StartAbroad offers end-to-end relocation services to help make the process smooth and easy. From immigration to medical planning, leave the logistics to us. We provide solutions that can take the stress out of moving to another country.
We launched StartAbroad because we know from personal experience how overwhelming international moves can be. We’ve been there. We get it. Let us manage the details so you can focus on your next adventure.
Currently supporting English-speakers relocating to Costa Rica, Panama, and Portugal.
- Want to learn more about us? We offer free consultations (link below). - If you want advice, sign up for a coaching call (link below). - If you want help with 1-2 things, check out our a la carte services. - If you want someone to handle it all for you, our concierge program is for you.
Thank you for your video. It is very helpful. I'm planning to purchase a home in spring 2025 (March - May). When should I complete FBI background and is it valid for a limited time? And what is the recommended timeline to initiate my D7 application process with VFS, as I want to purchase my home before moving to PT?
Hi @rosed.2605, thanks for your question! You do not need a background check to purchase a home. The background check, and any official documents you will use at your VFS appointment, need to have been issued within six months of your D7 application submission. In terms of when to look for a VFS appointment, we typically advise clients based on when they want to move. It would be great to connect on a call so we can learn more about your situation, then provide specific feedback. Please schedule a free 15-minute consultation here: www.startabroad.com/consultation
I plan to retire then move as soon as possible thereafter. How many months of passive income do I need to receive before my first D7 appointment at the consulate/embassy in my area?
Hi @TA97553, thanks for your comment! Ideally three months, but there are ways around this. We would be happy to provide you recommendations specific to your case if you would like to connect on a free 15-minute consultation: www.startabroad.com/consultation
❤❤❤ I will Definitely call and request information from you. I live in Columbus Ohio and I’ve been to Portugal several times and I love it! I want to retire there
Hope this is ok to ask. For the first application need to proof bank account and rent contract. This is before moving? Or you can move for 90 days, set the bank and rent, and then apply?
Great video, thank you so much. I am in California and planning on moving to Portugal. I will be asking my current employer to switch from W2 to 1099 but I was hopping I could establish residency in another free tax state, how can I go about it?
Hi @sinadino, thank you for your message! Yes, many people do this. We're not experts at changing which state you are a resident of in the US, so we don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. We would be happy to connect on a free consult about anything related to successfully relocating to Portugal: www.startabroad.com/consultation
I will be coming in for a visit for a month to see if Costa Rica is the place I want to live in my retirement years. I may be interested in your service. Thank you.
Hi @febsign6110, that is great! Costa Rica is a wonderful place to live, and we would love to help you explore your options. Please sign up for a free 15-minute consultation so that we can get a better sense for the types of places you are looking for. www.startabroad.com/consultation
Hi @juanalisboa, thank you for your comment! Yes, you can appeal, however it can be difficult to actually get Costa Rica's Immigration service to re-evaluate your case. The best option is to fully understand the qualification criteria, and complete the process 100% correctly. We are experts at this process, and would be happy to talk to you about your case. Feel free to schedule a time to connect: www.startabroad.com/consultation
Hi @nolansherman9565, thank you for your message! Yes, the process has plenty of quirks which makes navigating the application frustrating. We offer free consultations, which you can schedule on the link below. We would be happy to answer your questions, and can tell you more about our Digital Nomad Visa Application service (startabroad.com/services/costa-rica-services/costa-rica-digital-nomad-visa-application/) if you decide you would like help. www.startabroad.com/consultation
If I'm understanding the process correctly, then when you sign a rental contract with a landlord, it's still months away before you actually move, because you have to have that rental contract before you even apply for your Visa. Are you on the hook to start paying the rent for that property during the months before you've even arrived, or is it common to future-date the start of the lease a few months out? Also, what happens if for some reason your Visa application is denied? Do you still owe the landlord 12 months of rent, or is it accepted to have a clause allowing you to break the rental contract for that reason?
Hi @meaganpage1260, thank you for your question! Yes, the timing of the rental contract requirement is one of the most frustrating aspects of the visa application process. We would be happy to answer your questions and help you navigate the process if you would like to schedule a free 15-minute consultation by following this link: www.startabroad.com/consultation
Hi @heatherrichardson5829, thank you for your message! You do need to submit your tax returns, but the rules change slightly depending on your situation. We offer free 15-minute consultations if you would like to speak to a specialist about the specifics of your case! You can schedule that here: www.startabroad.com/consultation
Hi @Stella_p517, thank you for your comment! Yes, this visa does allow you to visit other countries in the Schengen area. A few important notes: 1) before you've completed the AIMA appointment, you can only leave and re-enter Portugal once, and 2) if you want to renew your visa after two years, you must spend 16 out of 24 months in Portugal. We offer free 15-minute consultations if you would like to speak with an expert! You can schedule that here: www.startabroad.com/consultation
Looking to retire at 60 prior to drawing Social Security. Can you use a 401k account as passive income as you can draw from it at 59 1/2? Yes, this sounds complicated opening a bank account in Portugal, getting a lease, all before you get approved 😃 I also don't know anyone in Portugal to get a reference. I am looking at Portugal as I have friends in Spain and it seems like a good base to live and travel from.
