Deep Dive with Shawn

Leaving America E2: The Easy Escapes in Europe

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The American dream increasingly feels like a nightmare for many – healthcare tied to employment, minimal vacation time, and a system that prioritizes profit over wellbeing. In this episode, we're focusing on one of the most popular destinations for Americans eyeing the exits - Europe - with its universal healthcare, work-life balance, and social stability. But is relocating across the Atlantic actually achievable for ordinary Americans?

With approximately 1.2 million US citizens already having made Europe home, pathways exist that don't require exceptional wealth or connections – just planning, patience, and paperwork. Portugal stands out with its D7 visa requiring just $920 monthly income and offering citizenship after 5-6 years while allowing dual nationality. Spain welcomes those with remote income through its non-lucrative visa, though with higher financial requirements ($2,700/month) and a longer path to citizenship. Latvia provides perhaps the most flexible option – EU access with just one visit annually through property investment or bank deposits, ideal for those not ready to fully relocate.

Beyond these front-runners, countries like Italy, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Greece offer their own unique combinations of beauty, affordability, and bureaucratic quirks. Each presents a different lifestyle equation.

The European transition requires cultural adaptation – embracing smaller living spaces, different shopping rhythms, and truly unplugging on weekends. The most successful expats approach these differences with curiosity rather than criticism, learn at least basic language skills, and integrate into communities rather than remaining in expat bubbles. This mindfulness transforms you from tourist to neighbor.

Featuring:

Basil Elzeki

Tim Marting

David Lesperance

Karen McCann 

Tim Leffel

Matt Wilson

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Majestic Earth - Joystock



Shawn:

If you're American, odds are the thought has crossed your mind at some point. Could I live a better life somewhere else? Maybe it was when your employer denied a sick day for the flu, or when your neighbor added a third flagpole. Whatever your particular breaking point, at some point the idea begins to form. Maybe it's time to go, and for many Americans, the first place we look to is Europe, where the trains usually run on time, the bread won't kill you unless you're gluten-free like me, in which case don't eat it and healthcare is treated as a necessity, not a reward for good behavior.

Shawn:

According to the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, about 1.2 million US citizens were living in Europe in 2022, second only to Canada and Mexico, making it one of the most popular regions for Americans seeking not just a break from the grind, but a viable second act. So today we're not talking about Europe as a tourist destination. We're talking about staying, building a life, paying taxes, waiting in line, doing the local version of small talk, or avoiding it entirely, depending on the country. We'll start with a bird's eye view of some strong contenders places like Italy, croatia, greece and the Czech Republic, all with their own blend of charm, challenge and paperwork. Public, all with their own blend of charm, challenge and paperwork. Then we'll narrow our focus to the three countries that offer Americans a particularly accessible route to something resembling peace Portugal, spain and Latvia. Because, yes, sometimes the grass really is greener, especially when it's maintained by municipal workers who believe in climate science.

Shawn:

I'm your host, Shawn C Fettig, and if you've ever thought universal healthcare sounded less like socialism and more like a functional society, you're absolutely in the right place. One final but important note before we get started For the purposes of this series, I have converted all monetary values to US dollars. Keep in mind that exchange rates fluctuate, so all amounts mentioned are reflective of reality at the time of recording. To stay updated on the latest episodes, follow, like and share Leaving America on the Deep Dive with Shawn podcast feed. Wherever you get your podcasts and if you've got your own stories about dodging the American decline, or if you just want to ask how cold it gets in Latvia, email us at deepdivewithshawn at gmailcom. All right, pack your bags. This is Leaving America.

Basil Elzeki:

The reason why Europe is quite popular is Americans love Europe and if they're going to relocate their families to another location, europe offers generally good health care, good education systems, a viable living, safety, stability on multiple countries. So Americans often don't want to relocate right now, but they want to plan in the event they need to. So they typically look for, to start with Europe, european routes that lead to a citizenship of a European Union member country. As if you were to get a citizenship in a European Union member country, this would allow you not only to reside in that particular country but in the 27 EU members. So with one passport you can live in 27 countries. That would pass on to your spouse, the children as well, within the same application. So it's quite a bit of value for an investment in a foreign country that they can get.

Shawn:

That was Basil Elzecki, managing Partner at Henley Partners North America, which is a global leader in residence and citizenship by investment, explaining the appeal of Europe to Americans. Europe isn't just a Pinterest board with castles and trams. It's an actual functioning landmass where people have figured out how to live decent lives without needing a GoFundMe for a broken arm. So why do Americans look to Europe? Europe is relatively stable. Yes, it has its squabbles, strikes, protests, the occasional prime minister scandal, but overall, the social safety net is pretty solid. Public health care still exists and works, civil liberties are generally respected and universal health care is a real thing, not a political punching bag. Europe might be arguing about bike lanes, but they're not teetering on the edge of a constitutional crisis, at least not every week. Europeans also take leisure very seriously. They take long lunches, real vacations and wild concept they actually go outside. So you can expect a slower rhythm of life, emphasis on time with people, not productivity, and fewer notifications, more conversations. To the American refugee, it can feel like remembering how to breathe. Also, visas and residency in most European countries is typically fairly straightforward and accessible. Many European countries will welcome you if you have remote income. Don't plan to be a financial drain and have some patience for creative bureaucracy. So let's take a quick moment to spotlight a few European destinations that are absolutely worth a look before we jump into Portugal, spain and Latvia.

