These are the services I personally use or recommend after years of helping Americans through the move abroad. Some are affiliate partnerships that pay a small commission at no cost to you. None of that affects whether I recommend them — if a service stops being good, it gets removed.
1 Money & Banking
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Multi-currency account, real exchange rates, low fees. Default recommendation for moving USD to EUR, MXN, or any major currency.
Best for: Most US-to-international transfers, monthly living-expense moves, multi-currency budgeting
Open a Wise account →
XE Money Transfer
Bank-to-bank international transfers for amounts beyond Wise upper limits. Better for property purchases and visa-investment transfers.
Best for: $10,000+ transfers, Golden Visa property purchases, one-time large moves
Compare XE rates →2 Insurance & Healthcare

SafetyWing
Travel medical insurance designed for nomads and long-term travelers. $45-80/month, much cheaper than Cigna for the right use case.
Best for: Digital nomads, D8 visa applicants, MX digital-nomad route, multi-country lifestyles
Get a SafetyWing quote →VisitorsCoverage
Short-term travel and visitor health insurance. Good for family visiting from abroad or for the bridge weeks before local enrollment.
Best for: Family visiting the US, scouting trips, gap before SNS/IMSS enrollment
Visit VisitorsCoverage →3 US Tax Filing & Compliance
Universal Tax Professionals
Full-service US expat tax preparation. Handles FEIE, FTC, FBAR, FATCA, treaty positions, state-tax exit work.
Best for: Treaty country complications, foreign-source income, dual-resident scenarios
Book a tax consult →
Expert Tax Services
Alternative full-service expat tax provider. Strong on Spain residents but handles other countries.
Best for: Beckham Law / IFICI / treaty cases needing specialist attention; second opinion
Visit Expert Tax Services →4 Documents & US Address
Monument Visa
US apostille and document authentication. Critical for almost every visa — FBI background check, marriage, birth, education credentials all need apostilling before they are accepted abroad.
Best for: Every visa applicant. You will need this regardless of which country you are moving to.
Order apostille →
Translayte
Sworn and certified document translations accepted by embassies, consulates, and immigration authorities worldwide. Self-service platform — upload your document, pay online, and receive the certified translation in 1–2 business days. Translators for every major language pair.
Best for: Any visa, residency, or paperwork applicant whose documents need to be translated into the destination country’s official language.
Get a translation →
Traveling Mailbox
Virtual US mailing address with mail forwarding and scanning. Critical for expats keeping a US address for the IRS, banking, voter registration, or vehicle registration.
Best for: Maintaining US tax residency, no-tax state domicile, US bank/brokerage accounts that will not accept foreign addresses
Read our guide: Virtual US Mailbox for Americans Abroad →
Set up a virtual mailbox →5 Logistics & Moving

International Moving Quotes
Compare quotes from international movers for full-household shipments. Multi-quote tool to avoid getting locked into one company.
Best for: Retirees shipping the entire household, moves with significant furniture and possessions
Get moving quotes →Send My Bag
Door-to-door luggage and parcel shipping. Cheaper than checking 4 bags on a flight, simpler than full-container shipping.
Best for: Digital nomads, short-term moves, pre-trip shipping of essentials
Get a Send My Bag quote →
PetCargo
Standard international pet transport. IATA-compliant kennels, commercial cargo handling, full-service logistics for moving your dog or cat across borders.
Best for: Standard pet relocations, $1,000-$3,000 budget, healthy animals OK with cargo travel
Get a PetCargo quote →K9 Jets
Private chartered flights for dogs and cats. Routes include Lisbon, London, Paris, Milan, and other European destinations. No cargo holds, no separation from owners.
Best for: Anxious-flier pets, multiple pets, owners willing to pay premium ($5K-50K). Note: K9 Jets does NOT fly to Mexico.
Visit K9 Jets →6 Connectivity, Learning & Travel
Airalo Global eSIM
Instant eSIM data plans for 200+ countries. The landing-day essential — activate before you board, have data when you walk off the plane.
Best for: Every reader. First thing you set up before flying out.
Get an Airalo eSIM →
Preply
1-on-1 language tutors marketplace. Both Spanish and Portuguese available, native speakers, flexible scheduling.
Best for: Anyone moving to Spain, Portugal, or Mexico who wants real conversation practice
Browse Preply tutors →
HomeExchange
Home swap marketplace. Trade your home with someone elsewhere — useful for scouting trips and multi-week visits before committing to a move.
Best for: Scouting trips, testing-the-waters visits, sabbatical-style moves
Visit HomeExchange →