9 Easiest Countries to Move to for US Citizens

1. Albania

I'm starting my list off with Albania because they offer something really special to US citizens, making it by far the easiest country to move abroad to. American passport holders can live in Albania for 1 year without a visa as a tourist. That just means you don't get the right to work but you do get the right to stay.

If you've never had to deal with visas before, trust me when I say that the easiest thing to do is avoid them altogether. Albania does offer a digital nomad visa for those moving there to work remotely.
Applying for this visa is the smarter route to go if you want to stay longer in Albania, as you can eventually use this to gain permanent residency.

During your year in Albania, I recommend you get a feel for the country to see if it's the one you'd like to stay long-term in and then work with an immigration lawyer in-person to take the necessary steps to stay. Otherwise, use it as an affordable home base while you decide where to go next.

Albania offers a low cost of living, stunning natural beauty, and a pretty laid back lifestyle.

We spent 3 months as digital nomads in Albania and loved our time in the country. We spent most of our time in quiet, beachfront Saranda but there are a lot of great places to choose from.

Requirements to Move to Albania

All you need is a US passport in order to stay for 1 year, visa-free as a tourist. But if you'd like to apply for the "Unique Stay Visa - Type D" and work remotely from Albania, you need:

• Online visa application form completed
• Copy of passport with additional pictures
• Valid work contract with an overseas employer or client (aka you're not working for an Albania company or client)
• Proof of accommodation in Albania
• A bank statement from the past year for proof of income (proof that you make at least $9,800 USD per year)

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2. Georgia

Like Albania, Georgia also offers the chance to live there for up to a year visa-free. This isn't just for US citizens but for a number of different nationalities.

If you plan to work remotely while in Georgia, you can also apply for their digital nomad visa, much like your option to live in Albania. Although, a quick note, I had a difficult time when researching this visa to see if they still offer it.

To keep us focused on the "easiest" countries to move abroad, I would move to Georgia with the visa-free option. The caveat is you eventually will need to sort yourself out to stay long-term in Georgia but having a year to do so makes things incredibly easy and gives you plenty of time to work with a local immigration lawyer. And it's a great time to dip your toes into living abroad and see if Georgia is the right stop before you dig in further.

Although I've never lived in the country of Georgia (only the US state), I've heard a lot of great things. The country is known for being full of natural beauty, offers a low cost of living, and Tbilisi is a vibrant and growing capital city to call home.

Requirements to Move to Georgia

Head straight to the airport with your US passport to be granted a 1-year, visa-free stay.

3. Bermuda

Bermuda is one of the many Caribbean countries that offer a digital nomad visa.

While any of those (I'll list them below) would classify as easy mode, Bermuda tops my list because not only is the visa process done completely online, it offers a quick turnaround time, and is also more affordable to apply for than its neighboring countries. This makes the visa not only easy but also incredibly fast.

To be clear, a digital nomad visa is a relatively new visa for those who work remotely. It gives remote workers the chance to legally work from another country, sometimes for just one year and sometimes with the ability to renew indefinitely.

Each country has their own requirements in order to get this visa but at the very least, you'll need to have an online source of income. Some will allow you to renew but others are a 1-time visa and after it expires, you'd need to move on.

Just note that Bermuda is considered one of the more expensive countries to live in the Caribbean so you'll want to have a pretty stable income before considering this one. The official language of Bermuda is English though so you shouldn't face any language barriers like you will in other countries on this list.

Requirements to Move to Bermuda

In order to apply for the "Work from Bermuda" visa, you'll need:

• A background check
• Health insurance
• Proof of remote work or self-employed
• Ability to pay the $275 application fee

Other Easy Caribbean Countries to Move to

Although Bermuda is incredibly easy, other Caribbean countries also offer digital nomad visas that can be applied for online. You'll want to read the fine print of each but the ones you can check out are:

• Barbados 12-Month Welcome Stamp
• Work from Anguilla Visa
• Antigua and Barbuda Nomad Digital Resident (NDR) Visa
• Montserrat Remote Work Stamp
• Dominica’s Work in Nature Program
• The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) Visa

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4. Mexico

Many expats living in Mexico are doing so on a tourist visa, since the country typically offers a 6-month visa on arrival. However, if you want more stability and the ability to guarantee a longer stay, you'll need to look into other visa options.

In the past, Mexico has been pretty lax with people doing visa runs and living and working under the table but since 2020, the country has gotten more and more strict. Suffice it to say that while you should be good to go on your 1st 6 months living in Mexico, you might not be able to leave and come right back in with no questions asked.

If you want to stay longer than just 6 months in Mexico, I recommend you apply for the temporary residence visa. From here, you'll be able to then apply for permanent residency. There is a way to apply directly for permanent residency in Mexico but more often than not, people transition from temporary residency to permanent.

If you're interested in moving abroad to Mexico, I recommend you consider moving to:

• Mexico City
• Playa del Carmen
• Guadalajara
• Merida

Requirements to Move to Mexico

I recommend you consult this visa article that covers in detail your different options to move to Mexico as an US citizen.

