Post: #1

This is a thread for exchanging info on working holidays, second passports, and generally working and living overseas. One of my best assets is a U.S. passport. Especially as an ambitious young man, it opened up doors. Through working holidays, access to country-specific exchange programs, and the like, I could make money, improve my hustle, and lay down the internal foundation to foster long-term success.

Post anything else you think of. Since I'm an American, I'll post info specific to Americans, but also for players of all nationalities.

Americans specifically

U.S. citizens under the age of 31 can live and work in Australia for a year. Wages in Australia are quite high and, like working in the Canadian oil industry, you can make serious bank by working in Western Australia, anything related to the mining industry if you're lucky:
https://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/462.aspx

You can also work in New Zealand (working holiday):
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/s...ngholiday/

Korea working holiday:
http://usa-newyork.mofa.go.kr/english/am.../index.jsp

Singapore working holiday (need a university degree):
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/p...fault.aspx

Ireland working holiday (need a university degree or be in process):
https://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=8605

Canada working holiday (must be a student, or have been a student within the past 9 months):
http://www.swap.ca/in_eng/index.aspx

Anyone

Argentina - if you live in Argentina for only 2 years in some capacity, you can go before a judge and argue for Argentine citizenship:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_nationality_law

Uruguay - to get residence, you only need to prove an income of $650/month. Good for location-independent g's who like Latin culture. Is Uruguay expensive or cheap? I imagine that it's much cheaper than neighboring Argentina, with many of the same perks - red wine, steak, good weather, beautiful women...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11397130

Europe - Poland Schengen loophole
/thread-31412.html

Europe redux - some EU countries are less strict about acquisition of citizenship, that is, people born abroad who are automatically citizens regardless because their parent, grandparent, etc. is a citizen. Ireland, Italy, and Lithuania come to mind. Lithuanian nationality law basically says that anyone whose ancestors were Lithuanian citizens in the interwar period, is a Lithuanian citizen also (and thus an EU citizen, with working rights in Germany, UK, France, etc.) Basically, it's worth exploring your European roots to see if you could hustle to get EU citizenship, even if you've never set foot there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship...pean_Union

Japan - artist visa. If you generate sufficient income (last I remember it was about $1,000/month only) as an "artist" you can self-sponsor a working visa in Japan. I know a guy who DJ'ed part-time and was able to sponsor his visa. I personally modeled part-time - I could make $300 on a Saturday starting out, so it seems feasible that you could work very little as an "artist" and use the rest of the time doing whatever, banging Japanese bitches, learning Japanese, teaching English off the books to horny housewives, whatever.
http://www.juridique.jp/immigration.html

Canada - "Am I a Canadian?" citizenship tool to determine if you acquired Canadian citizenship through your family. Especially useful for Americans with Canadian family. I found out that my mother and two aunts have been Canadian citizens their whole lives, with access to free and high-quality health care.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules/

Spanish (and thus EU) citizenship for Sephardic Jews
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/SPANISH-C....214013328

Post: #2

(02-03-2014 10:16 PM)Yeti Wrote:  Spanish (and thus EU) citizenship for Sephardic Jews
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/SPANISH-C....214013328

Ka-ching!

Post: #3

When it comes to dual passports I like the St Kitts and Nevis economic citizenship program. You have to invest 400K (usually real estate) to get the citizenship, but there are a ton of benefits and you dont have to live there either.

Including:

Citizenship for life, for applicant and all eligible family members.

Dual Citizenship is permitted, without the requirement to notify the applicant’s home country, and without any need for the applicant to reside in St. Kitts/Nevis.

Passports will be issued to the applicant and all eligible family members, and may be easily renewed.

Visa-Free Travel to over 130 countries including Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and most British commonwealth countries. When a visa is required, they are also relatively easy to obtain.

Full Residency Status and the right to work in St. Kitts/Nevis.

Tax Free Status on foreign income, capital gains, gift, wealth and inheritance tax

As a Commonwealth citizen, you receive certain preferential treatment in the United Kingdom. For example, your children may enter the United Kingdom to study without first having to apply for student visas. After studying, they may work in the United Kingdom for two years without needing a work permit.

The tax benefits alone are great. Makes me want to renounce US citizenship immediately and become a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis.

Post: #4

I am currently doing a working holiday in Australia, not sure if people care enough but if their is I may do a travel data sheet in the near future.

Post: #5

How do the working holidays work? You get set up with a job before flying out there? Are those programs hard to get in?

