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

Wine: Growing Money in Argentina
Posted on May 20, 2013 by David English

You’ve probably heard the old joke that the best way to make $10 million in the wine industry is to start with $20 million. But these days in Argentina, nothing could be further from the truth.
A Guide to Cuenca’s Best Neighborhoods
Posted on May 17, 2013 by Edd Staton

For many reasons, Cuenca, Ecuador earns top billing as one of the world’s top expat destinations. The cost of living is low—three-course lunches start at $2.50—the weather is great, usually around 65 to 70 F during the day, and it’s never too cold or hot.
How to Enjoy Your Retirement On the Road
Posted on May 15, 2013 by Lynne Martin

At ages 67 and 72, we became senior nomads. We had taken stock of our lives and realized that we were happier on the road than anywhere else—and that becoming home-free would give us the flexibility we needed to experience life in other cultures. Since then, we’ve lived in nine countries, and we have no plans to stop until the wheels fall off!
Video: The Colonial Charm of León, Nicaragua
Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jason Holland

León, Nicaragua, about 1 ½ hours northwest from the country’s capital, Managua, is a colonial city with a history to rival better-known Granada.
This Sure Beats California…
Posted on May 9, 2013 by Patti Morrow

Margit Gantt wanted to find a more fulfilling lifestyle than the one she had in California. She was looking for great weather every day.
Simple, Laid-Back, Caribbean Life
Posted on May 8, 2013 by Elizabeth Wright

So there we were, my husband David and I, retired in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, we had a lovely home in a great development and spent our time remodeling, doing volunteer work, and getting on with our lives.
Pirate Speak, Burgers and Blues? All in a Day’s Work
Posted on May 7, 2013 by Steenie Harvey

In 19th century New Zealand, I’m sure, speaking like that, I’d have been understood. After lengthy voyages, its early immigrant settlers were undoubtedly familiar with jackspeak—sea-faring slang. Not far from Auckland, the Riverhead is a historic tavern whose walls are adorned with bizarre nautical sayings. Most of those sayings have long vanished into the vault of forgotten phrases.
A Very Common Expat Problem…
Posted on May 7, 2013 by Dan Prescher

Our new friends paused over their meatloaf and mashed potatoes (an expat favorite served by one of the enterprising restaurateurs in our little Ecuadorian town). They had invited my wife, Suzan, and me out to lunch to seek some advice now that they’d been in town for a while. “We found the perfect house,” they said. “We have the utilities and Internet hooked up… we opened a bank account…
Conventional Wisdom?
Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jennifer Stevens

Like a winter coat in a swimming pool, conventional wisdom can drag you down. Don’t have enough to retire on? Work longer, it says. Want to live well? You need a big house, a big car, and a massive budget.
In Pictures: Great Health Care in Seven Top Retirement Destinations
Posted on April 25, 2013 by Jo Gibney

There are any number of reasons people choose to pack up and move overseas—great weather, culture, low-cost-living and improved quality of life. But an increasingly important consideration is affordable, quality health care
Health Care Survey: The Best Havens for Quality Care Overseas
Posted on April 22, 2013 by International Living

You’ll find excellent, affordable care in many locations overseas. But where? For our 2013 Health Care Survey, we asked our experts to reveal what’s on offer in seven of the world’s best havens today. These are the most popular countries with expats: places that score high on quality of life in general.
Sagely Ignoring Conventional Wisdom
Posted on April 22, 2013 by Jennifer Stevens

“More places…more often…with more insiders as our guides.” This year, we’ve made a commitment to expand our reach…to cover the world more comprehensively…to open up for you new possibilities. People always talk about how the world is getting smaller. But as an IL reader, yours is about to expand. In an era when so many news organizations are calling their foreign correspondents home (further insulating an already myopic American public), we’re doing just the opposite.
How to Take Your Dog to Europe
Posted on April 22, 2013 by Gigi Griffis

I was talking to a sassy American woman on the cusp of retirement. She was buying my car and asked why I was selling a fairly new vehicle with such low mileage. When I told her I was going to Italy—with no plans to return—she got a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes… then looked a little sad. She would love to go to Europe, she said, but she couldn’t bear to leave her pets behind.
The Secret to a “Richer” Life in Latin America
Posted on April 22, 2013 by Warren Hardy

This past year, I turned 65. Medicare age. Yikes! Instead of celebrating—or whining—I spent several days quietly taking stock, reflecting on where I am in my life, how I have changed, what’s important. My key insight: I’m a lot happier now than I’ve ever been, because I’ve finally seen through the myth of wanting perfection. Life isn’t perfect. Friends aren’t perfect. I’m not perfect. Knowing that, I’ve learned to lighten up, go with the flow, and cut the world some slack. What a relief! I’m sharing this with you because every year, every class session, I face a room full of anxious expats who are grimly challenging themselves to become fluent in Spanish… or die trying.
How to Spot (and Avoid) Passport Fraud
Posted on April 22, 2013 by Bob Bauman

