Expat and Slow Traveler News & Updates

Travel regulations, global events, or country-specific news that impact slow travelers and expats.

Thailand

Expansion of visa-free entry: Thailand has significantly expanded its visa-free entry scheme. US citizens, along with those from 92 other countries, can now stay for up to 60 days without a visa. This makes short-term visits easier for Americans.

Boosting of tourism targets for 2025: Thailand is actively working to boost tourism, aiming to attract 39 million international visitors in 2025, which should mean increased efforts to improve infrastructure and services for travelers.

New tax regulations: New tax legislation may affect long-term visitors, including a plan to tax all foreign residents in Thailand on global income (this will take a while to work its way through parliament). Expats staying over 180 days in Thailand during 2024 will need to file a tax return by March 31, 2025. More about taxes here.

Economic outlook: Thailand's economy is expected to maintain steady growth in 2025. This could translate to stable prices and services for travelers.

COVID-19 travel advisories: As of the current date, there are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for entering the US after international travel.

Portugal

Visas: The Golden Visa program will end once pending legislation is signed. While some expats are still applying before the deadline, the shift aims to address rising housing costs, especially in urban areas, which were partly attributed to the influx of foreign investment through this program. The Digital Nomad Visa remains available, allowing remote workers and entrepreneurs to live in Portugal without needing a traditional work visa​. And the D7 visa is available for persons with income from passive sources, such as retirement pensions, investments, or rental income.

ETIAS: The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is scheduled to launch in May 2025, which will impact short-term stays for non-EU citizens, including U.S. travelers. ETIAS will require pre-approval for visitors planning to stay up to 90 days within the EU, making it a key point for those planning extended stays for tourism or business purposes​. the application fee will be about $8 USD. More on ETIAS fees. 

Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) scheme may be coming back: In July 2024, Portugal announced plans to bring back a modified version of the NHR. More here.

Spain

Digital Nomad Visa Continuation: Spain's Digital Nomad Visa allows stays of up to 12 months initially and is renewable for up to five years, offering favorable terms for remote workers and freelancers. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum income of €2,400 per month, and provide proof of remote worker status, financial self-sufficiency, health insurance, and a clean criminal record. Additionally, they must spend at least six months in Spain within a 12-month period. Visa holders become tax residents in Spain and are subject to a special tax rate of 24% on income up to €600,000 per year.

Flooding: Recent severe flooding has heavily impacted regions in Southern and Eastern Spain, including Valencia. This may affect travel plans, especially if you're visiting areas with extensive flood damage.

Our latest video

We spent 6 weeks in Saratoga Springs, NY in September/October, staying in a very nice 3 bedroom apartment we found through Furnished Finder. We are exploring moving to an area with a slower pace than Maryland/DC, and we like the mountains and nature in the Northeast, so upstate NY is a contender.

We had a number of observations about this trip that may be relevant to anyone thinking about doing some slow travel within the US.

• Focus on comfort when selecting an apartment for a longer stay. We found a place that was nicely furnished, with a decently equipped kitchen, that was walking distance to entertainment. We settled in pretty quickly, and the apartment quickly became like home. In the past we have skimped on AirBnBs, and each day the annoying limitations of the apartment made us look forward to ending the trip and getting back home to comfort. This place ended up costing us around $3k/month, but it was worth it.

• Having your car along is critical. We drove up with our Outback completed loaded with our stuff (~8 hour drive). Having access to a car makes a big difference in the comfort for a stay.

• Bring a lot of your stuff to be comfortable. As noted, the car was full. We brought computer monitors to work, our dog, a tea kettle, and a range of other day to day necessities that made us more comfortable. It made the stay feel more like home, vs a cold vacation accommodation.

• Stay for at least a month or more. A longer stay reduces that feeling of being a temporary visitor, thinking about your return home in a few days. You settle in for the longer term, buy your groceries, unpack, and get i sync with the community. It made a big difference.

Overall, a successful and very comfortable trip.

Coming up in Expats and Slow Travelers

We are just starting out with this newsletter and are working on a wide range of topics for upcoming issues. Please feel free to send us an email if you have suggestions for topics that you would be interested in seeing.