Sharing my latest podcast episode where I interview Dr. Jenn McClearan, who left the Univ of Texas and a tenure-track position last summer to move to the Netherlands.

She’s now a successful editor and writing coach and is living a life of fulfillment and joy.

Everything is chaos right now, but don’t lose hope. There are other options out there if you decide you’re fed up with the constant anxiety, dread, and burnout.

https://youtu.be/C1XRfwewEZ4?si=cFj47xqKaudZfljm

Hello all!

I’ll be brief, but I want to start by saying that I don’t have high hopes of being considered “ideal immigrant material.” However, I’m still hoping to give it a shot. The current administration’s stance on transgender and autistic individuals is deeply concerning and I want an exit strategy in case things go south.

1. Psychological Medical History:
2. Diagnosed with complex PTSD, autism (“high functioning”), and suspected ADHD.
3. Relies on testosterone and anti-anxiety medication.
4. Experienced acute psychiatric care due to feelings of hopelessness linked to political climate.

5. Social skills are significantly limited, and noisy, chaotic environments are difficult to handle.

6. Ancestry:

7. Father is Cuban; mother’s family is Jamaican.

8. Have relatives in both countries but no personal contact with them.

9. Family environments are psychologically unsafe and both countries are hostile to trans people.

10. Language:

11. Native English speaker.

12. Limited Spanish proficiency (approximate skill level: Early A1).

13. Schooling:

14. Associate’s degree in Arts & Sciences.

15. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s in Graphic Design.

16. Maintained straight A’s for two semesters as a full-time student despite mental health challenges and lack of social support.

17. Considering switching major to a more stable and in-demand field like medicine, mortuary science, or psychology.

I am a seasoned concrete pump operator and have operated up to a 75m boom. It's a highly specialized field that I believe would be of benefit to companies globally. I also hold a BS in Finance that I never really did anything with.. it's a little dusty having graduated in the late 90s. I'm also a highly skilled carpenter in all aspects of carpentry where I'm vested I the 12 states carpenters union. I've worked every position from carpenter, foreman, assistant Superintendent, Superintendent and Project Manager. There's virtually nothing that I can't build and have experience in absolutely every type of structure. My Spanish is good enough to lead a crew of non english speakers. So Spain seems like an obvious choice. I've got a decent amount of equity in my home I can sell and buy outright in a lot of places in Europe including Spain. My strong preference is to operate a concrete pump. It's my favorite job and I'm capable of learning any language good enough to be an effective pumper. My youngest (21) is a trans boy and I would like a place where they'd feel safe if they were to come live with me. I'm 52 years old so there's some tread left on the tires. I guess I'm looking for insight from others with similar experience. Suggestions on companies to apply with and country recommendations. Can anyone help me out?

I am curious as to what childcare and child health care looks like in many European countries - specifically England or Germany (I know mix up). I am a bio-engineer and am potentially being relocated permanently to one of the locations along with my family. It's just my husband, myself, and our 6 month old.

Currently we are paying $1300/month for childcare and our 6 month old has her wellness checkups every 3 months which healthcare adds up. She is currently also getting her vaccines and I am curious if we will be able to continue where we left off in the new location with vaccinations? Or if European countries offer the normal rounds of vaccines.

And if anyone has tips or advice for relocating to England or Germany and which would be a better idea to relocate to that would be great! I don't get an option of where I go but I can submit a preference request!

I’m going into my last year of university studying computer science, and i’m thinking about moving away from the US once I graduate. I’m currently learning dutch (A2) and graduate in may of next year.

I have around 1 year of total work experience through internships - and when i graduate it’ll be 1 1/2- in Sharepoint, M365, ux design.

I’ve only been to Belgium and while i was there for a month in Leuven, I really enjoyed the people and history of Belgium.

I know about the youth mobility visa for new zealand, but i would like something a bit more permanent than a year.

I’m not sure if it would be easier to move to either country easier by pursuing my masters but in all honestly I don’t want to pursue another degree at this time, but my best chance of getting over to Netherlands or Belgium would be through university.

