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Hi everyone,

as the title kind of reveals, I am in search of some tax and financial advice as someone living in Germany. For more context, I am also a dual citizen (US/German) and I recently found out that investing into ETFs and the like has its downsides due to this. Therefore, I am looking to see if I can get in touch with a financial or tax advisor who can provide me with some advice on how to properly invest my money without running into any tax traps.

Please let me if you know of someone who I could speak to on this matter either in Germany or the US. Thanks so much for your time!

It's almost a meme at this point for liberals/progressives in America to want to move to the Nordics because of the "political situation" in the US in addition to offering social welfare systems.

So I am curious for American liberals that actually did move to a Nordic country for the politics or for the social services. Does it live up to the hype? Have you experienced quality of life really that much better than almost any other place in the world? If not, why not?

My partner (a BNO visa holder) and I are in Australia at the moment, both working in tech.

Although we can stay longer to find a job here, I have also heard the employers here favour locals, other Europeans and Americans.

Does anyone have any job hunting experiences to share?

I'm 29 year old, from Denmark,

I have lived in Australia for 2 years on working holiday visa, and it was with out a doubt the best time of my life, so many new experinces, scenery, nature, food and different cultures. I was finally on my own and out of the familiy home, I got to experince diffrent places through the country as a Carpenter, I even considered looking for sponsorship or a visa set up.

I'm aware every country have it's pros and cons, I'm not here to list them, and it doesn't help with the living crisis and housing crisis going on to the make a move there.

but it's all i can think about now.

I'm struggling a bit now though, I keep comparing that life I had in Australia, all those memories and events,

I had friends and a partner.

I had to go back home my visa expired, tried to plan the next step, I struggled, and the relationship ended, we wanted diffrent things, she could see her self there for a periode but then she wanted to go back home for her family, in the States. I was not comfortable to move to the US with my profession, I was worried about the safety and the work-life balance and many other things.

Now I'm back home, found my dream job with, many benefits. I even get the option to work internationally, great salary.

But.

I still keep thinking about Australia, it was one big vaction there, great weather, amazing food from all over the world and so on, even tho I got the jackpot with my new job my life in Denmark is quite uneventful nothing is happing here, the weather is against us. The winter is depressing and all you do is go autopilot in the winter months and wonder was happend in whole half year, it all feels like a setback, coming back, and back in the familiy home, nothing has changed, only me.

I don’t really know what I’m asking, just wanted to get this out. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? have you battled going back and fourth about returning to a country?

Any advice?

Hi all -- US expat dealing with a nasty chronic pain issue, and I've exhausted my options here in the Netherlands for a diagnosis and hence, treatment. Not a knock on the healthcare here, but my health issue seems unsolvable/undiagnosable and at this point I want (need) to talk to some doctors back home while I try and figure this out.

So my question(s): what are my options for seeing doctors back home? Is there anything I can do re: some sort of insurance or payment support, or am I looking at needing pay out completely out of pocket? Can I just call up a hospital and ask for help, or do I need a referral?

Thanks for the replies in advance...

Hi! My husband and I are working on relocating our family from the US to somewhere in Europe, ideally the Netherlands. I am an Epidemiologist and currently work remotely for a large pharmaceutical company doing primary data collection, and it’s looking like I won’t be allowed to stay on my team and keep my American salary if we move to Europe.

Does anyone know of companies in my field that are US-based and will allow employees to work remotely from Europe? Open to anything related to public health.

Thanks!

Any Veterans live in Mexico but close enough to the US border to travel back and forth for VA healthcare?

Hello, I want to travel back to the US for the holidays, but I am not sure if I will be allowed back in Germany with my residence permit. I am an American citizen, but have been living in Germany. I lost my job in September and am worried the German government “flagged” my residence permit. It says it expires in 2026, but I’m not sure if the government has put a hold on my permit since it was tied to my job. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Seeking advice. Just moved to a new country (different climate, colder, I’m from the tropics but I’ve moved before) and its about two weeks in now. Back home and previously I’m quite a social outgoing person.

I moved alone. I struggle to leave the house, I really know I should get out but it feels so difficult to do so. I make an excuse to force myself out for a short while, but I haven’t done anything social yet. It feels really overwhelming to go out, once I’m out I do feel better though.

I call my family and friends from back home everyday.

Has anyone experienced this? What do you do? I don’t want to delve into self pity but I also don’t want to build this bad habit. Its been 4 days since I’ve left the house and I’d love some advice. TIA.

