180 Lessons From 5 Years as a Full-Time Expat
What I wish I knew before I left (and what I'm glad I learned after)
Five years ago, I landed in Cyprus with $11,000 and no job.
No clients. No network. No backup plan.
Just a one-way ticket and the decision to make it work.
Since then, I’ve obtained 5 residencies and created several business around the globe.
Made a lot of money.
Made a lot of mistakes.
Now I live happily in Asia.
Still to this day one of the best decisions I made in my life.
But it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows.
There were plenty of (sometimes painful) lessons along the way.
Today I want to share them with you, so that you don’t make the same ones.
180 lessons.
Some will save you money.
Some will save you time.
Some will save you stress.
A few might change how you think about your entire move.
Table of Contents
Category: Mindset
Not everyone will support your move. Some people want you to fail because your decision makes them question their own life.
You don’t need permission to redesign your life. The people who wait for approval never leave.
The pressure to succeed abroad comes from you, not from people back home. Most of them aren’t thinking about you at all.
Fear doesn’t disappear. You just get better at acting while it’s there.
Your first country doesn’t have to be your forever country. Treat it as a chapter, not a life sentence.
The honeymoon phase always fades. That’s not a sign you made the wrong choice.
Living abroad rewires you. Beliefs you held without questioning suddenly feel optional.
You’ll surprise yourself with what you can handle. Uncertainty builds a confidence that titles and salaries never gave you.
Once you prove you can start over anywhere, you stop being afraid of change.
Social media is a trailer, not the movie. Always ask what someone is selling before you believe their highlight reel.
Every level of growth demands a new version of you. The mindset that got you here won’t get you there.
You can’t fake conviction. If you don’t believe in your move, no amount of strategy will save it.
Give yourself a timeline. Six months, one year. Commit fully for that window, then decide.
Not every place will feel like home. Some places fit your energy. Some won’t. That’s data, not failure.
Moving on is not failure. Staying somewhere that doesn’t fit just to prove a point is.
The best decision you can make is one you stop second-guessing. Commit and move forward.
You will outgrow places the same way you outgrow people. That’s allowed.
You will make mistakes. Budget for them in time and money. Then move on.
The best time to move abroad was five years ago. The second best time is now.
Your life doesn’t need to make sense to anyone but you.
Category: Country Selection
There is no perfect country. Only trade-offs you can live with.
Pick a country for how it fits your life. Not for how it looks on Instagram.
Every country has a personality. Some are fast and loud. Others are slow and quiet. Match yours.
Climate matters more than you think. Grey winters are harder when you’re far from home.
Cost of living is not just rent. Factor in healthcare, transport, food, and the random fees nobody mentions.
A cheap country with bad infrastructure will cost you in other ways. Time, stress, and frustration.
Language barriers are real. Don’t assume everyone speaks English.
Learn 20-30 words before you arrive. “Hello,” “thank you,” and “how much” go a long way.
Research cultural norms before you arrive. What’s friendly in your country might be rude somewhere else.
Time zones matter if you work remotely. A 12-hour gap will drain you, if you’re not ready to work nights.
Visit before you commit. A four-week trip will tell you more than six months of research.
Don’t confuse vacation energy with living energy. The place you love for 7 days might drain you after a month.
Talk to people who’ve lived there at least a year. Tourists and new arrivals only know the honeymoon phase.
The expat bubble is comfortable but limiting. It keeps you from language, local deals, and real integration.
Safety is more than crime stats. It’s also healthcare access, political stability, and natural disaster risk.
Some countries are better for families. Others are better for solo operators. Know which you need.
Proximity to home matters when emergencies happen. A 20-hour flight hits different when someone you love is in the hospital.
The best country for you at 35 might not be the best at 55. Build flexibility into your plan.
Can I see myself here in two years? Not just two weeks? Make this question your default.
When in doubt, choose reversibility. Pick the option that’s easiest to undo if it doesn’t work.
