90-Day Protocol, Checklists & Timelines

Start the paperwork that takes weeks before anything else.

Documents to prepare first: Apostilled birth certificate, apostilled criminal background check (FBI check for Americans, usually <3–6 months old), proof of income (3–6 months bank statements), passport with 6+ months validity, health insurance certificate — WhereNext
Temporary housing first: Most expats spend their first 2–4 weeks in Airbnbs, hostels or serviced apartments while apartment hunting — budget for it — WhereNext
🇺🇸 US citizens: File Form 1040 with Form 2555 (FEIE) or Form 1116 (FTC). File FBAR separately if foreign accounts total $10,000+. Deadline 15 April, auto-extension to 15 June abroad, extendable to 15 October — Savvy Nomad
IDP note: An International Driving Permit is required for Italy, Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria — RentCars

Online application → email to schedule a face-to-face embassy/consulate appointment. 180 days + 180-day extension. ⚠️ Monotributistas must recategorise by 5 August each year.

Residency steps: Online application → if requirements met, you receive an email to schedule a face-to-face appointment at the nearest embassy/consulate — A Way Abroad
Eligibility gate: Must be a national of a country that does not require a tourist visa to enter Argentina — A Way Abroad
Validity: 180 days + 180-day extension — A Way Abroad
⚠️ Annual deadline: If registered as a monotributista, you must recategorise by 5 August each year — miss it and you risk penalties or exclusion — Rio Times
Where to base: Buenos Aires delivers Europe-level culture, cafés and nightlife at a discount since the peso reset — Rio Times
Official portal: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones

Apply for Type D long-stay visa at embassy/consulate (4–8 weeks) → after arrival, apply for a residence permit within 14 days. ⚠️ The 14-day window is tight — have documents ready before you fly.

Residency steps: ① Apply for Type D long-stay visa at a Bulgarian embassy/consulate (4–8 weeks processing) ② After arrival, apply for a residence permit within 14 days — Freelancermap
⚠️ The 14-day window is tight: Have your accommodation, insurance and criminal record documents ready before you fly
Documents on arrival: Proof of accommodation, income, EU/Schengen-valid health insurance, clean criminal record — Freelancermap
Driving: IDP required — Bulgaria is on the non-Roman-alphabet list — RentCars
2026 context: Joined Schengen and adopted the euro in 2025; growing remote-work infrastructure in Sofia and Plovdiv; easy access to mountains and Black Sea — Freelancermap
Official portal: Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Fully digital application; temporary residency permit (no dedicated nomad visa). ⚠️ The 3-year foreign-income tax exemption is extendable by 3 more years only by applying to the SII — not automatic.

Residency steps: Fully digital application — GoResident
⚠️ Critical action item: The 3-year foreign-income tax exemption is extendable by 3 more years only by applying to the SII — it is NOT automatic — Rio Times
Route: Temporary residency permit (no dedicated nomad visa) — GoResident
Official portal: Servicio Nacional de Migraciones

Streamlined digital application; family accompaniment allowed; up to 2 years. ⚠️ Stay under 183 days to preserve the foreign-income tax exemption.

Residency steps: Streamlined digital application; family accompaniment allowed; up to 2 years — Citizen Remote
⚠️ Stay under 183 days: To preserve the foreign-income tax exemption — this constrains how you use the 2-year visa — GoResident
Nomad hubs: Medellín (fibre internet, spring-like climate, very low costs, large social remote-worker community), Bogotá, Caribbean coast — Rio Times
Driving: Rental car requires a physical credit card, international-enabled, issued by a physical bank; virtual, prepaid and contactless cards are NOT accepted; cash deposits never accepted — RentCars
Official portal: Cancillería de Colombia

Apply online via TramiteYa → pay $100 fee → if abroad, 90 days after approval to enter and complete in person. Insurance "trips up more applicants than income proof".

Residency steps: Apply online via TramiteYa → pay $100 to Banco de Costa Rica → 90 days after approval to enter and complete in person — Costa Rica Board
Documents: Marriage certificate issued within last 6 months if applying with a spouse — Citizen Remote
⚠️ Insurance trap: $50,000 minimum coverage required by DGME — travel insurance NOT accepted, must be long-term residency health insurance — Citizen Remote
⚠️ Renewal trap: Must meet a 180-day in-country requirement or the visa cannot be renewed for a second year — Citizen Remote
Recommended areas: Barrio Escalante (walkable, coworking-dense), Tamarindo (beach + nomad community), Escazú (premium infrastructure), Santa Teresa (surf/wellness) — all have fibre above 100 Mbps — Costa Rica Board
Alternative residency: Temporary permit valid 2 years → PR; requires $2,500/month income for 2 years, or $60,000 bank deposit, or $200,000 property investment — Nomad Capitalist
Official portal: DGME

6 months of bank statements/payslips required (raised from 3). ⚠️ Hard exit at 18 months, no renewal, no PR path — reapply only after 6 months outside.

