Since I've announced that I'm moving back to Europe, a lot of you have been asking me where I'm going. So, I decided to make this news to give you a little bit of insight into where I'm going to be moving in Europe this year and then where I'll be living next year.

I have been living or traveling abroad for the last 20 plus years now. now been to more than 60 countries. So, I help people move to different countries and that's a little bit of the reasons why I'm leaving the US and going back to Europe.

So, the first place I'm going is Romania. I've given myself a few months to prepare to leave the United States and then when my lease ends, I'll go straight to a conference and then visit my friends and family. So, if you're thinking of moving abroad, it's good to give yourself plenty of time at least 3 months, 6 months up to a year before you actually have your departure date.

Um, in this case, because I've moved abroad so many times, and because I'm an expert in living abroad, I gave myself a shorter window of just about two or three months, but typically I recommend minimum 3 months or more up to at least 12 months, especially if you're moving with a whole house of stuff or if you have to downsize a lot of stuff.

So, another thing, yes, before you leave your home country, go and visit friends and family. Um, you might not see them for another 6 months or so. So, it's always a good idea to go visit them or have them come to you. So, in this case, I'll be making my rounds going to visit my parents, my sister, my nephew, and then my brother and his fiance, and my niece over in California. So, that'll take at least a week or so.

And then I'll come back to Miami and leave around mid November to Romania. And the reason that I'm going to Romania and I am pursuing citizenship from descent. My grandfather had dual citizenship in Hungary and Romania. And uh one of the requirements to qualify for citizenship in both of those countries is to pass a language exam.

Now, Hungarian is probably a bit harder than Romanian, and I've always I've been to Hungary before, but I've always wanted to go to Romania. had a few trips planned before that we had to cancel because my mom was sick and things happened. So, I'm really looking forward to going there and spending quite a bit of time there.

If you've followed me or my podcast for a while, you'll also know that I speak Spanish and I learned that through an immersion program back in 2002 when I was a Rotary Scholar in Costa Rica. And ever since then, after taking five years of Spanish in high school and college, then going to Costa Rica for three months and studying in an immersion program, I learned so much. I learned more in 3 months than I did in 5 years of school.

So, if you've been struggling to learn a language, a really good way to do that is to just go to the country and immerse yourself there and focus on learning the language. Take classes, go to a place where people don't speak much English. And so that's what I'm going to do in Romania.

Now, I know a lot of the population does speak English there, especially in the bigger cities like Bucharest and Kluj. So, I've been looking around for places in more rural areas where I'll be forced to speak Romanian when I'm out and about, especially with all the technology we have, FaceTime, social media. It's really easy to kind of stay in the English zone.

So, I really want to get out of my comfort zone and and learn the language and take classes on a regular basis, if not every day, than a few days per week. So, I've been looking around for language schools in Romania, and I found a couple because I'm going in November.

We're going into winter, which is typically not the busiest tourist time to go to Europe, but that's why I like it. It's not as crowded. It's not as expensive. if it's not as hot. Uh the days are shorter, it's darker. There's some pros and cons, but uh it's also good to go to a place that you're thinking of living during maybe not the best weather or the best climate to see if you like it during the bad times and then you'll probably also like it during the good times, like the warmer weather, more sunshine.

So, I've been looking at Brassoff and CBU. I don't know if I'm saying that right, which are relatively close to the mountains. I once spent a whole winter season in Bulgaria skiing and snowboarding in the morning and then working remotely in the afternoon and the evenings. And so I'm kind of thinking I could do the same thing here in Romania.

Instead of going to Kluj or Bucharest, I can go to one of the smaller towns near the mountains and have a little bit of, you know, nice work life balance. go snowboarding a few days a week and then come back and work from my laptop, uh, running my relocation company and then also taking classes in the in the evening.

So, it's going to be a busy day or maybe we'll have that switched around because of the the time zones. But that's my plan for the next few months.

Now, unfortunately, I have been asking around. I've been emailing language schools and very few of them have any programs that start in November or December. Probably because it's going into the holidays, Christmas, New Year's. So, it looks like my only options at first are either to take private classes in Cebu or Brasaf or to study in Bucharest or Kluj for at least a month or so.

So I'm thinking maybe the first four to six weeks stay in Bucharest or go to Kluj take classes and then in January move to one of the smaller towns to do more of an immersion program where I can be closer to nature and stuff like that and spend at least a couple of months there and then maybe go back into Cluge when it is closer to springtime and the language exam because the language exam that I need to take to pass the test to show that I'm at B1 level Romanian and then qualify for uh getting citizenship are located there.

