The Pew Research Center documented something that had never happened in modern US history: more people left the United States than arrived in 2024. Net migration went negative. That is not a statistical blip. It reflects a sustained shift in how Americans are thinking about their options.
The reasons vary. Political climate under the second Trump administration. Cost of living in major cities. Healthcare costs. Some are retirees following the sun. Others are remote workers who realised their salary goes further in Lisbon than Los Angeles.
The practical question is the same regardless of motivation: which countries have visa pathways that actually work for Americans, and what does the process look like? This guide covers 7 countries in order of how easy the initial entry is.
1. Portugal: D7, D2, and the Rebuilt Golden Visa
Portugal has tripled its US resident population since 2020. The country offers three routes that work well for Americans, each targeting a different profile.
D7 Passive Income Visa
The D7 is for people with a reliable passive income: a pension, rental income, dividends, or a remote job. The income threshold is roughly €760/month for a single applicant. For most Americans, that bar is easy to clear. The D7 gives you 1 year of residency, renewable for 2-year periods, leading to permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship eligibility after 5 years of legal residency.
- Minimum income: ~€760/month (roughly $840 at current rates)
- No requirement to live in Portugal full-time initially (but you must stay 183+ days/year to maintain residency)
- Application can be started from the US via the Portuguese consulate
- Path to EU citizenship after 5 years of legal residency
D2 Entrepreneur Visa
The D2 is for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers with a business or contract income. You need to demonstrate you have a viable business or client base and can support yourself. There is no minimum salary requirement, but you need to show a plausible financial plan. Americans with US-based remote work contracts qualify straightforwardly.
Golden Visa (Rebuilt for Funds)
The original Golden Visa via real estate investment was closed in 2023. The rebuilt version requires investment in Portuguese funds, cultural heritage, or job creation. The minimum is €500,000 in qualifying investment funds. It leads to PR after 5 years and requires only 7 days of physical presence in Portugal per year during that period. For wealthy Americans who want EU residency without relocating, it remains a viable option.
2. Canada: Express Entry for Skilled Americans
Canada is the most obvious destination for Americans. Shared language, similar culture, land border, and a well-understood immigration system. Americans with skilled work experience often score competitively in Express Entry because native English eliminates the language test penalty.
The Federal Skilled Worker stream in Express Entry requires 1 year of continuous full-time skilled work experience in the past 10 years, a language score (but Americans with a CELPIP or IELTS score of CLB 9+ get maximum language points), and an educational credential assessment. CRS scores for general draws have been running in the 480-520 range.
- Check your estimated CRS score with the CRS Calculator
- Provincial nominations add 600 CRS points — effectively guaranteeing an ITA if you get one
- Americans do not need a LMIA for Express Entry (it is points-based, not employer-tied)
- PR processing after ITA: approximately 6 months
Note on Canada's 2026 targets
Bill C-12 passed in March 2026 reduced Canada's immigration targets significantly. Fewer ITA invitations are being issued and CRS cut-offs have risen. This makes Canada harder to enter in 2026 compared to prior years. If your CRS is under 480, consider provincial nomination streams or the alternatives in this guide.
3. Greece: Digital Nomad Visa and the 50% Tax Exemption
Greece offers two compelling reasons to consider it. First, the Digital Nomad Visa lets remote workers live legally in Greece while working for non-Greek employers. Second, new tax residents from abroad receive a 50% exemption on Greek income tax for the first 7 years.
The Digital Nomad Visa requires proof of remote income of at least €3,500/month, health insurance, and accommodation in Greece. It is valid for 1 year and renewable. After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for a long-term resident permit.
- 50% income tax exemption for 7 years — check your potential tax savings with the Greece Tax Calculator
- Cost of living roughly 40% below Lisbon or Barcelona for equivalent quality
- Greece Golden Visa (real estate) remains open — minimum €250,000 in most regions
- English is widely spoken in Athens, Thessaloniki, and tourist islands
The tax exemption applies to Greek-sourced income, but for remote workers paid by US employers, how that income is characterised matters. Get local tax advice before structuring your setup. The broad principle is that an American earning $120,000 remotely while living in Greece could pay significantly less tax than the same person in New York or California.
4. Germany: The Chancenkarte for Qualified Americans
Germany's Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) is a job-seeker visa that lets qualified professionals enter Germany without a job offer and spend up to 1 year searching. Americans with a university degree and either 3+ years of relevant work experience or other qualifying factors can earn enough points to qualify.
The Chancenkarte is points-based. You need 6 points from: German language skills (B2 = 3 points), a degree in a shortage occupation (2 points), age under 35 (1 point), prior Germany experience (1 point), and other factors. Native English-speaking Americans without German start at a disadvantage, but a B1/B2 course of 6-12 months covers most of the gap.
- Check your Chancenkarte eligibility with the Chancenkarte Calculator
- Blue Card after getting a job: PR after 21-27 months (down from 33 since 2024 reform)
- Strong social safety net and no-cost university system for children
- English is widely spoken in tech, finance, and international companies
5. Spain: Digital Nomad Visa, HQP, and the Beckham Law
Spain launched its Digital Nomad Visa in 2023 under the Startup Act. It is available to non-EU workers earning at least €2,334/month from remote work for clients or employers outside Spain. The visa is valid for 1 year (renewable for 2-year periods) and can convert to a long-term residence permit.