Residency steps: Standard DNV application; 6 months of bank statements or payslips required (raised from 3) — TNT Magazine
⚠️ Hard exit: 18 months maximum, no renewal; when time is up you leave; reapply only after 6 months outside Croatia — Openvisa
⚠️ No PR path: Zero pathway to permanent residency — plan accordingly — Openvisa
Family rules: Stricter than Portugal/Spain on dependants — Jobbatical
⭐ Schengen advantage: Time in Croatia doesn't count toward your Schengen 90-day limit — RemotifyEurope
Where to base: Split, Zadar, the islands (low cost); Zagreb (growing tech scene and coworking) — RemotifyEurope
Official portal: Croatian Ministry of the Interior

Apply for the Živno (trade licence) visa at embassy/consulate — valid 1 year, renewable. ⚠️ Expect an in-person immigration interview; trade-licence registration puts you in the local tax system.

Residency steps: Apply for the Živno (trade licence) visa at embassy/consulate — valid 1 year, renewable — Freelancermap
⚠️ Embassy interview: Expect an in-person immigration interview covering your freelance business, accommodation and travel plans — Freelancermap
Business registration required: Trade licence (Zivnostenský list) — you enter the local tax system — LottaLingo
Positioning: Particularly attractive for IT and creative sector workers — Corpenza
Official portal: Czech Ministry of the Interior

Online application → embassy submission → ~30 days review. ⚠️ Non-renewable, no PR path — 1 year only. E-Residency ≠ visa.

Residency steps: Online application → submit to Estonian embassy/consulate → ~30 days review (15–30 days per second source) — Freelancermap / RemotifyEurope
Documents: Bank statements/payslips/invoices proving €4,500 gross average over the 6 months before application — Jobbatical
⚠️ Insurance: €30,000 minimum Schengen-valid coverage; regular travel insurance usually does NOT qualify — CountryTaxCalc
Insurance options: SafetyWing $45–56/month; Cigna Global $100–200/month; Estonian Health Insurance Fund joinable after 183 days as tax resident — CountryTaxCalc
⚠️ Non-renewable, no PR path: 1 year only — CountryTaxCalc
E-Residency ≠ visa: The e-Residency programme is for business setup, not tied to the visa — a common confusion — Jobbatical
Cost of living: €1,200–2,000/month; world-class digital infrastructure, coworking in Tallinn — Jobbatical
Official portal: Estonian Police and Border Guard Board

Most nationalities simply enter visa-free for 365 days. ⚠️ March 2026 change: work permits now required for remote workers — entry/stay and permission-to-work are separate tracks.

Simplest entry: Most nationalities enter visa-free for 365 days — no application at all — Citizen Remote
DNV route: "Remotely from Georgia" — free, ~10 days processing, 12 months, non-renewable — VisaVerge
⚠️ March 2026 change: Work permits now required for remote workers, self-employed and entrepreneurs; entry/stay and permission-to-work are now separate tracks — VisaVerge
Long-term route: Work residence permit 6–12 months, extendable to 12 years; PR after 10 years — VisaVerge
Healthcare: Insurance costs "a fraction" of equivalent coverage in Germany or Malta — TaxesForExpats
Community hubs: Tbilisi and Batumi — TaxRavens
Official portal: Public Service Hall

Apply for Freiberufler (freelance) or Selbständiger (self-employment) visa — the Finanzamt must classify your work as a "liberal profession" rather than commercial.

Residency steps: Apply for Freiberufler/Selbständiger visa → Finanzamt must classify your work as a "liberal profession" rather than commercial — eligibility hinges on this — Outsite
Registration required: Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) or Finanzamt registration — LottaLingo
Berlin artist visa: A subset of the freelance visa exists for artists (painters, musicians, writers) — availability decided by your case manager — Outsite
⚠️ Healthcare: Mandatory but insurance-based, not free at point of care; choose between statutory GKV and private PKV — "free at point of care" only applies once GKV kicks in — WhereNext
Housing: Deposit legally capped at 3 months' cold rent; Berlin averages €900–1,400 → €3,600–5,600 upfront — WhereNext
PR path: Yes — citizenship after 5–10 years — Where To Emigrate
Official portal: Local Ausländerbehörde

Consular application; approvals reported in as little as 10 days through some consulates — the fastest in Europe. PR path available after 5 years.