So also when the snow is melting on the ski slopes, you know, could be a good time to go back into the cities. So I don't have it completely planned out yet, but I personally like to slow travel. So I plan to stay at least for a month in each location. So, you know, maybe a month in Bucharest, a month in Brasav, etc., etc., a month in Cluge, and see where I'm at.

Come like March or April. I will be flying back then to the US because my brother's getting married and then going back to Europe. And here's where things could change.

So, if I really love Romania, I'm happy to stay there. I'm planning to apply for a digital nomad visa after I get there, which u I can apply for about 2 months into my 90-day shenan stay on my passport. So, I'll do that and then I can stay for up to a year, I believe.

So, if I like it, I'll just stay there and we'll see how it goes.

But I also do need to think about my work, my clients, and also my plan from this year, which was to move to the Netherlands. So the main countries that I help people move to are Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and the Netherlands. We also get a lot of inquiries for for Ireland and the UK and a few other places mostly in Europe, also Latin America, Mexico, Costa Rica.

But um even if I'm not, you know, working and and living in those countries, it's nice to be close there and in the same time zone as my clients once they get there. Maybe be able to meet some of them in person. Um work with our partners there, residency attorneys, things like that.

I could do everything remotely. I've been working remotely since 2008, so quite quite a long time. I did write Digital Nomads for Dummies, but um it'll be nice to be closer to the countries that my clients want to move to and I can pop over and, you know, visit them, pay $50 for a ticket versus being across an ocean away.

So, I could apply for a visa to one of those countries. Um, could be, you know, a digital nomad visa in Portugal, could be a longstay visa in France, could be a digital nomad visa in Spain, but I'm probably going to go with the Daft visa in the Netherlands because I do love the Netherlands. And from there, it's really easy to travel anywhere else.

In the meantime, if my citizenship application is processing, I've heard that can take up to 1 year, 2 years, 3 years at the max. But to still be able to live in Europe while I'm waiting on my passport, then I will need to get a form of a visa or residency. so I could go with the DAFT visa, which is the Dutch American Friendship Treaty, uh start my freelancer relocation business in the Netherlands, and uh meet all my clients that are moving to the Netherlands.

So, that's my plan so far. If you have any um travel tips on Romania, which is one of the European countries I haven't been to yet, then please drop them in the comments. Let me know any questions as well and subscribe to join me on this journey.

However, despite the allure, many digital nomads arrive unprepared.

The first big mistake that prospective digital nomads make is not securing a long-term visa. Passport holders from 93 countries — including all major Western countries — can enter Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa. This easy access often tempts people to use visa exemptions repeatedly to stay long-term.

But this is a big mistake. Thai immigration tracks your arrivals and how long you stay. Repeated use of back-to-back visa-free entries will likely raise red flags.

If you’re serious about staying in Thailand long-term, you’ll need a proper visa.

The best option for digital nomads is the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), introduced in 2024. It’s a 5-year multiple-entry visa designed specifically for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and freelancers.

It can be a bit confusing, so let’s go through how it works.

The DTV visa is valid for 5 years and costs 10,000 Thai Baht to apply. Each entry into the country allows you to stay for up to 180 days, and you can extend your stay once per entry for an additional 180 days at a cost of 1,900 Baht. This allows you to stay in Thailand for up to 360 days without leaving. After that, you must exit and re-enter to reset the clock.

To apply, you must be at least 20 years old, show proof of 500,000 Thai Baht in available savings, and provide documentation proving that you work online or remotely. This can include a client list, work contract, or business registration.

Each embassy may interpret the rules differently — some may require more or less documentation, and processing times can vary significantly. It’s smart to research before choosing where to file your application, as it can make a big difference. You can also use a visa agency to simplify the process.

Once you’re in Thailand on a long-term visa, you’ll need to understand a bit about the bureaucracy. Residents are required to report to immigration every 90 days — this is called the 90-day report and involves several steps.

First, landlord must file a TM30 form declaring your residence. Make sure any landlord agrees to do this before signing your lease, and that it’s included in the lease agreement. You’ll need the TM30 receipt to file the TM47 form, which is the 90-day report.

You can file this at an immigration office. The first filing must be done in person, but later filings can be done online. The deadline is strict — you must file no more than 15 days before or 7 days after your 90-day mark. If you miss it, you’ll be fined 2,000 Baht and may face issues with visa extensions or renewals.

If you leave Thailand during that time, your 90-day count resets upon re-entry.

If this sounds like a hassle, you can use a visa agency to handle the entire process.

Now, let’s talk about budgeting and cost of living.

Thailand is affordable — but not universally cheap — and many digital nomads make the mistake of spending like they’re on vacation.

It’s important to set a budget before you arrive and track your expenses during the first few months.

