Colombian citizens do not need a tourist visa when traveling to Argentina, as they are required to be present when applying for the Argentina Visa free. This visa typically allows a short-term stay and remains valid for three months. If a visa is needed, the first step is to contact the Argentine embassy or consulate in your home country. They will provide detailed information on required documents, forms to complete, and processing times.
Colombian citizens do not need a passport to enter Argentina for a short-term stay of 90 days. Colombian passport holders can travel to various countries around the world, each with distinct visa requirements. As of September 2024, Colombian passport holders can travel visa-free to 107 countries and territories: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Aruba.
Requirements to enter Argentina include a passport, identity card, or travel document international visa for Argentina. Some nationalities may need a travel document known as the Argentina Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/AVE) before landing in Argentina. A tourist visa is not required for stays of 90 days or less, unless traveling on an emergency passport.
📹 Why We CUT Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay & Others from our Plan B List
A few weeks ago, we shared the top 10 countries we’re considering for our 3rd home and a lot of you asked why some popular …
Do Colombians need a visa to enter the US?
Colombian citizens need to obtain a US B1/B2 visa before entering the U. S., which is a paper visa with an interview. To apply, personal details, a valid passport with 6 months of validity, payment methods (credit/debit card), a digital passport photo, travel itinerary, details about the last five trips to the U. S., and a CV are required. We can assist with the paperwork and help you plan your trip. We can assist with the heavy paperwork for you, allowing you to focus on planning your trip.
What documents do you need to travel to Argentina?
A passport valid for at least six months, two current 4 x 4 cm photographs, a visa application form, proof of income, round trip reservation, hotel reservation and itinerary, and a letter of invitation if no hotel reservation has been made. A consular fee of 150 US dollars or euros, depending on the Consular Office, must be paid in the local currency of the Representation. Consular interviews may be required if necessary.
Fulfillment of these requirements does not guarantee the grant of a visa, which is at the exclusive option of the Argentina State. Consular authorities may require supplementary or additional documents as needed.
Who can enter Argentina without a visa?
Argentina has agreements with numerous countries that do not require a visa for tourism, including Germany, the United States, Spain, and others. However, visa exemptions may be subject to certain conditions, such as the maximum duration of allowed stay. Argentina also has agreements with hundreds of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter the country. However, many other countries require permission to enter.
Argentina’s visa policy allows citizens of over 120 nationalities to enter without applying for a tourist visa. This article provides detailed information on which countries need a visa to enter Argentina and how to obtain it, as well as which countries are exempt from this requirement.
Which countries are visa free for Argentina?
Argentina has established a visa-free travel policy for its citizens, allowing them to visit 171 countries and territories without the need for a visa, provided they possess a valid passport and travel insurance. As of March 2024, Argentine passports afford their holders the ability to travel to 171 countries and territories without the necessity of a visa. Airports frequently have designated areas for submitting visas on arrival. The visa is then received after entering the country that issued the visa. It should be noted that travel insurance may also be a prerequisite for entry into the destination country.
Can I travel to Argentina on US visa?
Argentina offers electronic visas for 71 countries, but only for short-term visits for tourism, business, or medical services. Countries unable to apply for electronic visas must obtain a consular visa, except for those part of the Argentinian visa-free program. A consular visa requires an interview at the nearest Argentinian embassy or consulate. Argentina is part of the MERCOSUR agreement, a regional integration process created in 1991, allowing citizens to enter Argentina with valid IDs, not passports.
Does Buenos Aires require a visa?
Argentina permits visitors from a multitude of nationalities to enter the country for a period of up to 90 days without the necessity of a visa. To ascertain whether a visa is necessary, it is advisable to consult the relevant website. Argentina has ceased imposing reciprocity fees on citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is requisite for citizens of Mercosur nations to present their national identification documents. Information regarding student visas can be found on the Study Buenos Aires website.
Do Colombians need a visa for Costa Rica?
A visa issued by the Colombian embassy is a prerequisite for Colombian citizens seeking to enter Costa Rica for business or tourism purposes. The requisite documentation, commonly referred to as an embassy visa, is typically in the form of a stamp or sticker and is obtained from a local embassy, consulate, or visa center. The specific visa requirements imposed by the government are contingent upon the destination and the passport in question.
To ascertain the requisite visa, one may utilize our user-friendly forms and submit the pertinent application. Prior to submission, our team conducts a comprehensive review of your application with the objective of optimizing the probability of approval.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Argentina?
U. S. citizens traveling on an emergency passport must have a visa for entry or re-entry into Argentina. They cannot apply for a visa upon arrival and must apply at the nearest Argentine Embassy or Consulate. Demonstrations in Buenos Aires and other cities often block streets and highways, with the potential to escalate into confrontation. Street crime is a problem in urban areas, including Buenos Aires City, Buenos Aires province, Rosario, and Mendoza.
High-risk areas include Rosario and the Buenos Aires suburbs of Lomas de Zamora, Quilmes, and Moreno. Robberies occur frequently, and violence is more likely when victims resist. It is essential to leave personal belongings unattended and avoid leaving handbags in the overhead compartment on buses.
Do Colombians need a visa for Mexico?
Colombian citizens are exempt from the necessity of obtaining a visa in order to engage in tourism-related travel to Mexico. However, it is imperative that they obtain a Mexico tourist card, which is also referred to as a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM). The card can be applied for either during the flight or upon arrival in Mexico. The iVisa platform enables citizens to obtain the card online before departure in as little as 30 minutes. The requirements for Colombian citizens applying for a Mexico tourist card are relatively straightforward and the probability of having the necessary documentation is high.
What countries do Colombians not need a visa for?
As of September 2024, Colombian passport holders will be able to travel visa-free to 107 countries and territories, including Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, and Barbados. As of September 2024, Colombia is ranked 66th in the world according to the VisaGuide Passport Index. E-visas are issued to Colombian citizens by several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Austria, the Bahamas, and Barbados.