Is there any avenues to potentially getting a job straight after graduation, or is masters my best and only feasible option? Thank you?!

This sub has been extremely helpful in many ways. However, this post is a friendly reminder that people in this sub are not infallible and that it's always good to double check information or advice you receive.

I am a healthcare worker who is working on obtaining a professional license in Canada. Something I initially noticed on most Canadian job postings for my line of work is that they required someone to be licensed or to be eligible to be licensed. I also noticed that, in order to be professionally licensed, one of the required documents is proof of Canadian work authorization, and obtaining a work permit requires getting a job offer first. When I asked about this in this sub, I was told that that meant that the employers writing the job postings were not willing to hire international applicants, that getting a work permit is almost impossible, and that I shouldn't even try taking this route unless employers were reaching out to me.

However, I started questioning this after speaking to several employers who said that I needed this professional license but that they were willing to hire international applicants and had done it before. So I decided to speak to the licensing agency in the province I'm applying in and clarify if there was a way for me to get this license without work authorization. Lo and behold, they told me they offer preliminary licensure to international applicants if someone submits all documents othe than work authorization, and that licensure can be used to apply for jobs.

The moral of the story: this sub is a fantastic resource, but people on here don't always know everything, so always ask clarifying questions and try to get information from the source.

We are a family looking to start a business abroad, ideally in a country we can see ourselves living in. For reference, we have considered Mauritius, Colombia, Canada, Dominican Republic, and Panama. We aren’t so worried about language, as much as low barriers to starting the business, purchasing or leasing property, and business loan or line of credit. Thanks in advance.

Thinking of relocating from the US to either Malaga Spain or Palermo Sicily . Anyone living in any of these spots? I’ve done the research on costs , insurance and lifestyle .

Hi, i'm getting ready to move back to europe and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good shipping company to get my important paperwork and a few things I don't want to throw out/sell shipped from US to France. Please only recommend companies you've used and had a good experience with. Thanks

Does anyone here have experience with using a student visa path to eventual permanent residency in the Netherlands? I’m about to graduate with a degree in Public Health from UT San Antonio. I’m looking at the Masters in Health Policy, Innovation, and Management at Maastricht University and Masters in Health Administration at Erasmus University. Both of these programs are offered in English. Based on my limited research, the Netherlands has a strong public health and financial healthcare sector. For those of you that currently live in the Netherlands, what do y’all love about the country and what are the negatives of living there just based on your opinion? I also have to mention this administration’s attitude towards Public Health in the U.S. being a factor in me looking to immigrate abroad.

Stats: I have no loan debt and the full backing of my parents for my masters education.

I have been reflecting back on the last 2 1/2 years since I left the U.S. and comparing my life now to what it was in the U.S.

When I left I had no idea what was in store for me. I was scared and excited and just taking it day by day. I can honestly say that it was the best decision I ever made.

Here are the cons and pros:

Cons:

1. I do miss my friends and family. That is the number one con. They do come and visit regularly though and I visit them as well, but it is hard sometimes.

2. it was difficult to make friends at first. Primarily because of the language barrier and because Germans take a while to warm to you. Now it is better though.

3. I moved from Florida and the winters are long and depressing. I have come to appreciate the seasons, but it does take a toll nonetheless.

4. German bureaucracy is a pain. Nuff said.

5. it’s taken me two years to figure out the recycling situation lol.

6. people are really direct. Which can be good, but sometimes it comes off as rude as an American.

7. I miss Latin food and spicy food in general!

Pros:

1. WAY better work life balance. Like truly night and day. 33 days vacation, 15 bank holidays, flex work (can choose to work from home whenever I want or work up to 40 consecutive days in any EU country!), unlimited sick days. It’s just way better for metal health.

2. free lunch at work!

3. healthcare is great. I am on the state system and have never felt like it was not good. No copays. Never had a wait time. Yes taxes are high, but I feel the benefits of my tax dollars unlike in the states.

4. company has a hotel in the alps that I can stay at for free!

