What I Learned in Vegas

The election may be over… but my money is on ongoing partisan disputes in the US, and even public unrest.

That prospect was top of mind for most of the people I met at International Living‘s recent Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp in Las Vegas.

My table was near the entrance to the Exhibit Hall. I don’t think I had more than five minutes at a stretch without somebody sitting down across from me, explaining their desire for a life abroad.

The vast majority of those people were deeply concerned about the future of the United States.

The fear was that—regardless of whatever happened in the election—things were likely to get much worse before they got better…

Folks in or near retirement don’t have time to wait and hope for the best. That’s why my table was such a hot destination.

Many of the Americans at my table had only a hazy idea of how to create a life abroad. But talking to me is the first step toward becoming well enough informed that you can start planning an actual move…

With that in mind, I thought I’d highlight some of the common dilemmas—and opportunities—I encountered in Las Vegas…

Problem: I want to get residency in Europe, but I can’t move there right away.

This is a frequent problem for folks who haven’t yet retired. If you can’t work remotely on a digital nomad visa, the next option is an independent means visa. We tend to think of them as being for retirees, but they’re available to anyone with enough passive income. The problem is that they require you to be in the country in question for most of the year. Often that’s just not possible.

Solution: If you’re not eligible for citizenship by ancestry (see below), your best bet is to secure long-term residency via investment.

Commonly known as Golden Visas, these permits give you the right to come and go as you please without a lengthy annual time-in-country requirement. That means you can secure a foothold in Europe without moving there right away. Contrary to popular belief, such visas are still available in Europe, albeit at a hefty price tag (€250k+).

Problem: I think I’m eligible for citizenship through ancestry, what do I do?

Many countries in Europe will give you a passport if you can prove an unbroken chain of ancestry to one of their citizens, sometimes as far back as great-grandparents or even farther back. In fact, for such countries, you’re already considered a citizen. You just need to prove it with birth and death records, and they’ll give you a passport. If that country is in the European Union, you can live and work anywhere you like in the whole region. And no, you don’t need to know the language or spend any time in your new home to get this citizenship.

Solution: Contact the relevant embassy or consulate and ask.

Many people I met in Las Vegas fell into this category: they’re probably already citizens of a European country. My advice to all of them was the same: contact the embassy or consulate of the country in question and see what they say. If you need to track down paperwork, plenty of “residency/citizenship consultancy” agencies in Europe and North America will do it for you.

Problem: I’m eligible for citizenship through ancestry, but what about my wife and kids?

I was somewhat surprised at the number of people worried that ancestral citizenship wouldn’t help them because they assumed it wouldn’t cover their immediate family. But citizenship laws in Europe can be quite different than those in the US…

Solution: Brush up on European Union laws.

If a US or Canadian citizen gets a European passport, they have the right to apply for family reunification visas for their spouse and minor children. After a few years of residency in their new country, these family members can apply for citizenship themselves. Indeed, your children may automatically qualify for citizenship already, just as you did.

As I always tell people who consult with me… where there’s a will, there’s a way. If you want it bad enough, a life abroad is almost certainly in your grasp.