Expat Advice

Learn From International Living's Expat Network

International Living's expat network is your key to a new life in a new country. Get real, honest advice from people just like you. Discover the tips, tricks, shortcuts, and strategies you can use to cut through red tape and improve your life overseas right away.

Read about and learn from real-life experiences our expats have had in their new home countries, from health care to taxes and much more.

Expat Advice Articles

Your Best Chance to Visit Ecuador
Posted on May 16, 2012 by Len Galvin

Ecuador is a retirement paradise. Yes, it is the winner of IL’s Global Retirement Index 2012. But you don’t need an index to tell you that the climate is incredible…and varied—lush mountains, dense Amazon jungle, sun-drenched Pacific beaches…
IL Radio Episode 32: Panama—Your Residency and Visa Issues Answered
Posted on May 10, 2012 by Dan Prescher

When you talk about Panama, you’ll often find that you’re talking about all the things that make a place a tropical paradise. Panama is hugely popular with U.S. and Canadian expats, and for good reasons. But like any place else, having experienced legal help on your side is critical, even in Paradise.
One Way to Get Immediate Residency in Panama
Posted on May 9, 2012 by Robert Bauman

The Panamanian side of the Darién is dominated by deep valleys, rivers and a 6,000-foot-high mountain peak. You won’t find much else here. Starbucks hasn’t made it, and there’s no Home Depot. This is frontier country. But you will find an open door to immediate residency in Panama, along with a chance for profitable investing.
Your May Issue of International Living—Five Top Stories
Posted on May 3, 2012 by Eoin Bassett

“This is frontier country… You won’t find much here. Starbucks hasn’t made it, and there’s no Home Depot. But you will find an open door to immediate residency in Panama,” writes IL Offshore expert, Bob Bauman, in your May issue of International Living magazine. Bob explores an opportunity in Panama’s Darien province and reveals the ideal visa if you want to live in Panama, but don’t qualify as a retiree, or you want to avoid the process needed for an investor’s visa.
Move to Uruguay for the Best Quality of Life in Latin America
Posted on May 1, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

As in European cities or neighborhoods of Manhattan or Chicago, whatever I need or want can be had within these 10 square blocks of Montevideo. I was just getting started on my expedition to Uruguay’s coastal cities and towns, but already I could understand why so many expats living in this country say it offers the best quality of life in Latin America.
What We Want is a Better Quality of Life Overseas
Posted on May 1, 2012 by Jennifer Stevens

Thinking about retirement, we usually focus on money. Are we saving enough? With the cost of living ticking up and interest rates near zero, it’s a reasonable question. But preoccupied with funds, we often forget to reflect on why we save to begin with. What we’re really after, I’d venture, is an enjoyable, meaningful, comfortable lifestyle. We save, ultimately, so we have greater control over how we live. But at home today, it often feels like we have less control…and fewer options.
How to Get Immediate Residency in Panama
Posted on April 25, 2012 by Robert Bauman

Since my first visit to Panama in the 1970s I’ve returned countless times and visited every part of the isthmus except one—the Darién Gap, a large swath of swamp, jungle and forest, 99 miles long and 31 miles wide, that separates Panama’s Darién Province from the Republic of Colombia.
Panama: One of the Easiest Places in the World to Retire
Posted on April 20, 2012 by Dan Prescher

Sometimes the best way to see something is through someone else’s eyes. For example, I know Panama. My wife, Suzan Haskins, and I lived in Panama City several years ago, and we’ve traveled nearly the entire country. We’ve also attended dozens of International Living events in Panama.
Pulling the Plug on Panama
Posted on April 19, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

There’s a little mountain town in the interior of Panama where you can still buy a home or a large parcel of land next to a gurgling river. It’s likely this land will have waterfalls and hiking trails on it…you’ll see wild parrots and toucans and flowers of every tropical variety and color. The tall grass waving in the breeze will be so green, it would make even the Irish envious…
Baring All in Panama
Posted on April 18, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

Today Al took us on a virtual tour of Panama City—his typical day. Paying his housekeeper, going to the bank, out to lunch, paying bills, to the movies… Al and Carmen own a three-bedroom, three-bath condo on the 14th floor with a bay and city view. This area is now the “Beverly Hills of Panama City,” Al said.
Panama: Don’t Believe Everything You Read on the Internet
Posted on April 17, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

It’s good to be back in Panama, the tiny country on the southern edge of the northern hemisphere, one of the only countries to bridge two continents… and the only country in the world where you can see the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic. Did you know that? If not, don’t worry…there are so many things unique to Panama that it’s hard to track them all. For instance… Panama is the only country in Central America with no hurricanes and no destructive earthquakes.
The Most-Asked Tax Question (and the Surprising Answer)
Posted on April 11, 2012 by Nick Hodges