Shawn:

The first is Italy. Americans should consider Italy because of the culture, the scenery and the sweetness of doing nothing. Italy has deep history, in walkable towns, an espresso strong enough to reset your personality. Italy offers a digital nomad visa. It's still ramping up it started in 2024, but it is real. The digital nomad visa requires skilled remote work and an income of about $31,500 a year. If you don't want to work, the elective residency visa, which is designed for retirees, requires about $35,000 a year income and no work is allowed. You can also get citizenship by descent if you've got Italian blood and some patience. Things to keep in mind about Italy are that the bureaucracy really exists, makes Kafka look like a minimalist, the tax law is somewhat complicated and income thresholds are higher than in Portugal or Spain. So Italy will embrace you, it'll feed you, but then it'll forget your paperwork. You'll be charmed, confused, probably sometimes, and occasionally stuck in a post office for three hours, but you'll also be in Italy.

Shawn:

The Czech Republic is another great option for Americans. It's often overlooked, but it's affordable, it's orderly, there's very little flair and that's in a good way. Freelancers love the trade license visa, which is called the Zibno. Freelancers love the trade license visa which is called the Zibno. The Zibno visa requires an income of about $6,700 a year and a business license. You can get permanent residency with that after five years and citizenship after 10. But you do have to speak Czech to get that citizenship. Also, public transportation in the Czech Republic is great Things to consider. The language barrier is real. Czech is a complicated language. It's not a casual hobby. Also, prague is pricey, but a lot of the cities outside of Prague are extremely affordable. Also, paperwork takes some time, but it's not mysterious. So the Czech Republic is probably ideal for those of you who value stability over spectacle and also who believe trains should arrive when they say they will.

Shawn:

Croatia, simply put, is beautiful. It's for the Instagram set and the tax-savvy nomads. It has coastlines for days and prices that really haven't caught up to the beauty yet. It's got a chill lifestyle and low drama. The easiest access in is their digital nomad visa. It's clear, it's simple and it's short, and it requires an income of about $2,600 a month and it's for 12 months. It's non-renewable, but it is re-applicable and then temporary and permanent residency pathways are available. Things to keep in mind with Croatia are that the bureaucracy is very slow, so snack accordingly. English is common in the cities, but not so much outside of that. Healthcare is solid and private care is affordable. So overall, croatia is beautiful, it's affordable and it might be the last coastal escape before the influencers arrive in full force.

Shawn:

Greece is also a tempting option. It's got blue waters mythic ruins, a slow pace of life. It's still cheap in many regions outside of Athens and the Nomad visa is relatively easy to snag. It requires an income of about $3,900 a month. You can also get into Greece via the Golden Visa Scheme, which is an investment in property, and then the Type D visa for just about everything else. Things to keep in mind about Greece is the bureaucracy. It is cryptic, it's slow and it's fond of vague instructions. Public services can also be kind of metaphysical, but the private healthcare is highly recommended. So those are four great options if you're looking to get into Europe. But if you really want low maintenance, high reward options that really pack a punch, portugal, spain and Latvia are true contenders.

Shawn:

So first let's talk about Portugal. It's coastal, it's charming, it works and it might be the most laid-back way to reboot your life without having to sell your kidney on Craigslist. Portugal is the country that quietly minds its business. It keeps its coastlines clean and it offers you a path to residency without making you prove you can translate Latin or recite national anthems on demand. It's where the infrastructure works, the rent is semi-reasonable and the seafood is abundant. And it's amazing, it's a place so chilled out. Even the bureaucracy feels like it's trying not to startle you.

Shawn:

So let's talk about why Portugal isn't just a pretty backdrop. It's arguably the most accessible European relocation option for Americans who've had enough of bootstraps and networking events. The D7 visa is designed for remote workers, retirees and people with income streams that don't involve draining Portuguese resources. The D7 is basically Portugal saying if you can support yourself and enjoy fish, we have no objections. Something worth noting here is that Portugal is somewhat unique in that it requires you to obtain things like a bank account, a tax ID and living arrangements in advance of applying for residency, which can be frustrating if you aren't prepared. This is Tim Marting, co-founder of Citizen Remote, which helps people relocate for remote work around the world, explaining this Portuguese process this Portuguese process, someplace like Portugal, for example, that has been.

Tim Marting:

I've heard a lot of negative feedback from people saying like I was considering Portugal. I started to join a group and people said it's impossible, so don't even try. It's not that it's impossible, it's actually one of our well, it's definitely our most successful visa process in the sense that we've never had a rejection for Portugal. It's just a lot more involved and it's kind of backwards in the sense that if you want to apply for a visa, you have to get a 12-month accommodation, you have to get a tax ID and a bank account before the application can even be submitted. So a lot of people hear that and they think what it feels backwards. It is kind of backwards, but it's not that it's impossible. So I think just understanding that if there is a visa pathway, it's certainly doable, assuming you hit the criteria and then just making sure that you take the appropriate step.

