How to Move Abroad When You Have No Idea Where to Start

Moving abroad starts with five things: picking a realistic destination, sorting out your visa, getting your finances in order, handling the logistics, and giving yourself permission to figure the rest out once you’re there.

That’s the whole process. The rest is all in the detail.

Key Takeaways:

Start with your budget. The country you can afford to live in comfortably matters more than the one that looks best on Pinterest.
Visa research comes first. Your legal options determine where you can actually go.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. Most expats will tell you they learned more in the first month abroad than in a year of planning.

Plenty of people want to move overseas. Fewer people actually do it, because the gap between “I’d love to live abroad” and “I’ve booked a one-way flight” feels enormous.

According to a 2025 Harris Poll survey, 52% of Americans think they’d have a better quality of life in another country. But most never take the first step.

However, that first step doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just needs to be practical.

How Do You Choose a Country?

This is the place where most people get stuck. They spend hours scrolling through lists of the “best countries for expats,” comparing dozens of cities, and end up paralyzed. Don’t be that person.

Instead, answer four simple questions:

What’s your monthly budget? Be honest. If you earn $3,000 a month, Western Europe is tight, but Southeast Asia or Latin America could work. Cost of living should be the first filter, not the last.
Do you need to overlap with US time zones? If you have a remote job with afternoon meetings, a 12-hour time difference will make your life miserable. Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica keep you close to the US time zone. In Europe, Portugal is the closest country to US Eastern time.
What visa can you actually get? Over 50 countries now offer digital nomad visas, but income requirements range from $750/month (Colombia) to $3,500+/month (some European programs). Check what you qualify for before planning anything else.
Do you have kids or a partner? Family needs change the equation a lot. School quality, healthcare access, and safety become top priorities. Countries like Spain, Portugal, and Mexico are popular with expat families for good reason.

So, the rule is: Don’t aim for the perfect country, aim for a good enough one.

What Should You Sort Out Before You Leave?

Once you’ve got a destination, the practical stuff kicks in. Here’s what actually matters, in rough order:

Passport and visa. Make sure your passport has at least 12 months of validity. Start the visa application early, because processing times vary wildly. Some countries take a few weeks, others take several months. Don’t assume it’ll be fast.

Finances. Open a Wise account if you don’t have one already. It’s the cheapest way to hold, convert, and send money internationally. Tell your bank you’re moving so they don’t freeze your cards on day one. And if you’re American, know this: you still have to file US taxes every year, no matter where you live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can reduce what you owe, but the filing obligation doesn’t disappear.

Health insurance. Your domestic plan almost certainly won’t cover you abroad. Look into international health insurance from providers like Allianz, Cigna Global, or SafetyWing. Many digital nomad visas require proof of coverage as part of the application.

Housing. Don’t sign a long lease from overseas. Book a short-term rental for the first month through Airbnb or Furnished Finder, and find something permanent after you arrive and can actually see the place. This will save a ton of headaches.

Stuff. Sell or store most of it. Shipping furniture internationally is expensive, slow, and often not worth it. Pack two suitcases and buy what you need locally.

If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed, Read This

The biggest mistake people make isn’t picking the wrong country or forgetting some paperwork. It’s waiting until everything feels perfectly planned. That moment doesn’t come.

Most people who’ve successfully moved abroad will tell you the same thing: they figured out half of it before they left and the other half on the ground. The expat community in basically every mid-sized city is full of people who showed up with a suitcase and a rough plan, and built their life from there.

Buenos Aires, where I’m based, is full of people like that. So is Lisbon. So is Chiang Mai.

You don’t need to know everything. You need to know enough.

FAQ

How much money should I have saved before moving abroad?

A good rule of thumb is three to six months of living expenses in your destination country, plus the cost of flights and initial setup. For most popular expat destinations, that means $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the location and your lifestyle.

Can I move abroad without a job lined up?

Yes, though it’s easier with one. Freelancers and remote workers have the most flexibility. If you’re planning to job hunt after arriving, make sure your visa allows it, because many digital nomad visas require proof of existing remote income.

What’s the hardest part of moving to another country?

The logistics are manageable. The emotional adjustment is harder. Loneliness in the first few months is extremely common, even if you’re excited about the move. Building a social circle takes effort, and it doesn’t happen overnight.

Do I need to speak the local language?

Not always, but it helps enormously. In countries like Portugal, Mexico, and Thailand, you can get by with English in major cities. But learning even basic phrases makes daily life smoother, earns goodwill with locals, and opens up opportunities that English-only expats miss.

What documents do I need to move abroad?

At minimum: a valid passport (with 12+ months of validity), your visa or residence permit, proof of health insurance, and copies of important documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates. Some countries also require apostilled criminal background checks or financial statements.