This is a post about how to move abroad with no money. Published on 18/11/2024. Updated on 04/12/25.
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Moving abroad with no money might sound impossible but thousands of people do it every year including me. If you dream about living overseas but feel held back by finances, visas and the sheer logistics of it all, take a breath. You don’t need a huge savings pot or a high salary to start a new chapter abroad. You don’t need a million degrees nor a job at a multinational that will transfer you to a new country. You need strategy, flexibility and the right programme to open the door for you. And, most of all, knowing that your first step doesn’t need to be your whole life.
Whether you want a fresh start in Europe, an adventure in Asia or a slower lifestyle elsewhere, this guide shows exactly how to move abroad with no money in 2026 based on real experience and practical low cost pathways that work.
I moved abroad 3 times by myself with virtually no money every single time. All 3 times I moved as an au pair. If you already know this isn’t for you, worry not, there are other ways. Keep reading along…
I grew up dreaming of living abroad! I wanted to experience life like the movies I loved so much (and Gilmore Girls came along just before I reached High School, so you can imagine the “damage” it made!). I used to go to all kinds of “study abroad” fairs and request a million brochures from American universities as if I could afford it!
Lo and behold, turns out those study abroad brochures introduced me to the au pair programme…I won’t get into the whole thing here but I will say it changed my life. I was an au pair in the USA, in Germany and in the UK where I ended up settling and even got my citizenship recently (all on my own, didn’t need to get married – it’s doable!). Au pairing was the first step for me and for so many others around the globe…
If you want to know more about how to be an au pair, I’ll link below several guides I’ve written about the subject but, in the meantime, read on for how to move abroad with no money.
This guide breaks down the most realistic and achievable ways to move abroad plus tips for planning your first 30 days overseas and the countries that offer the best value for newcomers. Everything here is designed to help you make moving abroad in 2026 not just possible but actually enjoyable.
Is It Really Possible to Move Abroad With No Money?
Yes but with one big caveat: you need a pathway that provides one of the following:
- Free accommodation
- A low cost visa
- A job or programme that pays quickly
- Possibly a country where your money stretches further
You do not need:
- years of savings
- rich parents
- a six figure remote job
- perfect timing
I will say though, if you can get organised and save as much as possible, having a solid safety net is extremely helpful!
Most of the people who successfully move abroad with little money use one of these:
- au pair programmes
- housesitting
- working holiday visas
- volunteering exchanges
- teaching English abroad
- digital nomad visas
- studying abroad (not every country charges thousands in education like it’s a business, not a right)
All of these are low cost entry routes, especially the ones that reduce the biggest expense of all: accommodation.
How to Move Abroad With No Money: The Best Low Cost Pathways
Become an Au Pair
Au pairing is one of the cheapest easiest and most structured ways to move abroad especially for younger travellers or anyone wanting cultural immersion. You live with a host family in exchange for childcare and light housework and in return you get accommodation meals and a weekly stipend.
Requirements change depending on the country but you can basically be an au pair between the ages of 18-30. The au pair programme allowed me to fulfill some of my wildest dreams! I can’t recommend it enough. It’s not for everyone, it’s not a holiday, it’s not a year-long party. It’s hard. But life is hard. Whatever you choose to do with it, you’ll always have tough days and experiences. In my experience, it was all worth it… I’ll go more in-depth and personal on my Substack in the next few weeks if you want to give that a follow.
- Countries that Offer Au Pair Programs: Popular destinations include Germany, France, the USA and the Netherlands.
- Benefits: Low living expenses, cultural immersion and the opportunity to improve your language skills.
In Europe, once you finish one au pair year you can often move to a neighbouring country for the price of a train ticket which is genuinely one of the cheapest ways to move between countries legally! My move to the UK basically cost me the visa, course I applied to attend and the train from Germany via France. Check platforms like AuPairWorld or Great Au Pair to find a suitable host family.
Au pairing is ideal if you want cultural immersion, language learning, lower living expenses and a potentially supportive structure for your first move abroad.
If you’re interested in becoming an au pair, I’ve got loads of tips and guides here!
READ MORE:
How to Become an Au Pair: Your Starting Guide
How to Be an Au Pair in Europe: A Step-by-Step Guide
8 Reasons to Be an Au Pair: A Life-Changing Experience
8 Essential Tips to Make Your Au Pair Life Easier
Questions You Need to Ask Your Host Family Before Matching
How to Be an Au Pair in the USA: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Difference Between Au Pair in the US vs Europe
Housesitting and Petsitting
Housesitting is a brilliant option for travellers moving abroad with little or no cash. You stay in someone’s home for free while looking after their property or pets. This is especially helpful in expensive countries like the UK, Australia or Canada where renting can be pricey.
