Planning library
Blog
Guides, tips, and stories for Americans moving abroad.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa Income Requirement 2026: The Official Monthly Number
Spain's digital nomad visa income rule is tied to the monthly SMI minimum wage. Here is the official 2026 requirement, the dependent math, documents, and common mistakes for Americans.
October 8, 2026
Thailand Visa Exemption Is Back to 30 Days: What Americans Should Do Now
Thailand replaced its 60-day visa-exempt stay with a 30-day allowance for US passport holders on September 15, 2026. Here is what changed and how to plan a longer stay.
October 5, 2026
Europe Entry/Exit System and ETIAS for Americans in 2026: What Actually Changes
Europe is moving from passport stamps to digital border records, and ETIAS is still coming. Here is the plain-English version for Americans planning Schengen travel in 2026.
October 1, 2026
Italy Elective Residence Visa 2026: Requirements, Income & Taxes for Americans
The Elective Residence Visa is Italy's classic route for American retirees and financially independent people who live on passive income. Here's the 2026 income threshold, the passive-income rule, the consulate application steps, and how Italy's flat-tax regimes and US filing obligations fit together.
August 24, 2026
Panama Pensionado vs Friendly Nations Visa 2026: Which Should Americans Choose?
Panama's two flagship residency routes suit very different people. If you have a lifetime pension, the Pensionado grants permanent residency on $1,000/month. If you're younger with capital, the reformed Friendly Nations Visa is your path — but it now costs $200,000 to enter.
August 24, 2026
Colombia Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Income Requirements & How Americans Apply
Colombia's V-Nomadas Digitales visa lets Americans live in Medellín or Bogotá for up to two years while working remotely for foreign clients. Here's the exact 2026 income requirement, the online Cancillería process, and the tax rules US citizens need to know.
August 24, 2026
Greece Digital Nomad Visa vs Golden Visa 2026: Which Route Fits Your Move?
Greece has two very different front doors: a Digital Nomad Visa built for remote workers earning €3,500 a month, and a Golden Visa built for investors putting €250k–€800k into property. Here's how to tell which one fits your money, your timeline, and your life.
August 24, 2026
Moving to France From the US in 2026: The Long-Stay Visitor Visa Explained
France has no digital nomad visa — so how do Americans actually move there? The answer is the VLS-TS "visiteur" long-stay visa. Here's how it works, what income you need, what you can and can't do on it, and how US taxes fit in.
August 24, 2026
Croatia Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Requirements, Income & Taxes for Americans
Croatia's Digital Nomad Residence Permit lets Americans live on the Adriatic for up to 18 months — and exempts your foreign remote income from Croatian tax. Here's the 2026 income requirement, who qualifies, how to apply from the US, and what you still owe the IRS.
August 24, 2026
Best Banks for American Expats in Portugal (2026): Schwab + ActivoBank + Wise
Portugal gets expensive fast when you use the wrong banking setup. Here is the two-layer stack Americans actually need: a US debit account for cash and a Portuguese or euro IBAN for rent, bills, and residency admin.
August 19, 2026
Best Banks for American Expats in Mexico (2026): Schwab + HSBC México + Wise
Mexico punishes lazy banking setups with ATM fees, weak exchange rates, and branch paperwork. Here is the two-layer stack Americans actually need: one US account for dollars and cash, one Mexican bank for local life.
August 19, 2026
Best Credit Cards for American Expats With No Foreign Transaction Fees (2026)
A standard US credit card can quietly skim 3% off every foreign purchase. These are the no-foreign-transaction-fee cards American expats actually keep, how to think about the categories, and why you still need Schwab for ATM cash.
August 19, 2026
Wise vs. Revolut vs. Schwab: Which Is Best for US Expats (2026)?
Wise, Revolut, and Charles Schwab get lumped together as the expat money apps — but they solve three different problems. Here's what each is actually good at, and the best combo to run together.
August 17, 2026
Charles Schwab for Expats: Full Review + How to Open an Account From Abroad (2026)
Why Charles Schwab is the gold-standard bank account for US expats — 0% foreign transaction fees, unlimited worldwide ATM rebates — plus the US-address gotcha and a step-by-step to open from overseas.
August 17, 2026
Do US Banks Close Accounts for Expats? (And How to Avoid It) — 2026
Yes — US banks and brokerages freeze or close accounts when you move abroad. Here's why (foreign address, FATCA), which institutions are expat-friendly, and a checklist to keep your accounts open.
August 17, 2026
FEIE vs Foreign Tax Credit in 2026: Which One Should Americans Abroad Use?
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit both cut your US tax bill abroad — but they win in different situations. Here's how to tell which one fits your country, income, and long-term plans.
August 17, 2026
Behind on US Taxes Abroad? The Streamlined Filing Program, Explained
Just realized you were supposed to be filing US taxes the whole time you've lived abroad? The IRS Streamlined Filing program lets qualifying expats catch up — often with zero penalties. Here's how it works.
June 29, 2026
FBAR vs. Form 8938: Which One(s) Do You Actually File?
FBAR and Form 8938 sound like the same thing — they are not. Different agencies, different thresholds, and you may owe both. Here is the plain-English breakdown for US expats.
June 29, 2026
Form 8938 Explained: FATCA Foreign-Asset Reporting for US Expats
Form 8938 is how US expats report foreign financial assets under FATCA. Here are the exact thresholds, what counts, the penalties, and how it differs from the FBAR.
