Best Countries to Move to From the US in 2026 — Visa Routes, Costs & Honest Comparisons

42% of Americans have considered leaving the US in the past two years. Portugal is the #1 destination. But the right country depends on whether you're retiring, working remotely, or building a career abroad. Here's the honest breakdown.

A Harris Poll survey released in February 2025 found that 42% of Americans have considered leaving the United States in the next two years. Portugal has become the #1 destination Americans are moving to, with American residents in Portugal growing 239% since 2018. Expatsi, a relocation company, saw its revenue grow 19,632% year-over-year as Americans sought help with the process.

This is not a fringe trend. It is the largest sustained emigration interest from the US since the Vietnam era, driven by a combination of cost of living pressures, political dissatisfaction, healthcare concerns, and the rise of remote work making it financially viable.

This guide covers the six best countries Americans are actually moving to in 2026 — not lists built on vibes, but real visa routes, real costs, and honest trade-offs for each one.

Before You Choose: What Type of Mover Are You?

The "best country" depends entirely on your situation. Before reading further, identify which category fits:

Retiree or passive income: You have Social Security, a pension, dividends, or investment income. You need a country that welcomes passive income and has a clear retiree or passive income visa. Best options: Portugal, Spain, Panama.

Remote worker: You work for a US company or clients remotely. You need a digital nomad visa that explicitly permits active remote work. Best options: Portugal, Spain, Germany.

Skilled professional seeking a career: You want to work for a local employer in your new country. Best options: Canada, Germany, Netherlands.

Family with children: Safety, English in schools, and quality public education matter most. Best options: Canada, Portugal, Germany.

1. Portugal — The #1 Choice for Most Americans

Portugal is the most popular destination for Americans moving abroad — confirmed by multiple surveys including Expatsi's 116,363-person study. The reasons are concrete, not romantic.

Cost of living: 30–40% lower than comparable Western cities. A lifestyle that costs $7,000/month in San Francisco runs $3,500–4,500/month in Lisbon. Porto and smaller cities are cheaper still.

Visa options for Americans:

The D7 Passive Income Visa requires €920/month in passive income and €11,040 in a Portuguese bank account. Designed for retirees and those with investment or rental income. Social Security income qualifies. Processing: 2–4 months at the Portuguese Consulate in the US.

The D8 Digital Nomad Visa requires €3,680/month from non-Portuguese employers. For remote workers and freelancers with overseas clients. Explicitly permits active remote work.

The Golden Visa requires €500,000+ investment into approved Portuguese investment funds. For high-net-worth individuals who want EU residency with minimal physical presence (7 days/year).

Tax reality for Americans: The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of where you live. Moving to Portugal does not remove your IRS obligations. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) excludes approximately $120,000 of foreign-earned income from US tax. The Foreign Tax Credit offsets further. Portugal's favourable NHR tax regime has been replaced by the IFICI programme, which is more restricted — most retirees and remote workers now face standard Portuguese tax rates (14.5–48% progressive). Get a tax advisor specialising in US expats before moving.

Citizenship timeline: 5 years legal residence → Portuguese citizenship → EU passport. Dual citizenship permitted.

English proficiency: Excellent in cities, professional environments, and tourist areas. Daily life is manageable without Portuguese immediately.

For the complete guide: Moving to Portugal 2026 — US, UK & Global Guide.

2. Canada — The Practical Choice for Professionals and Families

Canada is the most culturally similar destination to the US and the most straightforward for skilled professionals to build a long-term life.

Why Americans choose Canada: Shared language, familiar culture, universal healthcare, strong job market in tech and finance, and a well-established immigration system with clear PR pathways.

Visa routes for Americans:

Express Entry is Canada's primary skilled immigration system — points-based, with regular draws inviting the highest-scoring candidates to apply for Permanent Residence. Americans with Canadian work experience, education, or a Provincial Nominee Program nomination score highest. A competitive CRS score of 480–520 typically leads to an invitation within 6 months.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow individual provinces to nominate candidates in occupations they need. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia have active streams with lower score thresholds than the federal Express Entry pool.

Americans can also enter Canada on a visitor visa and look for work, transitioning to a work permit when hired.

Cost of living: Toronto and Vancouver are expensive — comparable to major US cities. Calgary, Montreal, and Halifax are significantly more affordable. Healthcare is publicly funded with no out-of-pocket cost for residents (after a 3-month waiting period in most provinces).

Tax: Canada and the US have a tax treaty. Once you establish Canadian residency and break US tax residency (spending under 183 days in the US), you are taxed by Canada rather than the US on most income — a significant advantage over Portugal. Americans who fully establish Canadian residency and break ties with the US may owe only Canadian taxes.

Citizenship timeline: 3 years as a PR → Canadian citizenship. Dual citizenship permitted.

For full monthly cost breakdowns: Cost of Living Canada 2026 — Toronto vs Vancouver vs Calgary.

3. Spain — Best for Lifestyle, Latin Community, and EU Access

Spain offers a compelling combination: lower cost than Portugal in many regions, a faster citizenship pathway for Latin Americans (2 years), and the full EU freedom of movement after citizenship.

Visa routes:

Non-Lucrative Visa — for Americans with passive income who want to live in Spain without working. Requires €2,400/month in income (€600 per additional dependent). Does not permit work — not for remote workers.

