How to Move to Europe: Visa Basics for US Citizens
Cut through the confusion to discover realistic, independent ways you can move to Europe. No employer sponsorships or marriages required.
Your Complete Starter Guide to European Residency
How to Move to Europe: Visa Basics for US Citizens is a comprehensive 5-module online course that covers every independent residency pathway available to US citizens in Europe.
How to Move to Europe: Visa Basics for US Citizens is a comprehensive 5-module online course that covers every independent residency pathway available to US citizens in Europe.
Sample Lessons
The course is comprised of video lessons like these, as well as multiple interactive tools and exercises. Playback size is larger in our learning system, and you can enlarge videos to full screen as you can here.
What You'll Learn
Join thousands of other Americans who are already enjoying a European lifestyle. Learn what options are available and relevant to you, as well as the requirements for US citizens to live long-term in Europe through their own efforts.
Don't waste time falling in love with a country only to discover you don't qualify for residency there. Understand the visa requirements first, then research countries where you actually have a pathway. This course helps you assess your eligibility upfront, so you can focus your energy on destinations that align with your real qualifications—not just your wishlist.
Whether you're a retiree, remote worker, business owner, student, or even unemployed, you will learn what is required of you and your loved ones to successfully apply for European residency.
By the end of this 5-module online course, you will be ready to confidently begin the next steps of your European move!
The Full Move to Europe Journey
This course supports this phase of the journey:
Course Modules
Module 1 - Course Introduction
Establish the foundation for your European journey with essential context, definitions, and frameworks that will guide every decision ahead.
Module 2 - Common Visa Types
Discover every independent visa pathway available to US citizens, from ancestry claims to investment programs, from digital nomad visas to self-employed and entrepreneur categories. Bonus material: 2 little-known temporary-to-long term residency pathways.
Module 3 - Common Visa Requirements
Move from theory to practice with detailed breakdowns of what you'll actually need to prove, document, and demonstrate for successful applications.
Module 4 - Application Methods, Timelines & Costs
Understand the practical realities of submitting your application, from choosing your approach to managing expectations and budgeting accurately.
Module 5 - Course Conclusion
Consolidate your learning and prepare for the journey ahead with final insights, encouragement, and next steps. Bonus material: budget and timeline planning for the application process.
Bonus Docs & Helpful Activities
Outside of watching lessons, enjoy completing worksheets, quizzes, roadmaps and more to personalize your move considerations and planning.
Why Take This Course
If you're serious about moving to Europe, you're facing a critical problem: the internet is flooded with contradictory information, outdated advice, and content designed to sell services rather than educate. You could spend months piecing together fragmented blog posts, watching countless YouTube videos, and sifting through Reddit threads—only to remain confused about which visa or resident permit you actually qualify for, what documents you truly need, and whether your dream is even achievable. This scattered approach wastes precious time, creates unnecessary stress, and can lead to costly mistakes or application rejections.
How to Move to Europe: Visa Basics for US Citizens solves this problem by providing the comprehensive, structured education you need in one place. This course helps you avoid the frustration of pursuing impossible pathways, the expense of unnecessary professional services you don't need, and the heartbreak of rejected applications due to missing information. You'll walk away with confidence in your decision-making, realistic expectations about your timeline and budget, and a personalized short list of viable options matched to your actual circumstances.
What Makes This Different
Comprehensive Coverage
Every visa type and residence permit available to independent applicants across 22 carefully selected European countries (no employer sponsorship or marriage required).
Fact-Based Education
Well-structured, accurate, practical information backed by 15+ years of research and real-world experience (skip the social media fantasies or irrelevant information).
Personalized Assessment
Interactive worksheets and decision tools help you identify which visas and residence permits are relevant and actually achievable for your specific circumstances.
Realistic Timelines
Understand what really happens during the application process, from document preparation through final approval, with honest timeframes, cost breakdowns, and other important considerations.
Evergreen Content
Structured to remain valuable despite changing immigration policies, focusing on enduring principles and assessment frameworks.
Confidence Building
Move from overwhelmed by information overload to confident in your ability to make informed decisions about your European future.
Meet Your Instructors
Join Michelle Hippler and Jeffrey Jones, hosts of the Experts & Expats podcast and co-founders of The Living Abroad Academy, as your instructors for this online learning
Ready to Turn Your European Dreams Into Reality?
Stop endless research. Start your comprehensive, fact-based education today.
$79
Important Clarification
This course covers the foundational visa categories and standard requirements that apply across multiple countries. It does NOT provide country-specific information.
This knowledge helps you identify which general pathways fit your situation and prepare for the common elements you'll encounter.
However, each country has unique application procedures, thresholds, timelines, and documentation requirements that are your next step after this foundational course. Think of this course as an essential foundation that prevents you from getting lost in country-specific details before understanding the bigger picture of what's possible for someone with your specific circumstances.