Hi @kenbeck6779, thank you for your message! The process can be complicated, lots of moving parts, but that's why we're here! If you're not drawing SS yet, you can get a letter from the SS Administration, and combine it with savings. We offer free 15-minute consultations, and would be happy to answer your questions and make specific recommendations to you based on your situation. If that sounds good, please go ahead and schedule that here: www.startabroad.com/consultation
Hi @felipedille5943, thank you for your message! Yes, having a rental contract is a requirement for when you submit your application at VFS or a consulate. The rental market in Portugal can be difficult to navigate. We offer Rental Search Support if you would like help with that process, which you can learn more about here: startabroad.com/services/portugal-services/portugal-rental-search/
Is the newly issued birth certificate required if you are an individual - not married without children? Also, I heard that your D7 application might get rejected if you have not previously visited Portugal. Is that correct? Thank you so much for this detailed video. It's the most informative one I've seen.
Hi @jyotismovieshelf, thank you for your question and for that feedback!! If you are applying as an individual, you do not need to include a birth certificate. There is also no requirement to have visited Portugal previously. If you are interested in discussing your case with an expert, please schedule a free 15-minute consultation here: www.startabroad.com/consultation
I live in PH but I am not a PHilippines citizen. I have an ecommerce business an i earn more than the requirement, I also have a Job too wiht gives me like $30k/year. This means I qualify? Or Do i have to go home to my home country to apply? Thanks to those who will respond
Hello, I have a question. Are earnings from stock trading and Bitcoin transactions recognized as proof of income? In other words, if I can earn the equivalent of Portugal’s annual minimum wage through stock trading and have substantial savings, would that be considered? Or do I need to convert it into dividend income or similar to meet the bureaucratic requirement of a stable income? If D7 does not meet these conditions, is there a visa available for stock traders without a job in Europe? Thank you.
@thesimplechocolatier Thank you! We appreciate that feedback. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly at info@startabroad.com if there's anything we can help you with.
It depends on the offense! If it was that long ago, often it won't be a barrier. Feel free to reach out to us with more details and we can provide better advice: info@startabroad.com.
I don't understand the country entry data section. Where it says "Place of entry", are they talking about where in Costa Rica I'll be visiting? It also says "Date of entry" but only allows you to enter dates up to the present, not in the future.
HI @yonyahoo, yes, the application process is extremely confusing. We offer visa application support, which you can learn more about here: startabroad.com/services/costa-rica-services/costa-rica-digital-nomad-visa-application/
Hi! Is it a bit risky to take a 12 month accommodation contract before knowing if you'll get the visa? It seems like it needs to be done right at the start of the application. If I'm planning to go there for the first time in October can I start the application now? Thanks
Hi @garryevans4810, thank you for your message! Unfortunately, the rental contract is a requirement for visa approval. It is one of the frustrating aspects of the way the process has been implemented. However, as long as you qualify for the visa and put together the application correctly, you will likely be approved. Keep in mind that visa approvals typically take about two months after your VFS/Consulate appointment, and it can take a few weeks/months before you can schedule your appointment. We would be very happy to connect with you and talk through timing, the application process, and putting together your documentation. We offer free consultations, which you can sign up for here: startabroad.com/schedule-consultation/
Hi, thanks for great vid. For bringing a spouse or committed partner: If main applicant meets minimum income threshold (3600 USD pm), can committed partner's remote income count as covering the addtional 500-odd USD required for bringing a dependent committed partner? Or does main applicant have to have sufficient monthly income to cover their own minimum threshold plus the threshold for the committed partner dependant? Hope the question makes sense 🙏
Hi @letsbefair_! Great question. Unfortunately you do need to have the main applicant's income be sufficient to cover both people on its own (that's 1.5x the amount for a single person when you add an adult dependent). Alternatively, if you both qualify by yourselves you can apply for two separate visas.
Great video. Nevertheless, living here I have to say that the airplane noise is almost unbearable, especially on cloudy days when the planes don’t come down over Saldanha but are taking off. One can easily measure 75-85db every single time a plane crosses above, because they fly incredibly low. And there are literally hundreds of large commercial planes flying over Saldanha every single day. You also didn’t mention the incredibly high number of construction projects both small and large which add to the constant blanket of noise in this part of town, much more so than in other parts of Lisbon. It seems important to point out all aspects of a neighborhood and not just what you may like about it. Otherwise, it’s just another deceptive video about Lisbon that’s not in line with reality.
She is doing her best to sell Avenidas Novas, that means not pointing out the negatives. As for the airplane noise, wait 10 years when the new airport comes on line and the air traffic to Humberto Delagado will be greatly reduced.
Hi @Travelingstufff123! The US has its own requirements that might be more difficult than Italy's check out the information from USDA here: www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import
Hi! I currently operate as an independent online coach with an LLC registered in the United States. My clients primarily consist of Colombians or Latinos residing in the United States, and all services are conducted online through a platform or application. No contracts with companies, but independent coaching services for my clients. My monthly income ranges between $4000 and $5000. Do I meet the remote job requirements with this model?
Hi @lauraortiz6634 thank you for your comment! Based on what you've described, we think you could qualify for the D8. We would need a bit more information, but you could include something like articles of incorporation for your business, plus letters from a few clients confirming that you provide monthly services for X amount. Please feel free to sign up for a free 15-minute consultation here, and we can go through your case in more detail: startabroad.com/schedule-consultation/