We all look for ways to minimize our U.S. tax bill and maximize our freedom abroad. We all desire to simplify our tax and reporting responsibilities. We want to think less about taxes…and enjoy more of our international experience. The promise of the foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE) is that you can earn as much as $95,100 in foreign income and not pay a dime of U.S. income tax on it.
Where to Retire on the Cheap
Posted on April 1, 2012 by Eoin Bassett

At home, prices are rising. It costs more to put gas in the car, buy groceries, and pay for health insurance. At the same time, retirement savings eroded in the market downturn. And with interest rates at near-zero today, it’s difficult to rebuild. More than ever, retirees need to stretch their dollars.
IL Radio Episode 31: Expat Tax Tips
Posted on March 29, 2012 by Dan Prescher

I’m Dan Prescher for International Living, and this week I’m talking to Nick Hodges—a guy who specializes in helping U.S. expats navigate the minefield of rules and regulations and properly file their taxes no matter where in the world they live or what their financial situation is.
Eight Ways to Avoid Buying Overpriced Property
Posted on March 28, 2012 by Margaret Summerfield

Buying a home overseas is not as easy as buying in your own home country. So how do you figure out if you’re paying a fair market value for your overseas home? Follow these steps.
Five Attractions for Less than $10 in Quito, Ecuador
Posted on March 27, 2012 by Chuck Stanley

Within a few hours of Ecuador’s capital, Quito, you can tour the jungles of the Amazon, relax on expansive, sandy beaches, or hike up snow-capped volcanoes. No wonder it’s a popular jumping-off point for adventures, or a great base from which to seek out the perfect retirement spot.
Retire Cheap: Great-Value Towns Where You Can Live Better for Less
Posted on March 27, 2012 by International Living

At home, prices are rising. It costs more to put gas in the car, buy groceries, and pay for health insurance. At the same time, retirement savings eroded in the market downturn. And with interest rates at near-zero today, it’s difﬁcult to rebuild.
Budgets in Great-Value Towns
Posted on March 27, 2012 by Robert Carry

Santa Fe in Panama…Vilcabamba in Ecuador…Penang in Malaysia…Granada in Nicaragua…Campeche in Mexico…you know these havens come with a rock-bottom price tag, but on what, exactly, do expats in these locations spend their money on? We’ve asked on-the-ground experts for a detailed breakdown of what a typical couple might spend each month. Here’s what they said.
Three Places Where You Can Buy a Second Passport
Posted on March 12, 2012 by Robert Bauman

There are good reasons for obtaining a second passport; expansion of travel possibilities; concealment of nationality for safety reasons; exercising the right to reside in another country; opening offshore bank and other financial accounts; easier crossings of international borders when a primary passport is lost or stolen.
How to Get Discounts on Everything in Panama
Posted on March 8, 2012 by Jessica Ramesch

In some countries, residency can be expensive (needing, perhaps, investments of hundreds of thousands of dollars). Not in Panama. Panama’s Pensionado program has made it easy for Baby Boomers to take advantage of everything this tiny tropical powerhouse has to offer. Most pensioners who can prove an income of at least $1,000 a month are eligible to apply.
Live Better For Less Overseas
Posted on March 3, 2012 by Dan Prescher

The idea of living better for less overseas has been around for a long time. So long, in fact, that there are a surprising number of people doing it right now. As a constant participant in International Living’s events, I notice this surprise on the faces of attendees every time we do a seminar or conference.
Safety, Prosperity, Freedom – Welcome to Your New Home
Posted on March 1, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

When it comes to living the expat life, there is only one candidate that deserves your vote: You. As your own commander in chief, you can live wherever you like and by your own set of rules. I’m Suzan Haskins and I’m writing to you this week from Cancun, Mexico, and the International Living Ultimate Event 2012.
Last Chance to Listen…
Posted on March 1, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

“This is my first time,” a pretty lady named Jos confided to me. She lives in a beautiful home overlooking the ocean on Australia’s western coast. “I love my home and I have no complaints with my life there,” she said. “But my husband has been working and living in Vanuatu (a gorgeous South Pacific island) for five years…and he has wanderlust.
Move Overseas: How to Fast Track Your Plans
Posted on February 29, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

Where in the world shall we go today? If you’ve been dreaming of Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, or the Dominican Republic (wow!), come on—let’s go. I’d like to take you on a whirlwind tour of these countries. With only the best, most knowledgeable (and most entertaining) guides, of course. I’m Suzan Haskins, reporting to you from International Living’s Ultimate Event, going on now in Cancun.
The Good Life in Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Posted on February 28, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

He had a huge panoramic photo of his home—although you really couldn’t see the house for all the brilliantly colored bougainvillea tumbling over the walls and the fruit trees in the yard. Mango, lemon, lime, orange, raspberry, passion fruit, banana, and much more we weren’t familiar with…even coffee.
What Life Overseas Really Looks Like
Posted on February 24, 2012 by Jennifer Stevens