The Highly Qualified Professionals (HQP) visa targets those with a job offer from a Spanish company paying at least €46,000/year, or a postgraduate degree. For Americans hired by Spanish firms or EU multinationals with Spanish offices, it is the primary route.
The Beckham Law (Special Expats Tax Regime) applies to qualifying new residents. It sets income tax at a flat 24% on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000 for the year of arrival plus 5 subsequent years. Remote workers on the Digital Nomad Visa who structure their work correctly can benefit significantly.
- Spain Non-Lucrative Visa also works for retirees or those with passive income above ~€2,400/month
- Citizenship after 10 years of legal residency (longer than most EU countries)
- Spanish language B1 recommended though not always required for the visa itself
6. Mexico: Temporary Resident — the Easiest Entry for Americans
Mexico is the most accessible country on this list for Americans. The Temporary Resident visa requires proof of consistent income (approximately $2,000/month for individuals, $2,600 for couples) or a qualifying bank balance. The application is done at a Mexican consulate in the US and the process is straightforward.
Temporary Resident status is valid for 1-4 years and can be renewed. After 4 years, you are eligible to apply for Permanent Resident status (Residente Permanente). Mexico does not require renouncing US citizenship and does not tax foreign-sourced income for residents who qualify as non-tax-residents under Mexican law.
- Cost: visa fee approximately $40 plus biometric fee; total under $500 including consulate costs
- No minimum age, no language requirement, no degree requirement
- Large established American expat communities in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Merida, and San Miguel de Allende
- PR after 4 years of temporary residency; Mexican citizenship available after 5 years of PR
7. Ireland: Ancestry Citizenship — Skip PR Entirely
Ireland offers something no other country on this list does: citizenship by descent for people with an Irish grandparent, without the need to establish residency first. An estimated 10 million Americans are eligible. If you qualify, you can apply for an Irish passport directly, which gives you full EU citizenship and the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union.
The process: register in the Foreign Births Register at the Irish embassy. Processing takes 12-18 months at current volumes. You need your grandparent's birth certificate (issued in Ireland or Northern Ireland), your parent's citizenship documentation, and your own birth certificate. The application is documentary, not points-based.
- Irish grandparent born on the island of Ireland = direct citizenship eligibility
- EU citizenship included — live and work in all 27 EU member states
- No residency requirement to obtain the passport — you do not need to move to Ireland to claim it
- Critical Skills Employment Permit available for those who want to work in Ireland after obtaining citizenship
If you do not qualify via grandparent, Ireland also has a Critical Skills Employment Permit for those with a job offer in a shortage occupation. The permit leads to PR after 2 years and citizenship after 5 years of residency.
Which Country Fits You Best?
The right answer depends on your income source, family situation, language willingness, and timeline.
- Remote worker earning $80k+: Portugal D2 or Greece Digital Nomad Visa give the best combo of ease and tax benefits
- Skilled professional with tech/finance background: Canada Express Entry or Germany Chancenkarte for the strongest PR pathway
- Retiree or passive income: Portugal D7 or Mexico Temporary Resident are the most straightforward
- Irish ancestry: Register in the Foreign Births Register. This is a no-brainer if you qualify
Find your best country to move to
Answer 8 questions about your background, income, and goals. Transita compares all 7 countries and tells you which visa you most likely qualify for right now.
Find my immigration pathFrequently Asked Questions
Can Americans move abroad easily?
More easily than most Americans assume. Portugal's D7 passive income visa and D2 entrepreneur visa have no minimum income requirements that are hard to meet for most US earners. Mexico's Temporary Resident visa is straightforward and costs under $500. Ireland offers ancestry citizenship for those with an Irish grandparent. The barrier is usually paperwork, not eligibility.
Do Americans pay US taxes when living abroad?
Yes. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live. However, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets you exclude around $126,500 of foreign-earned income from US tax in 2026. Greece's 50% tax exemption applies to Greek income tax and does not eliminate the US filing obligation, but most Americans abroad pay little or nothing to the IRS after FEIE and foreign tax credits.
Which country is easiest for Americans to get permanent residency in?
Mexico is the most accessible entry point. Temporary Resident status is quick and cheap, and leads to PR after 4 years. Ireland offers citizenship via ancestry for those with an Irish grandparent, skipping the PR stage entirely. Portugal PR requires 5 years of legal residence but the D7 and D2 visas make that straightforward for most applicants.
What is the Beckham Law in Spain?
Spain's Beckham Law lets qualifying new residents pay a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000, instead of the progressive rates that go up to 47%. It applies for the year of arrival plus 5 subsequent years. It now applies to remote workers and Digital Nomad Visa holders who work for non-Spanish clients.
Is Canada Express Entry open to Americans?
Yes. Americans with skilled work experience, a Canadian job offer, or a provincial nomination can enter the Express Entry pool. Americans often score well on CRS because English is a native language. Check your estimated CRS score with the CRS Calculator.