Platforms include TrustedHousesitters, Nomador and local Facebook groups. You usually pay a small membership fee then you can apply for sits around the world.
To get accepted more often, create a profile with clear photos, references and a warm introduction. People want sitters who feel trustworthy and capable with pets.
Housesitting lets you live like a local and avoid rent which is the biggest cost of moving abroad. I ended up doing loads of house and dogsitting these past few years here in London.
Working Holiday Visa
Working holiday visas are one of the cheapest legal ways to move abroad with limited money especially if you’re between 18 and 30 or 35 depending on the country. These visas allow you to live and work for a year or two without needing a job in advance which is ideal if you want flexibility to explore and earn as you go.
Countries with popular working holiday schemes include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France and Argentina. The type of work you can do is flexible too including hospitality bar work farm jobs retail office roles cafes and seasonal resorts.
You usually need enough savings to support yourself for the first couple of weeks although the “required amount” varies widely. Many people earn back their initial costs very quickly especially in countries like Australia and New Zealand where wages are high. It’s one of the most practical ways to move abroad with little money because you can start earning almost immediately after arriving.
Working holiday visas are perfect for anyone who wants stability with freedom, cultural immersion and a clear legal pathway to stay for a year or more.
There’s a catch: countries only issue a certain number of WHV per year so you need to check when applications open and apply quickly! The good thing is, more and more countries are offering these.
Work and Travel Programmes
Work and Travel programmes are structured cultural exchange schemes that allow students or young adults to live and work abroad for a few months usually during the summer or a gap year. Unlike working holiday visas, where you organise everything yourself, Work and Travel programmes are normally arranged through an agency which provides support, job placement and visa guidance.
These programmes are especially popular in the USA where the J-1 Work and Travel visa lets students work in places like national parks, resorts, summer camps, theme parks and hospitality venues. Some programmes also exist in other countries but the US remains the main destination.
- Ideal for people who want a short term overseas experience without committing to a full year.
- Good for those who prefer a structured environment and guaranteed job placement
- Suitable if you want to test the waters of long term travel before making a big move
While you will need to pay programme and visa fees upfront, the support you receive and the ability to earn once you’re there makes it an accessible stepping stone to living abroad even if you don’t have much money.
Volunteer Abroad for Free Accommodation
Volunteering is not the same as working for free. Many programmes offer accommodation and food in exchange for meaningful work and sometimes even a stipend. This drastically reduces your cost of living which is exactly what you need when moving abroad with limited funds.
Check out popular platforms include Workaway, HelpX, Worldpackers and WWOOF. Projects range from eco villages and hostels to community centres farms and schools.
Projects often include meals which means your only expenses might be transport and personal spending.
If you choose this route, make sure the programme is ethical, clear in expectations and safe.
Teach English Abroad
Teaching English is one of the most financially stable ways to move abroad. Some countries offer free housing, flights and excellent salaries. South Korea, Japan, UAE, Hong Kong and China have longstanding demand for English teachers.
Usual requirements:
- a bachelor’s degree
- a TEFL certificate (recommended but not always required)
I’ve actually done a course with TEFL.org! I got qualified a couple of years ago just in case it was something I wanted to do for a little while as I pondered what my next move would be. It’s a respected provider for online certifications and offers flexible coursework and great feedback. Once certified you can apply through job boards like Teach Away, Dave’s ESL Cafe or even online platforms such as Cambly and Preply.
Teaching English helps you save money quickly and gives you a structured lifestyle while living abroad.
Choose a Country With a Low Cost of Living
Moving abroad becomes far more affordable when you pick a country where housing and food are cheaper than at home. The issue with this is that a lot of people from high income countries started moving to places that are cheaper, contributing for life to become more expensive for locals whose income remained the same.
For that reason, I don’t love promoting this way of travelling but the reality is that people will continue to do it, so I do think it’s important to highlight the impact of it and make conscious choices.
Issues to keep in mind include:
- rising rent due to demand from foreigners
- pressure on local housing when short term rentals replace long term homes
- price increases while local wages remain the same
- neighbourhoods shifting to suit visitors rather than communities
- cultural spaces becoming commercialised or tourist focused
Popular destinations for low cost living include Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Georgia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and my beloved Brazil. These places allow your income to stretch further which makes settling in easier when you have limited funds. However, you should aim to live responsibly by:
- choosing housing that does not displace residents (or offering to pay a lot more just so you can have it!)
- supporting local businesses
- engaging with the local community rather than staying in expat bubbles
And I cannot stress this enough… LEARN 👏 THE 👏 LOCAL 👏 LANGUAGE!
Digital Nomad Visas
If you have a freelance or remote job, digital nomad visas allow you to legally live in a foreign country for months or years. Popular options include the D7 visa in Portugal, Croatia’s digital nomad permit, Hungary’s new digital nomad visa and Spain’s remote worker visa.