Shawn:

In order to get the D7, you're going to need to prove a monthly income of about $920 for the main applicant and then add 50% more for a spouse and 30% per kid and, like Tim said, you're going to have to have a Portuguese bank account, a lease or property purchase in Portugal and a tax number, which is known as an NIF, which you will use for everything from renting an apartment to buying light bulbs. You'll need to be in country for at least 183 days per year with the D7, but after five years of legal residency you can apply for permanent residency or citizenship. This is Basil Elzecki once again explaining another Portuguese option the Golden Visa.

Basil Elzeki:

Another route that is that perhaps many people on this podcast heard of a lot of buzz around it is the Portugal Golden Visa. The Portugal Golden Visa is not a citizenship program but in fact it's considered a residence program. The key thing about the Portuguese program is that it starts with a residency and can lead to a citizenship within about five to six years, and can lead to a citizenship within about five to six years. So the nice part about it is is you don't need to relocate to Portugal to do this or become a tax resident of Portugal to do this. So many Americans like the idea of planning from the United States and starting their pathway to that citizenship in year five, year six.

Basil Elzeki:

Now, malta might be out of the financial scope of many middle to upper class families, but Portugal is certainly within the range.

Basil Elzeki:

So you're looking at 250,000 euros donation to arts and culture, or you can invest 500,000 into an investment fund, as long as most of that fund usually 60% or more of that fund is invested in Portugal, because evidently they want to stimulate their economy. So by making that investment into a fund, which is not unheard of for many, they're able to obtain what's called a golden visa, and that golden visa initially starts by giving you the right to live, work and study in Portugal for the main applicant spouse and dependent children. So within probably a five to seven year period, depending on delays, then that individual can naturalize as a Portuguese citizen, having similar benefits as the Maltese route, as an EU member country. So again, access to 27 countries. Now the difference is that Portugal does take a little bit longer, does have a language requirement, will have to learn A2 level Portuguese, and there has to be minor visitation You're looking at two weeks every two years into Portugal while that visa is valid.

Shawn:

The Golden Visa was once a real estate free-for-all, but Portugal recently slammed the door shut on that in favor of well less housing displacement. Now the entry point for the Golden Visa is a $560,000 investment into a Portuguese fund, usually tied to green energy tech or whatever Lisbon is pitching to Brussels that year. With the Golden Visa, you only need to visit seven days a year to keep your residency active, and after five years, golden Visa holders, just like D7 folks, can apply for citizenship, assuming they meet language proficiency. So you must be able to speak basic conversational Portuguese. You have to show no criminal record and proof of integration, but don't worry, no one's asking for a tattoo of the national anthem. When it comes to the bureaucracy, portugal's paperwork culture is best described as sleepy but persistent. You're unlikely to encounter hostility, but don't be surprised if your application vanishes into the bureaucratic void for three weeks and then magically reappears with a note that reads please submit again. Appointments with SEF, the immigration office, are a rite of passage. You will develop patience and probably an unhealthy attachment to your immigration lawyer, which is a good reminder to make this process smoother. If at all possible, hire someone, preferably a lawyer, who is well-versed in the paperwork and the bureaucracy to help you.

Shawn:

Compared to most of Western Europe and certainly the United States, portugal remains affordable, especially outside of Lisbon. If you do want to live in Lisbon, keep in mind that it is the most expensive city in Portugal. Rent for a one bedroom is going to run you about $1,100 to $1,400 a month. Utilities will cost about $100 to $150 a month, public transportation is about $45 a month and groceries are cheap, fresh and you can actually identify everything on the label. Wine is so cheap you'll start evaluating its quality based on the label font instead of the price.

Shawn:

If you want to spend less, smaller cities like Porto and Braga are good options. You can expect to save about 30-50% across the board and you're more likely to encounter actual Portuguese people rather than expats. Also, portugal's public healthcare system is solid. Private care is even quicker and astonishingly affordable. We're talking $45 to $67 for a doctor's visit, dental cleanings that don't require a second mortgage and for those with complex or transitional care needs, like gender-affirming care. Portugal is making real progressive strides. For trans folks and others facing circumstances that might require a quick exit from the United States, such as emergent medical needs that cannot be interrupted, portugal is a very attractive option because the visa process can move quite quickly compared to some other places in Europe. David Lesperance of Lesperance and Associates, which assists people with all facets of relocation, explains why Portugal's relatively quick process can be integral for some people.

David Lesperance:

For the trans children, families with trans children and I was mentioning I was retained by seven different families in the nine days after the executive order. Now it depends on what the urgency is. It depends on where they're at. If they have pre-transition children, they've got some time. If they've already made the transition, they've got some time. But if they're in the middle of the hormone blockers in the transition, they need to move immediately.

