Americans looking at retiring abroad are weighing Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Ireland, and the differences come down to money and paperwork.
Portugal remains popular for its D7 visa, built for people with passive income like pensions or investments, though minimum requirements keep shifting. Greece offers a similar income based visa and lower living costs, especially outside Athens. Spain has a nonlucrative visa but taxes worldwide income fairly aggressively once you’re a resident. Italy’s elective residency visa demands proof of steady income and can involve a slower bureaucratic process. Ireland stands apart, no special retiree visa exists, so most Americans qualify through other residency routes, and living costs there, particularly housing, run higher than the rest.
Tax treaties matter too. The US has agreements with all five countries to prevent double taxation, but how pensions, Social Security and investment gains get treated varies a lot case by case.
Cost of living still tips the scale for many retirees. Portugal and Greece generally cost less than Spain, while Italy sits in the middle and Ireland runs highest.
Anyone serious about the move should talk to a cross border tax advisor before picking a country, since rules change often and mistakes get expensive.
My Take…
So you want to retire abroad, huh? Sure, Jan. Portugal's D7 visa is the influencer favorite, Greece is cheaper if you skip Athens, Spain taxes you like it owes you money, Italy moves slower than dial up, and Ireland just skips the retiree visa entirely. Pick wisely. Taxes vary. Get an advisor, genius.
Click on the link below for the full article:
https://kesq.com/stacker-international/2026/07/28/the-countries-courting-american-retirees-and-the-fine-print-they-dont-advertise/
