Casa Bolaños

Moving out of the United States was something I had wanted to do since at least 2016, but if I’m being honest, I think I wanted it my whole life. My husband, on the other hand, took more convincing.

Quick backstory; he and I lived opposite, but parallel lives. He was born in the U.S., to Colombian parents, and moved to Colombia and was raised there since he was 5-6 years old. Much like my kids. I on the other hand, was born in Tunisia and brought to the U.S. as a baby. While he experienced life home, I was raised knowing I was ni de aquí, ni de allá. While I always wanted to leave because I wasn’t “home,” he wanted to experience life where he was born.

In January 2025, we were toying with the idea of leaving. In March, we decided it was happening. In August, we left!

Do I recommend uprooting your life, 2 kids, and 2 dogs in 6 months? Absolutely not. I’m known for being a bit impulsive to reach a goal, but this was unhinged even for me. Could it be done? We are proof that in can. So in our madness, let me grant you some peace and show you what we did, what we did wrong, and what we would do differently to leave as quickly as we did, and even make some money before you go.

The Non-Negotiable’s

There are certain steps you need to take, no matter where you go or how long you have to plan. Whether you’re a dual citizen, applying for a visa, or enrolling your kids in schools here are the documents you need to get settled in your new life:

• Get ORIGINAL COPIES of identity documents (birth certificates, marriage/divorce certificates, etc.), get them apostilled at the same time, and get an official translation, if needed.
  Why this is important: Identity documents are often needed for visa applications and enrolling children in school. Many of these processes will keep the document you give them, and it must be original (as in, ordered from the official office). The apostille shows that it is an official document. Some countries require the birth certificate, for example, and the apostille to be signed by the same person. Just get both copies at once before you leave. We did this after we left and it cost $125 per document to do from abroad, plus shipping.
• Obtain medical records and school records and keep a digital copy.
• At least 3-6 months of prescription medicine, if any.
• International Driver’s License. Not always needed, always good to have and valid for a year. Some countries require this to rent a car (Uruguay, for one).

The Prep

How do you know what to take and what to leave? How do you even bring things with you? Well, that depends on where you’re going, and who you are.

Many countries like Colombia and Uruguay, have a repatriation program which allows citizens returning home to ship containers, tax free. So essentially, you can ship your furniture, kitchen gear, anything and everything that will fix. Still, those can be $20,000! What I recommend is one of two things:

Option 1: check with your airline how much it costs to add a box, or extra luggage, onto your trip. This can often be the cheapest option!

Option 2: Find a shipping service that ships by volume, not weight. This is what we did and paid for the box, not how heavy it was.

What about getting rid of things? This is going to be the first part of your move you will want to focus on, as it is the most time consuming. Here’s what we did:

• Listed bigger items (furniture, strollers, toys) and more expensive items (tech, tvs, etc) onto Facebook Marketplace. Going back and forth with buyers is a lot, but you’ll have the biggest profit on here
• Garage/Estate sales. Estate sales aren’t just when someone passes, it’s to literally get rid of the estate! It’s just a bigger scale garage sale. Usually, people walk around your home to pick up the things they want. We did multiple of these sales, one we had 4 days in a row. Sold the bulk of our things this way. Great for selling smaller items, like utensils, and still making some money. There are companies that can do it all for you, but will take a portion of the profit.
• Online sites. Postmark, ThreadUp, ThriftBooks to sell items that are easy to ship, but niche to the market you are selling to.
• Local thrift, consignment, and donation shops. This was our last way to get rid of things. Lower profit, or none if you are donating, but these neighborhood shops usually support good causes.

Pets

Yes, you can take your pets with you abroad! Every country has different requirements, so while this blog post can’t get into specifics, I can tell you what generally is needed, steps to get it done, and how to transport them abroad.

While every country has different requirements, generally your pets will need their vaccines up to date and done at least 3-6 months prior to travel, especially the rabies vaccine.

After a general check up, your pets will need a USDA certification that can be done at most vets. This needs to be done generally 10 days prior to travel and can cost between $3-800 per animal. Fun, I know. Check your country of arrival for specifics.

And yes, if you have a layover, some countries require the paperwork for there, too. So that’s two USDA certifications you will need.

What about flying? You have two options:

Option 1: Flying in cabin with you. This only applies to certain cat and dog breeds under 20-25lbs that can fit in a carrier under the seat. Airlines also have a maximum number of animals in the cabin so please check asap and this can be done on the phone or at the gate. Costs average $150

Option 2: Flying cargo. Obviously this is not ideal, but the reality for most pets. Even ours! Here’s what you need to know for this:

• Not every aircraft is able to transport animals in cargo, check prior to booking flights
• Pets must be in a hard shell crate, with at least 2 inches of space on either side of them in order to be able to turn around and lay down, with ventilation.
• They must have food and water
• Animals can not be under any medication, even to calm them
• Certain breeds are restricted, check with your airline
• Airlines limit the amount of animals in cargo, book ASAP
• Costs roughly $2-300 per animal, airline depending

How Much Money Do You Need?

Ah the million dollar question! The one I get asked repeatedly yet one that unfortunately, I can’t answer for you. Because it really depends.

Are you a single person, only moving yourself?

Are you a couple? Do you have kids?

Where are you moving to?

There are so many factors that go into this. I’d at least try to save 3-6 months worth of basics like rent, groceries, and daily spending. Many countries do offer a lower cost of living, which means you will be spending less than what you’re used to in The States. Still, it’s good to have something you can fall back on just in case. Many visas require you to have a certain amount of income or savings in the bank, just an FYI.

Taking the Leap

Moving abroad can be scary! Even if you’re moving back home after being in the U.S. for so long, inevitably, there is an adjustment period. Give yourself grace, don’t expect things to be like you’re used to. After all, isn’t that why you want to leave?

Even us, almost a year later, we aren’t as settled as I’d like to be. But we are making it happen, and not wondering “what if” we moved. We are living the dream we imagined a year ago!

I have a free downloadable ebook – Move Abroad Made Easy designed for people and families looking to move abroad, plus the steps to take in finding your new home.

If you’re looking on how to talk to your kids about moving abroad, check out my blog post here.

If you need more 1 on 1 support, how to move abroad, specifics about where you want to go, you can book a call with me here. After our call, I provide you with a personalized plan for you and your family to get out of the U.S. on a timeline that works for you!

Questions, tell me in the comments! Your question might help someone else. And stay connected on Instagram and YouTube for more always free information and resources!