How much is the ETA for Argentina?
The Argentinian ETA visa is priced at USD $400. 00, but applying for it can be challenging, especially if you need to visit an embassy. iVisa offers three options for quick visa processing: Standard, Rush, and Super Rush. Standard is the cheapest option, taking 6 days to review and costs USD $466. 99 (including visa cost). Rush processing offers a faster ETA of 4 days, but costs USD $490. 99. Super Rush is the last option, costing USD $534. 99, but delivering the visa in 3 days. These options cater to different needs and preferences, making it an affordable option for those in need of a quick visa.
📹 Digital Nomad Visa Colombia: Everything You Need to Know
The digital nomad visa for Colombia has officially been announced and applications will open on October 22, 2022. I caught up …
Chile (where I live), to my knowledge, has never required specific income amounts for visas or residency, generally my impression is that they just want to verify that the individual is not or will not become a burden to the State and public services. If anyone is interested, I can provide a recommendation for a local immigration attorney.
The Czech Republic is a great place, and living outside of Prague lowers your costs quite a bit. The language, however, is a challenge. I enjoy learning it, but it takes time to get good at it. I immigrated here, my ancestral homelands, in my early 50s. Teaching affords me a nice life. First I taught math and physics, and now I teach English as a foreign language. The country is very safe, has great healthcare, and excellent public transportation. The beer is legendary and a major part of the culture. We consume twice as much per capita as the number two country. Na zdraví!
My wife and I retired to Manizales Colombia in March of 2020, on the last flight from Miami to Pereira pre pandemic,the closest international airport. I have been traveling to Colombia since the late 80s. I agree with you about Colombia in general, however Manizales is an anomaly. It is a university city of 500,000. Great inexpensive healthcare. Super safe. Being able to communicate in Spanish is a big plus. Few Americans also a plus to me. Retirement visa easy. Weather 55-70 every day. 7000 feet above sea level may be a negative to JP. Super friendly people and plenty to do in the coffee region. Check it out- safety not an issue in Manizales!
Oh man, my mom just got back from spending a month in Chile (we live in Canada) and when she tried the fruit here she said it tasted like nothing and every fruit and vegetable (she particularly loved cherries, oranges, avocados (known as paltas there) and chirimoyas) she had in Chile was intensely flavored and delicious (not to mention cheaper), this also affects the overall flavor of everything you eat out as well. I had a similar experience after spending 3 months in Thailand. It’s almost depressing 😢
Because of dividends, I first began investing in stocks. It’s important, in my opinion, to be able to live off of dividends without selling if you invest and make other income in addition to payouts. It suggests that you may pass that down to your kids and give them a leg up in life. Over the years, I’ve invested over $600k in dividend stocks; I continue to buy more today and will keep doing so until the price drops even further.
I am still keeping Ajijic, Mex on my list as number 1 for retirement? Near Guadalajara (5 million population and world class shopping and medical facilities), Tlaquepaque for art and fun, and one hour from an international airport (one hour flight to Puerto Vallarta and Pacific beach). Also there is a very nice nursing home that is less than $2k per month with a view of the lake (private room–find that is USA).
Bulgaria has a “trade representative office” visa that makes it possible for digital businesses to settle there. If you have an established business (e.g. LLC) in operation for at least 2 years, you could qualify. You need to show a rental agreement for an office in Bulgaria, which can be inexpensive, such as from a shared office service. Income tax in Bulgaria is 10% and there’s a tax agreement with the US. A lot of digital nomads live in Sofia, with Plovdiv and Varna also popular and more affordable. You get four seasons, beaches, skiing, access to the rest of Europe, rich traditions, and lower costs than in the west.
Interesting article🙂 So whats left? My take is not to eliminate by country but to look more at locations within a country. There are states and cities within some countries that offer everything one is looking for such as safety, quality of life and cost of living and healthcare. That is our plan. Too each there own.. Its totally what someone is comfortable with.
After spending nearly two months in Brazil I am now considering it the Holy Grail of retirement locations. Climate is one category that I see constantly overlooked I personally have no interest in living in most of Southeast Asia it’s simply too hot and humid to enjoy the majority of days. I’ve spent years in both Mexico (in many cities and areas) and Colombia and both are far less safe than everywhere that I visited in Brazil. If you take the entire Southern half of Brazil and essentially forget the top half of the country the majority of the Cities I would consider to be significantly safer than Colombia or Mexico. Cities such as Curitiba, Florianópolis, Balneário Camboriu, Santos, and Joinville are places we felt very safe and comfortable. Southern Brazil feels much more like Europe you hardly even feel like you’re in South America except for the jungle and the mountains that are pretty much on every Horizon in Brazil. If you’ve always dreamed of living somewhere with beautiful beaches, tropical environment with excellent temperatures and a beachside lifestyle on a small budget I personally have not found better than Brazil. My wife and I even travelled to Greece and Turkey in search of retirement communities to consider for the future and in general we found Turkey to just be a little too different, a little too much culture shock, difference in the language and just an overall sense of I guess feeling political uncertainty. To those who visited Istanbul over the last 10 to 15 years would attest to the sweeping changes that have taken place in the city it’s a now a much more conservative places that it was 10 years ago.
