Drawn by sunshine or a decrease value of dwelling, a rising variety of Americans are selecting to reside their golden years outdoors the US, within the hope that it’ll higher go well with their monetary or way of life wants and desires.
While official numbers aren’t obtainable, firms and organizations focusing on helping folks transfer overseas have seen an enormous post-election uptick in site visitors and enquiries over the previous few months — anecdotal proof, some say, suggesting a “momentum, a movement taking shape” amongst Americans, together with many retirees, critically contemplating (or already endeavor) a everlasting transfer overseas.
“I don’t think (it’s) going to just dissipate the way it has in every previous election that I’ve been doing this,” Kathleen Peddicord, founder and writer of Live and Invest Overseas, informed CNN Travel. “I don’t think this is going to fade away. They’re asking pretty serious questions about this country versus this country, and ‘What would my residency options be, and what will my tax burdens be?’ So they’re not dreamy questions. They’re very practical.”
Established in 2008, LIOS publishes common content material associated to transferring overseas, similar to questions on taxes and well being care. In the times following the election, internet site visitors was about 250% larger than regular, Peddicord says, and the sustained curiosity has helped gasoline “the greatest growth in our readership in our history.”
Retirees make up about 80% of the LIOS viewers, together with those that are already retired and people planning for it, Peddicord stated, and its annual record of 10 Best Places to Retire is among the many publication’s “most read and highly anticipated” reviews.
International Living, a month-to-month journal and web site that focuses on dwelling overseas, has additionally seen a big uptick in enquiries and site visitors, which began even earlier than the election, Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens tells CNN Travel. Its data-driven Annual Global Retirement Index is predicated on elements together with housing, visas, value of dwelling and well being care, in addition to enter from greater than 200 on-the-ground editors and correspondents.
At the publication’s most up-to-date annual convention, which was held in Las Vegas in October 2024, Stevens stated she spoke to many readers, together with retirees, about their rising concern over “Trump policies making living sort of uncomfortable in the US,” in addition to the “social situation in the States” and the “economic implications of tariffs” below the brand new administration.
At the identical time, Stevens stated she additionally seen a way of pleasure in others over the prospect of potential tax breaks and extra expendable revenue — which may stretch even additional outdoors of the US. “They’re looking for ways they can diversify internationally or spend some of that money abroad,” she says.
Money — or lack of it — continues to be a urgent subject for a lot of retirees within the US. Skyrocketing prices for housing, hire and healthcare are siphoning away financial savings extra shortly than in earlier generations — in truth, almost half of US families don’t have any retirement account financial savings.
Meanwhile, greater than 17 million Americans aged 65 or older — roughly one in three — are thought of economically insecure (that means they’ve revenue ranges at 200% or extra under the federal poverty degree).
Moving to a rustic with a a lot decrease value of dwelling gives a chance to “invert your budget, so you could take what you’re currently spending on, say, transportation, and move to a place where you don’t need a car, for instance, and use that budget for discretionary spending,” Sophia Titley, LIOS editor-in-chief, tells CNN Travel.
In addition to their funds, which frequently are based mostly on fastened budgets, retirees face a selected set of standards to contemplate earlier than making the leap overseas. First of all, there’s the problem of whether or not they’re legally allowed — or have the means — to retire of their vacation spot of selection. (For instance, some nations might provide engaging employment choices for digital nomads — however not a lot for individuals who are not working.)
“You need to look at places where you can reasonably get a residency visa,” Titley says. “I would say that’s the best place to start. Look at what you have, what you can afford, the different thresholds to qualify, and look at places that actually offer residency permits for everyday people.”
How to exit the nation and never screw it up
Another key consideration: figuring out your eligibility and prices for well being care and medical health insurance in a brand new vacation spot. Experts advocate researching choices totally beforehand, as some nations, together with Spain and France, require medical health insurance as a requirement for granting a visa.
However, Peddicord notes that “the good news … is that wherever you go, the health care is going to be more affordable, because it’s more expensive in the United States than anywhere — not only health care, but also health insurance.”
Finally, retirees who obtain Medicare — the federal insurance coverage program obtainable to Americans aged 65 and older (and a few youthful people with disabilities) — ought to be sure to do their homework about what transferring overseas means for his or her eligibility.
Except for just a few conditions, Medicare won’t cowl well being care prices outside of the US; nevertheless, specialists advocate conserving protection if potential, which might provide a security internet and sense of reassurance within the occasion of a severe sickness or harm.
“It just keeps your options open,” Peddicord explains. “You can choose to go back to the States, where you may have family and more of a network of support for going through an experience like that, whereas, if you’ve given up your Medicare, it’s not a straightforward thing always to re-engage in the program.”