Category: Visas & Residency
The best visa is the one you actually qualify for. Not the “fancy” one everyone talks about.
Citizenship and residency are not the same thing. You can exit the system and keep your passport.
“Europe” is not one place. 44 countries, 44 sets of rules. Pick the country first, then learn its requirements.
The visa is the entry ticket, not the full experience. Banking, healthcare, and daily life depend on things a visa doesn’t guarantee.
Visa requirements change faster than blog posts update. Always check official government sources.
Your employer’s flexibility means nothing to immigration. Remote work permission from your boss doesn’t give you legal permission to stay.
Easy countries get harder over time. Portugal, Spain, Greece all raised barriers after demand exploded.
Golden Visas are tools, not trophies. They make sense for some people. Not for everyone.
A residence permit lets you stay. It doesn’t automatically make you a tax resident there.
Staying over 183 days usually triggers tax residency. Plan around this number.
Exiting your home country’s system is different from leaving it. One is a flight. The other is paperwork.
Keeping a lease, car, or gym membership back home can be used to argue you never really left.
Your story needs to make sense across the board. Inconsistent timelines trigger audits.
Check for mandatory military service before you or your kids get a new citizenship.
Embassy wait times are getting longer everywhere. Start your application earlier than you think.
Document everything. Save scans of forms, filings, leases, and flight tickets.
Category: Preparation
Start with documents that take longest. Apostilles, background checks, and certified translations can take months.
Passport, birth certificate, and driver’s license are the most important. Everything else comes later.
Get extra certified copies of everything. You’ll need more than you think.
Details must match across all documents. One typo can delay your entire application.
Store smart. Keep originals in one place, scans in the cloud, and backups on a USB.
Patience is the skill nobody tells you to pack. Everything takes longer than expected.
Your home country doesn’t stop existing when you leave. Bills, taxes, and deadlines keep coming.
Cancel what you don’t need. Pause what you might. Keep what’s hard to get back.
Forward your mail or set up a digital mailbox. Important letters don’t stop because you moved.
Tell your bank, broker, and insurance before you leave. Not after they freeze your account.
Screenshot everything. Confirmations, account numbers, policy details. You won’t have easy phone access later.
Download offline versions of important apps and maps. Internet isn’t guaranteed on arrival.
Bring more cash than you think you need for the first week. Cards fail. ATMs have limits. Banks close.
Pack for your first month, not your whole life. You can buy most things anywhere.
Ship less than you think. Storage fees and shipping costs add up fast.
Sell, donate, or trash anything you haven’t used in a year. Moving is expensive. Clutter is heavier abroad.
Book flexible flights and accommodation for your first two weeks. Plans change on arrival.
Research the neighborhood before you sign a lease. Cheap rent in the wrong area isn’t a deal.
Line up your first three tasks before you land. SIM card, local currency, and a place to sleep.
Make a 90-day checklist. Break the move into phases: before departure, first week, first month, first quarter.
Tell fewer people your exact plans. Unsolicited advice multiplies with every announcement.
Prepare to feel unprepared. No amount of planning covers everything. That’s normal.
Category: Money & Banking
Have at least six months of living expenses saved before you leave. Urgency leads to expensive decisions.
Your home bank can cut you off with little warning. Ask if you can keep your account as a non-resident. Get it in writing.
Set up Wise or Revolut before you leave. Not when you need it.
Traditional banks hide fees in the exchange rate. The rate they show you is not the rate you get.
Move money when rates are good. Not when you need it.
Three accounts for living abroad. Home base for income, fintech for conversions, local account for daily life.
Research local banking requirements before you arrive. Every country wants different documents.
One bank rejection doesn’t mean every bank will say no. Ask expats which banks are foreigner-friendly.
Don’t mix business and personal funds. To the bank it looks suspicious.
Incomplete documents can freeze your account without warning. Banks don’t ask before they act.
Tell your bank when you travel. Logging in from a new country can trigger fraud alerts.
