What You Need To Know Before Moving Abroad Legally
Everyone online keeps saying they’ve “moving abroad,” but a lot of us are really just traveling on a tourist visa and getting creative with how we move around.
I know that’s what I do… and for good reason.
I saw a Threads post today that reminded me how many people leave out the important parts of Visas. I’ve shared my Brazil visa process… but I want to talk more about the importance of visas worldwide when you’re considering moving to a new country
The idea of waking up in a new country, sounds beautiful. Many of us have been allured by looking at the beach videos, café culture, lower cost of living, and slower lifestyle online, and then suddenly we find ourselves on Airbnb looking at apartments at 2 a.m. wondering if you should restart your life.
What’s important is that we do the proper research before making the decision, unless we want to find ourselves in a stressful situation.
Because before you move to another country, you need to understand something important:
You usually cannot just “move” there permanently because you want to.
There’s a process.
There are rules.
There are different types of visas and limitations.
There are re-entry requirements.
There are financial requirements to qualify for extended stay visas.
There are residency laws.
And every country handles them differently.
I think social media has romanticized international living so much that people forget that different governments are still involved.
First, Understand the Difference Between Traveling and Living Abroad
A lot of digital nomads and long-term travelers are not technically immigrating.
We are simply rotating.
That’s what I do.
Many people move between countries every few months depending on visa rules, finances, seasons, energy, or opportunities. Some people stay 30 days. Some stay 90 and extend it when allowed. Some leave and come back later. Others apply for residency pathways over time.
But there’s a huge difference between:
Taking extended stays internationally
Living as a tourist
Having temporary residency
Having permanent residency
Having citizenship
Having a work visa
People blur these together online and it causes confusion if you don’t know to research this deeper.
Before You Move Anywhere, Research THESE Things First
1. Tourist Visa Rules
This is the first thing you should look up before buying a one-way ticket anywhere.
Questions to research:
How long can you stay?
Can you extend the visa?
How many times per year can you enter?
Do you need proof of onward travel?
Do you need proof of income or bank statements?
Can you legally work remotely while there?
Do they require travel insurance?
Is there a digital nomad visa available?
Because some countries are very relaxed and some aren’t.
And immigration officers can absolutely deny entry if they feel like you’re abusing tourist stays.
I’m going to give a quick break-down of some of the most popular countries people talk about moving to, below:
Brazil
Brazil has become extremely popular for long-term travelers, especially for people wanting culture, beaches, community, affordability outside tourist zones, and a slower pace of life.
For U.S. travelers, Brazil currently allows:
90-day tourist stays
Possible extension for another 90 days
Maximum of 180 days within a 12-month period
Meaning:
You cannot legally stay forever on a tourist visa.
Brazil also recently reinstated visa requirements for travelers from countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, so people now need to apply before arrival instead of simply showing up like before. I wrote a blog post HERE on how to get approved.
Brazil also offers:
Digital nomad visas for 1-year
Work visas
Student visas
Retirement pathways
Family reunification visas
The digital nomad visa has become especially popular because it allows remote workers to stay longer legally if they meet minimum income requirements and provide proof of employment or self-employment.
That is very different from legally immigrating there permanently.
Thailand
Thailand is another place people romanticize heavily online.
People see the luxury condos, inexpensive food, beach towns, and coworking culture and think:
“I’ll just move there.”
But Thailand has cracked down multiple times on visa runs and repeated tourist entries.
Thailand currently offers several pathways depending on your goals:
Tourist Visa
Usually 60 days
Often extendable by 30 additional days
Some travelers enter visa-free depending on nationality for shorter periods
Education Visa
Many people use these for:
Learning Thai
Muay Thai training
University programs
These can allow stays from several months up to a year depending on the approved program.
Retirement Visa
Very popular for older expats.
Usually requires:
Minimum age requirements
Proof of income or savings
Thai bank account requirements
Elite Visa
This is basically a long-term paid residency-style program.
Depending on the package, people can stay:
5 years
10 years
Even longer
But it costs thousands of dollars, like $18,000 USD in savings on top of the application fees.