While visas, taxes and healthcare are among the many most vital issues for a transfer overseas, retirees additionally ought to take into account locations — and the smaller areas inside these — that align with their most popular way of life.
Here are 5 nations which can be well-suited for retirees in 2025. (This record primarily targets retirees from the US, but it surely additionally accommodates useful common data.)
This Central American nation topped International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index because the world’s greatest retirement vacation spot for 2025, fueled by its easy visa course of, glorious high quality of life and good worth for cash.
Panama boasts “what is arguably the best retiree visa in the world,” Stevens explains. “They figured out, before almost anybody else, that if you made it easy for foreign retirees to come, they would happily come and spend their money in Panama. So Panama makes it very easy to get a visa and to renew that visa, and it gives you great benefits as a retiree.”
Those advantages embrace reductions on airfare, the theater and extra. Panama’s fashionable well being care system additionally earns excessive marks — and along with decrease prices for medical providers, authorized residents who’re pensioner age (60 years for males, 55 for girls) obtain 20% off prescription medicines.
Key issues: Panama has a reasonably low threshold for its passive revenue requirement: a minimal month-to-month revenue of US $1,000 from a authorities program, similar to Social Security, or a non-public company. That minimal goes up by $250 per 30 days per dependent.
English proficiency levels are pretty low throughout the nation, so it’s extraordinarily useful to have no less than some grasp of Spanish.
How to make the transfer: The Embassy of Panama’s web site clearly states in English on its website what’s wanted to use for a retiree visa, also called the Pensionado Visa. Note that your utility should be processed by a Panamanian legal professional, and also you’ll want to use in Panama.
France is legendary for its high quality eating, world-class museums and exquisite seashores and countryside. But francophiles who dream of spending their retirement years on this beloved European nation can even reap the benefits of a extra sensible profit: its top-notch well being care system. Services are supplied to all residents and largely sponsored by the federal government.
In addition, France’s affordability additionally comes as a shock to some. According to Chase Buchanan’s latest data, hire for a household residence in France could be as little as about $1,100 in cities aside from Paris, and groceries, public transportation and different bills are additionally considerably decrease than within the US.
“Outside Paris, there are parts of France that are very, very affordable, competitively affordable,” says Peddicord. With her household, she splits time between Paris and Panama City and says many individuals are stunned to be taught that Paris is the cheaper of the 2.
She advises anybody with a dream of dwelling their golden years within the City of Light to not instantly write it off as unaffordable. “If you’re focused on Paris, for example, even that you shouldn’t take off your list without really doing some research.”
Key issues: One of the most important benefits for France-bound American retirees is the power to proceed contributing to tax-advantaged US retirement accounts like 401(okay)s and IRAs. Thanks to the US-France tax treaty, these accounts will proceed to be taxed at US rates for Americans dwelling in France, as a substitute of probably larger French income tax rates.
However, one caveat about inheritance tax: Unlike the US, in France the tax applies per beneficiary as a substitute of the entire property worth. In addition, pressured heirship guidelines require set quantities for authorized heirs — one thing retirees with sizable estates ought to take into accounts.
France’s paperwork could be intimidating, particularly for individuals who don’t converse French. English isn’t as broadly spoken as in another European nations, particularly outdoors of main cities.
How to make the transfer: Ready to say oui to retiring in France? US residents can apply for the Long-Stay Visa for Retirement (Visa de Long Séjour pour Retraité). This possibility would require proof of ample monetary sources, in addition to medical health insurance. You’ll apply for this visa on the nearest French consulate within the US, after which you acquire what’s often known as the carte de séjour visiteur (a residence visa). Your pension should be no less than $1,073 as a single or $1,666 as a pair. The visa is simply legitimate for one 12 months, however it may be renewed.
Malaysia, which ranked seventh on International Living’s 2025 Global Retirement Index, gives “truly extraordinary” bang in your buck, Stevens says. It’s effectively suited to these trying to stretch their budgets, in addition to retirees craving a snug way of life for “so much less than it would cost you in the States,” she explains. “And if you want to live simply, you can do it for next to nothing.”
According to information from International Living, hire for a one-bedroom residence in Kuala Lumpur often runs between $300 and $500, with month-to-month utilities costing round $40-60. Outside the capital, second-tier cities similar to Penang and Malacca additionally provide very good worth and barely decrease hire prices, together with a slower tempo of life and strong expat communities.
Malaysia’s well being care system additionally ranks extremely, with fashionable services, English-speaking employees and reasonably priced and glorious high quality of care. Another bonus for retirees: Money you deliver into the nation is tax-exempt.