Residency steps: Consular application; approvals in as little as 10 days through some consulates — the fastest in Europe — Ellis
Healthcare: Public hospitals/clinics accessible at minimum-to-free out-of-pocket; many expats add private insurance starting around €30/month — Investment Visa
PR path: Available after 5 years of legal residence — CountryTaxCalc
⚠️ Tax residency: Formally transferring tax residence is required to access the 50% reduction — a separate process from the visa — TaxesForExpats
Driving: IDP required — Greece is on the non-Roman-alphabet list — RentCars
Official portal: Greek Migration Ministry

E33G Remote Worker KITAS — renewal requires exit and re-entry. ⚠️ Using tourist/socio-cultural visas for remote work is illegal and now strictly enforced.

Residency steps: E33G Remote Worker KITAS application; renewal requires exit and re-entry — Travel And Tour World
⚠️ Enforcement: Using tourist or socio-cultural visas for remote work is illegal and now strictly enforced — Travel And Tour World
⚠️ Language requirement: Indonesia requires Bahasa documentation with certified translation — Rumavi
⚠️ Healthcare limitation: Infrastructure thin outside major cities; serious medical cases may require evacuation to Singapore or Bangkok — Juwai Asia
International schools: Mostly Jakarta only; options thinner than neighbours — Rumavi
⚠️ Property/visa structures: More complex than Malaysia — Juwai Asia
Alternative: Second Home Visa — 5–10 years, $130,000 deposit or qualifying property — Bratu Capital
Official portal: Directorate General of Immigration

No COE required. Apply at embassy/consulate → receive visa stamp. ⚠️ 6 months maximum, non-extendable, must leave on expiry, no PR path.

Residency steps: ① Confirm nationality eligibility ② Prepare proof of remote employment/income ③ Obtain private health insurance ④ Apply at embassy/consulate (no COE required) ⑤ Receive visa stamp — Japan Visa
Insurance: Private policy covering Japan with JPY 10 million+ medical coverage — Japan Visa
⭐ Healthcare: National Health Insurance for registered residents with a visa of 3+ months — typically immediate enrolment once your residence card is issued; ranked best globally on immediate enrolment for new residents — WhereNext
⚠️ But: The DNV is capped at 6 months, so holders may fall outside the 3-month residence-card route — verify before relying on NHI
⚠️ Hard stop: 6 months maximum, non-extendable, must leave on expiry, no PR path — Japan Visa
Fees (from July 1, 2026): Single-entry ¥15,000, multiple-entry ¥30,000 — Japan Visa
Positioning: Suits those prioritising safety, infrastructure and healthcare over low cost — Juwai Asia
Official portal: Immigration Services Agency

DE Rantau online application via MDEC — 6–8 weeks official, 4–6 month delays reported in 2026. ⚠️ MM2H revamped: now ~RM 40,000/month offshore income + deposit up to RM 1.5M.

Residency steps: Online application via MDEC for DE Rantau; 6–8 weeks official, 4–6 month delays in 2026 — Travel And Tour World
Dependants: Spouse, children under 18, and parents may be sponsored — Travel And Tour World
Healthcare: Both public and private; KL private hospitals meet international standards at reasonable prices — Rumavi
International schools: Common in cities, fees $300–1,500/month — Rumavi
Cost anchor: Living in KL costs about 40% of Singapore — Rumavi
⚠️ MM2H revamped: Now requires ~RM 40,000/month offshore income and a fixed deposit up to RM 1.5 million — much harder than its old reputation; 5–20 year residence, only 90 days/year in-country required — Asia Lifestyle Magazine
Language: English widely spoken; expat networks strong in major cities — Rumavi
Official portal: MDEC

Online account → embassy appointment → visa → complete residency after landing. The biggest hurdle for foreigners is the aval/fiador (local guarantor).

