Fund Your Life Overseas Archives

Stretch Your Creative Muscles in Europe With an “Artist Visa”

By Ali Garland |

January 1, 2015

If you’re a freelancer who has been thinking about moving to Europe, Germany’s freelancer visa (Freiberufliche Tätigkeit) could be a good option for you. It is available for people who can easily prove that their profession can be done on a freelance basis. The visa is often referred to as “the artist visa” since usually people in a creative field, such as musicians, writers, filmmakers, painters, or graphic designers, will qualify. Most countries in Europe require you to have a job lined up to get a work permit, so Germany is a bit unusual in this way.

Spotting an Accomodation Gap and Filling it in an Ecuadorian Jungle Town

By Wendy DeChambeau |

December 1, 2014

Ten years ago while stationed as a volunteer nurse in Archidona, a small community not far from Tena in Ecuador’s jungled east, Michelle Klein found the accommodations to be lacking. “I rented a room for $50 a month. But there were up to nine people at times competing for the bathroom, the shower didn’t have hot water, and the windows didn’t have screens. It was dark. And there really wasn’t any other good place to stay,” she says. It was easy to spot the gap in the market.

Creating a Tourism Income on the Tropical Island of Roatán

By Amanda Walkins |

December 1, 2014

Imagine owning a business needing zero capital investment and offering an immediate start-up option. Now imagine owning that business on a Caribbean island... spending your days in the sun and your evenings enjoying the ocean breeze with friends. That’s exactly what Sophia Fedio does after leaving her trendy loft and successful career back in Toronto and becoming a tourism concierge in Roatán, the largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands in the Caribbean Sea. In early 2013, she joined forces with Avi D’Souza, who had started the business, West Bay Tours, and was seeking a partner.

How to Live Rent-Free as You Travel the Globe

By Carol Kaatz |

November 1, 2014

It’s early, and the sun isn’t yet up. I walk outside, and look out across the expanse that stretches to the horizon. The water sparkles in the early morning light. The first rays of the sun are bursting forth. A new day has begun in Costa Rica, and the house we’re staying in, with this view, is absolutely free. The home is on a coffee farm, nestled at the top of a hill high above the small town of Hojancha on the Nicoya Peninsula, a large landmass that juts out into the Pacific. My husband, Fred, and I simply care for the two dogs while the owner takes a trip to Australia.

From Desk-Bound to Travel Hound in Europe

By Gigi Griffis |

November 1, 2014

Five years ago, I was the lead copywriter and content strategist at an advertising agency in Denver, Colorado…coming in as early as 7 a.m. and leaving sometimes as late as 9 p.m.—and rarely ever got a real break. Now, I’m sitting in a sunny top-floor apartment in the Swiss Alps, writing this to you. I can see a waterfall from my window and, only a few steps from my door, I could be on a hiking trail that leads to a Swiss ski town or a 360-degree panorama of the mountains. All because I am a travel writer.

Bank-Roll Your Overseas Goals With “Crowdfunding”

By David Hammond |

November 1, 2014

Getting a small business loan can be a challenge anywhere. It’s especially tough in a new country where you may not have a credit history or collateral. Fortunately, there’s a way to raise money for your business abroad that bypasses banks altogether. It’s called reward-based crowdfunding. With crowdfunding you fund your business idea without taking out a loan, going into debt, or sharing equity with a financial partner. It’s a perfect solution for many expats because it enables you to fund your business across borders. You can raise money from backers anywhere in the world for a business activity in the country of your choosing.

Medical Tourism Offers Overseas Opportunities

By International Living |

November 1, 2014

A few decades ago, going abroad for medical or dental care, especially surgical procedures, was practically unknown. But today, fueled in part by the rising cost of health care in the developed world, medical tourism (including dental care) is growing by leaps and bounds...and by some estimates it’s already a $100-billion business worldwide. Expats in Latin America and Asia—where costs are low and health care quality often high—have launched businesses that cater to the growing demand for medical tourism. Others—often those with medical-related training—have found different ways to earn a living abroad in this industry.

Profiting From a Niche Surf Scene in San Juan del Sur

By Bonnie W. Hayman |

October 1, 2014

Licensed attorney Ashley Blaylock thought she had her life all mapped out. She was planning a legal career, specializing in corporate and tax law. But prior to taking a summer program in international law and human rights in Costa Rica in 2003, she took a vacation to Nicaragua. And that changed everything for this Houston native. “As a kid you have a vision of paradise, and when I saw Nicaragua, it was exactly like the vision I had,” explains Ashley. “It’s a gorgeous country, with mountains, verdant green countryside, and miles and miles of unspoiled ocean.

Trade Your Office for a Beach Lifestyle Without Giving up Your Job

By Daniel Bond |

October 1, 2014

Ten years ago I was one of the millions of middle management, middle-aged people commuting into the big city. I was exhausted, bored, and stressed; deeply frustrated that I didn’t get to spend enough time with my young family. I was a walking stereotype. Today, I still work for the same employer, but I live on the other side of the world. I have spent the last eight years living by the beach in Australia, while being employed full-time by a company in London. My employer is a digital sports broadcasting company, and I’m a graphic designer, creating promotions for the various sporting events that we broadcast.

Feeding the Demand for a Taste of Home in Belize’s Expat Haunts

By Ann Kuffner |

October 1, 2014

Places where expats and tourists gather are good locations for a food enterprise that gives them a taste of home— particularly when it comes to a daily staple like bread. Central America simply doesn’t have the same bakery tradition as the U.S. or Europe, which means you can find a hungry market for European-style loaves, pastries, wholegrain, sourdough, croissants, and more. Belize is a case in point. With tourism increasing more than 10% year-on-year since 2011 and a real estate boom reaching even into the less expensive areas like Corozal, San Ignacio, and Punta Gorda, the market for specialized bakeries is strong country-wide.