David Lesperance:

And so in those cases, they discovered okay, what places have the medical treatment available to me and how do I quickly get there? And Portugal, for example, is one of the locations which is LGBTQ plus very culturally favorable. There's also the medical facilities there, there, and we can get them something very fast, very cheap, called a digital nomad visa, which is one of the few good things that came out of the pandemic was the development of this relatively new product which is a digital nomad visa. So we can get that, for example, in, you know, eight to 10 weeks. Well, an American can get on a plane and move to Portugal. They can spend 90 days there as a visitor. During that time they will then trade up to a digital nomad visa and they can remain, but they can start the medical treatment the next month or the next day after they arrive.

Shawn:

Portugal is famously welcoming within reason, so attempting the language is going to help you immensely. Even if your bom dia sounds like a sneeze, it's appreciated. Some cultural cues to keep in mind in Portugal, modesty is respected, politeness is expected, shouting is discouraged unless you're watching football and no one cares about your opinions on real estate. English is widely spoken in cities, but less so in the countryside, so if you want to fully integrate, you'll need to do more than point and smile, but, honestly, not much more. Portugal's fast track to citizenship is one of the best in Europe. You're going to need 5 years of legal residency, so that's with the D7, the Golda visa or some other option. You're going to need to be able to speak A2 level of Portuguese, which is enough to order lunch, apologize for your accent and maybe make light conversation about the weather. You have to prove no serious criminal record and some light evidence that you're not a complete mystery to your neighbors. Portugal does allow dual citizenship, so you can keep your American passport, your EU passport and your complicated relationship with both. So, in end, portugal is best for remote workers that are sick of the grind, retirees not interested in reinventing themselves, just relaxing, and people who want to be European without debating the ethics of Brexit at every dinner. It's still affordable, still chill and still mostly undiscovered by the Instagram set, without debating the ethics of Brexit at every dinner. It's still affordable, still chill and still mostly undiscovered by the Instagram set. If you're looking for a European base that won't make you cry into a spreadsheet, portugal may be whispering your name.

Shawn:

Portugal's neighbor, spain, is another great option for Americans looking to resettle in a European location. Spain is a country where rules are sometimes suggestions, where bureaucracy feels like a collaborative art form and where life moves to the rhythm of very delayed meals and abrupt bursts of energy. But for Americans looking to escape the ever-escalating absurdity at home, spain offers a clear, if occasionally maddening, path the non-lucrative visa, which, despite its name, doesn't require you to be unprofitable, just not locally employed. Think of this visa as Spain's way of saying you seem quiet, solvent and unlikely to open a chain restaurant, so you may stay. It's for people who have passive or remote income but don't plan to work in Spain. You can still earn money elsewhere.

Shawn:

The government simply doesn't want you elbowing into the Spanish job market. You're going to need to prove a monthly income of about $2,700 or $32,300 annually and then add about $670 per month per dependent. You're going to have to show private Spanish health insurance, a clean criminal record and proof of accommodation, so a rental or property ownership. You also have to spend at least 183 days per year in Spain and, yes, they do check. What you get from the non-lucrative visa is an initial one-year residency, which is renewable for two years and then another two. You can then get permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10, unless you qualify for Spain's shortcut, and we'll talk more about that in a moment.

Shawn:

So yes, it's a long game, but, unlike US immigration law, it's a game with published rules and a referee who doesn't get fired halfway through the bureaucracy in Spain, to be honest, has a reputation and it's not undeserved. You can expect to encounter appointments that book weeks in advance, paperwork with ink, color specifications, forms that must be filled out exactly as instructed, unless the person at the desk decides otherwise that day, and offices that close five minutes before your scheduled meeting for reasons unexplained. The best thing you can do here is hire someone, a licensed fixer, who understands the system and can get things done while you stand in the corner clutching your passport and wondering what day it is Also fun fact every Spanish consulate in the United States is its own kingdom, so New York might require a different set of documents than Los Angeles, and Miami might invent new ones. Just to keep you alert.

Shawn:

When it comes to cost of living in Spain, it remains one of Europe's most affordable countries, especially if you don't insist on living directly next to the Sagrada Familia. So consider cities like Valencia, granada or Seville, where you'll find one-bedroom apartments for $780 to $1,000 a month. Utilities will cost about $110 a month, groceries about $280 a month. You can get a transit pass for about $40 to $56 a month, and if you want to go out for a night, that's only going to cost you about $11 to $17. Karen McCann is a travel blogger and author of numerous travel-related books, including Dancing in the Fountain how to Enjoy Living Abroad, who spends much of her time in Spain explaining this cost of living. Of her time in Spain explaining this cost of living.

Karen McCann:

Going out to eat is so much less expensive. I always go through huge culture shock when I come back to the US because I'm used to paying about well under $2 for a beer. And I'll go to a bar here a moderate bar and I'll order a beer and it'll come and it'll be $9. And I go $9 for a beer and my friends go yeah, aren't the prices here great? I mean, it is just wildly different. I'm in San Francisco right now and what San Francisco has the nerve to charge for a glass of wine really makes me blink. $15, $20, $25 for a glass of wine really makes me blink. $15, $20, $25 for a glass of wine. In Seville you get a bottle of good wine for that and everybody thinks you're being really lavish. So things like that are really quite a bit different. Also, you get by with way less there.