Residency steps: Online account → embassy appointment in home country → visa → residency process after landing — A Way Abroad
⚠️ Biggest hurdle: The aval/fiador — a local guarantor who owns property in the same city and co-signs your lease — Rio Times
⭐ Workaround: Most landlords accept a paid rental-guarantee policy (póliza jurídica) instead — the usual route for foreigners without local contacts — Rio Times
Housing: Deposit typically 1 month + first month upfront; CDMX expat neighbourhoods $500–800 → $1,000–2,400 upfront — Rio Times / WhereNext
Where to search: Inmuebles24, Vivanuncios, local Facebook groups, neighbourhood agents (inmobiliaria) — Rio Times
⚠️ Get your RFC: Landlords increasingly require your tax ID so they can invoice rent — Rio Times
Driving: Rental car requires a physical credit card with $2,000+ available limit; cash deposits not accepted — RentCars
Official portal: Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM)

For US citizens: the DAFT route — register a Dutch business with €4,500 investment → residence permit. Mandatory private insurance, capped out-of-pocket.

Residency steps (US citizens): DAFT route — register a Dutch business with €4,500 investment → residence permit — Where To Emigrate
⚠️ Healthcare: Mandatory private insurance regulated by the state; not free at point of care, but out-of-pocket costs are capped — WhereNext
PR path: Yes — citizenship after 5–10 years — Where To Emigrate
Tax note: The 30% ruling reduces effective rate to ~21% for qualifying incoming employees — CountryTaxCalc
Official portal: IND

⚠️ Panama requires applicants to work with an immigration lawyer — making this likely the most expensive application fee of the Latin American options. Uses the US dollar.

Residency steps: ⚠️ Requires working with an immigration lawyer — likely the most expensive application fee of the LatAm options — A Way Abroad
Validity: 9 months + 9-month extension (some sources describe this as 18 months) — Immigrant Invest / GoResident
Currency: Uses the US dollar — no FX friction for USD earners — GoResident
Infrastructure: Panama City described as a modern hub with excellent infrastructure — The Visa Index
Residency route note: Panama combines territorial tax with a well-established residency route — Holborn Assets
Official portal: Servicio Nacional de Migración

Visa → enter → AIMA biometrics → 2-year permit → renew for 3 more (16 months in-country required during the first 2 years).

Timeline: 90 working days official; 6–9 months realistic due to AIMA backlog — Global Citizen Solutions
⚠️ Get your NIF first: The tax number is a prerequisite for bank, lease and utilities — Anchorless
Healthcare: SNS — register at your local centro de saúde; primary care ~€5, emergency ~€15; long specialist waits → most expats add private at €50–150/month — Relocate Handbook
Housing: Deposit 1–2 months (statutory cap 2); Lisbon new lease ~€1,200 → ~$3,900 upfront — Imigrata / WhereNext
⚠️ AIMA tightened proof: Now expects a long-term lease registered with Finanças + applicant declaration — Anchorless
Tenant protection: No eviction without legal grounds; landlord must get a court order via BNA — Imigrata
Language: Leases are usually in Portuguese — get a translator/legal review before signing — International Moving
Official portal: AIMA

Documentation list published via Romanian consulates. IDP required. ⚠️ Plan for social contributions (~35%), not just the 10% headline income tax.

Residency steps: Documentation list published via Romanian consulates — Freelancermap
Driving: IDP required — Romania is on the non-Roman-alphabet list — RentCars
⚠️ Plan for social contributions: ~35%, not just the 10% headline income tax — CountryTaxCalc
Official portal: General Inspectorate for Immigration

No nomad visa — routes are Employment Pass / EntrePass / ONE Pass, all requiring local sponsorship or substantial qualifying criteria. A regional healthcare anchor, but costly.

Residency steps: No nomad visa; routes are Employment Pass / EntrePass / ONE Pass — all require local sponsorship or substantial qualifying criteria
⭐ Healthcare: Among the world's best; functions as a regional "healthcare anchor" — expats elsewhere in SE Asia evacuate here — Asia Lifestyle Magazine
⚠️ Housing cost: A 2-bedroom in a mid-range area runs upward of S$4,500/month — Asia Lifestyle Magazine
⚠️ International schools: Can exceed $3,000/month — the priciest in the region — Rumavi
Language: English is an official language — no language barrier — Rumavi
Safety: Famously safe, strict laws, low crime, multicultural society eases integration — Rumavi
⚠️ Honest assessment: "Harder to justify as a primary base if cost efficiency is part of the brief" — Asia Lifestyle Magazine
Official portal: ICA / Ministry of Manpower

Consular application → in-person appointment → arrival → residence card. One of the more administratively heavy EU routes.