Digital Nomad / Remote Work Options
Thailand has started creating more pathways for remote workers and highly skilled professionals, but requirements and categories continue evolving and can be expensive.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is probably one of the most over-romanticized destinations online right now.
A lot of people say they “moved to Bali,” but many are:
On tourist visas
Using temporary visa pathways
Doing visa runs
Hiring visa agents
Moving between Indonesia and nearby countries
Indonesia currently has several common options:
Visa on Arrival (VOA)
For many travelers:
30 days initially
Extendable once for another 30 days
Total around 60 days
Tourist Visa
Longer tourist options exist depending on nationality and application method.
B211A Visa
This became very popular among digital nomads and long-stay travelers.
It can allow:
Longer stays
Multiple extensions
Several months in Indonesia legally
But rules change often.
KITAS Temporary Residency
This is more serious residency territory and can involve:
Employment sponsorship
Business ownership
Retirement pathways
Marriage sponsorship
Colombia
Colombia has become another favorite for digital nomads and long-term travelers.
Especially cities like:
Medellín
Cartagena
Bogotá
Tourist stays are commonly:
90 days initially
Extendable up to 180 days total within a calendar year
Colombia also offers:
Digital nomad visas
Retirement visas
investment visas
Student visas
Work visas
The digital nomad visa became attractive because it allows remote workers and entrepreneurs to stay longer without constantly border hopping, for 2 yeara.
But again:
There are income requirements, paperwork, and approval processes attached.
Mexico
Mexico is one of the most popular countries for Americans wanting to live abroad because it’s close to the United States, relatively affordable in many areas, has large expat communities, amazing food, beautiful weather in many regions, and multiple lifestyle options depending on what you want.
But Mexico is another country people heavily romanticize online without fully understanding the immigration side of things.
Tourist Stay in Mexico
For many U.S. travelers, Mexico allows entry as a tourist for up to:
180 days maximum
Temporary Residency in Mexico
Mexico also offers temporary residency options that are becoming more popular among digital nomads, retirees, and long-term travelers.
Temporary residency can often allow people to stay:
1 year initially
Then renew up to 4 years total
This is VERY different from being on a tourist visa.
People usually qualify through:
Proof of income
Savings/investments
Retirement income
Family connections
Sometimes business or work pathways
A lot of digital nomads eventually transition into this because constantly managing tourist stays becomes stressful.
Permanent Residency
Mexico also offers permanent residency pathways.
This is more serious immigration territory and usually involves:
Long-term residency history
Retirement qualifications
Family ties
Financial qualifications
Permanent residency removes the need for repeated renewals and gives people more long-term stability.
Please Stop Taking Immigration Advice From Random TikToks
I mean this respectfully.
Some people online give horrible advice because they’ve only been somewhere for two weeks.
Or worse:
They’re accidentally breaking immigration rules themselves and don’t even realize it.
Always check:
Official immigration websites
Embassy websites
Current visa requirements
Recent rule updates
Experiences from long-term travelers who have actually stayed there awhile
Visa rules change constantly.
What worked two years ago may not work now.
Another Important Thing: Money
A lot of people think moving abroad automatically solves financials and automatically makes it better, but it doesn’t. You have to account for:
Currency conversion and constant changes in exchange rates
Emergency savings
International healthcare
Flight costs
Housing deposits
Visa renewals
Immigration fees
Slower income periods
Unexpected travel changes
Moving abroad works best when you have:
A realistic financial plan
Flexibility
Savings
Multiple income streams if possible
Patience
Romanticize the Experience, But Respect the Reality
Living internationally can absolutely change your life.
It changed mine.
I’ve experienced community, rest, and creativity differently. Even my nervous system feels different outside the constant pressure I experienced in the United States.
But one important thing travel has taught me is this:
Freedom still requires structure.
The people who transition into long-term international living successfully are usually the people who:
Research thoroughly
Stay adaptable
Respect immigration laws
Remain financially aware
Understand they may need to rotate countries instead of permanently settling immediately
Sometimes the dream is not “moving forever.”
Sometimes the dream is building a life flexible enough that you can keep moving.