Hey. I’m in the US at least 3 times a year and finding it difficult to do many things without a US cell number. Reservations etc.

I understand you can get prepaid sims which are basically on a subscription but is there any way I can get a US cell number for a one of fee and then just top it up as and when needed? I can then keep that cell number when I don’t need to top up. Thank you!

As the title suggests, I am wondering if this means I am making a wrong decision. When I think of the life I am leaving behind (and i quite like my life honestly) I get upset. I like where I live, I have a good work from home balance (same as what I will have in the USA though) I get really upset. Did anyone else experience this before moving? My family keep saying OMG how do you feel - do everything you want to do now before you never get to do it again - it really makes it sink in. I feel better when I think its not forever and more like an adventure.

Does this mean im making the wrong decision? I do go through waves of excitement but then I feel guilty for taking my animals if I need to come home?

Hi, Romanian here. I was always fixated on the fact that I will move out of the country eventually since the future for gay people here seems bleak, and even if legally we arent that bad, I still dont feel that safe or confident in my future here, especially taking into account the ongoing elections which have been a wake up call for me.

Anyway, not really asking for pity points or anything, im just wondering how feasible it is to move to another eu country right now. Every expat i know who is working/ used to work elsewhere in the eu in my domain has said its pretty easy, but they moved there several years ago and things have obviously changed. Im not really interested in a specific country, I just want to feel somewhat tolerated where i live. Not really looking for money either.

Im a programmer with 2 years of experience in the field, from what ive seen my job prospects for the netherlands for example are not that great, i could find a few ads that somewhat fit me but they all have hundreds of applicants on linkedin, so i assume the competition is strong for my level of expertise. And even if i do somehow get an offer, i dont see myself being able to afford to find a rental unit (i assume u would get at most like 3500eur net, this being a best case scenario but kind of unrealistic) since most landlords ask that you make 2-3 times the cost of renting. I feel like this applies for most other relevant european countries (ireland, germany, etc). So yeah, things seem bleak for me.

I would have some money saved up, like 6-7000 euros, which i guess could cover the deposit but i feel like actually finding a place seems impossible.

Should i actually consider pursuing this path or just wait a few more years and hope that things will change for the better (doesnt seem likely)?

Hi, so it finally happened. We broke up after five years together, surviving pandemic while being locked up in our respective countries and then me moving literally to the other side of the planet.

Now he stays in the place we rented (his parents own it) and I have to move out. I need to find a place for myself and the cat, flats are expensive af, rooms are expensive and tiny and not one of my friends has a spare room.

I considered his family to be mine too, so I lost my family, a lot of my friends, because they're his friends too and know him since forever. I don't have a safety net, as we call it, a friendship base, people who'd help you even by letting you sleep on their couch for two nights. I don't really have people to talk to except for two, who have very both very demanding jobs and a lot on their plates right now.

I also just applied for permanent residency visa. I'm 34, part time eployed because the job market is completely f*cked and I've been looking for a job since April and I just feel like I failed at being an adult.

I don't even know what I want to get from posting this. Maybe a bit of support and knowing that other people survived? Or a link to a cute animal video.

My husband and I were in the process of looking to move to Portugal when a possible job opportunity fell into my lap from Germany, so we are entertaining the idea; however, neither of us speak German. I have looked into a lawyer for the legal side of things like rent contracts and such, and I have started learning German, but if we do this, we’d have to move by July, and I know I won’t be fluent in five months. I’m curious if there are any expats in Germany that can tell me how hard it is to set up things like utilities, cell phone, banking, and the regular day to day things a person needs to do when they are establishing themselves in a new place. Chances are that we’ll not be living in a large city. Neither of us are city people. We tend to keep to ourselves no matter where we are, but we enjoy adventuring around the countryside and poking our heads into big cities for a day or two before we are overwhelmed and need to hide away. We aren’t so antisocial that we won’t immerse ourselves in the culture, but at the end of the day, a quiet country home is where we’d most like to return. However, I know this means even less people who speak English and are able to help us. So I am curious how much we will be able to do with only five months of German lessons? Any and all advice is welcome and greatly appreciated, and thank you for taking a moment to read my question.

When my friend moved to Costa Rica, she thought she was ready for paradise—until the paperwork piled up, the bank refused her first deposit, and Google Translate couldn’t explain the fine print on her rental contract. That got me thinking: relocating is exciting, but let’s be honest—it’s not always smooth sailing.