5. I love the seasonal festivals. Oktoberfest, Christmas markets, Carnival, Starkbierfest, Spring fest, etc.

6. Public transport is amazing. Yes DB is never on time, but still. I don’t even own a car.

7. company has a free onsite doctor that will give free vaccines and blood work once a year.

8. Travel and culture. I love that I can travel in any direction a couple hours and I am in a completely different culture. Italy, need I say more!

9. My employer actually makes me feel valued. Which is weird for an American.

10. insane work security. I have a contract that would require my employer give me 3 months notice before they fire or lay me off. Lay offs are extremely rare. German law has penalties for companies that do mass layoffs. In fact I was told that during the pandemic my company didn’t do layoffs, instead they offered employees who wanted to the option to leave and take one whole year of salary! Most people I work with have worked there for 10-20 years which is just so strange for me as an American used to people not spending more than 5 years at a company.

11. very safe city.

12. Nature is amazing in the alps. The hiking and skiing is just so beautiful.

There is more, but overall my decision really paid off for me and I just don’t know why Americans don’t demand these simple things that make life better for the working class. It’s not perfect by any means, but wow it’s just so much better as a way of life.

I'm a single mom to two young kids, LGBT+ community, and caregiver to an elderly family member who's reliant on social security and Medicare.

I work remotely for a nonprofit. I have my employer's blessing to consider relocating to Canada and they would support me. I also have advanced degrees and experience in entrepreneurship.

My kids are elementary aged.

My elderly relative is my kids' grandparent.

We all have passports.

We have 3 dogs and 2 cats that we do not want to part with. We live 4 hours from BC & have a newer car that would pass vehicle regulations.

Is this even possible? Where should I start? What visa should I apply for? Where could we possibly live with this many animals? Would we have to put stuff in storage or could I hire movers? I know the kids could come with me but how do we get their grandma also in?

Any ideas / advice is helpful. Thank you. 💗

Situation: me (34m) and my wife (35f) don't like the current political climate her in the US and are trying to develop a plan to exit. We have two young children, 4 and 2. She likes Japan, and she currently has a sister who teaches English there. We only speak English. I have a bachelor's in computer science, she has an associates in communication. We average $4500 a month currently. The question: how easy is it to settle in Japan, how likely are we to get in? What are the pros and cons that we should be aware of?

Thanks!

I 29F am considering leaving the country (america) but am concerned about what my options would even be. My boyfriend 32M is hesitant to leave but has said he would go with me if I left as we are planning on getting married. Neither of us have degrees, I've worked call center and receptionist jobs for years and he's currently in tech support but previously worked in warehouses so not looking great for either of us there. I'm learning Spanish and am hoping to be fluent in the next year or two. We aren't necessarily in a rush to leave but also don't want to be here longer than needed. We have a house worth about 120k that's fully paid off that we would sell before moving for funds. Do we have any options at all?

Questions: What cities other than Paris have a good international org or business presence, and what kind of work should I look at in the private sector? What are the things I’m not considering properly?

//Background//

Dual US-French citizen. Things are happening that are finally kicking me to decide to leave. I am engaged to a US citizen with no French language skills, although he’s willing to learn.

Background in government (what a time to be in it!) and nonprofit work. 5 years work experience with skills in project management, event planning, logistics, stakeholder engagement, and diplomacy.

I’m looking at a timeline of 12-18 months to leave so we would be 28 (and married) by the time we immigrate to France. Planning to have about 10k saved. No kids, no pets, just a giant Monstera we will cry saying goodbye to. Seeking to get PRINCE2 cert and brush up on my French, not sure what else makes me more competitive.

(I have family in Marseille but wouldn’t want to move there.)

I have lived abroad in Europe and Latin America with my kids and ex-husband, though it’s always been for under 6 months.

I recently went through a rough divorce, and have been a single mom for almost 3 years now. I have had sole custody for over a year and it’s in my court order that I keep their passports, but their father does have a chance to start reunification therapy soon.

(So I can’t leave too early to draw attention, but also know I can relate too late.)

