How To Move Abroad With No Money: 2025 Guide

• Declutter: Getting rid of goods you don’t need can help line your pockets and lead to a cheaper move.
• Be frugal: Cutting down on unnecessary spending on subscriptions, nights out with friends and other expenses will make budgeting for a move far easier.
• Take on side hustles: Searching for gig work or remote work opportunities to supplement your income can reduce your stress about paying for your move, no matter how far you’re going to travel.

Work visas and residency permits

As mentioned, you’ll need gainful employment in order to successfully apply for a work visa. Some employers may even offer relocation expense reimbursement. This can help you to get set up in a new country at very little cost to you. Many of the top overseas jobs for expats will allow you to leverage your command of the English language, but we still recommend that you learn any country’s official language when you relocate.

Some of our top countries for expats offer fast-track programs if they have an in-demand skill. Australia’s “Skills In Demand” (SID) visa is one example of this, as is Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Volunteer visas and work exchange programs

Some countries offer volunteer visas for civic service or similar designations. These almost always label people who get them as “visitors,” rather than permanent residents, however.  Some countries offering longer-term volunteer visas include Germany, Vietnam and more. Two of the best countries to retire, Costa Rica and Thailand, also offer longer volunteer visas.

Organizations do exist that offer housing and food in exchange for labor abroad. Worldpackers, Workaway, Helpstay and more offer experiences ranging from staying in hostels to boarding with host families.

Digital nomad visas

If you’re currently working or able to work a remote job, you may be eligible to apply for a visa to work in a foreign country. Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany are among the EU nations offering such a status.

Requirements for this vary in every country, but you’ll usually have to submit a valid passport, proof of income, employment information, and health insurance coverage information when you apply. Some countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and The Bahamas, offer tax-free digital nomad status. Most countries will require you to pay some tax, however.

Be sure to research a country’s tax laws before pursuing this.

Teaching English as a second language

This occupation is one of the best jobs for American expats due to its high demand. Generally, this is a popular occupation in Asia and Latin America. Japan, Spain, Costa Rica and South Korea are among the countries where this is most in-demand.

Costa Rica and Spain do not require that ESL teachers have degrees. However, they do mandate that any who hold this position hold a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate or equivalent certificate.

Relocation programs

If you don’t have much in the bank, outside financing might be available from your destination country. You may be hard-pressed to find countries that directly pay you money to move there with no other factors considered, some municipalities in these countries may provide indirect incentives to people who relocate.

These include:

• Ireland: Enterprise Ireland offers small business owners who move to Ireland up to thousands of Euros in funding. This comes in the form of direct seed money and tax credits.
• Switzerland: While Switzerland as a whole doesn’t have a direct incentive, the town of Albinen does. Each person under 45 who moves here receives $25,000. Each child they bring results in an extra $10,000.
• Italy: The small town of Candela is currently offering a $2,175 incentive to families to move there. However, those looking to capitalize on this must invest in a home within the town limits that was built before 1991.
• Korea, Thailand and Vietnam: These countries do not offer direct incentives to prospective new residents. However, it is far easier for US citizens to get ESL jobs here.

Some flexible work options include:

• Driving for a ride sharing app like Uber or Lyft
• Delivering groceries
• Providing Amazon “last-mile” delivery services
• Becoming a virtual assistant or “VA”
• Completing online surveys
• Pet-sitting or walking services
• Babysitting
• House-sitting
• Participating in paid studies

• Entertainment subscriptions: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+, Apple TV and more are nice luxuries, but are hardly necessary. Consider eliminating some or all of these, or at least adjusting from premium to basic subscriptions
• Recreational spending: Being more mindful about dining out at restaurants and spending money on excursions with friends can save you hundreds each month. Numbeo data shows that a three-course meal for two costs $75, which can impact your savings.
• Grocery expenses: Going to cheaper grocery stores like Walmart or Aldi and buying store brand goods can save you money. For example, Barilla pasta is currently between $1.80 and $2 per 16-ounce box, while Great Value (Walmart brand) is about $1 per similar-sized box. Additionally, avoiding convenience store snack runs will also positively impact food costs each month.
• Conserve on utilities costs: This may prove more difficult, but there are ways to reduce these costs each month. Unplugging appliances when not in use, slightly reducing the temperature on your thermostat during the winter, and shopping around for cost-effective internet plans are all viable options here.

Try to do the following to save more:

• Book lower-cost flights with no checked bags
• Find a low-cost housing option after you relocate
• Live in a city with good public transportation

Our rating methodology

At moveBuddha, we understand that all international moving companies aren’t created equal. We undertake a rigorous review process to rate and review companies to ensure we provide accurate recommendations.

Here’s a breakdown of the methodology we use to rate international movers:

• Customer satisfaction: In addition to looking at reviews with the BBB, Google, and other third-party sites, we rely heavily on interviews with Better Moves Project participants to understand the pros and cons of each company.
• Standard services: We look at what services are included as part of a moving company’s standard offerings, and which ones you can only get for an additional fee.
• Reputation: We evaluate a company’s industry ratings, including aspects like carrying sufficient insurance coverage and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Add-on services: We look at any add-on services that can simplify a move, such as packing and custom-built crates, as well as services that aren’t offered by all moving companies.
• Availability: The U.S. states and a company serves is another important consideration, as is a company’s global reach. Widespread availability is most useful.
• Payment: Ease of making a payment (including submitting a deposit) with multiple options (credit card, check, cash, etc.) can also make moving easier.
• Scheduling: How easy is it to book a move? What kind of lead time is needed? Readily available booking services and streamlined scheduling will help get your move underway.