I did not move abroad because I wanted a longer vacation.

I moved because I wanted a different life.

These days, I wake up in Coimbra, Portugal. I drink coffee, practice European Portuguese, work on Atypical Vagabond, edit YouTube videos, and occasionally lose an unreasonable amount of time trying to understand a government form written in bureaucratic Portuguese.

Some mornings, I walk past buildings older than the United States on my way to buy groceries.

That still feels slightly ridiculous—and completely wonderful.

But moving abroad was not one long cinematic montage of cobblestone streets, cheap espresso, and golden sunsets. There were visa applications, residency delays, tax questions, banking appointments, healthcare decisions, language mistakes, and enough paperwork to make a punk rocker beg for conformity.

Moving overseas did not remove the messy parts of life.

It simply gave me a life that feels more like mine.

This guide is for anyone thinking about moving abroad, becoming an expat, working as a digital nomad, retiring overseas, or starting again in another country. It combines the practical steps with the emotional reality—because both matter.

I have lived through the paperwork, uncertainty, culture shock, and occasional moments of absolute confusion. I have also experienced the quiet moment when a foreign city stops feeling like somewhere you are visiting and begins to feel like home.

Here is what I wish someone had told me before I moved abroad.

What Does Moving Abroad Actually Mean?

Moving abroad means establishing part or all of your life in another country.

It is not the same thing as taking an extended vacation.

When you travel, you can ignore many of the ordinary systems that keep daily life running. When you live abroad, those systems become your problem.

You must figure out:

• Whether you can legally remain in the country
• How you will earn money
• Where you will live
• How taxes work
• How to access healthcare
• Whether you need a local bank account
• How to obtain official identification numbers
• What happens when your laptop dies
• Which grocery store sells the coffee you like
• Why the cashier just asked you a question you definitely did not understand

That last one happens more often than travel influencers admit.

Living abroad is not permanent tourism. You still need to work, clean the apartment, buy toilet paper, answer emails, attend appointments, and deal with whatever fresh nonsense life throws onto your plate.

The scenery changes.

Life does not stop being life.

Why I Chose to Move Abroad

I did not wake up one morning, throw a dart at a map, and land in Portugal.

My decision came after years of questioning what I wanted my life to look like.

I had built businesses. I had followed the familiar script. Work hard, accumulate things, stay busy, repeat until someone hands you a retirement cake.

Eventually, I started questioning whether success was supposed to feel like exhaustion.

I wanted more time, deeper experiences, greater safety, and a stronger connection to the places around me. Travel had repeatedly shown me that another way of living was possible.

Portugal gradually moved from an interesting possibility to the place I wanted to call home.

You can read more about that road in my personal story, but the important part is this: I was not trying to escape responsibility.

I was trying to become more intentional about where my time went.

Moving abroad became part of that decision.

Why I Live in Coimbra, Portugal

Lisbon and Porto receive most of the international attention. They are beautiful cities, but neither became my home.

Coimbra did.

Coimbra sits in Central Portugal between Lisbon and Porto. It is known for its historic university, steep medieval streets, student traditions, and position along the Mondego River.

It is large enough to provide the services I need without constantly feeling like I am being swallowed by a major capital. I can work from home, meet people for coffee, walk through the historic center, and still find quieter neighborhoods where everyday Portuguese life carries on beyond the tourist trail.

My Coimbra travel guide covers the city from a visitor’s perspective, but living here feels different.

I know which streets punish my knees.

I recognize people in neighborhood cafés.

I know when students will fill the streets and when August will make parts of the city feel abandoned.

I also know that living in Coimbra does not mean I am permanently on holiday.

I still have deadlines. I still need reliable internet. I still deal with administrative appointments and ordinary household problems.

The University of Coimbra does not magically finish my editing when I am behind schedule.

Rude, honestly.

Yet Coimbra gives me something I struggled to find elsewhere: a manageable rhythm.

It has become my home base as I work online, travel through Portugal, walk Camino routes, and build Atypical Vagabond.

For a broader look at the country beyond the postcard version, read my guide to living in Portugal.

Is Moving Abroad Right for You?

Moving abroad can transform your life.

It can also expose every unrealistic expectation you packed into your suitcase.

Before choosing a country, ask yourself why you want to leave.

Are you seeking:

• Greater safety?
• A lower cost of living?
• Better work-life balance?
• A different culture?
• New career opportunities?
• Adventure?
• Retirement overseas?
• Freedom from a lifestyle that no longer fits?
• A place that feels more like home?

There is nothing wrong with wanting a fresh start.

However, moving abroad will not automatically repair your finances, relationships, mental health, career, or sense of purpose.

