Expat Focus

Susana Yang, founder and CEO of The Golden Portugal, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about moving to and retiring in Portugal. Originally from Hong Kong, Susana moved to Portugal in 2018 and founded her immigration agency after a frustrating experience with local legal services. She breaks down the three main visa routes — the D7 passive income visa for retirees, the D8 digital nomad visa and the D2 entrepreneurial visa — and explains the income and savings requirements, realistic cost of living, rental market challenges, healthcare access, and why buying property might be a simpler route for some.
Susana also dives into Portugal's Golden Visa programme, the step-by-step visa application timeline, and a looming citizenship law change that could double the residency requirement from five to 10 years. Her advice for anyone already in Portugal: apply for citizenship now, even if you haven't hit the five-year mark, because processing times mean the current rules may still apply to your case. If you're considering Portugal for retirement, remote work or simply a better quality of life, this episode is packed with practical guidance on what to expect.
#ExpatLife #MoveToPortugal #PortugalExpats #RetireInPortugal #D7Visa #GoldenVisa
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00:00 Portugal Retirement Boom
00:45 Founding The Golden Portugal
02:37 Service Culture Shock
03:38 Why Move to Portugal
04:23 Who Uses Which Visas
04:59 D7 D8 D2 Explained
06:17 D7 Income Requirements
07:39 Realistic Living Costs
09:44 Rent Pressures and Co-Living
11:12 Healthcare for Residents
12:43 Visa Steps and Timelines
15:03 DIY vs Using an Agency
17:13 D7 Permit Timeline
18:27 Citizenship Rule Changes
20:23 Apply Now Strategy
21:58 Renting Reality Check
23:26 Finding Rentals and Fees
25:44 Buying Property Instead
26:57 D7 Stay Requirements
29:37 Golden Visa Explained
31:53 Why Portugal and Wrap Up
🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/portugal/podcast/moving-to-portugal-visas-costs-and-a-citizenship-deadline-you-need-to-know
📝 Show Notes
The Golden Portugal – https://www.thegoldenportugal.com/
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Tom Zachystal, Founder of International Asset Management, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about how US citizens can manage their money when moving abroad. With 25 years of experience advising American expats, Tom breaks down the difference between physically moving money into non-US accounts and simply diversifying out of the US dollar. He covers the challenges of opening overseas investment accounts due to FATCA reporting, why US-based accounts often offer better protections and lower fees, and how currency fluctuations can act like hidden inflation on your retirement spending.
The conversation also digs into real estate tax implications, gold and precious metals, ADRs and international ETFs, private equity and interval funds, and the 4% retirement withdrawal rule. Tom shares practical advice on using local banking products to manage currency risk and warns about the pitfalls of collectibles taxation. If you're a US citizen planning a move abroad and wondering what to do with your investments, this episode will help you understand your options — and why sometimes the smartest move is no move at all.
#ExpatLife #USExpats #ExpatFinance #MoneyAbroad #InvestingAbroad
👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com
00:00 Moving Money Abroad
01:40 Currency Risk Explained
03:10 What Getting Money Out Means
04:54 Keep Investments in US
07:11 FBAR and FATCA Basics
08:42 Real Estate and Taxes
11:43 Diversifying Beyond Dollars
14:25 Gold Crypto Collectibles
18:44 Local Bank Products
20:11 Retirement Withdrawal Rules
21:20 Private Equity Warnings
24:48 Why US Accounts Can Win
27:02 Where to Find Tom
27:37 Podcast Wrap Up
🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/international/podcast/us-expats-how-to-get-your-money-out-of-the-usa-and-why-you-may-not-want-to
📝 Show Notes
IAM Advisors – https://services.expatfocus.com/us-citizens-financial-advice
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American military nurse Lisa Denmark joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about retiring in Chiang Mai, Thailand — and why she has never looked back. After eight years working for the US military in Germany, Lisa faced a visa deadline that forced a decision: return to the States, or start over somewhere new. She chose Thailand, moved sight unseen, and hasn't left since. Lisa shares how she landed on Chiang Mai, what it was really like to arrive during COVID lockdown, and why the city's calm, small-town feel won her over completely.