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5. Australia

Same as how I mentioned Bermuda and all the Caribbean countries that offer a digital nomad visa, I'm highlighting Australia as an "easy" country to move abroad to because of their Working Holiday Visa. Below I'll list other countries that offer Working Holiday Visas for US citizens.

If you're unfamiliar, a Working Holiday Visa is a visa awarded to, typically, adults aged 18-30. This visa gives the person a year in-country with the ability to work in usually any field they can get a job in. This aspect of being able to work without the hassle of a work visa is really what makes this visa easier and more realistic for most people.

You won't need to get a job before moving abroad but instead will be able to job hunt in-person and without your employer needing to sponsor your visa. This will open up your work dramatically.

Australia offers the ability to complete the visa process online, which isn't always the case. Avoiding in-person appointments at an embassy or consulate is a huge perk.

If you're interested in moving to Australia, check out living in:

• Sydney
• Gold Coast
• Melbourne

Requirements to Move to Australia

If you decide to apply for the Working Holiday Visa in Australia, you'll need to:

• Be aged 18-30
• Have no previous Work & Holiday visa with Australia (there is a 2nd visa you can apply for afterwards)
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Have no outstanding debts to the Australian government (this can include family members’ debts)
• Sign an agreement to adhere to Australia’s Code of Conduct
• Pay the $450 AUD Application Fee

Other Countries that Offer a Working Holiday Visa to US Citizens

There are loads of Working Holiday Visas out there but only a handful are valid for US citizens. These include:

• Ireland
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea (but more on them below)

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6. South Korea

As a US citizen, you already have a big check towards moving abroad to South Korea. Although I mentioned above that they do offer a Working Holiday Visa, the best and easiest way to move to South Korea is by getting a job as an English teacher.

Oftentimes getting a work visa is NOT the easiest way to move abroad. From experience, I've jumped through quite a number of hoops to get work visas in countries around the world and the only one that I would classify as easy is in South Korea.

Once you get a teaching job, the school should take care of the next steps. You'll just need to send over the correct documents and let them take care of the rest. Even when you arrive in South Korea, schools typically take you by the hand to the correct government office and tell you exactly what to do.

Since there are so many job opportunities and American expats, the system runs really smoothly. Now that I live in Italy and deal with Italian bureaucracy, I've realized just how easy we had it when we lived in South Korea.

There are a number of great places to live in South Korea, not just Seoul. You'll find a nice mix of major cities and small towns but do know that the majority of job opportunities will come from the cities.

Requirements to Move to South Korea

Although you can move here on other visas, here I want to focus on how to move to South Korea as an English teacher. The general requirements to get a job that'll sponsor your work visa are:

• Have a Bachelor’s degree
• A background check from your country of residency
• Can pass a basic health check
• Have a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate
• Have the ability to sign a 1-year contract, typically

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7. Vietnam

Vietnam is certainly one of the easiest countries to move to from the USA. If you want to do things legally, the best way to move to the country and get a sponsored work visa is by getting a job as an English teacher. Just know, while there are ample job opportunities for native English speakers, most schools will want to meet you in-person before hiring you.

It is possible to get a work visa in-country in Vietnam, whereas most countries require you to apply before arriving.

The reality of living abroad in Vietnam and many other countries in Southeast Asia (and even South America) is that many expats and digital nomads are living "under the table." This just means that they only have a tourist visa and constantly do visa runs to neighboring countries to reset their tourist stamp. There are even companies in Vietnam that offer this service for you.

I want to be clear in stating that this is not legal advice, just the reality of life in these regions. Immigration officers tend to turn a blind eye and don't care how many times you come in and out. You're able to rent an apartment and use public services, you'll just have to pay out of pocket for things like healthcare.

The biggest caveat with living in Vietnam or nearby countries on a tourist visa is that at any time the immigration officer could decide not to let you through. I've never heard of this happening but that doesn't mean it can't or won't. It'll be up to you if the risk is worth the absolute ease of avoiding visas all together.

If you're considering moving to Vietnam, I recommend any of these 5 best cities and towns. In general, you'll enjoy a low cost of living, friendly locals, a rich culture, and a high quality of life.

Requirements to Move to Vietnam

As I've said, you can move to Vietnam and skip long-term visas altogether (although you will still need to apply for a tourist visa), but if you want to go the legal route, teaching English is the easiest way to move here.

To teach English in Vietnam and get a work visa, you'll need:

• A Bachelor’s degree
• A background check from your country of residency
• To pass a basic health check
• A Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate

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8. Portugal

Portugal is easily one of the most popular countries for US citizens to move to and thanks to 2 of their visa routes, it's also considered one of the best countries to live abroad.

Because of this, Portugal can feel a little bit like the US in places, which could be a pro or could be con, based on what you're looking for. It can make it easy to make friends but you will potentially lose out on the connection with Portuguese culture since so many expats have moved in.

Portugal is one of the founding fathers of digital nomad visas and was one of the first to open their doors to remote workers who legally want to work online from anywhere in the country. Although not the only European country on my list, it is one that most American expats adore.

Portugal has 2 main visa routes for Americans: the D7 and D8. Both are for expats that have their own source of income and do not plan to work in-person in Portugal.

