How to Move Abroad with No Money

Figuring out how to move abroad with no money seems impossible, right?

Think again. 

It’s challenging, for sure. But with the right strategy, resourcefulness, and execution, you can move abroad with little to no money.

In this article, we cover everything about how to move abroad with no money. You’ll learn to do the following:

• Identify the right destination
• Maximize your money before you go and while you’re there
• Minimize or eliminate travel and housing expenses
• Set yourself up for success in your new home

Read on to learn more.

Why even learn how to move abroad with no money? Is anyone even able to do this?

The short answer is yes. 

An estimated 281 million people worldwide live outside their country of birth, according to United Nations data. Tens of millions of them have made the move abroad with little to no money.

Folks have many reasons to live abroad, including for career and study purposes, a better quality of life, fresh experiences, and the desire to learn a new language and culture. Millions of people are forced to leave their home country too, whether that be due to political instability, economic concerns, religious persecution, or environmental catastrophe.

People before you have learned how to move abroad with no money. So if you want to move abroad but lack of money concerns you, don’t give up! Even if you only have $17 in your bank account right now, you can find a way to make the international move safely and successfully.

Consider the following 4-part strategy to help:

Step 1: Identify the right destination

When figuring out how to move abroad with no money, location matters. You should be looking for a destination that offers these two advantages:

• An affordable cost of living
• A solid quality of life

You must have flexibility, especially if your dream destination is a little costly. For example, if you wish to live in Singapore, perhaps Kuala Lumpur is a better option. Kuala Lumpur is close enough to make trips to Singapore, while having a 67.7% lower cost of living (Numbeo data).

If the cost of living in the country you wish to live is too high, be willing to live in a nice city nearby. At Frayed Passport, our guides on the best geoarbitrage cities can help you with selecting a destination abroad. Each destination has low to reasonable costs of living and offers a great quality of life—great choices if you’re moving abroad with little to no money.

• Best Affordable Cities in Asia (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hoi An, Tokyo, Cebu City)
• Best Affordable Cities in Europe (Barcelona, Athens, Lisbon, Warsaw, Split)
• Best Affordable Cities in South America (Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Lima, Bogota, São Paulo)
• Best Affordable Cities in Africa (Cape Town, Nairobi, Accra, Tangier, Port Louis)

Check visa requirements. Many countries allow visitors from the USA and other countries without a visa, but you’ll need to arrange a long-term visitor visa, temporary residency visa, digital nomad visa, or work visa (if applicable).

Step 2: Maximize your money before you go & while you’re there

Learning how to move abroad with no money inevitably involves finding a way to get money and fund your move and life overseas. Fortunately, you can take action now. Here are a few quick options:

• Sell belongings you no longer need on Facebook Marketplace, eBay and other sites (including the car)
• Cut costs dramatically by not dining out, and choosing to take the bus, cancel subscriptions, sublet your apartment, etc.
• Get a temporary part-time job or side hustle (our Best Semi-Retirement Jobs guide lists great ideas)
• Find a freelance job if you have skills in web development, marketing, design, writing, or any other field that can be done remotely (so you can make money from anywhere!)

Next, work on maximizing money while you’re abroad. Unless you all of a sudden strike it rich trading stocks or win the lottery, you’ll have to earn income during your time overseas. In addition to remote work opportunities, consider:

• Teaching English: Many countries, such as China, South Korea, Spain, and Argentina, need ESL teachers and have schools and programs ready to hire today. Japan’s JET Program, which reimburses flight expenses and offers full benefits, is another popular choice for expat teachers.
• Seasonal Jobs: A temporary work visa is a great route if you’re trying to learn how to move abroad with no money. One of the most popular destinations is New Zealand; through their Working Holiday Visa, you can get a warehouse, agriculture, or service industry job and earn more than enough income to fund your travels. France is another country with a great Working Holiday Programme. Some of these visa schemes provide accommodation as part of the package.
• Hospitality and Tourism Jobs: Countries with strong tourism industries, such as Spain, United Arab Emirates, and Thailand, have job opportunities for foreigners with experience and/or desired language skills. Some jobs may even come with free housing.
• Long-Term Volunteering: Want to do good and save money? The US Peace Corps provides housing, a living stipend, and flight reimbursement during your volunteer time. The United Nations Volunteer Programme provides similar benefits. Volunteering with NGOs is also an option for covering accommodation and food expenses; just do your research and only opt for reputable organizations, such as International Volunteer HQ.

Step 3: Minimize or eliminate travel and housing expenses

If you want to know how to move abroad with no money, you must learn ways to minimize or even eliminate travel and housing expenses there. You have more options than you think.

Your first option should be through a job. Can you find employment that reimburses for flights and offers housing? For example, many ESL teaching jobs offer a decent salary, along with benefits such as flight reimbursement and housing allowance. You may even find ways to exchange goods and services for housing, such as being a language tutor or nanny (check out AuPairWorld for opportunities).

Your next place to look is with friends and family abroad. Do you know anyone who can assist with housing and/or allow you to stay there temporarily while you settle in? Leverage your network to your advantage. Sites such as Couchsurfing and Hostelworld are also worth a look to find free or affordable housing during your first few weeks.

You can also use credit card points and miles to significantly reduce expenses. If you currently have points, use them. If not, consider applying for a travel credit card with a signup bonus. You’ll get approved if you have decent to good credit, and most offer nice rewards if you meet initial spending thresholds. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card regularly provides bonuses ranging from 50,000 to 75,000 points for spending $3K in the first 3 months. That equates to $500—$1,000+ in travel value. Look on sites such as The Points Guy and NerdWallet for the latest information.

You should also search actively for cheap flights. Sites like Skyscanner have great comparison tools and insights on when it’s cheapest to fly. You may find that even being flexible with days of the week saves you hundreds on an international flight. According to FareCompare, Tuesday, Wednesday, And Saturday are the cheapest days to fly.

• Read our guide on travel budgeting for more help in lowering expenses!

Step 4: Set yourself up for success in your new home

Stay flexible and embrace minimalism. Make your own food or eat cheap, healthy, good food when you do purchase outside the home. When it comes time to rent, don’t splurge. Instead, opt for a property that has what you need and is comfortable. Avoid non-essential purchases until you’re settled and financially stable.

Utilize your network as much as possible—and build it too! Facebook and Reddit groups for expats are great places to start if you want to meet people in your destination country ahead of time. Your network will be your strongest resources for finding employment, fairly priced housing, social activities, and more.

Also, keep in mind things such as:

• Healthcare: Research healthcare options in the country you’re moving to, and make sure you’re covered with insurance that will protect you abroad.
• Visa: Understand the visa, work permit, and residency laws of your new country. Do NOT overstay your visa and always give yourself enough time to apply and renew your visa.
• Language: If you don’t speak a language commonly spoken in your new country, start learning it. It will make adapting much easier.

Now that you know how to move abroad with no money, take action!

In this article, we’ve discussed all the tips and strategies for how to move abroad with no money. Yes, it’s challenging, but it can be achieved if you’re resourceful, creative, and determined.

Note you don’t have to follow this process as directly listed. Use the strategies that are most beneficial and applicable to you, and you’ll find that you can drastically reduce the cost of your international move.

Do you have any other ideas and tips for how to move abroad with no money or travel for cheap? Join us on our Facebook and start the conversation!

About the Author

Nick Callos has always had a passion for reading, writing, and discovering the new and unknown. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Boston College. He currently splits his time between his hometown, Chengdu, China, and the open road. A full-time travel writer, Nick hopes his work can inspire others to explore the world more deeply and enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle.

Featured image by Matt Gross on Unsplash