leaving the US? See which of 16 countries you'd actually qualify for.
Americans with a $30k+ income usually qualify for several European visas right now, including the Netherlands' US-only DAFT permit, Spain's digital Nomad Visa, and Portugal's D8. Your free workspace matches your profile against real eligibility rules across 16 countries and ranks your best options.
Build my workspaceAnswer 8 questions to see which routes you appear to qualify for, what may block each one and the official page to check. Free.
Where Americans actually qualify
NetherlandsSpainPortugalGermanyNetherlands
DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty)
A 1956 treaty gives Americans a near-guaranteed self-employment residence permit. Deposit about €4,500 in a Dutch business account and you're in. No points, no job offer, no language test.
see full requirementsSpain
Digital Nomad Visa
Keep your US remote job or freelance clients and live in Spain. Income requirement is around €2,760/month, well within reach for most American remote salaries.
see full requirementsPortugal
D8 Digital Nomad Visa
Portugal's remote-work visa asks for roughly €3,680/month in income. It leads to permanent residency in 5 years, and English gets you far in Lisbon and Porto.
see full requirementsGermany
Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)
Germany's points-based card lets you move first and find a job after, with up to a year to search. A bachelor's degree plus two years of experience covers most of the points.
see full requirementsThese four are the openers, not the whole list. Your workspace checks your profile against 100+ programmes across 16 countries. For the long-form breakdown, read our guide to the best countries for Americans leaving in 2026.
Stop guessing which country would take you
Get a ranked list of every visa you plausibly qualify for, with the eligibility math shown. Answer 8 questions to see which routes you appear to qualify for, what may block each one and the official page to check. Free.
Build my workspaceA US passport gets visa-free Schengen entry, so you can visit and apply without a tourist visa in the way.
The DAFT treaty is exclusive to US citizens. No other nationality gets the Netherlands this cheaply.
American remote salaries clear most European digital-nomad income thresholds with room to spare.
English is enough to start in Lisbon, Amsterdam, Berlin, and most digital-nomad hubs. Language tests come later, if at all.
Can Americans just move to Europe?
Not without a visa, but several countries make it straightforward. Americans can enter the Schengen area visa-free for 90 days, and routes like the Netherlands' DAFT permit, Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, and Portugal's D8 convert a remote income or modest savings into legal long-term residency within a few months.
Which country is easiest for Americans to move to?
The Netherlands, through the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT). It is open only to US citizens, requires about €4,500 deposited in a Dutch business account, and has no points test, job offer, or language requirement. Approval rates are very high, and the permit renews as long as your business stays active.
Do I still pay US taxes if I move abroad?
You still file a US return every year, since the US taxes by citizenship. Most expats owe little or nothing, because the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion shelters roughly the first $130,000 of wages and tax treaties prevent double taxation. Plan for the paperwork, not necessarily a second tax bill.
How does healthcare work for Americans abroad?
Most visa routes require private health insurance at first, typically €50 to €150 per month, far below US premiums. Once you are a legal resident, countries like Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands move you into public or statutory systems where out-of-pocket costs are a fraction of American prices.
How much money do I need to leave the US?
Less than most people assume. The Netherlands' DAFT needs about €4,500 in business capital, Spain's Digital Nomad Visa wants roughly €2,760 in monthly income, and Portugal's D8 about €3,680. Add a few months of living costs and flights, and $15,000 to $25,000 in savings covers a realistic move.
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