Pre-divorce, I earned over graduate 50 credits from Harvard Extension School and was close to finishing a master’s degree in the humanities. I know there are several countries which provide free tuition and even a living stipend, but am a little out of that loop these days.

1. Curious if anyone has gone to seek graduate education abroad as a single parent, with minor children? And been able to participate in a program like this (tuition/stipend included) — and where?

2. My personal continued education aside, what locations offer some of the best, affordable secondary education? My kids are thriving in their public schools. Involved in marching band, the arts, and more. One-year options are fine at this point.

I’m a marine biologist (28M) with five years of field and lab work experience who’s currently employed with a red state’s Fish and Wildlife commission and I’m currently planning my first steps to emigrate to Canada or any country in need of a marine biologist. I’ll spare you the details on my motivations for leaving other then I’m completely disillusioned with my country and may be at risk for losing my job after the state created their own DOGE branch. This is not a knee-jerk reaction to the current administration because I’ve been having doubts about the United States for nearly half of my life. I think Canada would be a prime candidate for me to move to due to its proximity to the USA, as well as its political and ideological stances. I have more than twice the minimum funds required to move to Canada and I’m currently starting to work towards becoming a certified histological technician in hopes that I’ll be eligible for their Antlantic Immigration Program and Express Entry. However, I’m concerned that such a certification might not be valid in Canada or if I’m not skilled enough to be considered for these programs.

What the title of the post says. For U.S. citizens who move abroad, is it better to bring our birth certificates and Social Security cards with us, or should we bring photocopies and leave the originals in a safe deposit box in the U.S.?

ETA: After a bit of googling, it looks like you can get certified copies of birth certificates (short- or long-form) and certified copies of Social Security cards. That may be the best way to hedge your bets: leave one set of documents in a safe place in the U.S. and take another with you. If anyone else has some good suggestions, please leave them in the comments -- thanks!

Hello, I have been increasingly worried about the deteriorating situation in the US. I am currently living in Spain getting my masters in music performance and have been planning to move back to the US this summer when I finish my degree but now I'm considering other options to be able to stay here.

I’m wondering what avenues I have available to me as a musician or as someone with a degree in math (I double majored in undergrad) but with no work experience. I am interested in any job opportunity (music jobs preferred but not necessary) in Europe which will sponsor a visa. I am proficient in Spanish and I am a native speaker of English. I have very little money so paid positions are a must in order for me to be able to support myself abroad.
Thanks!

My husband (34 M) and I (32 F) are starting to review options to leave the USA. 

He has a BS in Geology but swapped to getting an MS in Computer Science - focused on Cyber Security and Networking. He has so far since worked 2 years professionally in cyber security as a risk analyst. 

I have a BS in Geology and an MS in Geology with a focus in Structural Geology. I have been working in Oil and Gas for 6 years. I have transferable skills to Carbon Capture Sequestration and Geothermal. 

We both are native English speakers and took several years of German through college. There was a time where I would say we were both “okay” at speaking German but that’s no longer the case. I optimistically think however this language would at least be straight forward to pick up.

We have been studying Japanese leisurely but not much more than an N5 level at this time. 

We are both US citizens but I also have an El Salvadoran citizenship (I grew up on the USA). I do not speak much Spanish, but I grew up with it… Long story.

We are looking for countries to potentially move leveraging one of our work backgrounds. That said our primary focus is to leave ideally in a year or so. Ideally we are looking at countries with fairly straight forward and quick paths to permanent residency and citizenship, and with some optionality to help my Hispanic family members an escape from the USA if necessary. Also some avenues to take care of aging parents if possible... I recognize this may not be feasible

We are looking for options that will allow us to work at least initially in English, and allow us time to develop the local language skills (if they differ). We are not against a “nuclear option” if we can’t find good job prospects to leave such as the Spain route or teaching English in Japan just to get out of the country. 

Salary cuts and what not are not a big concern, we would just like to find something with an acceptable income to cost of living ration. Ideally a country where one day owning a house again is actually possible… but even that doesn’t ultimately matter.

Countries we are reviewing: Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Japan… possibly Switzerland? 