A few years ago, I spied some classified advertisements in the late International Herald Tribune and The Economist, promising to provide a “European-Union passport, fully registered and renewable” for only $19,500. A contact telephone number in Ireland was listed. So I rang it.
A Freer, Simpler Life Awaits You
Posted on April 22, 2013 by David Hammond

I have a confession. Before I moved to Uruguay I regularly associated with criminals. And their crimes were many and diverse. I lived in Washington State. And the crimes I speak of ranged from collecting rainwater in barrels for the garden (against Washington State law), to advertising a large home for sale as “ideal for a large family,” a HUD violation.
How to Enjoy Tax Day
Posted on April 15, 2013 by Suzan Haskins

Nobody likes to think about taxes, and, if you’re like most people, you probably try to ignore them altogether until tax season rolls around each year. That strategy can cost you big time, especially if you’re living overseas or planning to move overseas this year, full- or part-time.
The One Thing Everyone Should Know Before Moving Overseas
Posted on April 9, 2013 by Dan Prescher

Over the last 11 years of living throughout Latin America, my wife, Suzan, and I have missed lots of things we had back in the States. The first one for me was roasted red peppers. Eight brands in the supermarket back home… none in the first two countries we lived in. (For Suzan, it was Triscuits.)
Tips for Getting Your Residency in Costa Rica
Posted on April 9, 2013 by Jason Holland

There are several categories of residency for those seeking to live and/or retire in Costa Rica. Although it can be quite bureaucratic, the process to obtain your cedula (the Costa Rican “green card”) is actually pretty straightforward. Most expats who retire to Costa Rica and live here full time choose pensionado status.
Bringing Your Car to Costa Rica
Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jason Holland

Before you leave, work with the shipping company to make sure your car meets emissions standards. The test is done in the U.S. You should also consider whether your car will make a good match for Costa Rica. Although auto shops are common and labor inexpensive, the most common parts available are for Asian vehicles and every mechanic can fix them. It can be more difficult to repair an American or European vehicle.
Buying a Car in Costa Rica: 8 Tips
Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jason Holland

When moving to Costa Rica, many expats wonder whether they should bring their car from home or buy something when they get down there. Well… it depends. As covered in this article, “Bringing a Car to Costa Rica,” importing a car from the U.S., while relatively easy, can be quite expensive. In fact, you could pay close to the value of the car in import duties and fees.
Living in Alajuela, Costa Rica
Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jason Holland

Alajuela, just 13 miles or so from Costa Rica’s capital, San José, is in many ways the country’s second city. It is second in size, with a population of 50,000. And it is also the home to La Liga, one half a bitter soccer (here known as futbol) rivalry with San José’s team, Saprissa. The country’s main international airport is in Alajuela. And it’s the birthplace of national hero Juan Santamaria.
Volunteering in Costa Rica
Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jason Holland

For prospective expats in search of a more active overseas life, there is plenty of opportunity, especially in the field of volunteering in Costa Rica. There are several organizations that facilitate many different types of community work throughout the country. You can teach English, rescue wildlife, champion environmental or social causes, preserve habitat, help needy families, and much more.
Why You’ll Never Leave Boquete, Panama
Posted on March 28, 2013 by Jessica Ramesch

In the Highlands of Panama, near the border of Costa Rica, there are mountains and valleys velveted in deepest green. Bougainvillea scampers up the hillsides, most often in shocking, bright contrasts of magenta and coral. The place just feels good for you. People comment on it all the time, particularly the expats, many of whom will tell you their health improved after moving here.
Flying in Costa Rica: One of the Best Ways to Get Around
Posted on March 26, 2013 by Jason Holland

Costa Rica is relatively small, about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire put together.But although much of the country is crisscrossed by a modern highway system, travel from one end to another can be time-consuming, especially to certain out-of-the-way areas, because of windy mountain roadways and unpaved secondary roads.
Welcome to a Bigger, Better World
Posted on March 26, 2013 by Jennifer Stevens

“More places… more often… with more insiders as our guides.” This year, we’ve made a commitment to expand our reach…to cover the world more comprehensively…to open up for you new possibilities. People always talk about how the world is getting smaller. But as an IL reader, yours is about to expand. In an era when so many news organizations are calling their foreign correspondents home (further insulating an already myopic American public), we’re doing just the opposite.
Transportation in Costa Rica: Getting Around the Country
Posted on March 26, 2013 by Jason Holland

Costa Rica is a relatively small country–about the size of New Hampshire and Vermont put together. And that means getting around is easy and inexpensive, and you have a variety of options. For trips to nearby towns and from outlying areas into town, there are regular bus routes, as many Costa Ricans don’t have cars.
Health: The 7 Best Havens for Quality Care Overseas
Posted on March 25, 2013 by Eoin Bassett