Your problems are annoyingly good at international travel.

Some will follow you through passport control.

The healthiest moves usually involve building toward something rather than believing another country will rescue you from everything.

Expat, Immigrant, Remote Worker, or Digital Nomad?

People use these labels interchangeably, but they describe slightly different experiences.

A remote worker earns income without being tied to a traditional office.

A digital nomad uses remote income to live or travel in different locations, often moving regularly.

An expat generally lives outside their country of citizenship, although the word can carry cultural baggage depending on who uses it.

An immigrant moves to another country to build a temporary or permanent life there.

In reality, one person may fit several definitions.

I work online and travel, which makes digital nomad part of my lifestyle. However, Coimbra is my home base. I am not bouncing between countries every two weeks while pretending airport lounges are a personality.

I am also an immigrant living in Portugal.

The label matters less than the legal and practical reality of what you are doing.

My digital nomad life guide explores the differences more deeply and can help you decide which version of overseas life fits your goals.

How to Choose a Country to Move To

One of the most common questions people ask is:

What is the best country to move to?

There is no universal answer.

Anyone promising the “perfect country” is probably trying to sell you a consultation, a course, or a beach apartment with suspicious plumbing.

The right country depends on your priorities.

Start With Legal Residency

Before falling in love with a city, determine whether you have a realistic legal pathway to live there.

Look at:

• Work visas
• Digital nomad visas
• Retirement visas
• Student visas
• Family reunification
• Entrepreneur visas
• Passive-income visas
• Citizenship by descent
• Permanent residency requirements

My visa guide explains the main categories and the questions you should ask before applying.

Requirements change, so always confirm details through the country’s official immigration authority. For Portugal, that means checking the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum and the Portuguese government’s ePortugal portal.

Do not build your entire plan around a three-year-old social media video.

Immigration law does not care how many likes it received.

Consider the Cost of Everyday Life

Do not compare countries using rent alone.

Your real cost of living may include:

• Housing
• Electricity and gas
• Internet
• Transportation
• Groceries
• Healthcare
• Insurance
• Taxes
• Visa renewals
• Flights home
• Currency fluctuations
• Coworking spaces
• Language lessons
• Emergency expenses

A country may have inexpensive rent but expensive private healthcare. Another may appear costly until you realize you no longer need a car.

Your budget should reflect your actual lifestyle, not a fantasy version in which you survive forever on coffee and optimism.

Think About the Climate

Weather affects everyday life more than most people expect.

Portugal is often marketed as endlessly sunny, but Coimbra has wet winters, chilly buildings, and enough damp weather to expose every romantic fantasy about ancient stone architecture.

Those thick walls look fantastic.

They can also hold cold like a grudge.

Research the entire year, not only the month when tourism boards take their photographs.

Look Beyond Capital Cities

Major capitals often offer more jobs, international communities, transportation links, and entertainment.

They may also bring higher rents, heavier tourism, more noise, and a faster pace.

Smaller cities like Coimbra can offer a stronger balance between infrastructure and everyday livability.

Visit several neighborhoods and cities before committing. A place that looks charming during a weekend trip may feel completely different after three rainy Tuesdays and a trip to the tax office.

Test the Country Before You Commit

Whenever possible, spend meaningful time in a country before moving there.

A scouting trip should not be treated like a vacation.

Try to experience ordinary life.

Rent an apartment instead of staying at a resort. Visit grocery stores. Ride public transportation. Work a normal day. Walk through residential neighborhoods. Visit during less glamorous weather.

Pay attention to:

• Noise at night
• Internet quality
• Walkability
• Public transportation
• Access to healthcare
• Grocery prices
• Neighborhood safety
• Language barriers
• Community opportunities
• Distance from airports or train stations

Most importantly, ask yourself how the place feels when you are not being entertained.

That question matters.

Create a Moving Abroad Timeline

International relocation becomes less overwhelming when you divide it into stages.

Six to Twelve Months Before Moving

Begin researching:

• Visa pathways
• Passport validity
• Income requirements
• Tax obligations
• Healthcare
• Potential cities
• Housing costs
• Document requirements

This is also the time to reduce possessions and build savings.

Three to Six Months Before Moving

Start gathering official documents.

Depending on the country, you may need:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Criminal background checks
• Employment contracts
• Proof of remote income
• Bank statements
• Health insurance
• Accommodation evidence
• Tax records
• Passport photographs
• Certified translations
• Apostilles

Some documents expire for immigration purposes, so do not order everything too early.

