If you’ve spent any time in the expat/immigrant world on Reddit, Substack, or Facebook, you might have seen this article floating around lately. I think it makes some fair points, and — in no surprise to anyone — there are some straight-up, “No shit, Sherlock,” moments. This article originated from Globexs, a relocation firm that helps Americans move to Spain.
Emotions run high when you’re considering a move abroad. There’s a lot to consider, and sometimes, people make the leap too fast.
Globexs says that 73% of the people they help move to Spain end up leaving within 24 months. Personally, I think that number is inflated. It makes for a dramatic headline but not for an accurate picture.
Let’s run through the “whys” quickly, using the statistics Globexs provided.
89% leave due to bureaucratic exhaustion
81% fold under financial strain
76% experience healthcare complications
67% encounter social isolation
52% stagnate professionally
Looking at these numbers alone, statistically speaking, you’re unlikely to “make it” in a new life abroad. From personal experience, I can tell you that, had I seen these numbers at the beginning of my crazy scheme, I probably would have backed off, assuming I would be one of the unlucky ones who wouldn’t last.
But let’s go beyond the statistics. What differentiates those who “make it” from those who decide this life isn’t for them? And is it failure to admit that living abroad might not be for you?
Bureaucracy
Reading my Substack, you’ll know that I’ve had some trials with bureaucracy in Spain. An entire section of it is dedicated to navigating Spanish bureaucracy. I’ve done everything from TIE appointments to digital certificates to visa renewals, and while the processes can be endlessly frustrating, they are not impossible. What they do require is patience and a willingness to accept that the process may not make sense to you, but it makes perfect sense for Spain.
Spain is not the United States. It doesn’t want or need to be. And sometimes, the mood of the hangry clerk behind the desk you’re standing in front of can make or break whether you complete the process that day.
Want to know a secret?
Using the Spanish you know can break the ice in a big way. This is an area where I think a lot of immigrants screw up — walking into the FNMT office, for example, for a digital certificate and never even trying to speak or understand Spanish.
Finances
Money is an incredibly complex topic when you live abroad, especially as an American. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that taxes its citizens living abroad. Yes, there is a tax treaty with Spain in place, but it does not remove your requirement to file taxes with the U.S. until you a) return to the U.S. or b) die.
But here’s the thing: With planning, money doesn’t have to be the reason you leave Spain. Enlisting professionals may be a must-do item here. We have a financial advisor who helps us with our retirement funds, and since we are Spanish tax residents in 2025, we’ll also be enlisting tax advisors. Professional help isn’t cheap, but it is part of the financial puzzle you have to consider when deciding whether or not you can afford to move abroad.
Build a budget before you move. It should include all of your basic living expenses, including housing, utilities, food, transportation, school expenses, etc. Don’t leave anything out. It is your best opportunity to gain a real-world understanding of what it will cost to live in another country.
Healthcare
Spanish healthcare is, in my experience so far, excellent. Our family holds a private policy, so I can’t comment on the public system, but from using care in the private system, I’ve been able to get everything I need in a timely fashion. Private policies are very affordable by American standards, and our family of four pays around $3,000/year for an Occident policy with no co-pays or deductibles. Any care I’ve needed to pay for out of pocket has been, generally, very affordable. (To be fair, we’re all relatively healthy with no major health issues.)
Social Isolation
This one is, I think, a fair point. Making friends as an adult can be daunting in your native language, much less trying to make friends in a different language. It takes time. Think about the best friend you have right now. How long did it take to build trust in that relationship? A year? I bet it was longer.
We have friends in Spain, but they’re relationships we previously had in the U.S. or have built with other immigrants since moving to Spain. What we don’t have are friendships with Spanish natives, and that’s okay. It will come with time, as our language skills improve, we become more and more a part of the community, and they see that we aren’t temporary.
The expat/immigrant community can be very transient, and making friends with that set often means having to say goodbye just a couple of years later. There is no easy answer to this one other than continuously making an effort to build relationships with your neighbors, the barista you see every morning at the café, a cashier at Mercadona who always waves hello, or asking another parent at the bus stop for coffee.
Professional Stagnation
Moving to Spain (or any other country) and maintaining a professional career can be challenging, and it’s also entirely dependent on the visa you bring with you. A digital nomad visa versus a non-lucrative visa are two entirely different scenarios, and you have to consider both of them before leaping. A non-lucrative would imply you’ve moved to shift your lifestyle, whereas the digital nomad suggests you’re going to continue your career as is, albeit remotely.
Choosing a visa path requires evaluating what you expect out of this move and your goals. If you intend to maintain your career trajectory, then select accordingly.
Will and I spent a solid 18 months exploring, researching, and planning our move before we executed the plan. I don’t necessarily believe you have to take that long, but I do think that it helped set us up for more success than failure because it helped us define what we hoped to achieve. And I don’t believe the Globexs numbers mean 3/4 of people who move abroad will fail. Numbers are never the whole story.
Bureaucracy, finances, healthcare, relationships, and careers are all part of the trade-off you make when building a new life in a foreign country. The biggest mistake I think anyone could make is moving abroad and expecting that country to operate like the U.S. does. It’s going to lead to nothing but frustration and disillusionment. I believe success lies in recognizing that they aren’t the same and treating them as the individual cultures they are.
Not everyone who moves will stay. Not everyone who moves intends to stay. And I don’t think that means you’ve failed if you’re one of the ones who return to your home country. If anything, it’s a huge success because you tried. How many people go through life wondering about something but never taking action?
For those who do stay, I’d say it’s down to mindset, preparation, determination, and a willingness to bend rather than break. In the end, it really is poco a poco — one appointment, one friendship, one step at a time.
I thought I would say something along the lines of what Graham said here. So, now I will simply emphasise his point: What a sorry company that they cannot even prepare their clients for this move in a way that is honest and sets them up for success! Migration is hard, even when you have the privilege of doing it the easy way and not the forced march way of exiles and refugees.
Good article by you, however. I hope people find it, read it, and benefit from the excellently articulated points.
Flexibility, adaptability. I’m reminded of the story of a woman in Portugal who was asking online how to convince her Portuguese neighbors to quit hanging their laundry out on their balconies. I found that astonishing… and hilarious!