“There is something amazing about the medical system here, and something not quite right with ours,” says Shane Simons, who moved to the tropical island of Penang, Malaysia, eight months ago from Los Angeles. “My doctor in L.A. told me I needed a mole removed from my neck. I was in his waiting room for 45 minutes and his consulting room for 45 seconds.
Your World Just Got Bigger…and Better, Too
Posted on March 25, 2013 by Jennifer Stevens

“More places…more often…with more insiders as our guides.” This year, we’ve made a commitment to expand our reach…to cover the world more comprehensively…to open up for you new possibilities. People always talk about how the world is getting smaller. But as an IL reader, yours is about to expand. In an era when so many news organizations are calling their foreign correspondents home (further insulating an already myopic American public), we’re doing just the opposite.
The Upside of Opening a Bank Account in Your New Home
Posted on March 25, 2013 by International Living

There are good reasons to consider opening a bank account in your adopted home country. And it doesn’t mean you need to close any of your U.S. accounts, either. So what exactly are the advantages of having a local bank account?
The Seven Best Havens for Quality Care Overseas
Posted on March 25, 2013 by International Living

There is something amazing about the medical system here, and something not quite right with ours,” says Shane Simons, who moved to the tropical island of Penang, Malaysia, eight months ago from Los Angeles. “My doctor in L.A. told me I needed a mole removed from my neck.
My Advice: Leave this “Baggage” at Home
Posted on March 25, 2013 by Edd Staton

Whether coming with suitcases or loading a container, people relocating abroad fret about what to bring along on their new adventure. Precious keepsakes, favorite books and photos…there’s only so much room. Well, I can recommend eliminating one thing…
“My Most Embarrassing Spanish Gaffe”
Posted on March 16, 2013 by Edd Staton

If you move to a foreign country where the native language is different to your own, I’m not about to tell you, “No problem.” On the other hand, even if you’re thinking about moving to a country like Ecuador with Taco Bell-level Spanish skills, I offer myself as evidence that you will not perish.
Rent in Thailand from $400 a Month
Posted on March 9, 2013 by Keith Hockton

Thailand is one of Asia’s most popular countries for expats. It’s safe, women can travel alone without problems, the cost of living is low, and getting a retirement visa is simple. But buying property is tricky. Which is why so many expats in Asia rent instead of buy. Renting is easy, affordable, and sometimes the only way to live in a country. Plus, if you want to move on and try out a new place, you just pack up and hit the road.
How to Collect Your Second Passport
Posted on March 8, 2013 by Bob Bauman

What’s your reason for not already having a second passport? Too much effort? You don’t travel often enough? You’re happy with your home country, and the government representing it? You don’t need access to some of the world’s hottest capital markets? All good reasons, to be sure.
The Problem With Retiring Overseas is Deciding Where to Live
Posted on March 5, 2013 by Edd Staton

When my now-grown son was a little boy I used to take him to Baskin Robbins for a cone. He would stare and stare at those 31 flavors. They were all so tempting, and I watched him grow physically agitated as he agonized over his decision. Inevitably he would always pick—chocolate chip. The same thing can happen now to folks scouring the Internet for possible retirement locations.
Spend a Month in Granada, Nicaragua (All Expenses Paid)
Posted on March 3, 2013 by Len Galvin

We’re looking for someone to spend a month in one of our favorite retirement havens: Granada, Nicaragua. With new cafes, restaurants, boutique hotels and art galleries opening up all over the city, Granada has been transformed over the past five years. That’s why we want to send someone (plus a spouse, partner, or friend) there—on us. We’ll pay for the round-trip flights, accommodation and give generous living expenses.
The Truth About Health Care in Ecuador
Posted on February 28, 2013 by Dan Prescher

When my wife, Suzan, and I heard that we could get what is commonly called an “executive health assessment” in Quito, Ecuador, we decided to give it a try. Our primary care physician, Dr. Davalos, works with Hospital Metropolitano in Quito to put together a comprehensive package of tests that cover all the health bases over a two-day period.
The Magic of a New Life Overseas
Posted on February 26, 2013 by Jennifer Stevens

At home we’re fed a distinctly flavorless view of the “rest of the world.” When we get news of foreign locales, it’s most often about tragedy or macroeconomics. We have a poor understanding of what’s really “out there.” Here at International Living, we aim to help you build a richer and more nuanced understanding of the kind of life you could embrace abroad—and why you’d want to.
Banish Winter With a Part-Time Escape Overseas
Posted on February 25, 2013 by Jennifer Stevens

It’s the time of year when folks start glaring at their snow shovels. I get it. When we lived in Chicago, I used to think: Why on earth did people ever settle here? It’s when you’re most sick of long johns and scraping car windows that a warm-weather escape takes on a nirvana-like quality. But for lots of folks, it remains a dream.