Escape to Europe: Part I
How I Moved There (and you can too)
Sitting in Paris’s Place Dauphine with my ancient pug, Boots, sipping an afternoon apéro and delighting in the very French pastime of watching people play Pétanque, I have to pinch myself. I live here.
Was the move easy? Ha! No. Did I cry after arriving? More than a few times—mostly when trying to figure out to get electrical service connected. Is everything a perfect dream-come-true? Not yet, but it’s pretty darn close. I’ve traded high-stakes American living for high-quality European living, and I couldn’t be happier.
Maybe you’re considering a change of scenery, want a front-row seat to global travel, or just need a safe distance from U.S. political chaos (no judgment here). Whatever your reason, Europe is calling.
This is Part I of a three-part series on how to ditch the daydream and make the move. This week, we cover the steps of the actual move. Next week, we’ll tackle the thrilling world of VISAs (seriously, try to sound excited), and finally, the path to long-term residency.
PART I: Stop Tourist-ing, Start Planning
Let’s get real: you can’t just pack a suitcase and decide you live in Europe. The bureaucracy gods frown upon that. We live by the 90/180 Schengen Rule: 90 days in, 90 days out. If you want to stay, you need a plan, and that plan starts now.
Here’s your year-before-you-go checklist—consider this your pre-flight safety briefing.
PHASE I: The Deep Dive (12+ Months Out)
1. Pick Your European Home Turf
Not all EU countries are created equal, especially when it comes to immigration. Portugal and Greece, for example, offer tantalizing paths to citizenship in about five years. Why should you care? Two simple words: Healthcare and an EU Passport (a golden ticket for traveling the continent).
How to Choose Your Country:
Cost of Living: Paris rent can be high, not London or Zurich-level expensive but it rivals any major city in the U.S., except it’s still less than in NYC. Other costs, you ask, such as groceries and wine? Beautifully affordable. If housing costs are your biggest issue then look beyond the major cities.
Expat Community: Moving is lonely. Having a ready-made tribe of fellow Americans or English-speakers can be a major sanity-saver.
2. Speak the Language (Seriously)
If you don’t speak the language of your chosen country, start now. English is spoken, yes—mostly by younger generations and people working in tourism. You can definitely order a coffee and navigate the farmer’s market, but you won't build a real life or be truly accepted by locals if you can’t communicate in the native language.
I tried Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone. They all felt like glorified video games. I found Pimsleur to be incredibly effective (it’s the platform the FBI and State Department use, which made me feel marginally less like a tourist).
My Process: I started with a month-long intensive course at Alliance Française for the basics, and then hit Pimsleur daily. I’m still pretty bad at French, to the point where friends apologize for me, but here’s the secret: I don’t care. I try, and the locals appreciate the effort. Most will even correct me, which I genuinely love—it means they’re invested in my success.
3. Budget Like Your Life Depends on It
Housing, food, travel, and those inevitable 'oops-I-bought-too-many-trinkets' incidentals. Get a firm grasp on your monthly burn rate before you're paying for it in euros.
PHASE II: The Bureaucratic Thunderdome (3 Months Out)
1. The Housing Shell Game
You need an address for your visa, but securing a year-long lease from the U.S. is like trying to win the lottery. Solution: Focus on a short-term rental first. I snagged a month-long rental through a friend of a friend while I frantically apartment-hunted for a permanent place. AirBnB or a serviced apartment works just as well for this initial step.
2. Financial Show & Tell
Start gathering your documents now: tax returns for the past few years, current pay stubs, and any passive/investment income statements. You’ll need this to prove financial stability for your visa and to convince a local landlord that you won’t skip town with their antique doorknobs.
3. Short-Stay VISAs: The Gatekeeper
Your visa must be processed in your home country (i.e., the U.S.)—no cheating! You’ll need to physically attend an in-person interview and surrender your passport for processing. France said it would take up to two months... mine took 10 days, so the timelines are a wild card.
What you need to provide:
Schengen Insurance: Proof that you won't be a burden on their glorious healthcare system.
Proof of Funds: You must show you can support yourself without having to panhandle.
Valid Passport: Must have at least a year left on the clock.
Pro-Tip: I waited until I got to France to start working on my VISA. I ended up having to fly back to the U.S. within 90 days to process the damn thing. Don’t be me. Get it done before you go.
4. The Pet Project (Bringing Boots)
You want to bring your furry overlord? Be ready.
Size Matters: Boots, my small pug, flew in the cabin. If your dog is larger, it’s the cargo hold for them. Make sure your small dog can stand up and turn around in their carrier without crouching. I literally had to demonstrate this to a skeptical agent at SFO.
Sedatives: A 6-12 hour flight is a long time for a pet. Talk to your vet and test their reaction to a mild sedative before the trip.
Paperwork: You need certification from the Dept. of Agriculture. You can send this in much earlier than their website suggests. The two non-negotiables: a microchip and a current Rabies vaccine.
PHASE III: Hello, New Life (First 90 Days)
1. Land That Long-Term Pad
Once you’re on the ground, the real fun begins. To secure an annual lease, you'll need:
A local bank account.
All those financial documents you prepped.
Tenant Insurance (a quick, easy purchase after the lease is signed).
If your income is unconventional (like mine, which doesn't come with neat W-2s), you have two options:
GuarantMe: A third-party company that guarantees your rent payment to the landlord. They review your finances and tell you the maximum rent they’ll back. (Note: Not all landlords accept this.)
Pay in Advance: This is what I did. I paid the full 12 months of rent upfront. Not possible for everyone, but it was a quick way to skip the line.
If you are planning to rent there are three considerations:
Second home: most of the nicer apartments come with a caveat - that you have a primary residence somewhere else, that this is not your primary residence.
Furnished apartment: The cost for a container of furniture coming over by boat to France was going to be around $20,000, which is a lot. So, I took a furnished apartment, stored the accessories I didn’t like and bought my own, which I can take with me when/if I return full-time to the U.S. These leases usually go for twelve months.
Un-furnished apartment: Often these apartments are less expensive and also can come with longer lease periods i.e. 2 - 5 years.
2. Find Your People
Don’t wait for friends to find you. Join groups! Larger cities have a ton of organized American and expat clubs (check out The Association of American Clubs or FAWCO). Not only will you meet people, but they’re goldmines of local, survival-level knowledge.
3. Collect the Passes
European life is about discounts. Get your passes for local life:
Metro: My Paris metro pass cuts the price per ride significantly.
Trains: My SNCF Carte Advantage Senior pass ($49/year) gets me 30% off any train starting or ending in France. Sacre bleu!
Cultural: Museum and national monument passes are a great way to save money while you turn into a highly cultured European.
4. Back to School
Enroll in a local language course! It’s not just about finally learning how to conjugate verbs; it’s an amazing way to meet fellow adult students from around the globe.
SUMMARY
It can feel overwhelming, but making the move to Europe is 100% doable and endlessly enriching.
If you have any stories or questions please leave them in the Comments and you will get a reply!
DISCLAIMER: Immigration laws are country-specific, constantly changing, and are the favorite pastime of government bureaucrats. Always, always verify your steps on the official website of your destination country's embassy. Here’s a link to some of the most popular countries’ VISA application requirements and forms.