The rise of digital nomad visas, global investment programs, and alternative citizenships has begun to redefine what it means to belong to a country. The “sovereign individual” concept is no longer hypothetical—it is an emerging reality.
Thanks for this. I found it really interesting. When you have a moment, I'd love to talk to you about your journey. We are going to be pursuing the "jus sanguinis" route first. There is an exceptionally good chance that I am entitled to Italian citizenship. If so, then so are my kids, and then my wife could also live in the EU as my spouse. That would significantly shorten the road (as I understand it) in terms of getting a PR "ticket," and, ultimately, a citizenship card in an EU country. At the moment, we're considering Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden (in roughly that order.) I decided to start a company, and publish this blog to capture the research and the information we learn along the way. My kids are also going to blog and document their journey as part of the process as well.
Maybe the Italian thing works out, maybe it doesn't. We've looked at the Golden Visa programs in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, etc. Some are, as you've pointed out, real estate accepting, some aren't. We could go that route, but it would be financially painful. So I want to explore first the bloodline route.
I think Spain and Portugal are great potential places for Americans. I keep hearing wonderful things about Portugal, quite frankly. It keeps coming up over and over in my research. My wife and I really also enjoyed Barcelona the times we've been there. Spain is an amazing country in general.
When you travel around the world... it's simultaneously frustrating and eye-opening. It's frustrating because you see how other countries have "solved" (or rather effectively addressed) so many problems - like violence, crime, health care, etc.; simultaneously - eye-opening because they have built these stable civil societies, despite all we've told that "America is the best! If we haven't figured it out, NOBODY can!" Well, that myth isn't true, now is it?
I say this having been someone who's extensively traveled.
I wish America was trending a different direction... but it's not.
Thanks for this. I found it really interesting. When you have a moment, I'd love to talk to you about your journey. We are going to be pursuing the "jus sanguinis" route first. There is an exceptionally good chance that I am entitled to Italian citizenship. If so, then so are my kids, and then my wife could also live in the EU as my spouse. That would significantly shorten the road (as I understand it) in terms of getting a PR "ticket," and, ultimately, a citizenship card in an EU country. At the moment, we're considering Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden (in roughly that order.) I decided to start a company, and publish this blog to capture the research and the information we learn along the way. My kids are also going to blog and document their journey as part of the process as well.
Maybe the Italian thing works out, maybe it doesn't. We've looked at the Golden Visa programs in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, etc. Some are, as you've pointed out, real estate accepting, some aren't. We could go that route, but it would be financially painful. So I want to explore first the bloodline route.
I think Spain and Portugal are great potential places for Americans. I keep hearing wonderful things about Portugal, quite frankly. It keeps coming up over and over in my research. My wife and I really also enjoyed Barcelona the times we've been there. Spain is an amazing country in general.
When you travel around the world... it's simultaneously frustrating and eye-opening. It's frustrating because you see how other countries have "solved" (or rather effectively addressed) so many problems - like violence, crime, health care, etc.; simultaneously - eye-opening because they have built these stable civil societies, despite all we've told that "America is the best! If we haven't figured it out, NOBODY can!" Well, that myth isn't true, now is it?
I say this having been someone who's extensively traveled.
I wish America was trending a different direction... but it's not.