June 29, 2026
Best Countries for Americans to Stay 90+ Days Without Moving Permanently
Want to try life abroad before committing? Use this planning framework to compare legal stay length, remote-work rules, healthcare, banking, and budget.
May 24, 2026
How Much Money Should Americans Save Before Moving Abroad?
There is no universal savings number for moving abroad. Build your target from setup costs, monthly living costs, emergency runway, and U.S. obligations.
May 24, 2026
U.S. Banking Checklist Before Moving Abroad: 12 Things to Set Up First
A practical pre-move banking checklist for Americans abroad: Schwab, Wise, backup cards, U.S. address, phone verification, brokerage access, documents, and emergency cash.
September 21, 2026
Monthly Visa Digest — April 2026
Portugal's D8 income threshold rises, Thailand finally clarifies its 180-day tax rule, and Spain's consulate wait times creep up. Here's your monthly roundup of visa changes across Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Thailand, and Costa Rica.
April 2, 2026
Earth Class Mail vs US Global Mail: Best Mail Forwarding for Expats (2026)
Still giving out your mom's address? If you're living abroad full-time, you need a real US mailing solution. We compare Earth Class Mail and US Global Mail on price, features, and what actually matters for expats.
April 10, 2026
Preply vs iTalki: Best Language Learning Platform for Expats (2026)
Learning the local language is the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade you can make as an expat. We compare Preply and iTalki on tutors, pricing, trial lessons, and which one actually gets you speaking faster.
April 10, 2026
Best Banks for US Expats (2026): Charles Schwab vs. Fidelity vs. Wise
Your US bank is draining your savings with foreign transaction fees and ATM charges. Here are the three accounts that actually work for US expats and Americans living abroad — and how to use them together.
September 28, 2026
SafetyWing vs Cigna Global: Best Health Insurance for Expats in 2026
SafetyWing is beloved by digital nomads. Cigna Global is the gold standard for long-term expats. We compare pricing, coverage, claims, and who each is actually built for.
March 31, 2026
Bright!Tax vs Greenback Reviews & Pricing: Best Expat Tax Service (2026)
Bright!Tax and Greenback both specialize in US expat taxes, but their 2026 pricing is no longer identical. We compare current fees, reviews, CPA model, FBAR, streamlined filing, and who should pick each service.
September 18, 2026
Best Countries for American Digital Nomads in 2026
Portugal's got the visa. Mexico's got the culture. Thailand's got the price. But which country is actually right for you? Here's the honest ranking — with the tradeoffs you don't usually see in travel content.
September 5, 2026
NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN Is Best for Expats? (2026)
Two of the most trusted VPNs go head-to-head. We compare pricing, speed, server count, streaming access, and privacy so expats can make an informed choice.
March 30, 2026
Wise vs Revolut for Expats in 2026: Which Money App Should You Use?
Wise and Revolut both help expats move and spend money abroad, but they solve different problems. Compare transfers, cards, local account details, travel use, and the best setup for Americans abroad.
October 10, 2026
Airalo vs Roamable: Which eSIM Is Actually Better for Travelers? (2026)
Two of the most popular eSIM providers go head-to-head. We compare pricing, coverage, app experience, and support so you can stop second-guessing and start traveling.
March 27, 2026
The Complete Guide to Moving Abroad as an American (2026)
Everything you need to know about relocating overseas — from choosing a country and sorting visas to managing taxes, healthcare, and your first 90 days on the ground.
March 10, 2026
FEIE Explained: How to Save Thousands on Taxes Living Abroad
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets Americans abroad exclude up to $132,900 from federal taxes. Here is exactly how it works, who qualifies, and the mistakes to avoid.
March 5, 2026
Portugal vs Mexico for American Expats: An Honest Comparison
Two of the most popular destinations for Americans moving abroad, compared head-to-head on cost, visas, taxes, healthcare, culture, and quality of life.
March 12, 2026
How to Open a Bank Account Abroad as a US Citizen
FATCA makes banking abroad tricky for Americans. Here is how to navigate the process, which countries are easiest, and the multi-account strategy most expats use.
March 15, 2026
Best International Health Insurance for American Expats (2026)
What Americans living abroad actually pay for international health insurance in 2026 — real prices, what each plan covers, and which fits your situation. SafetyWing, Cigna Global, GeoBlue and local plans compared.
September 16, 2026
Best eSIM for International Travel (2026): Global, Regional and Local Compared
How to pick the best eSIM for international travel in 2026 — the per-GB maths that decides between a global, regional and local plan, which providers are worth it, and the mistakes that cost the most.
September 17, 2026
Best VPN for Expats: Stay Secure & Stream from Anywhere (2026)
Your US bank might block you, Netflix shows different content, and public WiFi is everywhere. Here's why every expat needs a VPN — and which ones are actually worth it.
March 21, 2026
Best International Money Transfer Apps for Expats (2026)
Banks charge 3-5% on international transfers. These apps charge a fraction of that — with better exchange rates and faster delivery. Here are the best options.
October 16, 2026
7 Essential Apps Every Expat Needs on Their Phone
From banking to language learning to staying connected — these seven apps solve the biggest headaches of living abroad. Install them before you move.
March 24, 2026
Ready to plan your next step?
Use TotallyNomad's free tools, country guides, and community resources to compare destinations, estimate costs, and organize your move abroad.
Explore free tools →