Always have a backup way to access money within 24 hours.
Geography is the most underused financial lever. Living somewhere cheaper stretches your money without earning more.
Furnish your first year like you might leave. The couch you paid full price for will sell for pennies.
A residence permit doesn’t mean tax residency. One lets you stay. The other makes you pay.
Don’t guess on taxes. Spending money on understanding your strategy is money well spent.
Some countries tax worldwide income. Others only local. Know which system you’re entering.
Double taxation agreements exist to protect you. Learn if your countries have one.
Track your days. A simple log of where you were and when can save you thousands in tax disputes.
Get a Tax Residency Certificate from your new country. It’s the best proof you’ve changed tax homes.
Category: Healthcare
Don’t pick a healthcare system. Pick a healthcare strategy.
Three strategies expats use. Public-Primary, Private-Primary, or Dual-Track. None is “the best.”
Public healthcare has waiting periods. Most countries require 3-6 months of legal residency before you’re eligible.
In low-cost countries, pay cash for small things. Dental cleanings, blood work, basic checkups. Save insurance for emergencies.
Private insurers see age as risk. Premiums spike after 50 and often double by 65.
Some insurers won’t write new policies after 65. Lock in coverage while your options are still wide.
Basic international health insurance is not the same as basic insurance at home. Read every line before you sign.
Screenshot your prescriptions before you go. Learn the local word for “pharmacy.”
Download your medical records before leaving. You may need them faster than you can request them.
Join expat groups for doctor recommendations. Someone’s already found the English-speaking cardiologist.
Search “international health insurance” not “travel insurance.” They’re not the same thing.
Know what your policy excludes. Pre-existing conditions, mental health, dental, and vision often aren’t covered.
Check if your insurer has direct billing or reimbursement. Paying upfront and waiting months hurts.
Public systems operate in local language. Don’t count on English-speaking doctors in every hospital.
Healthcare quality varies by region, not just by country. The best hospital might be two cities over.
If you’re over 50, healthcare planning = retirement planning. Start earlier than you think.
The eligibility gap is the biggest trap. Plan your coverage for months 1-6 before you qualify for anything local.
Category: Work & Career
A new country won’t fix a broken career. If you didn’t like your work at home, you won’t like it abroad.
Your first client abroad will probably come from your old network. Don’t burn bridges before you leave.
Remote work sounds like freedom until you’re on calls at 2am. Time zones are a lifestyle choice.
Freelancing abroad means you’re also the accountant, lawyer, and admin. Budget time for the boring stuff.
The task you’re avoiding is usually the one that moves the needle most.
Don’t confuse movement with progress. Exploring a new city feels productive. It’s not.
Your income needs to work in your new currency. A strong dollar stretches further in Thailand than in Switzerland.
Test one income idea at a time. Jumping between projects keeps you stuck at zero.
Get 10 real users or clients before you pivot. Ideas in your head don’t count as validation.
Separate your work identity from your location identity. “Digital nomad” is not a job title.
Build skills that travel. Coding, writing, design, sales. Not jobs that require a specific office.
Your LinkedIn still matters abroad. Clients and opportunities search there first.
Raise your rates when you raise your skills. Living cheap is not an excuse to charge cheap.
Invoice in stable currencies when you can. Getting paid in a currency that drops 20% is a pay cut.
Keep your professional network warm. One email every few months keeps doors open.
Meeting new people abroad is a skill. Set a weekly target: one coffee, one event, one introduction.
Don’t wait for opportunities to find you. Reach out first. Every week.
Working from cafes gets old. Budget for co-working if you need structure.
Your work ethic travels with you. A beach view won’t make you more disciplined.
Say no to projects that don’t fit. Scarcity mindset leads to bad clients and burnout.
Build something that compounds. Content, reputation, relationships. Not just billable hours.
The goal isn’t to work from anywhere. It’s to build a life you don’t need a vacation from.