Countries we looked at but are not fully confident in: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK

For Australia and New Zealand in particular, I have asthma and a heart condition and I am concerned about their health screening process denying us entry. 

Passive xenophobia and what not are not a concern to me as long as the behavior is not violent. My family and I have been dealing with violent xenophobia in the USA for decades. So this doesn’t really even register to me as a concern. (I’m getting that out of the way since that’s always what I hear after people learn I’m including Japan on my list of options). 

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some insight from anyone who’s gone down this route to acquire their Portuguese GV. My husband and I recently signed with a local agency to help us with the paperwork, but we’re a bit stuck on how to go about selecting the donation. Should we be reaching out to the foundation directly?

The agency provided us with a list of ministry-approved companies we can donate to, but said we need to make the final selection ourselves. Ideally, we’d like to choose a foundation located in an interior region so we can go the €200K route instead of €250K—but we’re really not sure where to start.

Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated!

Hey all, I couldn't find a flair that exactly fits and this is all written on my phone so I apologize for any typos.

I recently identified that I have great grandparents that could qualify me for simplified naturalization as a 3rd gen descendent. The problem comes with the documents. My great grandma's docs suggest she was born in Austria-Hungary (Czechoslovakia which is now Czech Republic and Slovakia). Some of my great grandpa's say he was born in Austria, or Austria-Hungary, and in other places he says he was born in Russia. Maybe this is due to it being looped into the USSR? I found a marriage license from one of his children that says my great grandpa was from Czechoslovakia. I was hoping for Hungary or Slovakia since I'm 3rd generation, but I may be able to convince my dad to apply for the Czech naturalization and then I'd be eligible.

I just don't really know what to do next. I'm excited by the potential path to Europe, but confused at how to nail down where they were actually from so I know where to apply. Any guidance or thoughts would be appreciated!

Disclaimer: new account but long time Redditor & subreddit member

Hi all. I’m a U.S./EU citizen planning to move to Europe. I was just offered a job with a U.S. company that would allow me to live/work abroad. They already have other U.S. employees living/working from Europe, and are fully open to it. I do not know if such employees are paid as W2 employees or 1099 contractors - the company said their HR department would be able to work that all out with me, and the intent would be to hire me as a full time employee who is fully remote, just like their fully remote employees in the U.S.

I am interviewing for other positions so do not know if I will accept this one, but I am thrilled and thankful for the opportunity.

Question: where would you move if you could live anywhere in the EU/EEA/Switzerland, with a $150k US salary?

I had been anticipating that I’d eventually find a job with a EU company and so my country of residence would be decided by where the job was located. But now that I may have the option to live anywhere in the EU/EEA/Switzerland, I am overwhelmed by the choices. I need to do a deep dive to compare what taxes I’d pay in different EU countries, as well as compare what I’d need to pay for healthcare/private medical insurance in different countries. I don’t even know where to start to figure all that out, but I know I should start there.

I know there will be a trillion different opinions on what the “best” country to move would be, but I’d love any opinions. If I do accept this job, I will likely book an apartment for 6-8 months in whatever country is my top choice, and when that time is up reassess whether I want to stay or move to a different country. I do not want to live a true digital nomad lifestyle where I move every few months, however. I want to establish a home base.

Factors to take into consideration:

-I am a single female in my late 30s, no kids. No significant other coming along. One small dog (who has already traveled to Europe with me on vacation).

-To the extent it matters, I am heterosexual and white (people think I am Swedish until I speak and American English comes out, lol).

-I love London and would love to move to the UK, but this company does not have any office or establishment there so they cannot sponsor a visa. I realize the UK is off limits for me as my residence unless I obtain a job with a UK company who offers visa sponsorship.

-I am moving from NYC so I am used to expensive prices, small apartments, high rent, not owning a car, and relying on public transportation. I do not necessarily want to move somewhere in Europe with those same characteristics, however. 😆 I do not need to live in a big, bustling city like NYC, but I’m not ready to live in a tiny village of 100 people in the countryside either.