Thailand has amazing healthcare. Sometimes listed in top 10 alongside Spain, etc. As long as you go to a good, private hospital. I’d be very careful about trusting whatever website told you they’re #80. It’s also much safer than Ecuador ever will be. No comparison. Biggest risk is roadway accidents. There’s really no other risk of physical harm in Thailand
Late to this article but NOT getting mexican residency while it’s still cheap is a mistake. I’m working on their residency program right now. It’s very easy to get. And you’ll only need to be in the country a few weeks over the next 4 years to get a perm residency that doesn’t expire or have “check in” requirements
I was a little shocked that Turkey was eliminated. I’ve been to Turkey a couple of times and no people who’ve lived there long term. It is a very safe country. The GPI is probably based on the border with Syria. Plus the GPI has some questionable criteria as well. It would be cool if Paraguay made the cut. It’s an interesting country that people don’t hear a lot about. However, I would probably recommend southeast Europe. Albania has an automatic 1 year visa and most of the Balkans also have favorable long-stay visas as well as DN visas. The time difference to the US is also not unworkable. Looking forward to finding out the final decision.
I think the crime stats for a lot of the places mentioned are not that bad compared to many cities in the United States. I wouldn’t necessarily discount a country based on distance. Some countries have very good connections. It is easy to get a cheap flight out of there and be back in the US in a day. Whereas some places closer might not have as many direct or as frequent flights and they may cost more. Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam and Uruguay are quite a significant distance from the United States. If very low crime is what you’re after perhaps Thailand would not be much more of a jump if you have been considering Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam and Uruguay? I do think the news you hear about places like Colombia and Mexico is over hyped though. I would rather be in Colombia or Mexico than the United States or Canada. They seem to have a lot more freedoms. I am not quite sure how the United States obtained the tag “The Land of the Free” given everything that has been happening there in the last few years.
Please consider the provinces of the Philippines. Not the areas where ex-pats traditionally live (Makati, Cebu/Mactan, etc). Pick an area that has a city with good medical care ( several private hospitals), government offices (for immigration,etc.) and the weather that you prefer. The people are friendly, the way of life is fairly organized and living costs are low.
Thank you guys for another great article. I look forward to learning. Where are you guys? Finally decide to get your second residency. I do want to say that you cannot compare the crime safety global index from Ecuador to Mexico because Ecuador is a tiny country and Mexico is a huge country I’ve lived in Mexico for three years now and I research a lot because I am also seeking a second Residency plan. I believe Mexico is indeed safer, and has a very good government foundation that is for the people.
I’m looking at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in the Philippines. Besides the retirement visa, they have a renewable tourist visa that allows you to stay up to 36 months without visa runs. You just have to go to the office and pay the fee to get your visa extended. No need for a fixed deposit, income requirements or tax filings. Low cost of living, modern conveniences, decent Internet, access to great beaches, delicious food and English-speaking. I think it’s worth exploring for a year or two…
Your analysis seems to be based on online research. I can tell you that depending on the city you live in Brazil there could be a lot of crime or could a paradise. The states of Santa Catarina and Paraná are quite developed, have a good health system and are very safe, extremely safe. You should visit Curitiba, Balneario Camboriú or Florianópolis.
We should not cut Peru 🇵🇪 off our list. Living here is so good. It depends what region and city we choose to live in. Some towns are like Vilcabamba and some andeans cities have similarities with Loja as Cajamarca, Chachapoyas. Cuenca is a gem, but Arequipa and Cusco could compete side-by-side. Global Peace Index is not making a good assessment of safetiness in Peru, probably because that index is focus in peace and not in personal-security. Health care and education for kids are good too. Lima middle-class has modern infrastructure, it is like living in Southern California’s coastline. Climate is different too. While coast in Ecuador is humid and rainy, Peru is dry and very few drizzle. Food is incredible. Instead of leaving Ecuador 🇪🇨 should add Peru 🇵🇪. 2 countries are better than 1. Moving from one to another will give you better work perspective and for sure better income.
I will choose Panama. If you like walking 2 or 3 hours per day early in the morning you have a huge beach front Malecón, all kind of services and options for food, gyms,shopping centres,huge supermarkets and farmer markets,and entertainment. Beautiful modern apartments and people from all around the world. The best of all Panama is a hub for many airlines so in just one hour or two you can be in Cartagena, Bogotá, Medellin Colombia, Venezuela, all the Caribbean Islands, Guayaquil, Manta, Quito, Lima and even Santiago de Chile. If you like to travel with a good quality of life and many options Panama is the best. I will stay there first one or two months per year and then moving.
A lot does depend on your home country or nationality. For example, I can understand your choices of countries based on your U.S. nationality, where you may need to go from time to time for family or other reasons. For English or European people, Morocco may be more of an option to consider as a cheaper place to live (as an example). As an Australian or New Zealander, the choice is more akin to South Pacific destinations such as Fiji or New Caledonia. Having said that, my favourite country to visit in Latin America is just south of Miami, but sadly nasty and cruel U.S. economic restrictions make it very difficult to visit my friends there these days..
Hey beautiful couple! I love your content. My wife and I are from Brazil and the cost of living here is insane. To enjoy life and experience the best in Brazil ( the beaches, the food, some sort of safety) we need to spend a lot! We are applying for the digital nomade visa in Portugal ( we both work remotely). By the way, we loved your experience in Porto/Matosinhos. Very inspiring! We love Brazil so much, we are so glad to have studied for free at Federal Universities, we are so proud of SUS, but social inequality and violence hit us hard. I hope we can all find a new place to call home soon.❤❤❤
I like that you show your criteria, we all have different.. I have similar to you, but need more or an urban environment with culture. In Latin America, I have been all over, I like Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico City.. I like walkability, culture, urban lifestyle.. I felt safe in all those places staying in nicer safe areas. Also, it is best to evaluate the specific area in the country you are interested in, in regards to crime, affordability, etc..
Hi. Removing Uruguay doesn’t make sense to me. As for Brazil, check out the state of Santa Catarina, especially cities like Florianópolis, Balneário Camboriu and the cities in their Vale Europeu – European Valley. Check out also mid-sized cities in the state of São Paulo, such as Sorocaba and Piracicaba, or a bigger one, like São José dos Campos.
