What is an Expat?
What is an Expat? Our experts discuss what it means to be an expat.
Ask the Experts
So, you have decided you want to live overseas. That’s great…this is where your journey begins. Moving abroad raises many questions, and can sometimes seems like an exhaustive list of things to check out before you go.
Sometimes the more answers you get makes you realize you have even more questions that you hadn’t initially thought about. In order to be well prepared for you move overseas, we recommend doing extensive research.
Luckily help is at hand and you are not on your own on this journey, we're here to help you every step of the way.
Do you have questions about living or retiring overseas? Do you need information about moving to Mexico or the visa requirements for Italy? Wondering which places would suit a single woman moving overseas? Is healthcare, affordability, or security your main concern?
If it’s important to you then it’s important to us. Submit your question below and have it answered by one of our many on the ground experts living their dream overseas. Since this can be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, you need the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Our experts have been where you have been and know all the decisions and challenges you will face. They will give you unbiased and honest advice so you can rest assured you have the information you need to make an informed decision.
While we do our best to answer questions, unfortunately, not every question can be answered. We have an extensive library of content on the website that should be able to you help you with your query. If, however, your question is urgent please contact our customer service team here.
This is your opportunity to submit your question to our experts, gain real-world know-how, and start making your live-abroad dream your reality.
All Your Live-Overseas Questions Answered...
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Ask the Experts Archives
Everything You Need to Know About Medicare Overseas
With a few exceptions for emergency or urgent care, Medicare plans will only cover you within the U.S. and its territories. But should you maintain your coverage when you move abroad? Expert Ron Elledge answers some common questions.
Traveling Safely Post-Pandemic
As the world slowly opens up and we yearn to travel again, the first thing to consider before you book that getaway is your own health. With travel comes risk for exposure to the COVID-19 virus, and good underlying health means a safer journey. We asked Shane McCarthy D.O., who has over 20 years’ experience as a primary care physician, for advice and tips to help you travel safely in the future.
Living Overseas with a Disability
We understand your concerns about accessibility. Having a disability is a unique characteristic with different people having different needs. Our experts are not making assumptions about anyone’s abilities. The question here is specifically about wheelchair accessibility. For that reason, these experts have submitted their observations about mobility accessibility in various countries.
Do I Still Have to File Tax Returns as an Expat?
I expected a lot of new experiences in my life when I moved from the U.S. to Mexico in 2018. I looked forward to meeting new people, discovering a new culture, and learning a new language. As a former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) attorney, however, one thing I didn’t anticipate was the number of U.S. expats I would meet who neglected to file their U.S. tax return.
Planning a Retirement Scouting Trip
Always wanted to live in a foreign country but not sure how to go about it? A lot of our correspondents and contributors went on retirement scouting trips before making the big move overseas. It takes time to learn which country, and even what town or city within that country, is your best fit. Below they share their experiences and what valuable lessons they learned:
What Language is Spoken in Portugal?
Would you believe that not everyone knows that Portuguese is the official language of Portugal? Some think that Spanish is spoken here, and although both languages do share many of the same words, pronunciation of European Portuguese resembles more of a Slavic language...
What Does Gringo Mean?
In most of the places I've lived and traveled, including Costa Rica, Roatan, Dominican Republic, Mexico, etc. gringo is a term for any expat, North American and often Europeans as well. It's not an insult, which is the connotation in the U.S.
Is it Safe to Live in Uruguay?
While the good old days of almost no crime are gone, Uruguay is still safer than most other countries. For perspective, the 2020 Peace Index ranks Uruguay 35th out of 163 countries. (For comparison, the U.S. ranks 121st.) Many say Montevideo offers the highest quality of life of any city in South America...
Is Belize A Safe Place To Live?
I am thinking of a retiring and am researching destinations. As Belize is an English speaking country and it rated in your top 10 I was pleased. However when I researched the crime rate in Belize I was shocked to discover how bad crime is in Belize.