Americans Abroad

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,219 posts)

13. You can't just "move to Europe," unfortunately

Mon Dec 22, 2014, 04:05 PM

Dec 2014

If you're young, the best "in" is to go to school there.

If you're older, you need to have a job already lined up.

If you're a senior, few countries will let you settle there. I think Malta is one of the few countries that actually wants American retirees.

Another possibility is an ancestry visa. Each country sets its requirements, and unfortunately, I don't meet them. For Germany, you have to have a German grandparent. Well, my maternal grandmother was conceived in Germany, but that doesn't count. For Norway, you have to have a Norwegian parent; I have Norwegian paternal grandparents.

With a name like Rocco, are you Italian? I think Italy is pretty generous with ancestry visas.

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I'm thinking of moving to Europe [View all] RoccoR5955 Dec 2014 OP

I'd seriously consider it too, elleng Dec 2014 #1

I dream of it daily. I have been to Europe 15 times or so CurtEastPoint Dec 2014 #2

I understand your feelings completely..I've also been to Europe whathehell Dec 2014 #10

I have never encountered any. I speak the languages so CurtEastPoint Dec 2014 #11

Okay..Thanks for your input. n/t whathehell Dec 2014 #12

Good to hear. whathehell Feb 2015 #28

What little "Anti-Americanism" there is evaporates if you speak their language DFW Feb 2015 #18

That is so true. cbayer Feb 2015 #25

That is SO true GP6971 Feb 2015 #32

I love your thank you story. cbayer Feb 2015 #34

Thanks! GP6971 Feb 2015 #37

Very cool. Never been there. cbayer Feb 2015 #39

I'm Croatian on one side and have the right to dual citizenship, & so am learning Croatian whathehell Feb 2015 #35

I studied Russian DFW Feb 2015 #40

Right.. whathehell Feb 2015 #44

I found myself understanding quite a bit when I was in Croatia DFW Feb 2015 #47

Malta is an English speaking country WhiteTara Dec 2014 #3

World history is filled with people leaving their Lint Head Dec 2014 #4

Scroll down for online Dutch lessons ... eppur_se_muova Dec 2014 #5

Thanks for the link RoccoR5955 Dec 2014 #6

I found Swedish to be more similar to English than Dutch DFW Feb 2015 #22

I hope you are able to do it. cbayer Dec 2014 #7

Thank you for the link RoccoR5955 Dec 2014 #8

We've traveled a good deal esp. to Europe and England where I was a student. appalachiablue Dec 2014 #9

You can't just "move to Europe," unfortunately Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2014 #13

I can marry someone over there too, RoccoR5955 Dec 2014 #14

There is nothing to prevent you from marrying a European DFW Feb 2015 #21

Thanks for that RoccoR5955 Feb 2015 #23

It sounds like your Nederlands is coming along fine DFW Feb 2015 #24

You say you can get an ancestry visa with a German Grandparent?..My spouse has Four whathehell Dec 2014 #15

I live in Germany, although I don't want citizenship DFW Feb 2015 #20

Thank you for all your good information.. whathehell Feb 2015 #27

You can, but you had better consider all consequences of that. DFW Feb 2015 #36

Thanks again, my husband and I are unlikely to have any problems whathehell Feb 2015 #38

That should exceed any age limit for sure! DFW Feb 2015 #42

Wow.. whathehell Feb 2015 #45

The tax authorities have the closest powers to the old Gestapo that you can get in today's Germany DFW Feb 2015 #48

As to seniors, if I'm not mistaken, at least some European countries will let whathehell Dec 2014 #16

The "one grandparent" rule is used a lot, sometimes abused DFW Feb 2015 #19

I also have been living overseas davidpdx Dec 2014 #17

I would, if I had money shenmue Feb 2015 #26

I have worked in Denmark, Holland, and Japan, and was always told that it was American policy that djean111 Feb 2015 #29

The Dutch speak great English. Transition can be gradual on point Feb 2015 #30

I feel as if I'm already in another country on the West Coast Auggie Feb 2015 #31

You have to learn Dutch to become a citizen of the Netherlands? yeoman6987 Feb 2015 #33

My son married an Eastern European woman, and has a second passport from his English mother. NBachers Feb 2015 #41

Ir Republicans take the White House... 3catwoman3 Feb 2015 #43

LOL! whathehell Feb 2015 #46

Sounds Good JohnKKR Mar 2015 #49