Digital Nomad Visa — requires €2,849/month from non-Spanish employers. For remote workers and freelancers. One of the most accessible digital nomad visas in Europe for income threshold.

Work visa — requires a job offer from a Spanish employer. Spain has labour shortages in tech, healthcare, and construction.

Cost: Spain is 10–15% more expensive overall than Portugal. Madrid and Barcelona are significantly more expensive than provincial cities. Seville, Valencia, and the Basque Country offer good balance.

Citizenship for Americans: 10 years of legal residence to Spanish citizenship. For Americans of Latin American heritage who also hold a qualifying Latin American passport, the 2-year fast-track applies — see Spanish Citizenship for Latin Americans — 2-Year Fast Track.

For more: Spain Digital Nomad Visa 2026.

4. Germany — For Serious Career Builders

Germany is not the easiest country to move to casually, but it is the most rewarding professionally. It has the largest economy in Europe, genuine labour shortages in tech and engineering, and one of the clearest skilled worker visa frameworks in the EU.

Visa routes:

EU Blue Card — for university graduates with a job offer in Germany at €45,300+/year (€41,041.80 for shortage occupations). Fastest route to German PR (21 months on the Blue Card, or 33 months standard work visa).

Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) — points-based visa allowing entry to Germany to search for a job without a prior offer. Requires a bachelor's degree and scoring enough points on qualification, work experience, language, and age.

Skilled Worker Visa — for those with a job offer. Requires recognised qualification (German or equivalent) and employer sponsorship.

German language: Strongly recommended even where not mandatory. B1 German significantly increases employability and daily quality of life. Citizenship requires B1 German and 5 years of residence (reduced from 8 recently).

Cost of living: Significantly lower than comparable UK or US cities. Munich is expensive by German standards but remains cheaper than London or San Francisco. Berlin is one of the most affordable capital cities in Western Europe.

Tax: Germany has a tax treaty with the US. German residents who break US tax residency owe German taxes only on German income. Americans who become German tax residents are generally taxed by Germany rather than the US on most income.

For more: Germany Opportunity Card 2026 · EU Blue Card Germany 2026.

5. Netherlands — For Tech Professionals

The Netherlands has the highest English proficiency of any non-English-speaking country — it functions effectively as an English-speaking country in professional environments. It is a tech and finance hub with major multinationals (ASML, Philips, ING, Shell) and one of the most attractive expat tax systems in Europe.

The 30% Ruling: The Netherlands offers incoming foreign workers a tax benefit where 30% of gross salary is tax-free for up to 5 years. This saves €6,000–10,000/year for most EP holders and makes the Netherlands significantly more attractive financially than it first appears. Available to those earning above €46,660/year (2026), or €35,468 for under-30s with a master's degree.

Highly Skilled Migrant Visa: For Americans with a job offer from a Dutch employer earning €5,688/month+ (over 30) or €4,171/month+ (under 30). Processing: 2–4 weeks. One of the fastest skilled worker visa systems in Europe.

Cost of living: Amsterdam is expensive (rent averages €1,400–2,000/month for a 1-bed). Rotterdam and Eindhoven are significantly more affordable. The 30% ruling substantially offsets living costs for qualifying professionals.

For more: Cost of Living Netherlands 2026.

6. Mexico — For Those Who Want to Stay Close

Mexico hosts more American expatriates than any other country — approximately 1.2 million US citizens. The proximity (a few hours' drive or short flight), warm climate, affordable cost of living, and large established expat communities make it the easiest transition for many Americans.

Cost of living: Living comfortably in Mexico City costs approximately $3,500/month — roughly the same as Portugal but closer and easier to maintain US connections. Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, and San Miguel de Allende attract large American retiree communities.

Visa: The Temporary Resident Visa (Residente Temporal) requires a monthly income of approximately $2,590 from any source. Valid for 1–4 years, renewable. The Permanent Resident Visa is available after 4 years as temporary resident or immediately for those with sufficient income or assets.

Limitation: Mexico does not offer EU freedom of movement. It is not a pathway to EU citizenship or a European base. It is an affordable lifestyle choice with US proximity.

The US Tax Reality — For Every Destination

Americans are taxed by the IRS on worldwide income regardless of where they live. This is the fundamental difference from citizens of other countries. Moving to Portugal, Canada, or Germany does not make you exempt from US tax returns.

The key tools:
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) — excludes approximately $120,000 of foreign-earned income from US tax (2026 figure, adjusted annually). Does not apply to passive income, dividends, or capital gains.
Foreign Tax Credit — offsets your US tax bill by taxes paid to your country of residence. Prevents true double taxation in most cases.
FBAR — if you hold more than $10,000 in foreign bank accounts, you must file an FBAR annually with FinCEN.

For most Americans earning normal salaries abroad, the combination of FEIE and Foreign Tax Credit means owing little or no additional US tax. But the filing obligation remains. Use a US expat tax specialist — not a regular CPA who has not handled international returns.

Summary Comparison

Internal links: Moving to Portugal 2026 — Complete Guide · Cost of Living Canada 2026 · Spain Digital Nomad Visa 2026 · Cost of Living in Netherlands 2026 · ETIAS 2026 — What US Travelers Need to Know · 8 Cheapest Countries to Live in Europe 2026 · Best Expat Health Insurance 2026

Immigration policies, visa income thresholds, and cost of living figures change regularly. Verify current requirements at official government portals before applying. This article reflects February 2026 data.