Based on your interests and lifestyle, these are considered the best places to live in Portugal.

Requirements to Move to Portugal

In order to apply for Portugal's D7 visa, best for those with a pension or passive income, you'll need:

• Proof of a minimum monthly income of €800 (can usually just show the past 3 months)
• Proof €7000-8000 in a Portuguese bank account
• Background check
• Portuguese Tax ID Number
• 1-year (typically) signed lease for housing in Portugal

For remote workers, they launched the D8 visa. In order to apply for this visa, you'll need:

• Proof of fully remote income
• Proof of a minimum monthly income of €3,000 (can usually just show the past 3 months)
• Proof €7000-8000 in a Portuguese bank account
• A background check
• Portuguese Tax ID Number
• 1-year accommodation (for long-stay), 4-month accommodation (for short-stay)
• Travel insurance (we recommend SafetyWing)

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9. Spain

Spain is another of the European countries that makes it relatively easy to move to, especially with the launch of their new digital nomad visa.

Like Portugal, Spain is considered one of the best countries to live abroad, given their rich culture, beautiful cities, and incredible landscapes.

Unlike many of the countries on this list, what makes Spain one of the easiest to move to is their variety of visa options. You'll have the option to work online, work in-person, retire, or study, which means that instead of bending towards what the country offers, you can likely find the right fit for you.

Just know that each visa will have a specific set of requirements and process to apply so while the country in general is "easy" because of the options it offers, the exact visa you think is best might be costly or time consuming to apply for. To keep it easy, consider hiring a professional to guide you through the process.

Can't decide where to live? I recommend any of these towns and cities in Spain:

• Madrid
• Barcelona
• Mallorca
• Gran Canaria
• Cadiz
• Cordoba

Requirements to Move to Spain

Since Spain has so many different visa routes, I recommend you read the full article on Spain's visas to better understand each option available to US citizens.

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Other Easy Ways to Move Abroad

Now that I've highlighted the best countries to move abroad easily for US citizens, I want to make a note. You might have an Ace up your sleeve that other Americans do not. The two easiest ways to move abroad are:

• If you have dual citizenship already. Maybe you don't want to live in that country either but having 2 nationalities to pull from should open doors to other "easy" countries.
• If you're able to get citizenship by descent. Some countries offer the chance to get citizenship if your parents, grandparents, and sometimes even great grandparents were citizens of that country. The requirements and possibility will be based on the country and how far back in your lineage the descent is.
• If you're married to someone from another country. This should give you the right to live and sometimes work in their country.

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Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship

This article was geared more towards countries that you can easily move to but that doesn't always come with citizenship. A lot of times to get citizenship, you need to first become a permanent resident for at least a few years but that's not always the case. For some countries the wait for naturalization is only 2-3 years but most are 10 years, and a few are never.

The US allows for dual citizenship but you need to make sure the country you're eyeing also does.

Just know that getting citizenship without living in the country first can be extremely expensive and not very common. More likely than not, the easiest way to apply for citizenship is first to apply for an investment program (also called a golden visa program), live in the country for a few years, and then apply for citizenship.

The only exception to this rule is if you have any heritage from another country that allows for citizenship by descent, as I mentioned above.

I'm not going to go into the exact details of each of these options but I will drop a few ideas. If you're chasing a 2nd or a replacement passport, look into:

• Portugal's Golden Visa Program
• Spain Residency by Investment (covered in the Spain link above)
• Malta Citizenship by Investment
• St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment
• Turkey Citizenship by Investment
• Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment
• Montenegro Citizenship by Investment

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Possible Hurdles When Moving Abroad

As US citizens, we're lucky when it comes to moving abroad. There are a lot of countries that make the immigration process or just the ability to live there for a few months or years relatively easy. Native English speakers tend to have an easier time finding jobs around the world and most governments have some experience with American expats so the requirements to follow are usually easily outlined.

That being said, there are a few possible hurdles that you might face when trying to move abroad that I want you to keep in mind:

• In order to get a work visa, many countries require you to have a bachelor's degree, even if it's in a different subject than your job. You'll also need to have the job before you apply for your visa, which can be tough.
• Many visas will require you to pass a basic health exam since many countries have a universal healthcare system. The exact details of what health issue will pass and what won't will depend on each country.
• Visas can be time consuming and annoying. This shouldn't hold you back from applying but know that wait times can add up so you'll likely need a lot of patience.
• You'll likely need to face a language barrier but I wouldn't let that deter you. I highly recommend you prepare yourself by at least learning a few basic words and phrases in the local language and once you arrive at your new home abroad, start language classes to make new friends and settle in easier.

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Which of These Easiest Countries Will You Move to?

The best countries for living abroad can be hard to narrow down based on your skills, ability to invest, languages you speak, and any other factors you'd like to keep in mind. For nearly everyone, their idea of the best countries will vary.

These though, are the easiest countries to move to from the US because of their visa programs or lack thereof. Based on how long you want to live abroad and what your exact goals are, one of many of these countries might work perfectly for you.

It's important to keep in mind that the easiest country to move abroad to isn't always the best but if you're lucky, those factors might just overlap.