If you both come visit Costa Rica let us know, hubby and I would love to meet and have coffee with you both!! We didn’t choose Mexico, Niceragua and Columbia 3 years ago for the same reasons having our adult Autistic Son with us Safety and Medical is priority even though we are pensinados. Pura Vida 😊
I acquired a retirement visa in Colombia 2 yrs ago and was getting to like it a lot, but recently, there has been political change. I noticed the locals started to fear the government, and I did too after a while. Federal police are everywhere. Also, Colombia has accepted millions of Venezuelan refugees, that has added to the crime and homeless problems in the larger cities. I also considered Georgia, but the Russians are just too close.
BTW, even as a tourist, you can stay up to 3 years at a time in the Philippines. Health care varies widely. If you are near Cebu City or metro manila, you will be fine. The same with safety- on our island, don’t crash your scooter or get pecked by a rooster and you will be fine- safer than most of the USA.
0945 am. We are considering doing a thing called flexpatting instead of expatting. With this, we would plan to spend three months in Ecuador every year, and then, conveniently skip the border over into Peru, or perhaps Colombia for another three months, and then spend six months at home in the states. So even though these countries have similarities so to speak it is useful for me to know more about them in the event we decide to do this type of venture during retirement.
Shocked you would leave Ecuador, after how you were so optimistic and upbeat about it. No doubt cities in the US are high in crime, congestion, taxes. But you have said you never want to own a car. You want to use transit. And you like the metropolitan lifestyle. Have you committed your goals to a fantasy? Will any city / metro in any country be low in crime, low in cost of living, low in taxes and high in benefits? I think low cost, crime, taxes will never be found in a metro area.
Amelia and JP, I don’t know if you’ve talked about this regarding Mexico in any of your articles, but it’s worth noting that Mexico has a quietly available amnesty program. I just used it to get a 4-year temporary residency that can be converted to permanent at the end of its term. I had tried for 3 years to get an appointment with my consulate in the U.S. (while I lived in Mexico) to get the residency process started by the book. Obstacles abounded. Bad roll of the dice. Plenty of other people got their residency, while I kept running into problems. Pandemic, lawyer who got sick and disappeared, consulate staff who wouldn’t answer the English-speaking line and wouldn’t talk to an interpreter I hired because they weren’t family. So I kept renewing my FMM card (“tourist visa”) every 180 days. You aren’t supposed to do that, but they kept okaying it. So I was “an irregular immigrant.” (Much nicer than “illegal alien.”) I was constantly worried that I’d get deported. I like to do things the right way. Long story short: finally, my FMM card ran out. In utter frustration, I contacted an agent whom an expat neighbor recommended to ask about the amnesty program. She reviewed my documentation, made an appointment with me to fill out the paperwork, and by the next week we were in the local immigration office. I walked out with my residency card! It took a few hours. But here is the incredible part: THERE WAS NO INCOME REQUIREMENT. I did not have to bring in officially stamped bank statements like the official government site says is required for the traditional route.
I’m the same age as Amelia so still 10 years until retirement. I have an appointment at the Mexican Embassy in Vancouver, BC in 2 weeks to get my permanent resident visa. It’s one of the easier ones to get without have to put a whole bunch of money in a bank and have to do a visa run every 3 months or have to be in the country x amount of days to keep my visa. I figured I’d do it now because all visas for all countries seem to change a lot and so does the saving and/or income amount requirements. I heard Mexico’s is going up 30% next year, plus the fees. I wanted to get at least one resident visa of 1 country but would like to have at least 3. I can see Amelia and JP’s point about neighbouring Latin countries to Ecuador, they’re so very similar so if you’re comfortable in Ecuador why bother. Also, like Amelia, I also have a problem with the time zone difference in S.A. Asia as I invest in stock dividends and don’t want to be up in the middle of the night to do my work. I also find it a lot hotter in S.A. Asian countries than Latin American countries. At one point the Philippines was at the top of my list because it’s an English speaking country and you can stay in the country for up to 3 years on a tourist visa before doing a visa run. But the food isn’t as good as Mexico, it’s not any cheaper, and the time zone. I’ve been evaluating and re-evaluating which countries to move to for about 5 years now, it really is a moving target. Plus, nothing says we have to stay in just 1 country!
Hi, JP in Amelia! Have you read the Wall Street Journal article ” Ecuador Was a Retirement Paradise for Americans. Then theDrug Cartels Arrived” yet? if not, please do. I would like to know your opinions. Is this a problem confined to the coast or is it potentially a countrywide issue for ex-pats and locals? I would really appreciate your input.
Uruguay is the Switzerland of Latin America. Best social, political, and economic stability of any country in the Spanish-speaking world not named Spain. Uruguay’s “territorial taxation” system doesn’t tax retirement income or capital gains. Dividends distributed to non-residents are taxed at 7%. If you’re retired, always look for countries with territorial taxation. Uruguay is a serious contender on my list. Unlike Ecuador, it lacks interesting topography, but its location between Argentina and Brazil sets up some interesting travel opportunities. eg the direct distance between Montevideo and Buenos Aires is ~130 miles. Ecuador has spectacular scenery, is somewhat cheaper, and is much closer to America while living in Uruguay is reputed to be safe and easy.
Just off the cuff, I wonder about what you stated about the tax situation in Argentina. If they tax worldwide income in Argentina, isn’t that deducted from any U. S. federal tax that you might owe for the same period, so that it become a wash and less of an issue? I do appreciate all the work both of you do in keeping those of us still tethered to the U. S. informed. Best of luck on finding new adventures elsewhere.
Just to understand how well my priorities align with yours, please explain what safety means to you. Are you uncomfortable with the existence of violence anywhere in your home country? Have you had personal experience with violence? Do you hear many reports of violence? Sometimes safety is an issue of personal psychology. How do you make the judgment about whether you feel safe? Regarding the exchange rate, it seems that you evaluate this differently. Is Argentina’s currency increasing in strength against the dollar? I didn’t think so. When I look at Ecuador’s currency, I feel restricted by the fact that the currency cannot weaken and thereby increase the value of my dollar. Why does it make you feel better that Ecuador’s currency is pegged to the dollar?
