If you’re a digital nomad or simply a slow traveler who loves taking in the scenery and truly immersing yourself in a different culture without jumping from one spot to the next, having barely scraped the surface, it’s understandable you may be vexed at these strict visa policies.
A majority of countries worldwide typically allow tourists to stay between 30 and 90 days only, which can pose problems for long-term travelers.
For them, it’s an eternal race against the clock to tick off all items on an extensive bucket list before being forced to pack up and leave.
If you can relate, you’ll be thrilled to know that Americans can live in these 5 incredible countries for as many as 6 months without asking for a visa in advance:
Costa Rica
The number one destination in Central America, Costa Rica appeals to adventurers and nature lovers, having over half of the national territory covered by dense forestation and an unlimited supply of protected reserves, gorgeous beaches, and volcanic hot springs.
It is definitely somewhere you’ll want to take your time in exploring, especially as you head into the jungle, where the scenic footpaths of Monteverde Cloud Forest, the majestic Fortuna Waterfall, and the hanging bridges of Místico Arenal are begging to be braved.
Not only is Costa Rica safe, relatively affordable, and tourist-friendly to visit, but it also allows certain foreign nationals, including Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans, to remain for 180 days in total, contrary to far stricter Latin countries where a visa-free stay is capped at 90 days.
Colombia
Still in Latin America, Colombia is yet another example of a fascinating country providing long-term stay exemptions for blue passport holders.
If you’re an American citizen, you may reside in Colombia for six months at a time, with a slight caveat.
Landing in the country, U.S. citizens will typically be given a 90-day entry stamp, in accordance with the international median, but very few tourists know they can extend that period for an additional 90 days from inside Colombia, prior to the initial three months running out.
Dive deep into the local scene, and enjoy all that Medellin has to offer, and don’t be in a hurry to leave sunny Cartagena, either: the process is quite straightforward, requiring a simple online application and payment of a small fee and approval expected for all Americans who comply with the law.
Mexico
Home to ancient Mayan ruins, colonial towns, and, of course, miles and miles of sandy coast lapped by bright-blue oceans, Mexico has been a refuge for those keen on escaping the surging cost of living in the U.S. and Europe and their cold, bleak winter.
As early as August 2022, authorities confirmed border management would be standardized, and all tourists will be granted an automatic 180-day leave to stay.
Previously, it was up to border agents to decide how long newcomers would be allowed to remain in the country.
The measure has been warmly received by Mexico’s growing community of remote workers, as they have continued to flock to the Mexican Caribbean, with beach towns like Playa Del Carmen and Tulum becoming two of the top digital nomad hotspots in North America.
Albania
Moving over across the pond, the trendy Albania issues one-year entry permits for Americans only, on the spot.
You read that right: you can stay a whole continuous 365 days in this beautiful, off-path Southeastern European country on the basis of being an American.
Albania straddles the turquoise Adriatic Sea, and its coastline is interspersed with charming villages, remnants of the Greco-Roman period, and beaches with soft, white sands. The best thing about it is that it is probably the most affordable destination in the Old Continent.
Between the open-air museum of modernist architecture that is Tirana, the compact, lively capital, the laid-back coastal town of Ksamil, and the UNESCO World Heritage town of Berat, famous for its hilly Ottoman citadel, it costs on average $1,916 to live in Albania for a month.
Planning a year-long journey through Albania? Travel credit cards with generous reward programs can help you experience more during extended stays.
United Kingdom
Seeing that the United Kingdom has developed a reputation for playing tough on immigration in recent years, what with Brexit and its harsher asylum laws, perhaps you wouldn’t expect that Britain has, in fact, one of the most generous visa policies in Europe.
If you’re an American or European citizen, you can stay for 180 continuous days upon each entry. This enables long-term travelers and digital nomads to call the U.K. home for six months at a time, provided they leave the territory ahead of the 180th day.
That is only fair, seeing that it encompasses not only England but three additional nations, and 90 days simply wouldn’t be enough time to do it justice.
Vibrant, incredibly multicultural London requires a minimum of one month to discover thoroughly, let alone other parts of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The good news is, the British Government has clarified rules for long-term stays, stating digital nomads are allowed to work from the U.K. as long as it is not the primary purpose of their visit.
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