Here’s a quick breakdown of basic costs:

• Rent: In Bangkok, one-bedroom apartments range from 10,000–30,000 Baht per month depending on quality and location. In Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Hua Hin, you’ll find cheaper options, while Phuket and Koh Samui are more expensive.
• Food: Eating local is very affordable — a local meal can cost as little as 60 Baht.
• Internet: High-speed internet costs 500–1,000 Baht per month.
• Mobile data: Around 300–500 Baht per month.
• Electricity: Around 1,000–2,000 Baht monthly for a one-bedroom condo.
• Transportation: Around 1,000–2,000 Baht per month for taxis, ride-hailing, and public transport.

The DTV visa application costs 10,000 Baht over 5 years, and extensions cost 1,900 Baht per year, plus the occasional border run.

To rent a condo, you’ll usually need a deposit equal to two months’ rent, plus the first month upfront. You must also maintain 500,000 Baht in savings to renew or extend your visa — think of this as your financial cushion, not spending money.

Note that Western food, weekend trips, and entertainment can quickly raise your costs. The base cost of living in Thailand is low, but luxuries are not.

Keep track of your spending, especially early on, to ensure you’re within your budget.

Next, let’s discuss health insurance.

Thailand’s healthcare system is excellent, and routine doctor visits are affordable. But serious medical issues can be expensive without insurance.

One of the best insurance providers SafetyWing, which offers flexible travel and health insurance designed for digital nomads. Their Nomad Essential plan covers emergency medical care, travel delays, and lost luggage — it works like a subscription you can cancel anytime, even if you’re already abroad.

If you’re living abroad long-term, consider their Nomad Complete plan, which includes coverage for chronic illness, surgeries, cancer treatment, outpatient care, mental health, maternity, and even visits in your home country. It works in over 175 countries.

You can check your coverage cost using the SafetyWing calculator.

If you’re planning to stay in Thailand long-term, opening a bank account can make life easier — but it’s not guaranteed. Despite being a long-stay visa, the DTV is treated as a tourist visa by banks. Recent crackdowns mean you might not be able to open a local account.

You can still use foreign debit cards at ATMs, but you’ll pay a 220 Baht withdrawal fee each time. To save money, withdraw larger amounts less frequently and bring travel-friendly debit cards such as:

• Charles Schwab or Chase (for Americans),
• Chase (for Brits),
• Wealthsimple (for Canadians),
• Citibank (for Australians).

You can also use Wise or Revolut for international transfers.

Always bring spare debit cards — many people forget theirs in ATMs because in Thailand, you get the cash first and then the card.

Credit cards are also widely accepted, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work almost everywhere.

Paying bills is easy — you can pay at 7-Eleven or other big stores using cash or card. Rent, however, can be trickier — you can either send an international transfer or deposit cash directly into your landlord’s account and send a receipt copy.

If you stay 180 days or more, you’re considered a tax resident. This means you could be subject to Thai income tax, but as of 2025, Thailand’s Revenue Department proposed a rule stating that foreign income is not taxed if brought into Thailand in the same or following calendar year.

Thailand also has double-tax treaties with over 60 countries, including most Western nations. Still, it’s wise to consult a tax advisor who understands both Thai and international tax law.

Keep in mind, DTV holders are only allowed to work remotely. You cannot work for a Thai company or client, even part-time or through sponsored posts. That would require a Non-B visa with a work permit.

Now, let’s talk about the challenges of living in Thailand long-term.

One major issue is avoiding “holiday mode.” Thailand is full of distractions — beaches, nightlife, travel — and it’s easy to lose focus.

Set a strict needs-based budget and avoid unnecessary spending. This keeps you focused on work and helps prevent burnout or financial trouble.

Another mistake is surrounding yourself with the wrong people — those living in permanent vacation mode, drinking daily, or drifting aimlessly.

In Thailand, you’re disconnected from your usual social structures, so your friends here will influence your direction in life. Choose wisely and be cautious — there are also many scammers and hustlers who may pitch fake businesses, ask for loans, or promote risky investments.

Finally, you need an exit plan.

Even though you’re focused on arriving, you should also plan for when you might leave Thailand. Maybe after a few months or years, Thailand no longer feels right, or your business slows down.

This is the biggest mistake expats make — living too comfortably and forgetting about the future.

Thailand is easy and affordable, but it lacks Western social safety nets — no free healthcare, education, or retirement benefits. You must earn enough to invest and save.

Yes, you can live on a small budget, but that shouldn’t be your entire income. Build for your future, not just your present.

Too many expats stay too long without planning, and later regret it when it’s too late.

So, create clear goals, a timeline, and evaluate your progress regularly. Stay honest with yourself — are you building a future, orjust surviving today?