One to Three Months Before Moving

Confirm:

• Temporary accommodation
• Flights
• Travel insurance
• Prescription supplies
• Banking access
• Mobile phone plans
• Mail handling
• Important account logins
• Cloud backups
• Emergency contacts

Keep digital and paper copies of critical documents.

Your phone battery will inevitably die exactly when someone asks to see the one document you cannot access.

Your First 90 Days Abroad

Your first months may involve:

• Registering your address
• Attending immigration appointments
• Opening a bank account
• Obtaining tax or social-security numbers
• Finding a doctor
• Choosing a long-term neighborhood
• Setting up utilities
• Learning transportation
• Building a local routine

Do not expect everything to happen during the first week.

Moving abroad is not a single event. It is a chain of tasks wearing a trench coat and pretending to be one decision.

Build a Realistic Moving-Abroad Budget

The cost of moving abroad extends beyond the airfare.

Potential expenses include:

• Visa application fees
• Document fees
• Background checks
• Apostilles
• Certified translations
• Flights
• Baggage
• Pet transportation
• Temporary housing
• Rental deposits
• Agency fees
• Furniture
• Kitchen supplies
• Insurance
• Transportation
• Residency appointments
• Emergency travel

Keep a separate relocation fund and an emergency fund.

I recommend planning for at least several months of normal living expenses after accounting for the move itself. Your ideal cushion depends on your income stability, visa status, health needs, and family responsibilities.

International moves have a talent for inventing expenses you did not know existed.

Your financial plan should also include a way to access money if your primary bank freezes a transaction. Keep more than one card and, when possible, accounts with separate institutions.

Visas and Residency: The Least Glamorous Part of the Adventure

A visa allows you to enter a country for a particular purpose.

A residence permit generally gives you the legal right to remain under defined conditions.

The exact process varies by country and nationality.

In Portugal, my immigration journey taught me patience in ways I had not requested.

The process included delays, uncertainty, waiting for appointments, gathering updated documentation, and wondering whether a system designed by humans had ever been tested by humans.

Eventually, I received my renewal, but it was not quick.

My experience is one reason I created a separate guide to Portuguese residency.

Use my experience as context—not legal advice.

Immigration rules change, and individual circumstances matter. Confirm current requirements with AIMA, the appropriate Portuguese consulate, or a qualified immigration professional.

Bring every document requested.

Then bring copies.

Then bring copies of the copies because bureaucracy respects preparation and feeds on toner.

Getting a Portuguese NIF and Other Numbers

Portugal uses several identification numbers for different systems.

A NIF is a Portuguese tax-identification number. It is commonly needed for banking, contracts, taxes, and many financial transactions.

A NISS relates to Portuguese social security.

The Portuguese government explains the process for foreign residents through its official guide to requesting a NIF and NISS.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need a Portuguese healthcare number.

Do not assume all these systems automatically communicate with one another. Sometimes they do.

Sometimes they behave like estranged band members refusing to share a stage.

Finding Housing Abroad

Do not sign a long-term lease based only on photographs.

Wide-angle lenses have committed crimes against apartment hunters for years.

Begin with temporary accommodation whenever your budget allows. Give yourself time to explore neighborhoods and understand the rental market.

Ask about:

• Lease length
• Deposit requirements
• Utility costs
• Heating and cooling
• Furnishings
• Internet availability
• Noise
• Natural light
• Mold or dampness
• Public transportation
• Grocery access
• Registration of the rental contract
• Whether the address can be used for residency purposes

In older Portuguese buildings, energy efficiency can vary dramatically. An apartment that feels perfect in May may become cold and damp in January.

Visit at different times of day when possible.

A peaceful street at noon can become the unofficial headquarters of every barking dog in Europe after midnight.

Opening a Bank Account Abroad

A local bank account may be necessary for rent, utilities, tax payments, subscriptions, or everyday transactions.

Requirements vary, but banks may request:

• Passport
• NIF
• Proof of address
• Proof of employment
• Proof of income
• Portuguese phone number
• Residency documents

Read my guide to banking in Portugal before choosing an account.

Also keep an account in your home country if possible. It can help with existing bills, credit cards, tax payments, and financial emergencies.

When transferring money internationally, compare:

• Exchange rates
• Transfer fees
• Receiving fees
• Daily limits
• Transfer time
• Fraud protection

The cheapest advertised option is not always the cheapest after the exchange-rate markup joins the party.

For information about regulated Portuguese financial institutions, consult Banco de Portugal.

Taxes When You Move Abroad

Moving abroad does not make taxes disappear.

It often gives them additional forms.

