Moving Abroad From the US: How Property Can Open the Door

Moving abroad from the US is easier than most Americans expect, and in a few countries buying a home can help you stay. A completed freehold condo in Thailand worth at least THB 3 million, about USD 89,000, supports a renewable stay for as long as you own it. Cyprus offers lifetime permanent residency for a EUR 300,000 new build. Cambodia offers a retirement visa from age 55, with our first properties there expected before the end of the year. Two US points matter before any of that. Most American citizens can keep receiving Social Security in most countries, but Medicare generally does not cover care abroad, so health cover has to be arranged separately. And US citizens stay taxable on worldwide income wherever they live. Here is how it all fits together, country by country.

Can Americans Keep Social Security When Moving Abroad?

Most can. Most US citizens can receive Social Security payments while living in most foreign countries, paid by direct deposit. A small number of countries are restricted, so check your destination on the Social Security Administration’s payments abroad screening tool before you commit. USA.gov explains how it works.

For many retirees moving abroad from the US, this is the point that makes the whole plan work, because it means a retirement income built in dollars can go further in a country with lower living costs.

Does Medicare Cover You Overseas?

Generally no. Medicare does not usually cover health care outside the United States, so anyone moving abroad should arrange private or international health insurance for the country they will live in.

This is the point that most often surprises American retirees, and it is worth pricing before you choose a destination rather than after. Confirm the detail with Medicare directly, since individual circumstances differ.

Do Americans Still Pay US Taxes After Moving Abroad?

Yes. US citizens and residents are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live, and moving abroad does not change that. Filing requirements for foreign bank accounts can apply as well. The IRS sets out the basics in its fact sheet on offshore income and filing information. I do not give tax advice, but a US cross border tax professional is worth engaging before you move, not after.

Buying a property abroad is not itself an IRS reporting event, though a foreign bank account holding the purchase funds or collecting rent can be. Our guide to buying property abroad as an American covers the detail.

Which Countries Let a Property Purchase Support Your Stay?

For Americans moving abroad from the US, these are the routes in the markets where we work. They differ a lot, and none is a green card equivalent, so the right one depends on how long you want to stay and what you want the property to do.

Baht and euro prices are converted at about 33.6 baht and 1.125 US dollars per euro, early October 2026. Currency moves, so treat the dollar figures as indicative.

How Does the Thai Route Work for Americans?

It is the most direct property linked route in our range. Since October 2025, a completed freehold condominium of at least three million baht registered in your name gives you a way to live in Thailand on a renewable basis for as long as you own it. It is not permanent residency or citizenship, it does not give you the right to work, and it has its own application and certification steps. Our Bangkok condo guide covers it in more detail.

The unit has to be completed, and the qualifying test is the baht price rather than the dollar figure, so I check both on any property before you commit. It is also worth knowing that the lowest priced studio we list in Phuket, at THB 2.85 million, sits just under the threshold, while the one bedroom apartments above it clear it.

Have a look at this one bedroom lakefront apartment in Bang Tao, this one bedroom condominium in Eastern Bangkok and this built and ready one bedroom in Ari, all priced above the threshold.

What About Cyprus, Cambodia and Bali?

• Cyprus. A permanent permit rather than a visa, granted for life with no renewal. It is a Cypriot national permit, not EU wide rights, and Cyprus is not in the Schengen area. EU wide rights only come with Cypriot citizenship, which is a separate and much longer path. Our Cyprus guide explains the requirements, including why a resale property does not qualify.
• Cambodia. The easiest long stay option in our range for retirees, since the retirement visa is available from age 55 and renews annually with proof of income. A second home visa tied to a qualifying investment sits alongside it. Property is priced in US dollars, and you can register your interest ahead of the first listings.
• Bali. Indonesia offers residency permits including a second home visa pathway, and holding a KITAS or KITAP is what opens the Hak Pakai title for a foreign buyer. Our Bali guide sets out the ownership structures.

I do not give immigration advice myself. We work with local lawyers and specialists in each country, so the property and the paperwork are each handled by people qualified to handle them.

Which Country Suits Which Kind of Move?

• Choose Thailand if you want a freehold home that supports a long stay, in a capital city or on the coast.
• Choose Cyprus if you want a European base with a permanent permit and your budget reaches a EUR 300,000 new build.
• Choose Cambodia if you are retiring, want pricing in US dollars and a straightforward retirement visa, and are happy to be early.
• Choose Bali if you want a villa lifestyle, are comfortable with a leasehold or company structure, and plan to hold an Indonesian residency permit.

What Should You Do Before Moving Abroad From the US?

1. Check your Social Security payments for your destination on the Social Security Administration’s payments abroad screening tool.
2. Price health insurance that works in the country you will live in, since Medicare generally will not.
3. Speak to a US cross border tax professional before you sell a home, buy abroad or move money.
4. Spend some time in the country before you commit, so the lifestyle is tested before the property is bought.
5. Check the ownership structure and, where a stay depends on the property, its price and completion status, with an independent local lawyer.
6. Talk to me first, so the shortlist matches your budget, your timeline and the kind of stay you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Americans retire abroad and keep Social Security?

Most can. Most US citizens can receive Social Security payments while living in most foreign countries, by direct deposit. A small number of countries are restricted, so check your destination on the Social Security Administration’s payments abroad screening tool before you move.

Does Medicare cover me if I live abroad?

Generally not. Medicare does not usually cover health care outside the United States, so you will need private or international health insurance in your new country. Price it before you choose a destination, and confirm the detail with Medicare for your own circumstances.

Do Americans pay US tax when they live abroad?

Yes. US citizens and residents are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live. Foreign bank accounts and some ownership structures can also bring reporting requirements, so speak to a US cross border tax professional before you move.

Can buying property abroad get an American a visa?

In some countries. A completed freehold condominium of THB 3 million or more supports a renewable stay in Thailand, and a EUR 300,000 new build can support permanent residency in Cyprus. Others, such as Cambodia, offer retirement visas that need no property at all, so check each route before you buy.

How much do I need to buy a property that supports a Thai stay?

A completed freehold condominium of at least THB 3 million registered in your name, about USD 89,000 at current rates. The qualifying test is the baht price rather than the dollar figure, and the unit must be completed, so we confirm both before you commit.

Can Americans retire in Cambodia?

Cambodia offers a retirement visa generally from age 55, with proof of pension or independent income, renewable annually and with no property purchase required. Our first Cambodian properties, in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, are expected before the end of the year, and you can register your interest now.

Talk to me first

Moving abroad from the US is a big decision, and the property is only one part of it. Tell me where you are thinking of living, what you want to spend and how long you want to stay, and I will show you what fits. Get in touch, or message me on WhatsApp on +61 404 497 335 and we will find a time that works across the time difference.

About the author. Rick Flay has more than 30 years of experience in real estate, with over 1,000 properties sold and rented across international markets. Rick Flay International Real Estate works with an international network spanning South East Asia, Dubai, Europe, the USA, the UK and New Zealand, helping clients buy, sell and relocate.

Ownership, tax, visa and healthcare rules change, and the right approach depends on your own circumstances. Nothing in this article is financial, legal, tax or immigration advice. Always take independent professional advice, including from a US cross border tax professional.

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