Lisa breaks down the real cost of living — from a three-bedroom house in a gated community for 310 euros a month to a full Thai meal delivered for under a euro — and walks through the visa journey from visa-exempt to education visa to retirement visa. She also gets into the wilder side of expat life: finding rentals through word-of-mouth (and one very memorable connection), the challenges of bringing a 40kg service dog to a country that doesn't recognise service animals, several scooter wrecks, and major surgery covered entirely by her Thai health insurance. If you're considering retiring abroad on a fixed income, this episode is packed with practical insight, honest numbers, and a lot of heart.
#ExpatLife #RetireAbroad #LivingInThailand #ChiangMai #ThailandExpats #ExpatFocus
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00:00 Introducing Lisa Denmark
05:29 Arriving in Chiang Mai During Lockdown
06:40 COVID Logistics and Quarantine
07:53 Chiang Mai Cost of Living Breakdown
11:44 Retirement Visa
16:26 Finding Rentals by Word of Mouth
19:04 Bringing a Service Dog to Thailand
21:56 Chiang Mai Expat Scene Today
23:00 Healthcare Insurance and Pharmacies
26:20 Travel Insurance Reality
28:45 Medical Culture Differences
32:41 Scooter Wreck Stories
34:57 Living Without Thai
37:20 Retirement Daily Routine
41:27 Finding Community in Chiang Mai
46:01 Future Plans
🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/thailand/podcast/could-you-retire-in-thailand-for-less-than-400-a-month
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Travis Drews, founder of the Global Citizen Hub, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to discuss an often-overlooked route to moving abroad: student visas. Originally from the US and now based in Berlin, he shares how his own international journey — and a surprising message from family — led him to help others find realistic migration pathways, even without a job offer, investment capital, or a partner overseas. He explains why student visas are among the most accessible relocation options, challenging misconceptions about age limits, work restrictions, and cost.
Travis highlights the wide range of scholarships across Europe, including programs with free or low-cost tuition, and outlines where students can work part-time while studying. He also clarifies which student visas count toward permanent residency and which serve as stepping stones, stressing the need to plan long term from the outset. For those considering a career change or seeking a foothold in Europe, the episode offers practical guidance on selecting programs, meeting language requirements, and using education as a pathway to a new life abroad.
#expatlifestyle #StudentVisa #MoveToEurope #StudyAbroad #EuropeExpats #ExpatFocus
👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com
00:00 Meet Travis Drews: An American in Berlin
03:01 Introducing Global Citizen Hub
05:31 Student Visas: A Pathway to Moving Abroad
09:49 Challenges and Realities of Student Visas
15:36 Scholarships and Affordable Education in Europe
24:05 Finding the Right Study Program
28:01 Conclusion and Contact Information
🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast/how-to-move-to-europe-on-a-student-visa-no-job-required
📝 Show Notes
Global Citizen Hub – https://www.theglobalcitizenhub.com
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Australian expat consultant Simone Collins joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about turning a Bali "gap year" into a life-changing two-year relocation — and helping others do the same. Founder of Our Year in Bali, Simone shares how a family experiment became a full-scale move, what daily life in Bali really looks like, and why so many people dream of making the island home.
She explains who Bali is best suited for — from families with young children to digital nomads and retirees — and breaks down practical considerations like schooling, visas, healthcare, housing, and cost of living. Simone also discusses the realities of leasehold property, transport challenges, accessibility for older expats, and how Bali's hospitality-driven culture shapes expat life on the island.
If you're considering moving to Bali — whether for a sabbatical, remote work, or retirement — this episode offers honest insights, real-world budgeting advice, and expert guidance to help you decide if Bali is the right fit.
#ExpatLife #LivingInBali #MoveToBali #BaliExpats #DigitalNomads #RetireAbroad #ExpatFocus
👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com
00:00 Simone Collins' Journey to Bali
01:15 Starting 'Our Year in Bali' Consultancy
03:12 Challenges and Decisions in Bali
05:55 Ideal Demographics for Moving to Bali
08:24 Visa Options for Long-Term Stay
12:31 Housing and Real Estate in Bali
16:20 Popular Areas for Long-Term Expats
20:52 Accessibility and Transport Considerations
22:36 Health Insurance Essentials for Expats
26:05 Navigating Language Barriers
27:17 Education Options for Expats' Children
30:56 Community and Cultural Integration
33:57 Cost of Living and Budgeting in Bali
37:58 How to Plan Your Move to Bali
40:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/indonesia/podcast/could-you-live-in-bali-heres-what-its-really-like
📝 Show Notes
Our Year in Bali – https://ouryearinbali.com/
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