Your obligations may depend on:

• Citizenship
• Country of residence
• Number of days spent in each country
• Source of income
• Employment status
• Business ownership
• Property
• Investments
• Tax treaties

Americans may still have U.S. filing obligations while living overseas. Portuguese residents may also have Portuguese reporting and payment responsibilities depending on their situation.

My Portugal tax guide provides an overview, but I am not a tax professional.

I strongly recommend working with a qualified accountant familiar with both your home country and your destination.

For official Portuguese information, use the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority.

Do not build your tax plan from a Facebook comment written by someone named “FreedomWolf1973.”

Healthcare Abroad

Healthcare should be researched before you move, not after you become sick.

Questions to investigate include:

• Does your visa require private insurance?
• When can you access public healthcare?
• How do you register?
• Are pre-existing conditions covered?
• How are prescriptions handled?
• Is dental care included?
• Where is the nearest emergency department?
• Do providers speak your language?
• What happens when traveling outside the country?

Portugal has public and private healthcare options. Eligibility, registration, cost, and access depend on your legal status and circumstances.

Read my guide to healthcare in Portugal and consult the official SNS 24 portal for public-health information and services.

Keep copies of prescriptions and learn the generic names of important medications.

Brand names can change across borders even when the medicine does not.

Working Abroad as a Digital Nomad

Remote work made my move possible, but living overseas did not remove the need for structure.

Coimbra is my home.

It is also where I run a travel website, create videos, manage digital projects, research articles, answer messages, and attempt to remain productive while Portugal is being annoyingly photogenic outside my window.

The fantasy version of digital-nomad life involves working beside a pool for two hours and spending the afternoon exploring.

The real version involves:

• Deadlines
• Video calls
• Backups
• Client expectations
• Time-zone differences
• Unstable Wi-Fi
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Content schedules
• Equipment failures
• Fighting the temptation to explore instead of work

A beautiful location can improve your quality of life.

It cannot manage your calendar.

My guide to remote work explains how I approach working online while living overseas.

I also maintain separate resources covering digital-nomad productivity and the tools I use while working remotely.

Build Income Before You Move

Do not assume remote income will magically appear once you arrive.

Whenever possible, build a stable system before leaving.

That could mean:

• Negotiating remote employment
• Developing freelance clients
• Building an online business
• Creating digital products
• Establishing consulting work
• Growing content revenue
• Combining several income streams

Test the system from home.

Learn how you will handle payments, contracts, taxes, security, data backups, and time-zone changes before immigration paperwork raises the difficulty level.

Protect Your Work

Digital nomads should have:

• Cloud backups
• Local backups
• Password management
• Multi-factor authentication
• A virtual private network when appropriate
• Travel insurance
• Equipment insurance
• Backup payment cards
• Emergency internet access

My work depends on cameras, laptops, storage drives, internet access, and enough coffee to make the whole operation legally questionable.

Redundancy is not glamorous, but neither is losing an entire project.

Learning the Local Language

You do not need to be fluent before moving abroad.

You should make an effort.

I study European Portuguese because I live in Portugal—not because I expect every conversation to unfold perfectly, but because language changes your relationship with a place.

Portuguese pronunciation surprised me.

Words I recognized on paper sometimes sounded completely different when spoken at normal speed. Entire syllables appeared to vanish into thin air. At first, listening to a local conversation felt like hearing a radio station from the bottom of a swimming pool.

Lessons helped.

Repetition helped.

Listening to Portuguese in ordinary situations helped even more.

Cafés, grocery stores, train stations, and neighborhood conversations gradually trained my ear.

What did not work was waiting until I felt “ready” to speak.

That day never arrives.

You speak badly, survive, learn, and try again.

Read my guide to learning European Portuguese for the methods, resources, and mistakes that have shaped my experience.

Learning the language will not only help you order lunch.

It helps you understand humor, manners, frustration, history, and the rhythms of everyday life.

Culture Shock and Homesickness

Culture shock does not always arrive dramatically.

Sometimes it appears as irritation.

You become frustrated because the supermarket does not stock something familiar. An appointment takes longer than expected. A local custom makes no sense. You cannot express your personality in the language. You miss family, friends, food, sports, or routines.

Then guilt joins in because you chose to move.

That emotional mixture is normal.

Many people experience stages that include excitement, frustration, adjustment, and greater acceptance. They do not always arrive in a tidy order.

Things that helped me include:

• Building a routine
• Learning Portuguese
• Joining local communities
• Staying connected with people back home
• Exploring beyond tourist areas
• Accepting that adaptation takes time
• Allowing myself to have bad days

A hard day abroad does not mean the move failed.

Sometimes it means you had a hard day.