Post: #6

(02-04-2014 02:28 AM)Flavius Aetius Wrote:  Tax Free Status on foreign income, capital gains, gift, wealth and inheritance tax

The tax benefits alone are great. Makes me want to renounce US citizenship immediately and become a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis.

The tax benefits would only apply if you were living in St. Kitts and Nevis or another tax haven (Hong Kong, Dubai, Monaco, etc.). If you were living in another country, you would be considered tax resident and subject to its taxes.

One of my Russian friends was burnt by that very program because the real estate that meets the citizenship program's requirements is sold by government ministers at well over its market value... so even though it looks like you only have to park $400k for a few years, in actual fact it will cost you $100-200k minimum.

In all, the St. Kitts program is pretty useless unless you're American and willing to renounce your US citizenship, or if you're from a third-world country and have a lot of trouble with EU/UK visas.

A better option would be to look into the nationality law of whichever country you plan to live in. Most European countries provide an easy path to citizenship for spouses. Eg. spouses of Italians can get citizenship after three years of marriage, no conditions and you don't even have to live in Italy. Similar deal in Russia, but you'll need to pass a language test (it's simple - most people can pass it after six months of study). In Bulgaria it takes about three years if you're married to a Bulgarian.

Post: #7

(02-05-2014 08:09 PM)Screwston Wrote:  How do the working holidays work? You get set up with a job before flying out there? Are those programs hard to get in?

You just apply for the visa and they usually grant it if you've nothing egregious in your background like a felony arrest, etc. When you arrive in the country, you look for work. That's why it makes a certain sense to go to a country like Australia, where jobs are everywhere, so that you can be more assured of it being worth the time and risk.

Post: #8

Good thread idea OP!

As for this statement:

"One of my best assets is a U.S. passport."

Well, unfortunately for me it's both good and bad. As you'll find if you move abroad, US citizens are about the only ones in the developed world who get taxed on income earned abroad in other countries/currencies. So you have that albatross hanging around your neck if you have a US passport.

Anyway, I've been working on finding out the best way to get a European passport and will try to impart some of the knowledge I glean when I find out more about it.

Post: #9

(02-06-2014 08:21 AM)Akula Wrote:  Anyway, I've been working on finding out the best way to get a European passport and will try to impart some of the knowledge I glean when I find out more about it.

Wikipedia is a good place to start for most countries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Nationality_law
More thorough reports are available here: http://eudo-citizenship.eu/country-profiles

Basically, you'll have to live somewhere for at least 3-5 years. In some countries it will take a lot longer if you aren't "married."

I feel for Americans with their global tax obligations.. It's usually not an issue if you're living in a country with a socialist tax system (double-tax treaties will cancel out the US tax). But.. in Eastern and Central Europe where the tax rates are much lower, you guys are at a real disadvantage.

Post: #10

(02-06-2014 09:41 AM)DaveR Wrote:  

(02-06-2014 08:21 AM)Akula Wrote:  Anyway, I've been working on finding out the best way to get a European passport and will try to impart some of the knowledge I glean when I find out more about it.

Wikipedia is a good place to start for most countries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Nationality_law
More thorough reports are available here: http://eudo-citizenship.eu/country-profiles

Basically, you'll have to live somewhere for at least 3-5 years. In some countries it will take a lot longer if you aren't "married."

I feel for Americans with their global tax obligations.. It's usually not an issue if you're living in a country with a socialist tax system (double-tax treaties will cancel out the US tax). But.. in Eastern and Central Europe where the tax rates are much lower, you guys are at a real disadvantage.

I didn't even know it was an issue.

Post: #11

Be careful.. you still have to file even if you don't owe any tax: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Internati...y-Benefits

Post: #12

(02-06-2014 04:35 PM)DaveR Wrote:  Be careful.. you still have to file even if you don't owe any tax: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Internati...y-Benefits

yeah they are cracking down on this big time. The IRS is all over Americans abroad so be careful. You can get put in jail for not filing! Not paying taxes is technically not against the law...but not filing is from what I understand. But assuming you paid Japanese taxes and it's a higher rate than in the US I'd think you'd be ok. I don't want to be alarmist but be careful and consult with a tax accountant. I filed this year and the stupid IRS came back and said I didn't pay in time (I did) and were oblivious to the fact that I live and work abroad (!).

Post: #13

DAmn you bet me to this thread!!

Post: #14

I tried to look at your link:
/thread-31412.html


but it says that I cannot access this page?