Karen McCann:

I don't have a car. Because I live in the city, I walk everywhere. On the very rare occasions when I need transportation I rent a car, but I rarely need to do it. Or I take the bus or I take the train. The trains are wonderful over there, so I don't need to pay for a car insurance, garage, all that stuff. I don't have a dishwasher, I don't have a dryer, I have the sun for that. A dishwasher, I don't have a dryer, I have the sun for that. It's just a lot of things that you always think about buying here because it's part of our lifestyle. People don't bother with too much over there. I mean, some of my friends do have cars, of course, particularly ones with kids or families that are outside in the suburbs. But you know, for the most part you can get away with an awful lot less and things cost an awful lot less. The whole money piece is very different.

Shawn:

Healthcare in Spain is excellent. Once you're a legal resident, you can tap into the public system. Until then, your required private insurance is going to cost you about $55 to $110 a month and it won't randomly drop you because someone wrote your name in all caps. As far as integrating into Spain, english is useful. Sure, in tourist zones, among young people or at American-themed burger joints. But if you plan to live there, especially outside of major hubs, spanish is essential, even if you're fluent in tapas menu Spanish. It's a different world when you're trying to get a driver's license or explain to your landlord why the ceiling is leaking onto your washing machine. But integration isn't just about language. It's about syncing with Spain's operating system. So you're going to have to adjust.

Shawn:

The earliest lunch is about 2 pm. The earliest dinner is about 9 pm. Anything earlier than that is considered a medical emergency. Bureaucracy is in the morning, possibly, unless there's a holiday. Sundays nothing happens. No stores, no errands, just horizontal humans and drifting smells of paella. Spain is proud, it's layered and it's sometimes resistant to change. The trick is not to rush it. Don't fight the current, just float, ideally with a basic grasp of Spanish. Here's Karen McCannigan.

Karen McCann:

Well, I think the first thing to do is just to, as I said, open your heart and be here now to experience the culture that you're living in and stop making constant comparisons to America. One of the things you have to remember is your Spanish friends are not interested in how things are done in America. They absolutely are not, and they are not comparing their culture and yours all the time. They think that the way they do things is the only way to do things, just as we do in America. They think the idea of having lunch at 1230 is insane and the idea of having dinner at six or seven or eight o'clock, that's way too early, and so you have to sort of step back and say, okay, this is the way they do things, let me try it, for example, in medicine.

Karen McCann:

You would think that medicine would be totally cut and dried, absolutely no room for wildness. But I have found that my Spanish friends tell me with absolute sincerity that ham good Spanish ham is great for your cholesterol will lower your cholesterol. Now you say that to an American and they start laughing they also, and it was based on a study that showed that there were antioxidants in that kind of ham and that there actually is some basis for this fact. But we can't get our heads around it because we've grown up with the idea ham bad, not good food. Same thing with water.

Karen McCann:

I mean, I drink a lot of water, I believe in drinking a lot of water, but the Spanish did a study with college students, of course, that proved that beer rehydrates better than water. Now it took me a long time to get my head around that and I have not shifted from a water drinker to a beer drinker as a general policy day in and day out. But my job is to take a step back and go. Ok, that makes no sense to me in what I know of the world, but maybe I should start try looking at it in a different way. Maybe I don't know everything. Maybe I should just step back and see what is in front of me instead of what's in my head.

Shawn:

If you're interested in Spanish citizenship, it is possible to obtain after 10 years of legal residency. But here's the hitch Spain doesn't allow dual citizenship with the United States, not officially. There are workarounds like forgetting to renounce your American status, but they exist in legal gray zones and may come back to bite you if Spain decides to care one day. However, if you're from Latin America, the Philippines or a former Spanish colony, spain offers a shortcut just two years to citizenship. It's the colonial legacy, but now with some practical benefits. You're also going to need fluency in Spanish, a basic civics test and proof that you've integrated and haven't spent 10 years hiding in a villa avoiding interaction. Spain is a good fit for you if you're financially independent, you want to live somewhere vibrant but not aggressively type A, you don't mind bureaucracy that feels like an improv exercise and you're okay with eventually choosing between the US and Spain for citizenship. It is a slower process, the paperwork might age you slightly, but Spain offers something few countries can match a full-bodied way of life that doesn't ask you to sacrifice your soul for a paycheck. It's not easy, but it's very possible and once you adapt to the rhythm you may find it suits you better than the life you left behind.

Shawn:

The final European country we're going to spotlight here is a bit of a sleeper hit. Latvia is not loud, it's not flashy and, frankly, it is a bit cold cold in both temperature and temperament and yet it works surprisingly well. Latvia doesn't make a big show of inviting you in, but if you meet its modest expectations, it'll hand you a residence permit, access to the Schengen Zone and a decent shot at citizenship, without requiring you to uproot your life or sell your soul to a real estate investment trust. The easiest way in to Latvia is the temporary residence permit. It's structured, relatively inexpensive and refreshingly light on drama. There are two main paths. The real estate investment path requires you to buy $280,000 worth of Latvian property, plus a government fee. The other path is a bank deposit of about $314,000 that must go into a Latvian bank for five years. Either path you take, you're going to get a renewable temporary residence permit, full movement rights in the Schengen zone, no full-time presence required in Latvia. Really, you just need to check in once a year. This makes it one of the most flexible entry points into the EU, and it's ideal if you're commitment-averse, geographically confused or still emotionally tethered to Trader Joe's, compared to Spain's bureaucratic theater or Italy's paperwork fan fiction, latvia's bureaucratic system is efficient. It's not warm, but it's efficient. You can expect posted requirements that match actual expectations, government offices where people show up on time, and paperwork that gets processed at a speed suggesting someone has a calendar and a mild sense of urgency. But you're still going to have to deal with certified translations, notarized documents and the need to repeatedly explain that, yes, you really do want to live here, but overall, latvia behaves like a country that doesn't actively want to punish you for trying to follow the rules.

