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Independent relocation guides

Move, live and retire in Southern Europe

Visas, real costs, healthcare and where to live, written for Americans and Brits and checked line by line against official sources.

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A quiet tiled residential street in Lisbon with a cafe terrace and tram tracksPortugalD7 and digital nomad visas, costs, where to liveTODO: describe what is visible, e.g. "a sunny residential square in Valencia with orange trees"SpainNon-lucrative and digital nomad visas, costs, retiringTODO: describe what is visible, e.g. "a whitewashed old-town street in a small town in Puglia"ItalyElective residence and self-employed visas, costs

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TODOBest countries for Americans to move to: seven southern European options rankedThe best European countries for Americans to move to in 2026, ranked on visa income bars, living costs and English, from Portugal and Spain to Malta.Retired couple organising paperwork on a Lisbon balcony while preparing a Portugal D7 visa applicationPortugal D7 visa: who qualifies, what it costs and how to applyThe Portugal D7 visa needs €920 a month in passive income in 2026, plus 50% for a spouse. Documents, fees, timeline, refusals and the path to residency.Couple walking through a whitewashed street in an Andalusian townSpain non-lucrative visa: the income test, the no-work rule and how to applySpain's non-lucrative visa needs €28,800 a year for one person in 2026 and bans work in Spain. Remote work, documents, US and UK fees, steps and renewal.

How we make these guides

Official sources first

Every rule, threshold and fee links to the government page it comes from, with the date we checked it.

Written for your passport

Americans and Brits face different rules on visas, tax, pensions and healthcare. We spell out which applies to you.

Kept up to date

Each page shows when it was last reviewed. Visa and tax pages are rechecked at least every six months, and sooner when rules change.

Read our editorial guidelines

Portugal guides

Portugal overview
Shopper choosing fruit and vegetables at a neighbourhood market stall in PortoCost of living in Portugal: what a month really costs in 2026Cost of living in Portugal in 2026 from INE and Eurostat data: rent by city and flat size, sample budgets, utilities, transport, healthcare, vs US and UK.British retiree walking a dog along an Algarve seafront promenade on a winter morningMoving to Portugal from the UK: visas, State Pension and healthcareMoving to Portugal from the UK after Brexit: the visa you need, the ACRO certificate, how your State Pension is paid and taxed, S1, GHIC and a timeline.American couple sorting tax and banking paperwork at a kitchen table in a Porto apartmentMoving to Portugal from the USA: the money, tax and paperwork guideMoving to Portugal from the USA: which visa fits, how Social Security is taxed under the treaty, Medicare, FBAR, banking, pets and a realistic timeline.Retired couple at a café terrace in a sunny Algarve town squareRetiring in Portugal: the decisions that shape your first yearRetiring in Portugal in 2026: the D7 visa, how US and UK pensions are taxed side by side, healthcare after 65, a realistic budget and where retirees live.A café table in Porto with coffee, a closed laptop and a folder of paperworkPortugal visas: which route fits you, and what each one asksWhich Portugal visa fits you in 2026: D7, digital nomad, D2, work, study and golden visa routes compared, plus the 90-day rule for US and UK visitors.Remote worker using a laptop at a café table on a cobbled Lisbon streetPortugal digital nomad visa: the two tracks, the income test and how to applyPortugal's digital nomad visa needs €3,680 a month from remote work for clients abroad in 2026. Both tracks, documents, steps, taxes and family rules.Evening view over terracotta rooftops of a Portuguese city and its riverBest places to live in Portugal: rent, climate and community comparedThe best places to live in Portugal for retirees, families, remote workers and tight budgets, compared on INE rents, IPMA climate and AIMA resident data.

Spain guides

Spain overview
Shoppers at a covered food market in MadridCost of living in Spain: household spending, prices and bills in 2026Cost of living in Spain in 2026 from INE and Eurostat: household spending, prices vs the EU average, electricity, transport, property tax and rent trends.Woman walking along the Málaga seafront promenade on a winter afternoonMoving to Spain from the UK: visas, healthcare, pensions and tax after BrexitMoving to Spain from the UK in 2026: the visa you need, S1 vs convenio especial vs private cover, the State Pension, the UK–Spain tax treaty, Modelo 720.Couple on a bench in a leafy Madrid park on an autumn afternoonMoving to Spain from the USA: visas, taxes in two countries, healthcare and drivingMoving to Spain from the USA in 2026: which visa fits, how the US–Spain treaty treats pensions and Social Security, US filing duties, Medicare and driving.Retirees playing pétanque in a seaside park in AlicanteRetiring in Spain: five numbers that decide whether it works for youRetiring in Spain in 2026: the €28,800 visa income bar, the 183-day renewal rule, healthcare at €60–€157 a month, how pensions are taxed and Modelo 720.A person carrying a document folder across a quiet plaza in Valencia's old townSpain visas: which residency route fits you, and what each one asksSpain residency routes for 2026 compared: non-lucrative, digital nomad, work, entrepreneur, student, arraigo, and the 90-day rule for US and UK visitors.Remote worker using a laptop on a balcony above a Valencia streetSpain digital nomad visa: who qualifies, the 2026 income test and the Beckham tax optionSpain's digital nomad visa needs €2,442 a month in 2026 from remote work for foreign firms. Who qualifies, family amounts, Social Security, Beckham tax.

Malta guides

Lifeguard tower and flag on a Maltese beach on a calm morningIs Malta safe? What official data and travel advice say in 2026Is Malta safe for visitors and new residents? Crime levels, Paceville and scam warnings, sea and road safety, from GOV.UK advice and Eurostat data.

Hungary guides

Yellow tram crossing a Danube bridge in Budapest in the eveningIs Budapest safe? Pickpockets, bar scams and taxis, with the official figuresIs Budapest safe in 2026? Hungary ranks 15th on the Global Peace Index. GOV.UK on pickpockets, bar overcharging, taxis, money changing and drink spiking.