I’m gathering real-life insights from expats to understand the challenges you’ve faced when moving abroad. Was it the bureaucracy? Cultural differences? Finding reliable professionals? Or maybe those tiny things no one warns you about until you’re in the thick of it?

• What were the biggest struggles you faced when relocating?
• What do you wish you had known before making the move?
• What resources, tips, or guidance would have made your life easier?

Your stories could help create something truly useful for others navigating the same journey—thank you for sharing!

Hi all! I am looking to move to either Spain or Italy and would like to live in both prior to making a decision. I originally planned on spending 90 days in Italy and then 90 days in Spain, but recently found out that the Schengen area only allows you to be there for 90 days at a time. Has anyone tried to get an extended visa and how likely is it to get it if your reason for staying is to figure out if you want to become a resident? Or are there any loopholes to get around having to wait 90 days in between?

Some additional context, my job is entirely remote so I do not think that makes me eligible for anything job related. I speak spanish at a basic level and I am currently learning italian. Also, I am eligible to get my italian citizenship, but from what I heard I would not be able to complete the entire process before I plan on going to visit. Will they take this into consideration if I apply for it before I leave?

Also if anyone knows any trustworthy websites for short term rental apartments in either country or really any tips for someone who is starting to plan out their move abroad would be appreciated!

Hi everyone. I am eligible for Bulgarian citizenship for reasons that don't matter for this pots. It's a process, takes time, effort and the legal costs, etc., so not a walk in the park. I want to make sure that I am not carelessly starting this process without understanding its (financial) implications.

I wouldn't be living in BG, just visiting for short amounts of time. The US would be my country of residence still. My question is, what are the tax implications, if any, of having BG citizenship for non-residents? I know they start taxing you when you are a resident of BG (living there over 183 days of the year) or if you have Bulgarian income, neither of which will be the case for me. The US taxes worldwide income regardless of residency, and thankfully this is not the case with BG, so I need not worry about being taxed on my US income, AFAIK. This is where my knowledge on the matter ends, though.

Does any one know of any nuances, details, etc. about the disadvantages of BG citizenship financially? Have any US expats with BG citizenship regretted it or have lived through disadvantages for reasons I might not think of?

Thank you.

I’ve been living abroad since 2018 in Spain and recently moved to Norway in February to work as a nurse. I just went to the US and visited my family and had thanksgiving and now I really want to move back. It’s really hard to be in the dark and in another culture all the time. I’m also not able to move back right away because my husband isn’t American. Can someone please remind that going is crazy?

Hi, I’m French and my partner is American, it’s been 1 year and a half that we live in Spain in Madrid and we would like to get married here. We’ve heard that we can get married in Spain, but we need two years of residency, but sometimes they can tolerate less if one of them is member of the EU Does someone had the same situation??

Hi, I recently got my Turkish passport. I’ve always had a British one. I’m half n half :) I was curious how flying between the two would work. Queues can be very long. Over the years I’ve only had a British passport and I get some really funny looks when they check my passport coming off the plane into Turkey (i have a VERY turkish name- red flag looks lol)

So my question is, flying return from UK, should I book flights with my UK passport (boarding pass would link to that one) When I get to Turkey, can I use my Turkish passport to skip the queue? Or would that cause major issues when trying to return to the UK? because I wouldn’t have had a entrance stamp :/ eyyyyyy dear

Or should I book flights with my T/passport and then when I land back in the UK use my British one to get back in (usually the scan machine)

Do i just suck it up and have boarder patrol look at me weird when i land in Türkiye on a B/passport lol

Hi me and my gf (both eu citizens) are looking to move to Paris around August next year. She’s planing to study me find work asap(kitchen). In terms of income I happen to own a place in my country which rented will provide around 1000 eur of income plus 300 euro for both as suport from our parents plus around 5000 euro savings. From my research renting is extremely hard in Paris so my question is Is it possible and what would be the best way to proceed ? Many thanks for any answers :)

Hey all, I'm currently stuck on making a decision. I've really wanted to move to Barcelona for a long time nowa and my plan was to go in January 2025 for a new year, new start. I live in Ireland atm and have just been offered a job in communications/marketing here which would pay quite well but would mean more of the same. I'm not sure what to do for now ....... any thoughts?

Hello beautiful people!

Im looking for open minded people who like to enjoy the life! I'm trying not to spend the Christmas alone, so im looking for who's in the same situation, having no problem meeting with a foreign or foreigners maybe!

Let's meet! Make some cultural dishes, party, talk, movies, boarding games and so on..