Shawn:

The cost of living in Latvia is amazing. For a capital city in the EU, riga punches far above its weight in affordability. You won't find Parisian charm or Berlin nightlife, but you also won't need to sell plasma to afford rent. A one-bedroom apartment in Riga. Isiga is gonna cost about 500 to $730 per month. Utilities and internet are gonna cost about $135 a month. Groceries can run from 225 to $280 a month. A public transport pass is gonna cost about $34 and a craft beer that actually tastes like something is about $2. You're also going to get quiet, walkable neighborhoods, high-speed internet, like seriously fast, affordable healthcare and cultural events that don't require a black tie subscription. The downside is that winters in Latvia are long and they're dark, but summers, short as they are, are gorgeous and surprisingly lively.

Shawn:

Integrating into Latvia, especially when it comes to language, can be complicated. Latvian is the official language, so you'll need it for citizenship and most government paperwork. Russian is still widely spoken, especially among older generations, but English is increasingly common in Riga, especially among young people and tech workers. So you'll get by with English in the city, but outside of the capital not so much, and don't expect anyone to switch languages for your benefit. This is a country with boundaries. Culturally, latvians are reserved. They're not unfriendly, just not prone to small talk. You'll earn trust over time, preferably by not being obnoxious. Think of them as the Scandinavians of Eastern Europe private and polite.

Shawn:

If you want citizenship, latvia offers a clear, if not exactly fast, path. You're going to have to have five years of temporary residency and then five more years of permanent residency. After that you can apply for citizenship so ten years. To obtain Latvian citizenship, you have to prove Latvian language proficiency. You have to take a history and civics test, no serious criminal record and a willingness to renounce your US citizenship. Latvia does not allow dual citizenship with the US. So this is not a fast lane to a burgundy passport, but it is predictable and transparent.

Shawn:

So Latvia might be right for you if you want a Schengen foothold without fully relocating yet. You have investment capital, but not golden visa money and you're fine being the only American on your block or in the country. It's not romantic, but it is logical and in a world where governments often feel like improv troops, logic is its own kind of charm. If you're looking for a quiet base without too much performance, latvia may be exactly what you didn't know you were looking for. So let's say you've made the leap. You've filed the paperwork, passed the language test, figured out how to open a wine bottle without a screw cap, you've survived the visa process. What now? If you're in this for the long haul not just a few years of European escapism the endgame might be this European Union citizenship, that holy grail of modern mobility. So let's break it down.

Shawn:

With EU citizenship you can live, work and retire in any EU country. You can open a business in Berlin, buy a goat in Slovenia or teach yoga in Estonia, no additional visas required. You can travel freely throughout the Schengen zone and beyond, so that's 90 plus countries visa-free. You can attend European universities, many of which won't financially ruin you for attending philosophy lectures in sandstone buildings. It's not just a passport, it's a portable quality of life upgrade. Eu citizenship also gives you access to public healthcare systems that don't require pre-approvals, soul extractions or hour-long phone calls with insurance representatives. The right to work anywhere in the EU without filling out forms that ask if you've ever committed a crime in triplicate Pensions and benefits that may actually be there when you retire.

Shawn:

And the general vibe of someone who has options which, let's face, it is increasingly rare in America. And the general vibe of someone who has options which, let's face, it, is increasingly rare in America. Basically, you stop feeling like you're one surprise hospital visit away from economic collapse and that's not nothing. But here's where it gets messy. Remember, not every EU country is cool with you keeping your American passport.

Shawn:

Dual citizenship is allowed in Portugal, but it's not allowed in Spain or in Latvia. So you have to ask yourself what do you actually want? Do you want full citizenship or is long-term residency enough? Are you emotionally prepared to learn a new language and pass a civics exam in it? Would you renounce your US citizenship if you had to? Is your goal freedom of movement, long-term stability or simply options.

Shawn:

For many, permanent residency is plenty. It offers healthcare access, long-term stability and fewer late-night existential Google searches about renunciation tax traps. But if you're in it for the long haul, for voting rights, passport power and a fully European identity, citizenship is the prize. In that case, portugal is the clear favorite. It's quick, reasonable and doesn't make you choose between your two passports. So citizenship isn't just paperwork. It's permission, permission to stay, to vote, to settle down, without a countdown clock running in the background. It's about turning your backup plan into a primary one, one with better trains, longer vacations and slightly fewer people shouting on the news. So whether you want to become Portuguese, spanish, latvian or just want a way to leave quietly and with dignity, eu citizenship isn't just a status. It's a second chance, possibly with better cheese.

