Move Abroad Con 2026: The Best Event for Americans Ready to Relocate

Why So Many Americans Are Seriously Considering This Right Now

This isn't a fringe thing anymore. The number of Americans formally expatriating jumped 102% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the last quarter of 2024. A Wall Street Journal analysis found that at least 180,000 Americans moved abroad in 2025 across just 15 countries, and researchers expect the real total to be significantly higher when all data comes in.

The reasons aren't surprising if you've been paying attention: cost of living, healthcare costs, work-life balance, and a general sense that life could be better somewhere else. What's changed is that people are now actually doing it, not just talking about it.

The timing of Move Abroad Con 2026 couldn't be sharper. The first event in San Antonio in 2025 drew over 300 people. This year, organizers are expecting several hundred more in San Diego, with a much bigger speaker lineup.

What the Conference Actually Covers (It's More Practical Than You'd Expect)

This isn't a motivational seminar. The sessions are built around the real decisions you have to make before, during, and after a move. Think immigration law, tax strategy, healthcare options, pet relocation, and finding housing in your target country.

The two-stage format means you can build your own schedule around what matters most to you. Some sessions go deep on specific countries like Spain, Portugal, and Costa Rica. Others tackle broader topics that apply everywhere, like how to structure your finances as an American living abroad or what to know about Social Security and Medicare when you leave.

Speakers include immigration attorneys, licensed financial planners, real estate professionals working in target countries, and Americans who've already made the move and can tell you what actually went wrong and what they'd do differently.

Here's a quick look at what's addressed:

• Visa pathways: retirement visas, digital nomad visas, investor visas, and ancestry-based routes

• Taxes: what FBAR means, foreign earned income exclusion, and what an expat CPA actually does

• Healthcare: how to get covered abroad, what private insurance costs, and what "socialized medicine" means in practice

• Housing: renting vs. buying, what markets look like in 2026, and how to find a trustworthy agent remotely

• Practical logistics: moving pets, shipping belongings, banking across borders, and maintaining a US address

The Destinations Getting the Most Attention in 2026

Spain and Portugal dominate the conversation right now, and for good reason. Both offer digital nomad visas, solid healthcare systems, relatively affordable costs outside the major cities, and a path to EU citizenship eventually.

Portugal updated its Digital Nomad Visa (the D8) for 2026 with a minimum monthly income requirement of around $3,680 for individuals. Spain's nomad visa remains stable with income thresholds around €2,646 per month. Both are realistic targets for Americans earning a decent remote income.

Latin America is getting serious attention too, especially from Americans who want proximity to home, lower time zone gaps, and a lower cost of living. Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, and Panama are all on the Move Abroad Con agenda. These destinations offer legal residency options that don't require giving up your American income or lifestyle wholesale.

If you're retired or close to it, the calculus looks different. Countries like Uruguay and Costa Rica have straightforward retiree visa programs that require only proof of a pension or Social Security income. That's a very manageable bar for many Americans.

VIP vs. General Admission: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

General Admission at $499 gets you two full days of programming, access to both stages, and entry to networking events. That's already a solid deal compared to similar conferences, where single-tier tickets often run over $1,000.

VIP at $799 adds a few things that actually matter:

• Private party at Petco Park with food and drinks

• Priority access to one-on-one meetings with speakers and sponsors (before GA attendees can book)

• Express check-in

• Presenter slide decks to take home

If you're seriously planning a move and want to sit down privately with an immigration lawyer or financial planner who works with expats, the VIP priority access alone pays for the price difference. Those one-on-one slots go fast.

What to Do Right Now if You're Interested

The conference is about five weeks out. Tickets are still available but organizers have noted limited availability. Here's what makes sense to do before April is out:

1. Lock in your ticket at expatsi.com. Decide between GA and VIP based on whether you want those one-on-one session priorities.

2. Enter the scouting trip giveaway. No purchase required. You could win a fully organized scouting trip to Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, or the Netherlands.

3. Book your San Diego hotel now. The Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter books up fast, especially around weekend events. Even nearby alternatives will fill up.

4. Make a list of your actual questions. The people who get the most out of this event come in knowing what's holding them back: visa confusion, tax fear, healthcare uncertainty. Write it down before you go.

5. Follow Expatsi on social media. Speaker announcements and session details are still rolling out before the event.

Frequently Asked Questions: Move Abroad Con

What is Move Abroad Con 2026?

Move Abroad Con is an annual two-day conference for Americans exploring life abroad. The 2026 edition runs May 9-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, featuring 50+ speakers, two programming stages, and one-on-one access to immigration lawyers, financial advisors, and expats already living overseas.

How much do tickets cost for Move Abroad Con 2026?

General Admission starts at $499. VIP tickets are $799 and include a private party at Petco Park, priority access to one-on-one speaker meetings, express check-in, and presenter slide decks. Both are cheaper than most comparable expat conferences.

Who should attend Move Abroad Con?

The conference is designed for retirees, remote workers, digital nomads, families, LGBTQ+ expats, and solo travelers at any stage of planning a move abroad. You don't need to have a destination picked yet. First-timers and people deep in the planning process both get value from the sessions.

What countries are covered at Move Abroad Con 2026?

Sessions and speakers cover Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Uruguay, and the Netherlands, among others. Both European and Latin American destinations get dedicated attention across the two-day program.

Is it worth going if I'm just exploring the idea of moving abroad?

Yes. The sessions are practical and information-dense, not just inspirational. Even if you're at the very beginning stages, you'll leave with a clearer picture of what's realistic for your situation, which countries might be the right fit, and what the actual steps look like.

Do I need to give up my US citizenship to move abroad?

No, and this is a common fear. Most Americans who move abroad do so on long-term residency visas without renouncing citizenship. Dual nationality is recognized by 62 countries. Tax obligations to the US do continue regardless of where you live, which is why the financial planning sessions at the conference matter.

What visa options exist for Americans who want to live abroad?

The main categories are retirement visas (requiring proof of pension or Social Security income), digital nomad visas (requiring proof of remote income), investor or golden visas, and ancestry-based residency. Which applies to you depends on your income, age, and target country. Move Abroad Con has immigration attorneys on hand to answer exactly these questions.

How many Americans are actually moving abroad right now?

It's a lot. An estimated 1,285 Americans formally expatriated in just the first quarter of 2025, a 102% jump from the prior quarter. A broader Wall Street Journal analysis found at least 180,000 Americans moved to just 15 countries in 2025. Over 5 million Americans are estimated to live abroad in 2026.

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