat like RICH Americans, all others stay home.
Amelia and JP;
I'm with you Amelia, Grenada seems interesting:
Tks. much.
Grenada is on my list now.
Thanks, you do a great job!
Certainly, the countries on your list will accept some American expats under certain conditions. As you said in the video. That being said, I would NOT have bothered with New Zealand at all nor had it been on the list Australia They absolutely DO NOT want anyone over 50 (unless you are extremely wealthy) ;or have a highly needed skill such as being a Medical Doctor. Think James Cameron types for the investor type or Mark Zuckerburg types.
Most American expats do not have large sums of cash to invest in properties or bond programs so countries offering those I would not have bothered with IF that was the only pathway to live there nor would I have bothered with ANY country requiring an annual pension income of more than $24 thousand US dollars because most retirees do not meet that requirement.
I also would not have bothered with countries that do not have long term residency options for pensioners. Why go somewhere that you will have to leave within months or a couple years.
I became an expat back in 2017 and I did look at many of the places on this list and other expat websites and I settled on a country that I met the income requirements, could afford to purchase a cheap house and had a central location for my travel plans. Unfortunately that meant having to live in a country that has a real winter and 4 seasons. I have lived in southwest Hungary ever since I left the USA and have zero regrets. I am in the process of obtaining permanent residency. Hungary is not for everyone but if you have reasonable expectations and are retired it is not a bad place to live and you can easily drive or fly to the the popular European vacation spots like Greece, Italy and other locations for not a lot of money.
Great! The adventurous can live almost anywhere.
How do you maneuver around Hungary without knowing the language? Do most people there also speak English?
Many young people have taken English in school but for the most part I use google translate or just get one of my Hungarian friends that speaks English to help if I need help. Most of the time I manage without any help with very basic Hungarian word knowledge. Hungarian is extremely difficult to learn but I have been a resident of Hungary since 2017 and have not had much difficulty.@@Betty-my3tw
This is the only possibility I agree with you. And I am saying that from here in Australia which is paradise but it’s so expensive. If I live to be 67 I have dual citizenship I can dust off my American ssi and maybe move
SSI is a needs based welfare program for those who do not have sufficient means to support themselves and do not have enough quarters paid into the regular Social security system. You are not allowed to have many assets and cash. I think right now the monthly SSI payment is around $850USD per month...sounds like a lot until you see how much the cost of living is in the USA. You will not likely find housing for less than what SSI pays much less be able to do much of anything about eating. I would not count on that plan if I were you unless you have a relative that will feed you and let you couch surf you will be a homeless person living on the street. @@mashton6631
Tbilisi Georgia is still a fascinating and abortable city to live in ....I stay here 9months and then go home to Maine for the summer ,,,,been doing that for 12 years on limited budget , able to save enough for round trip ticket and extra money for high cost of Maine summers . I absolutely love living in Georgia ( despite the current politics ) It is still a very safe city .
Enjoy your channel. Subscribed! I have traveled extensively but now that I've retired I am looking at Tirana for a year at first. Any recommendations for a rental agent there? Peace and thanks
A big concern for older migrants is healthcare insurance. We have been looking at Spain. At 70, with preexisting conditions it is much more complex and expensive a problem.
LOL nice shout out to Billy Ocean!
well, hot weather and bureaucracy you have in several countries in Europe.
Question: did you post a video on which country you have chosen for your 2nd residency? I watched the video that you discuss the countries that you didn't pick
We shared our top 10 list but won’t make a decision until we’ve visited most of them. ameliaandjp.com/10-countries-to-consider-for-secondary-residency/
The USA is a big country and there are still a lot of areas that have very nice places to live.
No. Especially for retirement. Why are you watching this?
Because I like they're channel!@@formica.
Doesn’t matter where you live, healthcare is still unaffordable unless you have Medicare or a job with the govt or a big corporation.
True enough. If you're lacking health insurance living overseas could ease the problem. However, if you are among the millions who are covered that's a big thing you will probably lose by relocating overseas. At any rate I enjoy your channel and was just offering another perspective.@@AmeliaAndJP
It's about quality of life. 120+ countries are ranked higher in safety. 30+ are ranked better in health care. It's much cheaper to live outside of the U.S.; even in places where it seems expensive. You just have to know how to structure your life.
Don't forget about Romania!
Thanks for the laugh
@@nala3038 Why do you laugh?
@@joarvatnaland6904 Because nobody remembers Romania?!
Absolutely great country especially the Romanian Carpathians. We go there frequently and
love it. For an out of this world experience, drive the Transfagarasan Highway.