Shawn:

But moving abroad isn't just a logistics problem. It's a cultural act. You're not just changing addresses, you're entering someone else's home and, just like any guest who wants to be invited back, how you behave matters. This part is important because, while there's a lot of excitement around leaving America, there's also a risk becoming that kind of expat. And you know the one, the micro-aggressively loud one, the one who treats local flavor like a theme park, the one who gives the rest of us a bad name. So let's not do that. As more Americans seek refuge from political instability, rising costs or simply a slower pace of life, it's important to remember a couple of things. First, outside of the United States, things are just smaller. This is Tim Leffel, an American expat living in Mexico, an author of numerous books, including A Better Life for Half the Price and the World's Cheapest Destinations.

Tim Leffel:

Describing this Nothing in the US is that old, except maybe the fort in St Augustine. So it's just a whole different way that cities were constructed and planned and everything. So, yeah, apartments do tend to be smaller, the pipes tend to be older, so they can't necessarily support garbage disposals and you might have to put your toilet paper in the trash can instead of flushing it, like things like that that just seem so foreign to Americans and in a lot of the world they don't have this obsession with having this giant kitchen with 20 different appliances in them. So you know you probably won't have a dishwasher, you probably won't have a dryer, you probably won't have a garbage disposal, and that's normal, like, if you want to get all those things, you're probably going to have to get some kind of executive level apartment or house, that's, you know two or three times what the average going rate is for rent or to purchase. If you purchase, you're going to have to bang down the walls and expand the kitchen and everything.

Tim Leffel:

So I think it's important for people to temper their expectations a bit.

Tim Leffel:

Also, I think you discover a lot of times you hear this from expats all the time that, oh, I didn't need as much stuff as I thought I needed or oh, I didn't need as much space as I used to have, and I didn't realize it until I moved. You've got the whole tiny house movement in the US as a counterpart to this giant consumerism. So some people they talk about downsizing but they don't really believe it. They still want their 2,000 square feet and they think that's downsizing, but they don't really believe it. They still want their 2,000 square feet and they think that's downsizing. But most of the world, especially in Europe, does not live with that much square footage and they do just fine. And so I think if you rent a place that's much smaller and stay there for a while, that might give you a good sense of what it's going to be like and how well you can handle it for a while. That might give you a good sense of what it's going to be like and how well you can handle it.

Shawn:

If you're coming from the land of Costco, curbside pickup and fridge doors large enough to host a TED Talk, european life may feel condensed, but don't confuse smaller with less. In fact, many Europeans see it as smarter, more sustainable and more human In Europe. Smarter, more sustainable and more human In Europe. Compact doesn't mean cramp, it means efficient. So you can expect refrigerators the size of hotel, minibars, washers with no dryers, tiny elevators or none at all, and studio apartments that don't scream starter home but rather normal. It's not deprivation, it's efficiency and, strangely, it's freeing Fewer things, fewer decisions, less visual noise. Also, if you need a late night snack or a pharmacy run on Sunday, welcome to not America. It's not uncommon for shops to close at 6 or 7 pm and maybe for a few hours. Midday and Sundays are genuinely quiet. Public holidays mean business closures, not mattress sales, so embrace it. Yes, it can be frustrating, but it's also instructive. You'll learn how to plan ahead and eventually maybe slow down.

Shawn:

In the US, convenience is king. In Europe it's negotiable. So you can expect customer service that's more transactional than bubbly Fewer drive-throughs, less automation, more human interaction and things that take time and require paperwork. The slower pace isn't inefficiency, it's often intentional. You'll likely find that human-scaled systems foster community and patience eventually. So bring a book to your appointment and order coffee and sit down. You might miss your garbage disposal or target runs, but you'll gain cafe culture, city squares and a slower tempo of life. You'll get radiator heat instead of forced air and there's not AC in many homes. So open the windows. There's no giant SUVs and good luck parking one if you bring it. Many creature comforts we think of as normal are environmental stressors, both to the planet and to ourselves. Living with less can mean living better. So living in Europe may mean giving up certain American conveniences, but in return you'll often gain quality of life, of food, of connection. You're not downgrading, you're just adjusting the lens. Second, it's important to recognize that you're not just moving to a place, you're entering someone else's home.

Matt Wilson:

This is Matt Wilson, co-founder of Under 30 Experiences, which focuses on making travel more accessible to young people, explaining this the biggest advice that I can give people is to really travel mindfully and you know, I heard the joke the other day that in Europe what they say about Americans is you hear us before you see us, because you can just hear that that's the loud group of Americans coming and we, you know, or just allowed a couple people, or whatever. And just being aware of your surroundings, I think is important. Trying to what's the right word that I'm looking for, I guess assimilate a little bit more to the local culture and not just go looking for the things that you have at home. And this is especially advice to expats. Right, people want to go to places like Chiang Mai, thailand, and they want to open a business, which is great. But also don't try to bring the same things that you have home to fit to Chiang Mai, because then we just kind of live in this IKEA-ized world where, yeah, you can find craft beer, I guess, in every tourist city in the world and I guess there's nothing wrong with that and that's just the word, right, craft beer isn't going, the genie has escaped the bottle.

