When it comes to living and working outside of the country, there are a few places that stand out among the rest. Work visas and permits can be especially tough in the majority of the world for Americans. It can require thousands of dollars applying for special permission and can take a very long time and various trips back and forth between countries to obtain.

However, there are a few countries which are fairly simple to relocate to work. Many Americans move there every year and send back home reports of a high quality of life and very little immigration struggles.

Take a look at some of the best choices if you’re looking for somewhere outside of the United States to work as an expat.

Virgin Islands

Since the Virgin Islands are part of U.S. territory, going there is just as if you are in one of the states at home. You can work and live there without having to obtain visas, and to boot, it’s a beautiful location. You can see lots of wonderful things in this Caribbean wonderland.

Since the primary business there is tourism, finding a job in the Virgin Islands is ideal if you are willing to work in this niche. Try looking for something in a hotel which requires a receptionist or wait staff. If you have management experience, this can be a fabulous opportunity to branch out into the hospitality management business.

Australia

Although Americans are required to obtain a visa to work in Australia they are fairly easy to obtain. You can work up to 12 months in Australia with an opportunity to apply for a longer amount of time given that you meet all of the requirements.

Usually, this involves a background check, and in areas such as New South Wales, you’d also have to do a police check as well. However, this could be handled by outside agencies that you could find online by doing a simple google search for ‘police check nsw‘ or something along those lines. You could access such agencies from anywhere and accordingly have your verification ready before you even get to the continent.

Australia is a culturally rich and beautiful place. From the geography to the completely different wildlife, it’s an adventure waiting to be had.

Since Australia is also a place booming with tourism, a lot of visitors work in the service industry. However, since it’s also home to several major cities there are plenty of office jobs and career opportunities beyond the tourism industry.

Try looking for opportunities before you go and apply ahead of time to make sure that you are setting yourself up for plenty of options.

Thailand

Thailand is a great place for Americans to go who want a warm climate, delicious food, and friendly people. Typically it’s a very easy place to find a job as an English teacher.

Many schools in Thailand do not require teaching credentials, simply being a native English speaker is requirement enough. While the pay is not anywhere as high as the United States, the cost of living is considerably lower so you can live a very comfortable lifestyle for very little money.