Planning on moving abroad? U.S.A. citizens can successfully maximize the value of their dollar income and preserve wealth by choosing to move to the beautiful Caribbean. If you plan your move wisely, you can obtain a second passport through the citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program and enjoy the beaches of Antigua and Barbuda for the rest of your life.
If you’re ready to learn more about your options, we at Citizens International, a leading provider of second-citizenship and offshore investment consulting in the Caribbean, provide insights to guide you as you move out of the U.S.A.
Key Takeaways
- Moving overseas from the U.S.A. is an option for U.S. citizens.
- The Caribbean is a good destination because of its attractive citizenship-by-investment programs.
- Antigua and Barbuda is one of the best Caribbean options when moving to a foreign country from America.
- Moving abroad from the U.S. does not exempt you from U.S. tax obligations.
- You can continue receiving Social Security benefits even after moving overseas.
Table of Contents
- The Best Countries to Move to From the U.S.
- The Benefit of Leaving the USA for the Caribbean: Citizenship by Investment
- Legal Checklist for US Citizens Moving Internationally
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Move Out of the U.S.A.
The Best Countries to Move to From the U.S.
Where to go when moving abroad from the U.S. depends on your priorities. There are more than 190 countries in the world, so technically, you have more than 190 options.
We suggest the Caribbean. In particular:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Dominica
- Grenada
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
It’s not only because the Caribbean is our market and we know it intimately. It’s because it offers undeniable benefits to expatriates looking for a second permanent home. This is why the demand for Caribbean citizenship is rising.
The Benefit of Leaving the USA for the Caribbean: Citizenship by Investment
Leaving America for the Caribbean makes sense because of the citizenship-by-investment program in certain countries, including the five in the list above.
Why is this a good thing for anyone who plans on moving abroad from America? It’s because citizenship-by-investment fast-tracks the process of obtaining a second passport and citizenship rights.
In Antigua and Barbuda (and the four other Caribbean countries we mentioned), you can apply for citizenship on the basis of a government/institutional donation or a property purchase.
| Caribbean Country | Government/Institutional Donation (Investment starts at) |
Property Purchase (Investment starts at) |
| Antigua and Barbuda | $230,000 | $300,000 |
| Dominica | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Grenada | $230,000 | $270,000 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | $250,000 | $325,000 |
| St. Lucia | $240,000 | $300,000 |
With citizenship, you get full rights to live, work, and study in the country, just like its citizens. Unlike a resident, a citizen doesn’t need a permit to stay, own property, find a job, or start a business beyond what ordinary regulations require.
Getting a second passport is a bonus. A Caribbean passport can be quite powerful.
According to Passport Index, these Caribbean countries allow you to travel visa-free or enjoy the visa-on-arrival benefit in more or less 140 destinations:
- Antigua and Barbuda: 105 visa-free, 40 visa-on-arrival
- Dominica: 97 visa-free, 39 visa-on-arrival
- Grenada: 101 visa-free, 40 visa-on-arrival
- St. Kitts and Nevis: 108 visa-free, 41 visa-on-arrival
- St. Lucia: 98 visa-free, 43 visa-on-arrival
Legal Checklist for US Citizens Moving Internationally
When moving internationally, i.e., moving abroad, U.S.A citizens can use the following checklist as a guide to ensure they do not miss anything important.
1. Entry Documents and Permits
Normally, when moving abroad from the U.S., you need a visa to enter your destination country. This is usually a work or resident visa.
However, if you have successfully completed the citizenship-by-investment pathway, you may initially need just a visit visa to enter the country to pick up your second passport. You may not even need a visit visa at all if you can pick up your passport from the country’s embassy in your current location.
Armed with an Antigua and Barbuda citizenship and your second passport, you can just book a flight directly to Antigua and use your Antigua and Barbuda passport upon entry.
Note: The U.S. government requires that U.S. citizens holding multiple citizenships must use their U.S. passport when leaving the U.S.A., as well as when re-entering the country.
Therefore, you must bring your primary (U.S.) passport and your second passport (e.g., Antigua and Barbuda passport) when you move.
2. Legal and Essential Documents
Your moving abroad from the U.S.A. checklist must include bringing legal and essential documents. This way, you’ll have them readily on hand if you need them.
These documents can include:
- Birth certificate (for you and family members)
- Marriage certificate, if applicable
- Divorce certificate, if applicable
- Child custody or adoption papers, if applicable
- Social Security card (crucial ID when you need to access U.S. government services while abroad)
- School records (diploma, transcript of records, certificate of graduation, etc.)
- U.S. driver’s license or international driver’s permit (which you’ll later have to replace with a local driver’s license)
- Vaccination records
- Medical reports
- Prescriptions
- Insurance policies
- Bank, investment, and financial records
- Probate wills, judgments, and affidavits
- Proof of employment
- Deeds of assignment
Pro tip: If you have the time, you can take legal documents and official records to your state’s Secretary of State to get an authentication or apostille certificate (whichever applies) proving their authenticity and validity. This will help you avoid problems later on if you need authenticated legal documents for transactions in your new country.
Note: The authentication and apostille certificates serve the same purpose, but an apostille certificate is for documents you’ll use in a 1961 Hague Convention Treaty country. The five Caribbean countries we’ve listed above are all apostille countries.
3. U.S. Tax and Foreign Account Obligations
An American moving abroad retains their U.S. tax obligations. This encompasses personal income tax, estate tax, gift taxes, and more. The tax rates, rules, and policies remain the same, even if you’re leaving the U.S. to live in another country.
Specifically, after moving abroad, as an American, you must pay taxes on whatever income you generate working, investing, or doing business in your new country of residence.
Note, however, that you may qualify for special tax benefits, such as a foreign earned income exclusion or exemption for certain income earned overseas. Even so, you must still declare such income and any foreign accounts you own, then file the necessary tax returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to renounce U.S. citizenship if I move abroad?
No, you do not need to renounce U.S. citizenship if you move abroad, even if you become a citizen of another country. The United States does not prohibit the acquisition of foreign citizenship. However, U.S. dual nationals are legally compelled to use their U.S. passport when departing from and entering the United States.
Can I still get Social Security if I live outside the U.S.?
Yes, you can still get Social Security if you live outside the U.S. Whatever Social Security benefits you’re eligible to receive while in the United States, you can receive even after moving away from the U.S. to live in another country, as long as the United States has no specific restrictions for your new country of residence.
What is the foreign earned income exclusion?
The foreign earned income exclusion is a U.S. tax rule that can reduce taxes owed on foreign-earned income. After moving abroad from the U.S., you’re eligible to claim it if you have been residing in another country for a full tax year or have been physically present there for at least 330 days of a 12-consecutive-month period.
How to Move Out of the U.S.A.
Moving abroad from the U.S. can be a good idea to minimize your expenses and maximize your income. As an American moving to another country, particularly one in the Caribbean, you can buy real estate in your destination and use that as your basis to apply for citizenship by investment.
When you do, however, be sure not to forget your U.S. tax obligations, maximize your Social Security benefits (if any), and bring with you important (preferably authenticated or apostilled) legal and essential documents.
Ready to move out of America for the turquoise seas and blue skies of the Caribbean? Consider obtaining a second citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda or another Caribbean country.
We are a trusted, compliant citizenship-by-investment agent who can guide you through the process. Contact us for more information.
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