Moving abroad experts we point readers to (2026)
Written by Hans Goldstein, licensed insurance agent · CA 4273294Short answer: meeting a visa income requirement takes three kinds of help: an immigration professional for the application, a tax preparer who knows US expat filing, and someone to structure the lifetime income. I cover the income side. These are the specialists whose guides I found most useful on the rest, listed by country. We link to these because their guides are among the most useful we found. We receive nothing for listing them and are not affiliated.
Free guide: Moving abroad on a fixed income
Income rules and taxes by country: Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Malta and more, plus how a lifetime annuity fits.
I am a licensed insurance agent in California. I help Americans turn savings into lifetime income that visa income tests accept, while they still live in the US. I am not an immigration lawyer or a tax preparer, so I point readers to people who are.
In the same boat? Let’s run your numbers
See roughly what a lifetime annuity would cost to close your income gap, then get my personal read by email. I can help while you still live in the US.
Estimates use the September 9, 2026 ImmediateAnnuities.com payout survey (life only) and a 15% cushion. Illustrative, not a quote.
Portugal
Our guide: Portugal income requirement.
- Portugalist (James Cave): a detailed, regularly updated guide to Portugal's D7 visa.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services: US expat tax preparers; Portugal retirement visa and tax overview.
- Expatsi (Brett Andrews): a country-by-country guide to retiring abroad.
Spain
Our guide: Spain income requirement.
- MySpainVisa (Lucia Lagunas Reyes): Spain non-lucrative visa applications.
- Spain Made Simple (Mark Eastwood): a practical guide to retiring to Spain.
- Bright!Tax (Katelynn Minott, CPA): US expat tax filing; retire-in-Spain visas, healthcare and taxes.
Italy
Our guide: Italy income requirement.
- Mazzeschi (Marco Mazzeschi): Italian immigration law; one of the most prolific writers on the elective residence visa.
- Global Citizen Solutions: residency planning; Italy elective residence visa guide.
Panama
Our guide: Panama income requirement.
- Kraemer & Kraemer: Panama immigration law; pensionado visa.
Costa Rica
Our guide: Costa Rica income requirement.
- Outlier Legal Services (Rafael Valverde): Costa Rica immigration law; pensionado category.
Colombia
Our guide: Colombia income requirement.
- Colombia Visas: Colombia visa help; 2026 retirement visa guide.
France
Our guide: France income requirement.
- The Good Life France (Janine Marsh): living in France; how Americans apply for a French visa.
Norway
Our guide: Norway income requirement.
- The Norwegian American: the Norwegian-American newspaper, published since 1889.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services: US expat tax preparers; Norway expat tax guide.
All countries and US expat tax
Our guide: All countries and US expat tax income requirement.
- Expatsi (Brett Andrews): a country-by-country guide to retiring abroad.
- Bright!Tax (Katelynn Minott, CPA): US expat tax filing; retire-in-Spain visas, healthcare and taxes.
- Taxes for Expats: US expat tax preparers; retirement tax articles.
Suggest an expert
Know a specialist whose guide belongs here? Email hans@hansgoldstein.com with the link and the country.
Frequently asked questions
Related reading
- Moving abroad on a fixed income: hub
- Using an annuity to meet a visa income requirement
- Retirement visa income requirements compared
Sources
- Portugalist (James Cave)
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Expatsi (Brett Andrews)
- MySpainVisa (Lucia Lagunas Reyes)
- Spain Made Simple (Mark Eastwood)
- Bright!Tax (Katelynn Minott, CPA)
- Mazzeschi (Marco Mazzeschi)
- Global Citizen Solutions
- Kraemer & Kraemer
- Outlier Legal Services (Rafael Valverde)
- Colombia Visas
- The Good Life France (Janine Marsh)
- The Norwegian American
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Taxes for Expats
Goldstein & Co. LLC dba Goldstein Insurance Services · Hans Goldstein, licensed insurance agent, CA lic. #4273294 · NPN 20602398 · 213-414-2808 · hans@hansgoldstein.com
Education, not tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules, thresholds and exchange rates change; confirm with the consulate or immigration authority and a local tax adviser before you act, and get answers in writing. Hans Goldstein is a licensed insurance agent (CA 4273294) and can only offer annuities to residents of states where he is licensed. Annuity payments are guaranteed by the issuing insurer’s claims-paying ability, not by any government. Payout figures are illustrations from a published survey, not quotes. Immediate annuities are generally irrevocable.