Colombia is great for the low cost but there are many hurdles. It is very difficult to get a long term rental without a Colombian job and a fijador (co-signer). Safety is the main issue in Colombia. From Cartels, Guerrillas, organized crime, and regular violent crime and robberies it’s not for the faint of heart.
That safety rating that you refer to does not make any means. Argentina is not safe by any means, friends getting mugged at gunpoint in what previously were safe areas in Buenos Aires. My luggage was stolen in the middle of the day in Palermo district. Crazy inflation and economic situation make people desperate and it creates unsafe situation.
Philippines is the most easy place to stay long term. No need for a retirement visa or whatever. Just go with a tourist visa and extend it in time. You can get a visa for half a year (in the country), and then extend it for another half year. Repeat that for 3 years, leave the country for a couple of days, return, and start again. No need to show any prove of income.
Brazil-wise, they also tax worldwide income. We were looking at it for a hot second. We figured that we could potentially find a safe area, but the taxes! It has no tax agreements with the US, so at least for us Americans it’s not ideal. Perú is VERY different to Ecuador. Don’t assume that if you’ve been to Ecuador you know Peru. Also, Peruvian food is much better! From a culinary perspective, you’ll NEVER get bored in Peru. Not telling you to consider it, but just wanted to clarify the point you made about living in Ecuador, thus why bother with Peru. 😊
Hi JP and Amelia. Thank you very much for this interesting article. Congratulations on just reaching 100 K subscribers. This is really a very big achievement. Regarding choosing your second home, have you considered Italy? Some parts of Italy are quite affordable and it is so amazing, very beautiful country.
You should go to South Africa. They have the best standard of living in the world. Except for the load shedding and the crime and corruption and stuff. Seriously, you can live in a safe area and have a very nice life. KZN is between the sea and the mountains, it’s beautiful. Temperate climate, very friendly people. Everyone speaks English. Medical is excellent really on par with first-world countries and cheap. Food is cheap, accommodation is very cheap. You need to have a car, but that’s also cheap. Compared to South American countries, I think South Africa is a very good option.
i am considering a second home somewhere hot and dry. i live on the west coast of canada, its okay in summer, but arthritis is a killer in a humid cold climate, last year i had the best winter ever in the cold dry sunny environment of quebec, loved it, but going to try south this winter to compare. thanks for your content. not sure how i feel about canada anymore politically, but sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t?
Damn Vietnam…place is not good for English speaking people, virtually no one speaks English, even in the main tourist area of Saigon only a few restaurants list their menu in English, otherwise take a chance with Dog soup, no signs anywhere are in English, very difficult to travel in because you do not know where you are, if you get sick you could die on the spot because extremely difficult to find medical care, Could only recommend Vietnam to Military buffs who want to check out that side of things, otherwise it’s a no go for the average western expat, plenty of people promote Viet yet they gloss over those negative points mentioned earlier for reasons unknown, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia & Indonesia are light years ahead of Viet.
Hello:) Have you ever considered Cyprus (Government controlled area)? There is a type F visa, which requires from you to own or rent a liveable property in Cyprus, deposit a certain amount in a local bank, and have a certain level of income from abroad. The exact amount are changing from year to year, but is achievable if you have a US level income. A citizenship can be obtained after 8 years provided you have passed the Greek language exam on the B1 level; and long term residence permit can be obtained after 5 years after passing the language exam. All the state documents and forms can be filled in in English and English is widely spoken in the Republic. Also there is no snow here, unless you travel to the mountains. I believe the best cities if you want to get acquainted with the local culture are Nicosia (if you want a metropolitan life, also a big US embassy is here if you need consular services) and Paralimni (if you are into Rural life); if you want a more diverse international environment – Paphos and Larnaca (there are also airports there); try to avoid Limassol as it is very pricy. There are very good big supermarket chains with fresh European food.
We were ready to return to Costa Rica, but the recent spike in CRIME has us scared. The country has a minimal police force, and drug cartels are establishing themselves and fighting for territory. The “Colombian & Mexican Disease” is taking hold, with murders by young thugs on motorcycles, and burned bodies being found on the roadside. As retirees, we’re too old to deal with that !
Yup on Thailand visa options. We had eliminated it for several reasons (time difference & distance being two as well) so I never even looked at what visa options were available. From what I can tell Gerald qualifies well for the pension visa … but given that I’m under 50 even if I had a pension I would not. I’m unclear if I’d qualify as a dependent of his like I do in Ecuador
You should go to live wherever You feel the best. I did that and after living about six decades outside Colombia (mostly in the US), I retired in my native town in Colombia, where I enjoy the some the best weather in the world, old friendhips, green landscapes, good health service, low overall cost of living and one of the safest living environments in the continent…
Brazil is a huge country and the economic development and lifestyle choices vary from region to region. I consider the 3. Southern most states of Parana, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul to be relatively safe (I have lived on and off in Curitiba, the capital of Parana for 30 years without incident). I would not want to live in Rio, Sao Paulo, or many of the cities in the North Eastern part of the country.
The money exchange rates can be disastrous for us. I moved to Brazil in 2007, when the exchange rate was 3 Real to 1 Dollar. n Shortly after, about one month later, they valued their money at 1.5 to 1 Dollar. That mean that my rent, in Dollars, doubled and my earnings, in Real, were halved. Came home soon after that.
I was considering Ecuador and Panama, but with the rise of crime I decided against it. I live in a small mountain town in the western slope of Colorado and there’s essentially no crime. I think I will stay put and enjoy my retirement in Colorado. The other factor that keeps me from making that transition is that I have 3 horses and two dogs so the logistics of moving them would be too expensive and stressful for both myself and the critters.