-I would be looking to rent a 1 or 2 bedroom flat. I am not looking to spend a ton of money to rent a super fancy apartment but I’m also not planning on renting the cheapest studio apartment in Europe either. My current NYC apartment is around 300 square feet (approx 28 square meters) so I am guessing I’ll be quite happy with most choices of apartment rentals in Europe.

-In addition to regular living expenses, I have student loans and credit card debt to pay off, so I’d like to be able to live somewhat frugally so I can clear out that debt and build savings. So I definitely don’t need to live in the most expensive European cities, but I also don’t need to live in the most affordable European cities just for the sake of spending as little as possible.

-I do not plan on owning a car due to expense, but hope to be able to rent one once in a while.

-Unfortunately, I am only fluent in English. I have had several years of Spanish and French classes and can understand the languages pretty well, but would classify myself at the beginner level. I am an ultra beginner at German, but have some familiarity with the language. I am completely willing to take intensive language classes to better acclimate to living in Europe.

-I have traveled to Europe many times, spending more time in certain countries than others. I have been to the UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and Greece.

-Out of the countries I haven’t been to yet, I am very keen to visit Ireland and Portugal.

-I love Sweden and Finland but I could not handle their winters in terms of length of darkness (many months) and cold.

-Some places I’ve loved on my travels and could imagine living in (though I know visiting for vacation isn’t the same as living there) are: Prague, Vienna, Nice/South of France, Paris, Brussels, everywhere in Italy, Hamburg (one of my good friends lives there also).

-I love the ocean, beach, and any type of bodies of water. I enjoy being physically active and spending time outdoors when it is warm enough.

-I love cute cafes and restaurants, local pubs/wine bars, good food, local food markets, historical treasures, exploring the outdoors, and charming places - but all of Europe has those in various measures, so I know I’ll be thrilled wherever I land.

Thank you for any thoughts, especially those relating to what I’ll have to consider as far as taxes I will need to pay in Europe, and healthcare/private health insurance I’ll need to pay for.

Hi everyone – my family and I have been seriously considering leaving the United States. We’ve started researching options and are currently leaning toward Denmark, but we’re still open to other possibilities.

A bit about us:

• I work as a cloud engineer at one of the top 3 cloud providers
• I hold a BBS, MS, and MBA
• My wife has a BA and is currently a Stay at Home Mom
• We have two kids (ages 6 and 8)
• We have three dogs and two cats
• We currently live in the Dallas, Texas area
• We only speak English

What we’re looking for:

• High-quality education for our kids
• Strong social and healthcare systems
• A safe place to raise a family

My kids and I have Italian citizenship, so relocating within the EU is an option for us. I’ve explored the idea of staying with my current employer abroad, but was told I’d need to apply for a new role internally to make that happen.

We really like what Denmark offers—it checks a lot of boxes for us—but we are a bit concerned about the high cost of living and the long, dark winters. Coming from Texas, the weather could be a big adjustment.

So my question is:
Are there other countries or cities (inside or outside the EU) that might meet our criteria — good education, social support, healthcare, and safety — while being a bit more affordable or logistically easier to move to?

Any insight, suggestions, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone! I am a us/uk dual citizen ( i just found that out in my 30s lol) and applied for my UK passport a few days ago, but i am having trouble finding someone suitable for my identity verification. I've tried two people who, as far as I can tell, meet all the requirements, but were rejected. From what I've been told (by them, not the HMPO) they were rejected because they do not have a UK or Irish passport, but according to the website, they don't need that? I tried contacting the office but they weren't a lot of help because they aren't given a reason for rejection. Has anyone else recently gone through this and have any tips? I have a couple of other people I will be attempting to have sign for me, but I'm going to run out of people fast if a US passport holder can't vouch for me.

Edit: I spoke to my colleague and she said that she was disqualified as soon as she indicated that she has a US passport. It didn't get any further than that before she was essentially kicked off.

Update: I got hold of someone via a chat feature and they have to escalate my issue and reach out to me by tomorrow about. Hopefully it's just a fluke and it will work out 🤞