We'd consider Romania. It's exotic, the language is easy -- it's Latin-based -- the weather is temperate, the terrain varied, and both the latitude and soil are those of the wine regions of Italy. It's also a firm US ally and a NATO member.
What are the rental and housing costs!!!
is that cathedral shown in the section about Granada (Caribbean island) on the island? from that brief glance, it strongly favors the one in Nicaragua.
That was an editing error we missed.
Its an attractive idea to retire in another country, but many large risks and challenges are rarely mentioned. For retirement visas, many countries require a pension, yet most careers stopped providing one 30 or 40 yrs ago. Note also that if you have most of your nest egg with U.S. investment companies, they do not allow you to manage those investments once you have a foreign address. Further, exchange rates can erase a considerable portion of your assets. In the last 20 years, Euro to dollar has been as high as 1.57 : 1. Relocation overseas is more than just learning a new language, high (and complicated) taxes, and a very long distance move.
Social Security counts as a pension and some countries allow stable payout investments like annuities. We recommend keeping a U.S. address for financial purposes. Everyone we know still manages their investments from abroad. That is not an issue. Ecuador, Panama and Belize are on the dollar or pegged to it so you don’t lose any money to the exchange rate in those countries. Many other countries like Mexico, Colombia, Paraguay, Thailand, the Philippines, Albania, Bulgaria, etc have weak currencies compared to the dollar. Euro countries aren’t the only option.
@@AmeliaAndJP Some very true points. EU is not the only option, and SSA is considered "passive" income. It will come down to each individuals situation. I just retired early and it looks like U.S. is do-able, but I am not eligeable for SSA for some years yet. And when eligible, it won't cover the $3k / month that many countries require. Having earned over median salary, my situation is probably not unusual.
I have heard of schemes to keep a virtual U.S. address, but this seems risky to rely on to manage U.S. assets. Alternately, maintaining a second home in the U.S. is not workable for many who are looking at cost reduction as part of the reason to leave U.S.
Not looking to knock your channel. It really is great insights that would be difficult for people to get without going to these countries and doing a lot of research. These are very useful for some, but again, comes down to the individual.
Japan would give most Americans culture shock. It is a modern country and it is very safe. You have to learn a lot of new customs, but they do like Americans. I have been there and I am half Japanese too.
No shock for me, I really liked it. Made friends and enjoyed the customs there.
I traveled alone twice to Japan for three weeks and enjoyed it. No culture shock just loved all the food and everything and even studied and learned some kana and phrases before I went. Enjoyed the Shinto shrines and many other things.
@@enjoystraveling Since I am a relative, my relatives let me know when I did something that was culturally wrong. It only happened once or twice. If they don't know you well, they don't tell you, But I am glad you enjoyed Japan.
@@robinpettit7827 Yes, of course if you’re only in the country a few weeks, especially Japan they’re gonna be polite not tell you if you do something culturally wrong
I did read several books and the Internet about the culture in Japan and how to be polite there and where to take off shoes etc. but of course I could’ve done wrong things without knowing it.
I just meant even though Japan is a very different culture from the United States, I enjoyed it, instead of felt shocked or lost.
Interesting list, but wow, some of the monetary requirements are insane, lol.
I am from Lebanon. If i came to gbr US as a visitors or expatriate will the Americans welcome me or they will ask me to go back from where i came?
I see there is some confusion about the Caribbean island of Granada (pronounced Gran - AY - da) with the charming town of Grenada (pronounced Gran - ah -da) in Nicaragua. Many of the photos are of the town in Nicaragua, especially of it's historic domed church. Oops. You goofed!
Grenada 🇬🇩 the country is spelled with an “e”. You have it backwards. maps.app.goo.gl/uhKxejComZWj7k128?g_st=ic
It's Saint Kitts and NEEVIS (rponounciation), not NEHVIS
Grenada, but Panama and Ecuador my top 2 picks right now! Maybe Mexico! Luv your videos!
My most significant ex-gf of my life moved to Portugal a year ago. If this is an easy country to move to, I'd hate to see the hard ones. Lots of time, flying from Denver to San Francisco for an interview. It took many months.
What I don't understand is why these countries that require you meet a certain monthly income level do not lower that requirement if you were to buy a property outright. Obviously, you need less money to survive on if you already own a property. If I own a house in Italy, why, as a single person, do I need 31k euros to survive? It is certainly not that expensive.
Any thoughts on Albania? It’s still a secret in the Mediterranean compared to Greece, Italy, Croatia etc.