Building Community Abroad

You can live in a beautiful city and still feel lonely.

Community rarely appears automatically.

You have to show up.

Try:

• Language classes
• Local clubs
• Digital-nomad meetups
• Volunteer groups
• Sports
• Faith communities
• Coworking events
• Neighborhood cafés
• Cultural associations
• Walking groups

The goal is not to surround yourself only with people from your home country.

Other immigrants can provide understanding and support, but local relationships are essential if you want to develop a genuine connection with your new home.

Community grows through repetition.

Visit the same café. Attend the same gathering. Learn names. Ask questions. Return.

Belonging usually forms slowly.

That is part of what makes it meaningful.

The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Moving Abroad

Choosing a Country Before Checking the Visa

Do not plan your entire future before confirming whether you can legally stay.

Underestimating the Cost

Initial expenses arrive quickly, especially housing deposits, documents, insurance, and temporary accommodation.

Signing a Long Lease Immediately

Learn the city first.

Ignoring Taxes

Tax surprises are rarely fun surprises.

Refusing to Learn the Language

You can survive in many places using English.

Survival is not the same thing as belonging.

Expecting Permanent Vacation

You are building a life, not booking an endless resort stay.

Comparing Everything to Home

Differences are not automatically defects.

Remaining Inside an Expat Bubble

International communities are valuable, but your destination should not become decorative wallpaper around the same life you had before.

Expecting the Move to Fix Everything

A new country creates possibilities.

You still have to participate in your own life.

My Moving Abroad Checklist

Before moving, make sure you have:

• Confirmed your legal visa or residency pathway
• Checked passport validity
• Created a realistic relocation budget
• Built an emergency fund
• Collected official documents
• Obtained required apostilles and translations
• Researched tax obligations
• Arranged health insurance
• Reviewed prescription rules
• Secured temporary accommodation
• Created digital document backups
• Maintained access to multiple bank accounts
• Tested remote income
• Researched neighborhoods
• Learned essential phrases
• Planned transportation from the airport
• Created an emergency contact list
• Investigated phone and internet options
• Prepared for the emotional transition

You can also download my free Expat Life Checklist for a more organized version you can use while planning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Abroad

Continue Planning Your Move

These guides will help you take the next step:

• Living in Portugal
• Portugal Visas
• Portuguese Residency
• Healthcare in Portugal
• Banking in Portugal
• Taxes in Portugal
• Learning Portuguese
• Digital Nomad Life
• Remote Work
• Portugal for Digital Nomads
• Expat Life
• My Story

Atypical Last Thoughts

Moving abroad is not an escape hatch. It is a decision to step outside the machinery of your familiar life and build something new—often without knowing exactly how the pieces fit together.

There will be paperwork.

There will be awkward conversations.

There will be days when you cannot find the right groceries, understand the person behind the counter, or remember why you thought uprooting your life was a reasonable idea.

Then, slowly, something changes.

You stop checking maps every time you leave home. The person at the café recognizes you. You understand part of a conversation you would have missed six months earlier.

You return from a trip, step off the train in Coimbra, and feel relief because you are home. That is the part no visa guide can explain. Moving abroad did not make my life perfect.

It made my life feel intentional.

I traded familiarity for possibility, predictability for growth, and a life that looked correct from the outside for one that feels right when I wake up inside it.That trade was worth every form, every mistake, and every beautifully mangled Portuguese conversation along the way.

---

---

Meet Carter

---

Subscribe

Looking for honest travel inspiration without the polished influencer nonsense?

Join the Atypical Vagabond newsletter for offbeat destination guides, Portugal travel tips, digital nomad lessons, slow travel stories, and the occasional reminder that the ordinary path is wildly overrated.

I share the victories, wrong turns, hidden gems, and real-life chaos that come with building a life around travel. No corporate fluff. No recycled bucket lists. Just useful advice, personal stories, and unconventional adventures designed to help you travel deeper, stay curious, and create your own damn route.

Subscribe and let’s reject the ordinary together.

Donations

Enjoying the stories, guides, videos, and occasional travel disaster here at Atypical Vagabond?

A small donation helps cover the real costs behind the adventures—from transportation and website hosting to camera gear, research, and enough coffee to keep the next guide moving.

There are no giant sponsors pulling the strings and no polished corporate travel machine hiding backstage. Your support helps me continue creating honest travel stories, practical Portugal guides, digital nomad advice, and unconventional adventures for travelers who prefer the road less rehearsed.

Every contribution helps keep Atypical Vagabond independent.

Fuel the next adventure through PayPal—and help me keep rejecting the ordinary.

---