Skip to main content
Expat Retire
Guide

Before you go

The practical groundwork for retiring abroad happens before you book a one-way flight. Visa applications, document authentication, and administrative setup all have long lead times — and missing a step can delay a consular appointment by months.

Documents

Document Prep for Your Retirement Visa

FBI background check, birth certificate apostille, income verification — what every major retirement visa requires, how to get each document authenticated, and how to time everything against your consular appointment window.

See also: the full planning timeline for the complete pre-move sequence, and the Medicare decision — the one enrollment choice you need to get right before you leave.

NEWSLETTER

Figure out your path abroad, then plan with confidence

Practical guidance on Medicare, taxes, and country choices — for snowbirds, perpetual travelers, trial movers, and permanent expats. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.