I like your criteria! For same reason as near Ukraine, around Serbia is now a good excuse to not go there to at least southern what-was-Yugoslavia. Bulgaria concerns me. Czechia has what looks to be an awesome digital nomad visa and perhaps can get my GF in there w/o jumping thru Schengen hoops tho since I can vouch for my Thai GF it may be not horrifically difficult. Brittany/Normandy, La Rochelle and Cadiz look great to me, and sustainable. I’m just using airBnB as a reference but should be even cheaper longer term. Caveat: I want Atlantic Ocean but Ireland may be a bit too chilly for me. I’d been looking at Portugal for ages but recently seems things are changing; mulling if visiting is better. One thing, as you said, language. I have a basis for French and Spanish. Trieste would also be a consideration, w/ Italian being a romance language. Outside your realm, Turkey appeals; tho, would use medical in Europe… hopefully somehow or Medicare back in US. Trying to get my Canadian citizenship thru descent which will make that an option. Even more outside your realm, Malay Digital Nomad is looking like the best option; my GF is Thai so we’ll be in Thailand at least some of that but I don’t want to jump thru the hoops to stay there and do NOT want to put $$$ into a “retirement” bank account and have it sit there. UGH. Son and I have family in Vietnam so will make forays there, but visa runs every 90 days YUK. Son graduates in 5y from either US or Canada so I’m kinda stuck tho now mulling going to Europe with him if Canada is to much a PiTA.
Taxes… would be an interesting article topic. You get US tax exemption on the first ~$100k if you stay abroad, and the US has tax treaties with many countries so you don’t get double-taxed (but you pay the higher of the two). Was there more to the tax issue for Argentina? For countries with territorial tax, are you falling into a loophole where neither country is taxing your income?
I saw that armed gunmen stormed a live tv broadcast in Ecuador. I’ve always said I want to retire somewhere warm, but it seems like the world as a whole is becoming more and more destabilized and I seriously think in the end, I’ll just land up retiring in the US and traveling to various warm places here and there.
About Argentina, we are full-time travelers since 2015 and we just left Buenos Aires 4 days ago after spending 6 months ( easy and cheap to extend ), with another 4 months in 2022. We paid in USD for accommodation (CC) but for everything else we never ever used a CC because the exchange through banks would have been terrible. We initially went to cuevas but soon discovered that Western Union had the best rates for us. We basically got double ! The largest bill is now 2000 pesos but we never laid eyes on one so we did have to carry wads of 1000 peso bills. It is a trade off, annoyance vs bang for your buck. Now in Chile, we still have a few wads of argentine pesos 😬 and by the time we go back, those wads will have economically melted 😳. Point is, do give WU a try and also try to spend all your pesos before you leave.
There are a number of adult care and assisted care housing units being developed in Mexico . To accommodate the many boomer who will get sticker shock when they see the prices in the U.S. My father and stepmother were paying $17,500 a month for a small unit with a nurse to check if you did your meds . This was 11 years ago, my dad passed at 95 . My friends mother in the Bay Area was paying $25,000 a month about the same time frame . They start you out at a lessor price and jack up the prices after you are locked in and get too old to move . I have lived and traveled over a large part of Mexico for more than 40 years . If you treat everyone with respect you will have little or no problems . The safest area is in the Merida area, but too hot for many in the summer . The very best weather is around the Cuernavaca Morelos area . There is also a high speed train that is starting to service parts of the Yucatan, not so high speed yet . The train will eventually connect most of Mexico with a speed of up to 300kmh or 190 mph .
Great research article. I do find it funny how most people look at affordability, crime, weather, health care, etc. Nobody ever talks about natural disasters. Since I don’t want to just visit or rent, I want to buy. Why aren’t any expats that want to own a home talking about floods, tsunamis, active volcanos, earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, etc. If you look at natural disasters around the world, there are many countries that unfortunately rule out. I live in Florida in a flood zone with no flood insurance because of costs. Not a good feeling every year when hurricane season comes around that you might lose everything. Going to Brazil in a state that has no natural disasters. As far as safety in Brazil, just don’t live in a major city.
IMO – Georgia was an option I was looking at, until the influx of immigrants from neighboring countries that sharply increased the rent prices. Else the 365-day VOA is an excellent choice. I am looking at France. As a USA citizen, I could apply for a year Visa, and renew that visa for 4-years. At the 5th-year apply for a long-term Visa, I believe it is 10-years. Health care looks great. Those immigrants staying over 90-days on Visa can enroll in the French health-care which reimburses 70% of out-of-pocket cost.
I frankly don’t understand how this international rankings are made because Colombia’s healthcare is a lot bettter than it is in Ecuador: Some cases to mention: -A few years ago the ex president of Costa Rica came to Colombia for eye surgery (she’s an expresident and can choose anywhere in the world for that surgery) she chose Colombia because it has global reputation in that aspect. -Shakira’s father was treated in Serena del Mar hospital in Cartagena for neurological issues, again she literally makes millions and can take her father anywhere, but he was rushed there by helicopter to be treated in that specific clinic. -Lots of americans come to Colombia for affordable yet top notch complex dental care. -Don’t make me talk about cosmetic surgeries. The best countries in the world to get them are Brasil, Colombia and South Korea.
And holy schlamolians! Mexico really upped their income requirements this year. I’ve been trying to get a consulate appointment for 3 years. A series of events have prevented me from getting one yet. In that time, the income/investment requirements have about doubled, sad to say. Yes, they are different at each consulate, but they are all in a similar range. This is copied from the requirements document downloaded TODAY (10/10/23) from the San Diego consulate Mexican government site for a retirement permanent visa: “a)….bank statements (savings or investments) proving a minimum monthly balance of at least $207,440.00 USD for the previous twelve months. … or b.) b. …documents which prove an income of at least $5,186.00 USD per month through a pension for the previous six months. …” Yikes! Temporary is less and needs to be renewed yearly, and it can be changed to permanent without further proof of income after several years, but it’s still daunting. Not for the budget friendly.