Matt Wilson:

But, you know, trying to support the local businesses that are owned by locals, that are more traditional, and, yeah, it gets really complicated when we talk about driving the prices up, because people, especially from the United States, like to come and throw around big tips, and tipping can get super complicated. It's good to be generous, for sure, but then also you can see areas change where people don't want to study. They just want to be getting people beach chairs and surfboards because they think they're going to get a good tip. Change economies and people are looking for easy money instead of, you know, growing up and getting a good education and trying to find a sustainable job, and then, when that that dries up, you know bad thing, bad things happen. People look to crime. So, yeah, this can be a really, really complicated subject.

Matt Wilson:

I could go on all day, but I would say, definitely, just do your best to try to fit in if you can. If you go to Lisbon, portugal, support the local businesses. I understand that everybody in the world wants to be there right now and people from all over Europe have the right to move there through the EU, and it's been quite easy for people from other countries, like the United States, to live there as well. And people who lived in the city centers are going to get outbid for their real estate. And so I would say, if you're going to be in a city center like that, support the locally owned places as best you can, and also the money needs to be spread around.

Matt Wilson:

So try to get off the beaten path. Let's take France, for example. All the tourist money goes to a certain amount of cities and towns, but there's so many places that you can get far off the beaten path and the money goes a long way in those places, but they're going to expect you to at least attempt to speak French, you know, so you got to try, I guess. Don't go to a place thinking like you're in the United States. Go to a place and make an honest attempt at living the local lifestyle in all the different ways that that may entail.

Shawn:

The cafe you love. Someone's family runs it In that picturesque alleyway. People actually live there. It's not a set, it's real life.

Shawn:

Gentrification and real estate speculation are real concerns in many European cities, especially where locals are being priced out by foreign buyers. So it's important to rent long-term before buying and avoid short-term vacation platforms for housing unless you're traveling. Opt for local rental agencies instead. Also, consider supporting affordable housing initiatives or local policies aimed at protecting residents from displacement. As I've mentioned a few times already, learn the language, even just a bit. Fluency isn't required, but making the effort shows respect and it earns goodwill.

Shawn:

Don't expect everyone to speak English, even if they can Take a basic course before arriving. Duolingo's a start, but local classes are better and use greetings and simple phrases in the local language. A heartfelt thank you, grazie, grazie goes far. And remember that Europe doesn't need to be fixed or Americanized, that artisanal bakery doesn't need a rebrand, that small-town pace is intentional. So embrace local ways of life without trying to improve them.

Shawn:

Listen before speaking in civic discussions, especially about development, infrastructure and immigration, and resist the urge to start businesses that cater only to fellow expats. Blend in before branching out and spend money where you live. Supporting the local economy means more than just buying croissants at the farmer's market once a week. So bank locally, shop at independent stores and hire local service providers. Avoid foreign investor enclaves that isolate you from the communities around you. Your dollars go farther. Use them wisely. It's also important to know your impact on inequality. Your US dollar or remote job might go far in a country with lower wages, but that economic advantage can create resentment if it's not handled mindfully. So keep your income in perspective, don't flaunt it. Advocate or vote, if eligible, for inclusive, equity-focused local policies, and join local associations or civic groups rather than remaining in expat bubbles. And learn to appreciate before you critique. Yes, maybe the plumber takes longer to show up, the shops close at 2 pm, but these rhythms are cultural, not bugs in the system. So approach differences with curiosity, not criticism. Let go of the American time is money ethos. Europe often values quality of life over speed of profit. So, in short, move not as a consumer but as a neighbor. Appreciate the place as it is, not just as what it can offer you, and remember being a good expat means being a good guest and a good local. So there you have it Three countries, three different temperaments and three ways to exit stage left from the American chaos without needing to inherit an olive farm or join a religious order.

Shawn:

If you've listened this far, you're probably not just curious about leaving America. You're considering it Seriously, and the goal here isn't to push you out the door. It's to remind you that a door does exist, that this idea, as wild as it may have once sounded, is very much within reach. You don't need to be rich. You don't need a second citizenship. You don't even need to know what you're doing next year. You just need a plan, a bit of paperwork, tolerance and the willingness to imagine a different kind of life. And no, that doesn't make you unpatriotic. It makes you aware that sometimes the best way to fix a broken system is to step outside of it and breathe for a while.

Shawn:

Now, if you're wondering why we didn't include a certain large European country known for its cheese, its strikes and its reputation for slow-moving bureaucracy cloaked in perfume ads, don't worry, we're getting there. Next time. On Leaving America, we're heading to France, a country where you can technically arrive as a tourist, stay longer than you should and realize the biggest culture shock is the fact that no one asks what you do for a living within the first five minutes of meeting you. We'll talk about how to navigate France's not-quite-impossible bureaucracy, what visas are available and how to make it work in one of Europe's most romanticized and misunderstood destinations. This is Leaving America, because sometimes home isn't where you started. Thank you.

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Shawn C. Fettig

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