About renouncing US citizenship: I've not considered it nor will I, but have known people who have looked into it when I was working in Ireland. Apart from the associated fee, an interview at the embassy was required as part of the process and the waiting list for such interviews was lengthy. I also attended one of Moodys Tax online briefings on the subject and their pitch is strictly based on tax liabilities; you would have to be a high earner with substantial assets to benefit financially (see https://www.moodystax.com/us-citizenship-renunciation/). Seen as a percentage of US citizens abroad, a very small number of people follow this path.
I love that you shared this! It clearly details what we slowly learned over time, so this guide can really save people a lot of work. We love the flexiibility of traveling nomadically, not worrying about visas in most places, but we all also reach a point where we want or need to nest somewhere (if only due to age or caretaking loved ones). I try to keep that long-term reality in mind, and make decisions that grow that option into as close to one's ideal as possible. Because my ideal ideal is not currently possible for me. 🙏🏼
I hope it will be useful. It’s difficult to figure this stuff out. We’re looking to snowbird in Europe in a few years and have no idea where to go. On top of the political mess, there is climate change.
We loved winter in southern Portugal/the Algarve for the kindness of locals (once they realized we were not there to be wild or disrespectful), the sunshine, the moderate temperature. We ran into quite a few retired Swedes building their new/refurbished retirement homes there. Lisbon was colder and damper in winter (I could never feel warm). Of course, there is no perfection, but it felt safe to us at that time (over 10 months during the pandemic). Spain is also tempting to explore. And we love islands. It would be great to hear more. Keep us posted!
About renouncing US citizenship: I've not considered it nor will I, but have known people who have looked into it when I was working in Ireland. Apart from the associated fee, an interview at the embassy was required as part of the process and the waiting list for such interviews was lengthy. I also attended one of Moodys Tax online briefings on the subject and their pitch is strictly based on tax liabilities; you would have to be a high earner with substantial assets to benefit financially (see https://www.moodystax.com/us-citizenship-renunciation/). Seen as a percentage of US citizens abroad, a very small number of people follow this path.
For most of us, there is no advantage to renunciation. And the world is so perilous right now, I feel the more passports you have, the better.
I love that you shared this! It clearly details what we slowly learned over time, so this guide can really save people a lot of work. We love the flexiibility of traveling nomadically, not worrying about visas in most places, but we all also reach a point where we want or need to nest somewhere (if only due to age or caretaking loved ones). I try to keep that long-term reality in mind, and make decisions that grow that option into as close to one's ideal as possible. Because my ideal ideal is not currently possible for me. 🙏🏼
I hope it will be useful. It’s difficult to figure this stuff out. We’re looking to snowbird in Europe in a few years and have no idea where to go. On top of the political mess, there is climate change.
We loved winter in southern Portugal/the Algarve for the kindness of locals (once they realized we were not there to be wild or disrespectful), the sunshine, the moderate temperature. We ran into quite a few retired Swedes building their new/refurbished retirement homes there. Lisbon was colder and damper in winter (I could never feel warm). Of course, there is no perfection, but it felt safe to us at that time (over 10 months during the pandemic). Spain is also tempting to explore. And we love islands. It would be great to hear more. Keep us posted!