The language barrier is the biggest issue for me, so I’m limited to the English speaking world. I don’t want to live on a Caribbean island due to the risk of hurricanes. I’m looking at possibly Belize because I have a CARICOM passport and starting March 30, 2024 there is supposed to be freedom of movement just like between the OECS countries. This means I could live and work there indefinitely. I have never been there and really need to check the place out. I would live far away from the coast (probably in the north of the country) in the event of a hurricane to avoid the storm surge. Just like the US and other countries, I know there are places to avoid due to crime and I would need to research where the safest places are.
I am not sure you are understanding the income tax situation correctly. Very often there is a tax treaty between the United States and another country so that if you are residing in another country you will not end up paying double tax. So in any country that you plan to reside in, you should consult with the tax advisor to see what the treaty provisions provide.
This analysis underscores the problem with using country (or U.S. state) level rankings for certain criteria. While doing so is appropriate for country-level things like visas or currency stability, etc., it’s too general/generic for other things like safety and healthcare, which are better evaluated on a more local level such as cities…you know, the places where people *actually* live, as opposed to identifying/associating with. One example, healthcare is excellent in Bangkok, something not reflected in a ranking of Thailand as a whole. Another “not enough data specificity” problem surrounds crime. Many lists provide a single number/ranking that doesn’t specify details like the breakdown between violent versus property crime…drug wars spilling into the streets is a lot different than high rates of tourist pickpocketing! In short, rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are easily manipulated…often unintentionally…through inherent selection bias. Malcolm Gladwell wrote an excellent piece the topic in a 2011 New Yorker article titled “The Order of Things”…it’s a great (and free) read, and serves as a cautionary tale against taking annual “Top 10” click-bait lists too seriously (particularly when making critical decisions like where to live!)
Colombia has great health care with 48% of the best hospitals and clinics of all LATAM. So, I don’t know what you are talking about. And although Ecuador and Colombia are neighbors, the culture in Colombia is very diverse, no comparison. The environment in Colombia is also different, much more fun. One day when you have the chance to travel around Colombia you will understand.
What do I need to do an Investment Residence in Ecuador? I am thinking the Cuenca area. I don’t think I will be getting quite the $1250/month from Social Security. I just never earned that much working lousy jobs in the USA. I thought I heard in articles that I can put money in an Ecuador bank, or it could be the house that I would live in? My age is 59. Most countries are way out of my affordability range. Would I be allowed to work in Ecuador, although I most likely would simply retire. 1:20 I don’t think that you have to pay tax on worldwide income on the moon, because we of the Moon Zero-Tax-Haven Council, have ruled that rogue countries like the USA are not allowed to tax our citizens based upon moon-income. (sarcasm or wishful thinking)
Well it’s a article that has useful information but the elimination criteria seems pretty biased to the authors interests and will have limited usefulness to most expats looking for a long term home in my opinion. For example eliminating Mexico just because they already spent a lot of time there is not a good criteria for elimination especially considering all the benefits of living in Mexico like location close to the US, much higher quality of living for the cost than the US, beautiful year round weather in the mountainous regions, so much to do, excellent health care, friendly people, and nowhere near as dangerous as people think. There is so many good things about Mexico that many expats will easily find a great home and lifestyle there.
It was nice of you to include the retirement criteria here. Even though you are not considering Asia due to distance from the U.S., if you felt like making a article offering the rundown for safety, health, retirement and digital nomad visa requirements for those nations a lot of us would probably appreciate it as a resource, so it could be a successful article.
Thai Elite visa doubled in prices recently, and it was already too expensive before. However they do have a few other cheaper options like 1 year education visas, so you could learn thai language or muay Thai boxing. Philippines is easier, you can just extend your tourist visa, up to 3 years I believe. And both Thailand and Philippines are territorial tax systems so no income tax on foreign sourced income.
Hi, totally beside the point, but consider making articles on: buying land in the countryside and building a home there, what people are doing towards self-sufficiently, buying homes or buildings and renovating them, or buying a business or start a business in Ecuador. There would be a huge amount of article material here, that I would be mostly untouched.
I appreciate your help and info. Any chance you lovely people could put ti.e stamps? I know that’s extra work and as I said I greatly appreciate your info, it’s just that stamps and a running subtitle of the name of the cou try would help the listener. I’ve gone back and forth 6 times in one section trying to keep up with the name of the country.
Wow, great tip on Argentina. Although isn’t it easy to evade the taxes by staying less than 6 months? Argeninta sounds great because it has opposite weather to NA. However, the country is clearly falling apart. I am concerned for efficiency. The currency is a problem. Its not so simple regarding CCs. They often do not give the actual black market rate. Furthermore, I have checked and the Western Unions are garbage, or at least have terrible ratings on Google Maps. Banks in Latin America overall normally have these terrible ratings also. To get the good rate, you need to bring in US D as cash with makes a long term stay problematic. The Airbnbs are odd. They are still very high compared to what you would pay if you went in person.
I know there are currently some problems at night, in a few locations on the coast of Ecuador. I live in Vilcabamba and couldn’t feel safer. In case you hadn’t noticed the world is pretty much controlled by organized crime right now and we are on the verge of WWIII. The northern hemisphere is not recommended. Ecuador is as safe a place as any. The grass isn’t always greener.
I have just subscribed. Thank you for this recent article series – the search for Plan B. I think you should spend more time on your #1, PT. After NHR-cancellation, if you make ~38K (foreign or local), you need pay forty five percent tax. And, based on the comments from the locals, they do not want the foreigners, especially the Americans. It is a very expat-hostile environment.