In addition, the southeast Asian nation is a veritable melting pot of cultures and cuisines, and English is broadly spoken (official signage is also written in English). “In some ways, it’s easier to navigate that part of the world than it is, say, Mexico, if you don’t speak Spanish,” Stevens says.
Key issues: Malaysia has a damp, tropical local weather year-round, which might not be one of the best match for individuals who choose a change of season. In addition, for retirees who envision frequent journeys again to the US, touring from Malaysia is a beast, with flights alone at greater than 20 hours.
How to make the transfer: Malaysia offers a number of visa choices which can be particularly aimed towards retirees. The hottest is the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, which gives a renewable multiple-entry visa. To qualify, you should be over 50 years previous, in addition to meet some monetary necessities: deposit roughly $35,883 right into a financial institution in Malaysia; (world establishments together with Citibank and HSBC additionally qualify), or show you’ve gotten a month-to-month revenue of roughly $2,350 from a authorities pension.
With glorious climate, high-quality well being care, a comparatively low value of dwelling and world-famous gastronomy, this European nation has been a perennially in style spot among the many retiree set for many years. In InterNations’ 2024 Expat City Ranking, Spanish cities captured the highest three spots (Valencia, Malaga and Alicante) out of 53 cities; Madrid, in the meantime, ranked seventh and Barcelona, twenty first.
In addition, Spain boasts all kinds of choices for various life, from the cosmopolitan hub of Madrid to small villages up and down the nation’s Mediterranean shoreline, in addition to the northern Basque area alongside Spain’s Atlantic coast.
What to contemplate: Spain’s tax system could be difficult, and it differs from one autonomous area to a different. The common rule of thumb is that if you happen to spend greater than 183 days per calendar 12 months in Spain, you’re thought of a tax resident.
English proficiency is among the many lowest in Europe, particularly outdoors main cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Castilian Spanish is spoken by nearly all of Spaniards, however some autonomous areas have their very own official language (Catalan in Catalonia, for instance, and Basque, or Euskara, within the Basque Country).
Finally, don’t anticipate any early-bird dinner specials: Spaniards not often eat their night meal earlier than 8:30 p.m.
How to make the transfer: Spain’s non-lucrative visa (or NLV, also called a retirement visa), is a well-liked route for Americans. It’s aimed primarily at these with ample passive revenue or monetary means to not be a burden on Spain’s welfare system (at present, the minimal is about $2,600 per 30 days for a single applicant; further members of the family require extra funds per member).
You’ll apply through your nearest consulate (word: this hyperlinks to the Los Angeles consulate however outlines the method step-by-step). You’ll additionally want to point out proof of insurance coverage in Spain, which generally is a tough step to navigate (journey insurance coverage shouldn’t be accepted, by the best way). Be ready for loads of paperwork and for appointments to be booked far upfront, so plan accordingly.
The US’s southern neighbor constantly ranks excessive as a high retiree vacation spot (it was fourth in International Living’s Global Retirement Index for 2025). Its proximity to the US, affordability, and slower tempo of life are sturdy attracts. Mexico additionally gives a superb possibility for retirees who wish to reside overseas solely part-time.
Meanwhile, thriving English-speaking expat communities in most cities, in addition to lots of the identical service suppliers in style within the US, together with Netflix and Amazon, assist ease the transition for newcomers.
Mexico additionally gives a number of tax benefits which can be particularly helpful to retirees. It doesn’t have inheritance or wealth tax, and in contrast to many different nations, tax residency is set not by the entire variety of days spent within the nation, however whether or not your major dwelling or middle of enterprise is established there.
Key issues: Mexico ranks amongst the least peaceful nations in Latin America. According to authorities statistics, there have been 31,062 homicides in 2023, about 24 per 100,000 residents (within the US, that determine was about six per 100,000 folks in 2023, in accordance with Federal Bureau of Investigation information).
Cartel-related violence and drug trafficking in Mexico might seize nearly all of media consideration, however pettier crimes similar to theft and pickpocketing are probably the most reported issues.
In addition, as is the case in another nations together with Portugal, an inflow of foreigners and rising gentrification in sure cities has sparked growing tensions in some areas with massive expat populations.
How to make the transfer: Valid passport holders from nations that don’t require a visa (together with the United States) can stay in Mexico for as much as 180 days. (They nonetheless should full a customer’s allow, or Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM), at their port of entry. Keep in thoughts that the precise variety of days allowed stays on the discretion of the immigration official processing entry.)
For longer stays, retirees can look into visas as temporary and permanent residents. Both are pretty easy, however candidates should have the ability to exhibit monetary stability.
This article was initially revealed in March 2025. It was up to date and republished in August 2025.
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