Documents: 6 months bank statements showing consistent foreign deposits; contracts/invoices proving genuine remote work for foreign clients (enforcement tightened 2026) — All For Nomads
Translation/apostille cost: €200–500 depending on location and document volume — All For Nomads
Healthcare: Regional SNS access via employment, autónomo registration, or Convenio Especial paid public buy-in; private plans €80–200/month — WhereNext
Housing: Leases must comply with the Urban Leases Act — landlords cannot terminate arbitrarily — International Moving
Residency requirement: 183+ days/year to maintain the PR path — "no spending 10 months in Bali and calling it living in Spain" — Openvisa
PR/citizenship: PR after 5 years continuous residence, citizenship after another 5; Spain does not require renouncing original citizenship — Openvisa
Official portal: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration

Apply for the DTV strictly from outside Thailand, via the official e-Visa portal linked to your home country. One 180-day extension per entry stamp.

Residency steps: Apply via the e-Visa portal from outside Thailand — BudgetBro
In-country extension: One 180-day extension per entry stamp at a Thai immigration office (฿1,900–฿10,000) — DTV.in.th
Healthcare: Doctor consultation $20–50; specialised treatment/surgery 40–60% of Western prices — Rumavi
⚠️ Insurance: Private insurance ($100–300/month) essentially required for self-employed expats — public system covers employed workers — WhereNext
Housing: Typically 2 months' deposit + 1 month upfront; a $500 Bangkok apartment = $1,500 due on signing — WhereNext
Language: Thailand accepts English documentation (unlike Indonesia/Vietnam, which require certified local-language translation) — Rumavi
⚠️ Policy volatility: Rules on foreign property, overseas-income tax and visa conditions have moved before and will again — "a strong base, not a set-and-forget decision" — Asia Lifestyle Magazine
Day-tracking tip: Keep a spreadsheet of every entry/exit — the 180-day tax line matters — Expats Thailand
Official portal: Thai e-Visa portal / Immigration Bureau

Virtual Working Programme application. ⭐ 2026 property route: own a Dubai apartment outright → qualify for a 2-year residency visa automatically. Documentation characterised as straightforward for Americans.

Residency steps: Virtual Working Programme application; tourist visas now process in 48 hours through authorised channels — Nomad Lawyer
⭐ 2026 property route: Own a Dubai apartment outright (sole ownership) → qualify for a 2-year residency visa automatically; previously joint owners each needed AED 400,000+ — Nomad Lawyer
⭐ VOA expansion (effective June 30, 2026): Nationals of Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam now get VOA for up to 60 days — if they hold a residence permit from the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, NZ, Singapore or South Korea — Visas Update
Documentation: Characterised as straightforward for Americans — unlike Spain/Italy which require notarization and apostilles — TaxesForExpats
New in 2026: Medical tourism pathways introduced — Nomad Lawyer
⚠️ Cost: Zero-tax jurisdictions typically offset via high cost of living and indirect taxes — Holborn Assets
Official portal: ICP (Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship)

Enter as a tourist → apply online → sign an affidavit proving sufficient financial means → pay the visa fee from a Uruguayan bank account. ⚠️ The bank-account requirement means banking setup is a prerequisite, not a follow-on task.

Residency steps: Enter as a regular tourist → apply online → sign an affidavit proving sufficient financial means → pay the visa fee from a Uruguayan bank account — Immigrant Invest
⚠️ Chicken-and-egg: The Uruguayan bank account requirement means banking setup is a prerequisite, not a follow-on task
Positioning: The region's "safe, stable option" for those who value calm and safety — Rio Times
⚠️ Tax changed Jan 2026: The old foreign-income exemption was reformed with a higher entry threshold — factor this into any long-term plan — CitizenX
Official portal: Dirección Nacional de Migración

No nomad visa — the e-visa system is the practical route. ⚠️ Long-term residency is the weak point; no straightforward dedicated retirement or long-stay route.

Residency steps: No nomad visa; e-visa system is the practical route — Travel And Tour World
⚠️ Language requirement: Vietnam requires Vietnamese documentation with certified translation — Rumavi
⚠️ Long-term residency: The weak point — no straightforward dedicated retirement or long-stay route, per multiple independent sources — Juwai Asia
Cost anchor: ~$350/month excluding rent — among the cheapest in Asia — Juwai Asia
⚠️ Healthcare: "Thinner healthcare infrastructure" — acceptable if cost is the primary constraint, problematic if you need a medical fallback — Asia Lifestyle Magazine
Highlighted base: Hoi An — beaches, historic character, growing expat community — Juwai Asia
Official portal: Vietnam Immigration Department

Week 1: Select target country and confirm visa pathway with a local immigration attorney.
Week 2: Gather and apostille documents — this takes longer than you expect.
Week 3: Engage immigration attorney in destination country (not just a facilitator).