Skeptics inquire: Are the opportunities overseas really as great as we at IL portray them to be? The short answer is “yes.” But don’t take my word for it… Listen, instead, to the many firsthand stories we’ve collected in the current issue of International Living magazine—on-the-ground reports from folks who decided to answer the question for themselves…at the beach…in the hills…in cities…or on islands…
Why You Should Consider Moving Your Assets Offshore
Posted on February 9, 2012 by Robert Bauman

As a lawyer for many decades now, I know how important it is to read and understand what you read. I also know from experience that Americans have been bombarded for years by class warfare politicians attacking wealthy people as if success in life was a crime.
Enjoy Freedom, Opportunity, and Adventure When You Move Overseas
Posted on January 24, 2012 by Glynna Prentice

Five years into my expat life, I look forward to downsizing. In fact, I recently bought a small, manageable, lock-and-leave property in Guanajuato, in the Colonial Highlands. It’s a far cry from what I thought I wanted when I first moved to Mexico… Then, I’d wanted a good-sized house, instead of an apartment as I’d had in the U.S.
The Tips, Tricks and Secrets to Retiring Overseas
Posted on January 23, 2012 by Dan Prescher

When my wife, Suzan Haskins, and I moved overseas in 2001, we had no idea how much we didn’t know about living abroad. But we learned quickly. I still remember trying to figure out the nuts and bolts of Spanish hardware…literally.
Get a Safe Deposit Box Overseas
Posted on January 18, 2012 by Robert Bauman

A safe deposit box is just a lockable metal box or drawer, inside a bank or private vault, which is used for safely storing your valuables. And the annual rent for a safe deposit box can be as little as $500. On a traditional safe deposit box there are two different keys, both of which must be used to open the box. One key (usually two copies of it) is given to you as the box renter.
Cutting-Edge Wealth Protection
Posted on January 16, 2012 by Robert Bauman

These islands are an independent country joined in “free association” with New Zealand. It has its own government and court system, the New Zealand dollar is the local currency, and it definitely qualifies as what used to be called a “tax haven,” now replaced by the politically correct term “offshore financial center.” Fifteen in all, their beaches are of white-powdered sands, the waters aquamarine and turquoise, and the climate ideal.
The Best Retiree Benefits in the World in 2012
Posted on January 10, 2012 by International Living

There are a number of special benefits, discounts and breaks you can gain access to as a retiree overseas. Some countries stand out for the amount and quality of benefits they offer foreign retirees. Panama tops the category with an organized program of discounts and perks called the pensionado. The program is open to foreigners and there’s no minimum age requirement.
Expat 101: Overseas Finances Made Easy
Posted on January 5, 2012 by Suzan Haskins

If you’re a U.S. citizen you’ll never be able to walk away from the dollar completely—even if you move overseas. Likewise if you’re a Canadian or citizen of another country—it’s hard to totally divorce yourself from your national currency. Here are two reasons why…
The Most Affordable Places in the World
Posted on January 5, 2012 by Eoin Bassett

The country that takes the number-one spot in the Annual Global Retirement Index 2012 is also the clear winner in our cost of living category. A couple watching their spending here can live well on $800 a month.
New List Reveals Best Countries to Live
Posted on January 4, 2012 by Eoin Bassett

Look at the right places beyond our borders today, and you’ll find you have more good choices than ever for a comfortable—even a pampered—retirement. In any one of our top 19 havens for 2012, a lifestyle well beyond your reach in the States could be yours for pennies on the dollar.
The Scores and How Our 2012 Retirement Index Works
Posted on December 31, 2011 by International Living

In our Retirement Index this year, we’ve changed how we do things, narrowing down the countries we focus on to the top 19, and considering each across eight crucial categories: real estate, special retirement benefits, cost of living, ease of integration, entertainment and amenities, health care, retirement infrastructure and climate.
The World’s Top Retirement Havens in 2012
Posted on December 31, 2011 by International Living

Look at the right places beyond our borders today, and you’ll find you have more good choices than ever for a comfortable – even a pampered – retirement. In any one of our top 19 havens for 2012, a lifestyle well beyond your reach in the States could be yours for pennies on the dollar. In this, our annual Global Retirement Index, we bring you the top choices available on the planet today.
Solid Advice About Moving Overseas
Posted on December 27, 2011 by Dan Prescher

Years ago we’d talk confidently about the benefits of Mexico versus Argentina…or Ecuador versus Costa Rica. I’m finding that we don’t do that as much these days.
The Problem With These IL Countries is…
Posted on December 21, 2011 by Suzan Haskins

It’s impossible to compare and contrast the merits or disadvantages of entire countries. It’s not because there aren’t differences between entire countries… there are obvious and, sometimes, major ones. The visa choices and requirements of Belize may be a better match for you than those of Nicaragua. Panama’s tax laws may meet your needs better than those of Costa Rica right now.
The World’s Best Retirement Havens
Posted on December 20, 2011 by anon

Look at the right places beyond our borders today, and you’ll find you have more good choices than ever for a comfortable – even a pampered – retirement. In any one of our top 19 havens for 2012, a lifestyle well beyond your reach in the States could be yours for pennies on the dollar.