Europe is not my option . Too many wars near by like Rusia-Ucrania, Palestina-Libano Israel and Africa and Muslim migration. I will look better to Central America or South America. Panama is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan countries with many economical options if you still would like to keep working. All kind of weather in just few hours of driving. I have heard they have excellent health care system and just few hours from Miami, Houston or Los Angeles. I’ll have to search about visas, digital visas and also visas for retired people. Services and options are from a first world country including apartments, entertainment, food and restaurants, shopping centres, beaches, rural areas and mountain towns. Probably prices are higher than in other Latin American countries but if you know how to cook your expenses will go down a lot per month.
Question — and I could probably look this up. Even if you pay income tax in a foreign country, you are still liable for US income tax. We know that. But can you deduct your foreign income tax from your gross income, thereby reducing your US income tax liability? If so, for some countries this might work.
Dominican Republic: One hour from Miami. Eastern Standard Time. Temporary and Permanent Residency can be obtained immediately with about $1500 a month retirement funds (they have a retirement, investor and other residency programs). After 2 years you can get citizenship and a passport. The best choice for someone that wants to be close to the US. DR making it easy to retire. No transfer tax on real estate, no income tax on your retirement funds. Go right to RESIDENCY rather than playing the continuing visa games.
another great one. Thanks Mark PS I will point out that you both are interested, not interesting. And that makes a big difference in your presentations compared to others. Some of them are really trying to be interesting (Wow! Look at me. Aren’t I cool.) and they totally miss the mark.Keep up the good work.
Unfortunately some foreign nationals would go to Medellin searching for drugs and prostitutes. That’s what’s driving the crimes against that specific group of people a lot more frequent in Colombia. But there are other regions like Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, etc. Where most foreign nationals flourish and have a better quality of life than the natives. I’m not saying that’s bad. I just saw that when I was living in Bogotá. Healthcare access is good if you live in big cities, and paperwork is easy too (in Bogotá you have easy access to the US embassy)
Hello Amelia and JP. I have been perusal your website on and off for a few years now. I like you guys. I am also from the US and moved to Santa Catharina, Brazil, 14 months ago. I live in a city that is very European. No one knows I am a gringo until I open my mouth LOL! I fit in completely and do not stand out. Of course there is every race here and it’s a very peaceful. Brazilians are very friendly and open to all people. This is the best and safest state in Brazil. Almost like a country within a country. It’s also very beautiful and the climate is four lovely mild seasons. No extremes. I have a very large and beautiful home here and you are welcome to come stay for a week free of charge. Just contribute food and wine LOL! Feel free to reach out to me.
It’s so fascinating to me that there is this big movement of people looking to get out of the US. The alarm bells are ringing and the writing is on the wall for many people. The American standard of life is now no longer first world, we are in decline and there are better options. I currently own property in Venezuela and northern Italy. I’m looking to take a third home in the next 5 years after I travel more
Why do you guys focus so much on digital nomad visas, retirement visas and investment visas, and only occasional mentions towards normal temporary and permanent residencies? If you’re talking about a “3rd home” doesn’t it make more sense to go for residencies? Do you guys have the Mercosur resident ID card (I forget what it is called) for that South American bloc of countries? If not, do you weigh that for consideration? Ok, so Uruguay still great, just doesn’t fit your business structure needs. Good news.
Glad I waited awhile to watch this one! Argentina might boom, and then you could just visa hop between Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The Argentino police aren’t going to stop you from working on your computer, but I’ve heard that the police in Playa del Carmen WILL try to bust people for working online. Anyway, good call on Chile, it sucks, no one should put Chile on their list—-but there are relatively cheap flights to Santiago from BA should you get the urge to check it out. And if you do that, stay in Vina del Mar instead of Santiago!
I have had a Paraguay passport for 20 years, along with being an American with a French passport from the Legion. If you have 2 years to take classes, Peru will give you a passport after attending university 2 years there. They are trying to get more international students in high education institutions there. Paraguay still allows legal gun ownership in South America.I have considered buying property in Malaysia for a passport and getting my annual medical check up in Guam or Saipan. Saipan is reasonable with a flat 9 percent income tax for everyone and Medicare for everybody in exchange for a lower minimum wage. Pelosi cut the deal for her husbands tuna business on the island. Good luck with your choices, Montenegro would be my go to choice if I did not have an EU passport already.
Hey all. My question is in general and is about passive income. I have a rental property that i collect $3,500 per month on. However, my mortgage is $2,800 per month. When you are using the passive income, do simply take what you collect or do they take what u collect and then minus your mortgage payment? Most recently, ive been looking at the D7 visa in Portugal. You only need $800 in passive income. Thank you all
You did not do your research very well on visa fees avg 60 month n get 6 month for 40 month n process in philippines and their private hospitals and the ability to travel one way in 15 hours to states. And time rate in ph is literally like zero you can starlink here 50 a month and a whole house for 300 a month and be near a beach somewhere. And have best snorkeling n diving in the world in many spots . Ohh n. Everyone speaks English too and very nice and happy people. And you don’t have to worry about getting blown up like in turkey.
10:00 Why bashing Peru in an unfair way ? “”””””where most issue from drugs are coming from”””” I strongly suggest read more about this issue. The next list have 4 persons who are experts in security in Ecuador: 1° Police Coronel Mario Pazmiño, and expert in inteligence 2° Writer Fernando Carrion. Very famous expert in Security in Ecuador. He is a writer and the main face in international news about safety in Ecuador 3° Journalist Karel Noroña. who had to fled Ecuador because of receiving threads 4° Last but not least Stalin Sacoto another face on news making several analysis about safety in Ecuador. They all are ecuadorians. None of them blaming or mentioning Peru for the escalation of safety problem in your guest country. Could you make a deep investigation in the “matter” ?