Category: Community & Relationships
Loneliness abroad is real. New scenery doesn’t replace old friendships.
Ask for help. Expats love helping other expats. One question can save you weeks.
The loneliest moment abroad is being surrounded by people you don’t connect with.
Proximity doesn’t equal compatibility. Not everyone living abroad is your kind of person.
Invest in relationships that expand you. Not ones that just kill time.
The friends who visit you abroad are the ones worth keeping.
Locals know things expats don’t. The best apartments, the honest mechanics, the restaurants without tourist prices.
Learning the language opens doors. Even 50 words changes how people treat you.
Friendships abroad develop faster. You’ll meet people who feel like old friends after two weeks.
Friendships abroad fade faster too. People leave. That’s the deal.
Stop expecting permanence. Learn to appreciate connections for what they are, not what you want them to be.
Some relationships back home will fade. Not because anyone did anything wrong. Distance just does that.
The people who matter will stay in touch. The ones who don’t weren’t as close as you thought.
Schedule calls with people you care about. “Let’s catch up soon” means never.
Your family might not understand your choices. That’s okay. You’re not living their life.
Dating abroad has different rules. Cultural norms, expectations, and timelines vary everywhere.
Be honest about what you’re looking for. Transient lifestyles attract transient relationships.
If you want roots, act like it. Join things. Show up regularly. Let people know you’re staying.
Find one community that meets weekly. Gym, language class, coworking, volunteer group. Consistency builds connection.
Help people before you need something. The best networks are built on generosity, not transactions.
Not every friendship needs to last forever. Some people are meant for a season.
The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life abroad. Prioritize them.
Category: Long-Term Life Abroad
The first year is survival. The second year is when you actually know if a place fits.
The 2-year itch is real. Around month 18, everything that once felt exciting starts to feel ordinary.
Boredom abroad is not a sign you picked the wrong place. It’s a sign the honeymoon is over.
Don’t run from a place just because it got hard. Some problems follow you everywhere.
If you’re unhappy in three countries in a row, the country isn’t the problem.
The urge to move again will come. Sit with it before you act on it.
Know the difference between “this place isn’t for me” and “I haven’t given it enough time.”
Some people are built to keep moving. Others need roots. Neither is wrong.
Integration takes years, not months. Language, friendships, local rhythms. It doesn’t happen fast.
You can live somewhere for a decade and still feel like an outsider. That’s okay if you’ve made peace with it.
The longer you stay abroad, the less you fit back home. You change. They don’t.
Reverse culture shock is real. Going back feels stranger than leaving did.
Home becomes a complicated word. You’ll have more than one answer to “where are you from?”
Your identity will shift. The person who left is not the person who stays. That’s a good thing.
At some point, you stop comparing everything to back home. That’s when you’ve actually arrived.
Build something that survives a move. Savings, skills, relationships, reputation. Not just experiences.
Plan for healthcare as you age. The cheap insurance that worked at 30 won’t work at 60.
Think about where you want to be in 10 years. Not just next year.
The goal isn’t to find the perfect country. It’s to build a life that works for who you’re becoming.
Five years abroad will teach you more about yourself than 50 years in one place ever could.
Your biggest advantage is that you’re willing to do what most people only talk about.
That’s all 180.
Which lessons stood out most?
Drop the numbers of your favorites in the comments.
I’d love to know which ones resonanted most.
Merry Christmas to all you of you.
— Ben
This is good
This is good stuff. As an 11-year expat in Vietnam (12 time zones from the USA east coast), I have a corollary to #30 under Country… "Time zones matter if you work remotely. A 12-hour gap will drain you, if you’re not ready to work nights.”
Before retirement, I was an Instructional Designer. The 12-hour time difference was great because clients would send me something at the end of their business day; I would work on it while they were sleeping (my day time); and when they arrived at work their next morning, they would have what they’d requested. Clients loved the fast turnaround and US-based Designers couldn’t compete.