Required documents for most programs:

• Passport — minimum 18 months validity remaining
• Apostilled birth certificate
• Apostilled FBI / national police background check (can take 6–8 weeks)
• 2 years of tax returns (US: 1040 + all schedules)
• Bank statements (3–6 months showing consistent income)
• Employment letter or self-employment proof
• Proof of health insurance ($50K min coverage for most visa programs)
• Passport-size photos (6+ copies)

Banking stack to set up before leaving:

• Schwab Investor Checking — unlimited global ATM reimbursements
• Wise account — multi-currency, best FX rates
• Revolut — backup card + crypto
• IBKR or Tastytrade — keep brokerage accounts (notify of address change)

Emergency fund: 6 months of living costs in liquid form (accessible without FX conversion).

Insurance: $50,000 min health coverage required for most visa programs; global health insurance (SafetyWing, Cigna Global, Allianz) recommended.

Notify your US bank of your move before leaving to prevent account freezes. Schwab is the most expat-tolerant major US bank. Open local bank: Do this in Week 1 after arrival — most programs require a local account.

Engage a US expat CPA before you leave — not after. Pre-departure tax planning saves significant money.

Key actions:

• Formally establish domicile change (some US states — CA, NY, NJ — aggressively pursue departing residents)
• File a final state tax return + domicile change documentation if leaving a high-tax state
• Determine FEIE strategy: 330-Day Physical Presence Test vs. Bona Fide Residence Test
• Check US tax treaty with destination country
• Set up FBAR tracking system for all foreign accounts opened
• Review retirement account rules (401K, IRA contributions allowed while using FEIE)

FEIE 2024 exclusion: $126,500 earned income; requires Form 2555 with 1040

Housing strategy: Book a 30-day furnished rental in your target neighborhood before committing to a 1-year lease. Day 30 will feel very different from Day 1.

Shipping: Most experienced nomads recommend selling or storing everything and rebuying locally. International shipping is expensive and slow. Bring only carry-ons + one checked bag for a 1-month trial.

Mail forwarding: Earth Class Mail, PostScan Mail, or Traveling Mailbox — pick one for a permanent US address.

US address: Maintain a real US address (family member or mail forwarder) — needed for banking, IRS, brokerage accounts.

Other logistics:

• International Driving Permit (get before departure from AAA)
• Unlocked phone + local SIM plan
• VPN (US content, banking portals)
• Check CDC vaccination recommendations for destination

First 48 hours:

• Get a local SIM card
• Register with the US Embassy via the STEP program (free, critical for emergencies)
• Complete in-country visa application if not done remotely

Week 1: Open local bank account, find a local doctor, set up recurring bill payments.
Week 2–4: Biometrics appointment if required by visa program, complete residency registration.
Day 90 review: Compare actual monthly spend vs. budget. Decide if city/country is long-term vs. base for exploration.

STEP registration: step.state.gov — free, allows US Embassy to reach you in emergencies and natural disasters.

Verified government processing times as of July 2026. Plan your move backward from your target visa approval date.

Program	Country	Processing Time
LTR Visa	Thailand	4–8 weeks
Golden Visa	UAE	2–4 weeks
Digital Nomad Visa	Panama	30–60 days
Investor Pass	Paraguay	4–9 months
D7 / D8 Visa	Portugal	2–4 months
Non-Lucrative Visa	Spain	4–8 weeks
Freelancer Visa	Germany	6–12 weeks
Temporary Resident	Mexico	2–6 weeks
Category F / Non-Dom	Cyprus	2–3 months
e-Residency	Georgia	1–5 days
Nómada Digital	Colombia	30–60 days
Second Home Visa	Indonesia	4–6 weeks
DNV	Greece	8–12 weeks
DE Rantau Pass	Malaysia	4–8 weeks
Temp Residence Card	Vietnam	5 working days

Documents:

• ☐ Passport valid 18+ months
• ☐ Apostilled birth certificate
• ☐ Apostilled police background check
• ☐ 2 years tax returns (original + copies)
• ☐ Bank statements 6 months
• ☐ Health insurance policy ($50K+ coverage)
• ☐ International Driving Permit (AAA)
• ☐ 8+ passport photos

Banking:

• ☐ Schwab checking account open
• ☐ Wise account active with debit card
• ☐ Revolut backup card
• ☐ US bank notified of move

Tax:

• ☐ US expat CPA engaged
• ☐ State domicile change filed (if applicable)
• ☐ FEIE test strategy chosen (330-day or Bona Fide)