These visas usually require proof of steady income rather than large savings which makes them accessible if you already work online. I have a whole list here of all the digital nomad visas available (update ongoing).
Don’t forget to refer back to the above re: not disrupting things for locals.
READ MORE:
How to Become an Au Pair: Your Starting Guide
How to Be an Au Pair in Europe: A Step-by-Step Guide
8 Reasons to Be an Au Pair: A Life-Changing Experience
8 Essential Tips to Make Your Au Pair Life Easier
Questions You Need to Ask Your Host Family Before Matching
How to Be an Au Pair in the USA: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Difference Between Au Pair in the US vs Europe
Study Abroad or Scholarships
If you want to move abroad, long term studying can be a low-ish cost pathway especially in countries with free or cheap tuition.
Germany offers incredibly affordable study routes even for non EU students and many programmes are in English. Students can work part time and often receive a regional travel pass as part of their enrolment.
France has excellent alternance programmes that combine study and paid work. Mexico offers low tuition and a lively international community.
Platforms like DAAD and The Scholarship Hub list scholarships and low cost study options.
How Much Money Do You Actually Need to Move Abroad?
Here’s the truth:
You do not need thousands.
But you do need enough for the first 30 days.
Typical minimum starting budget:
- flights or transport
- travel insurance
- at least one month of emergency funds
- visa fees if applicable
In many cases £300 to £1000 is enough to make the leap especially if your accommodation is covered (au pairing, volunteering, housesitting, teaching English).
Starter Budget for Moving Abroad With No Money
- emergency fund: minimum £300
- local SIM card
- food for the first week
- transport card
- visa fee
- basic toiletries and essentials
- 2 week’s accommodation if not included
Step-by-Step Plan: How to Move Abroad With No Money in 2026
- Pick a pathway: au pair – housesitting – working holiday visa – work & travel – volunteering – TEFL – digital nomad
- Choose a country
- Check visa rules
- Apply for programmes
- Save a small starter fund
- Start looking at flights
- Plan your first 30 days abroad
- Pack for long term travel
- Move!
Save Before You Go
While these options make moving abroad more affordable, it’s essential to have some savings to cover unexpected costs.
I personally have a separate account with Monzo where I keep my “travel fund”. I love it! I only load my account with the amount of money I want to spend each month and I also have it set up so everything I spend it rounds up. The “change” for that rounding up goes into a different pot that becomes yet another piggy bank!
If you’re in the UK too and want to open a Monzo account AND earn £5, use my link and we both get a fiver 🙌
Now, if you’re NOT in the UK but want to have one of the best and easiest travel cards, I highly recommend WISE (Monzo uses their tech too!). They make it really easy to use the card in any currency and all you have to do is load it up. If you haven’t got yours yet, here’s my link that waives the fee on your first transfer up to £500!
Savings Tips:
- Set a monthly savings goal
- Sell items you no longer need
- Work side gigs to boost your travel fund
Common Mistakes People Make When Moving Abroad With No Money
I made SO many mistakes! I was incredibly lucky things didn’t take a turn for the worse because I did not do nearly enough research as I should’ve… I didn’t know my rights as a foreigner, I didn’t have a clue about financial planning, I took hardly any money with me (I’m talking U$100!)
Not just from personal experience but also from various conversations over the years with thousands of people who moved abroad, these are the most common mistakes I’ve seen people make when moving abroad (or made it myself!):
- Not researching visa requirements
- Underestimating costs
- Expecting everything to be easy from day one
- Not learning at least the basics of the local language
- Not having a backup plan
FAQ: Moving Abroad With No Money
The more savings you can have, the better. The bigger the cushion, the softer the fall! Take a little time before moving and get yourself a job where you can save up at least a small amount.
It depends on which visa you’re looking for. If you want to be an au pair, you don’t need any proof of income.
You definitely can! It’s just often easier to have one lined up.
Yes! In the US families go through a whole screening process by the agency. In Europe the visas are done via the government so families need to prove they are who they say they are, they live where they say they live and actually have children.
Obviously no one can guarantee anywhere/anything is 100% safe so please be careful. Especially if looking for families on Facebook – it can work out but I don’t recommend.
Every country has different requirements! I have a list here with 66 countries offering digital nomad visas and what their requirements are.
You can move abroad alone whenever you want! Sadly, some visas are only for younger people but there are many alternatives if you’re older.
Final Thoughts
Moving abroad with no money is not only possible but often the most transformative chapter of your life. With the right visa or programme you can reduce living costs, start earning quickly and build a life you once thought was out of reach.
Are you thinking of moving abroad? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
This is a post about how to move abroad with no money.