I can host 4 people, or I can come! Dm me please, im so peaceful person

I moved from India to UK 10 years ago and currently have British citizenship. It's me, my husband and two children all of us have British citizenship. We are looking to move to US, while our children are young. Also, all my siblings are in US. We both work in IT as programme manager. My main concern is the massive backlog for Indian born people for their green card, it seems it won't be possible to stay there long term. Though my children are British born and brought up. Has anyone got any advice on suggestions on how it would work for my British born children and us as India born British citizens. Also, I haven't looked for jobs yet but any suggestions on which states to focus on for best career progression for us in programme management or similar roles in IT? Thanks

Hey everybody! I am planning to work remotely from Costa Rica for about 1 month at the beginning of next year. I am looking for a coworking/ coliving space with fast and secure internet. I am 27 and love outdoor adventures. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have looked into outsite, but they charge almost $4,000/ month, and it seems like their average demographic may be older? A strong sense of community is really important to me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi, I need some advice as for a while now I've been thinking of just getting a one way ticket to a different country to go and at least spend some time with myself to sort myself out. Ive had enough of life itself I don't have much money £500 I just want to be gone. Is there a way I can just book a flight last minute to a cheaper country and start a new life for a while on my own? This may seem like a rushed post and make no sense but nothing makes sense to me anymore. I just want to get up and go and do something adventurous with the view of setting up a life somewhere else.

Hey everyone,

I'm from the US and have a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Psychology from NYU. I'm trying to find an affordable Master's program in Psychology (taught in English) somewhere in Europe or the UK. This would save me a ton of money as someone who isn't too keen on spending the rest of my life paying off student debt (looking at you, USA).

I thought I might have been able to get EU citizenship through my dad, who is from Europe, and has Croatian ancestry and a passport, but that's looking pretty unlikely, at least for right now.

Here's what I'm hoping to find:

-A general Psychology Master's, Clinical, or Applied Psychology program.

-Low/free tuition, or the potential for scholarships (I'm hoping for under 10k/year).

-Programs in countries like Spain, Italy, Finland, Estonia, or the UK -- those are my favorites, but I'm open to other options. I've heard that Germany may have potential programs.

-Universities with upcoming application deadlines (I haven't applied for Fall 2024 deadlines).

It seems like many non-EU tuition fees are very high, and many times EU-tuition fees will be free, but non-EU tuitions will be anywhere from 6-20k.

I applied for the Erasmus mundus Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP-P) program last year, and got in, but without a scholarship. It's not a field I'm super passionate about studying, and applied mostly in hopes of getting the full scholarship + stipend & relocation costs (!!!). I ended up going with the NALCAP teaching program in Spain instead, which I'm doing now.

If anyone knows of affordable programs, scholarships, or tips for navigating this as a non-EU student, I'd love to hear them! Thanks :)

Hi there,

Hope you're all well.

I am a Canadian citizen who has been looking to move to Europe for a couple years now (relatively flexible with where but mostly interested in Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany). I apply to jobs but don't have much luck despite networking and using the advice I receive from people. I am thinking it would be helpful to use a recruitment company/agency to help me out. Has anyone used one and had any luck?

Hi all,

I am currently a US citizen living in the UK. I've been in the UK on a spouse visa for the past (almost) 4 years. I've previously lived in the US for 15 years. I maintain a US address, phone, bank, the works. I also pay US taxes.

My mom recently passed away and left behind a sizable inheritance. She was a US citizen, US resident, domiciled in the US, etc. My mom owns nothing in the UK. And before anyone says, yes I am meeting with expat tax specialists very soon but I am looking for some experiences or words of comfort/advice. I haven't done anything with the trust as of yet, I just arrived two weeks ago.

My mom left me everything in a revocable living trust of which I am a successor trustee and beneficiary. There is also an irrevocable life insurance trust, as well as a pour over will. All of which I am a beneficiary. I was unaware of all these things prior to going to the UK.

I very recently and surprisingly learned that this could cause me big problems in the UK and I haven't eaten in 3 days and can't stop crying because I am terrified after reading all these US/UK trust issues. I don't fully understand the consequences and I am terrified I'll be taxed more than what I even get.

Has anyone had any experience with a situation like this? I just want to know I'm not going to owe something I can't humanly pay. I know there's a lot more details needed but obviously for the sake of privacy it's a general post. I own a house in the UK with my husband, if that's relevant in any way. Reading all the nightmare tax horror stories has made me sick to my stomach. Am I going to lose everything? Or am I misunderstanding the implications?

Thanks in advance.