Where Latin Americans Go
Top & Emerging Destinations
Brazil has a large, fast-growing diaspora with an unusually diversified destination mix spanning the U.S., Portugal, Paraguay, and the wider Lusophone and European world. Mexico's emigration is heavily concentrated toward the U.S., though Canada and Spain draw a small but steady share of those looking for alternatives. Peru's diaspora splits across the U.S., Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Italy, while Argentina's emigrants increasingly favor Spain.
Expats from Central America — led by Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua — are mainly headed to the U.S., with Canada the most common alternative. Belize has British Commonwealth (the Commonwealth of Nations) ties that ease access to the UK and Canada.
For expats from the Caribbean, CARICOM's free-movement zone expanded further in October 2025, making intra-Caribbean moves easier for member-state nationals. Additionally, Spanish-speaking islands such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic mainly relocate to the U.S. English-speaking islands — including Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and the Eastern Caribbean — have strong ties to the U.S., the UK, and Canada. Commonwealth membership, shared by Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and most other English-speaking Caribbean nations, gives nationals certain legal rights in the UK not available to non-Commonwealth immigrants, including the right to vote and in some cases the right of abode. Emigration from Jamaica accelerated in the mid-20th century when the U.S. and UK actively recruited Jamaican workers during and after World War II; policy changes in the 1960s then shifted flows primarily toward the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, Canada.
Those from French-speaking Haiti primarily emigrate to the U.S. and Canada, with France and France's overseas Caribbean territories — Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana — representing a smaller, but established third destination. Those from France's overseas Caribbean territories are French and EU citizens with the same mobility rights.
Expats from Suriname, which became fully independent from the Netherlands in 1975, tend to migrate mostly to the Netherlands due to shared language and colonial ties. The Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and as citizens of those islands are Dutch nationals, they are EU citizens with the right to live and work anywhere in the EU.
Intra-Regional Relocation
The share of Latin American expats who moved to another country within the region nearly doubled from 15% of total migrants in 2000 to 29% in 2024; roughly 14 million people. Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama are the leading intra-regional receiving countries. The MERCOSUR Residence Agreement - in effect since 2009 - is the primary legal vehicle with nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador all being able to obtain temporary legal residency in any other member country by proving their nationality and a clean criminal record; no job offer or sponsor required. Temporary residence is granted for up to 2 years and is convertible to permanent residency. Venezuela has been suspended from MERCOSUR since 2016 and its nationals are not eligible.
Before you relocate
Planning in Advance
Relocating abroad brings practical questions well beyond the move itself — from opening a bank account and staying covered for healthcare, to keeping pension contributions portable and managing tax residency. The information below reflects publicly available data as of early-to-mid 2026 and is subject to change; always verify specifics directly with the relevant authorities before making any related decisions.
- Banks are by far the most expensive way to send money, averaging nearly 15% in fees, while digital and fintech transfer services typically run well below 4% — a gap worth several hundred dollars a year for anyone sending regularly.
- A new 1% U.S. federal tax on certain remittances passed effective January 1, 2026 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The tax applies to cash-based transfers while bank/card transfers are exempt.
- Latin American expats face a significant financial inclusion gap abroad, with restrictions on opening bank accounts and accessing credit among the most common obstacles; this is less of a hurdle for those from Chile and Panama.
- In the U.S., most banks require a Social Security Number (SSN), but an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is widely accepted as an alternative. Major banks including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase accept ITINs, and a June 2025 regulatory change now gives banks more flexibility in verifying taxpayer identification for non-citizens.
- In Spain, non-residents can open accounts online with a valid passport at major banks including BBVA, Santander, and CaixaBank, though most require in-person verification and some require a non-resident certificate from a Spanish police station or consulate. Once employed and registered in Spain's Social Security system, full resident account access follows automatically.
- Credit history does not transfer across borders. Building a local credit profile from scratch — starting with a secured card and recurring bill payments — is something to be considered during the early stages of any international relocation where credit history is needed.
- In Spain, foreign nationals not yet enrolled in Spain's Social Security system cannot access the public health system until they obtain residency and begin contributing. Private health insurance without co-payments or waiting periods is legally required for most Spanish residency and NIE applications.
- In the U.S., healthcare costs without coverage can be severe: a single emergency hospitalization can run $10,000 to $100,000 or more. International health insurance typically costs $50–$300 per month depending on age, destination, and coverage level, with US coverage adding 30–80% to the base premium, still significantly less than the cost of care without insurance.
- Pre-existing conditions may affect coverage terms. Review policy exclusions carefully and consider purchasing coverage before departing, as waiting periods can apply once you're already abroad.
- The Ibero-American Multilateral Social Security Convention allows pension contribution periods across member countries to be totalized, meaning years worked in different member states count cumulatively toward pension eligibility. Active members include Spain, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic. Each country's pension authority administers its own portion. Confirm how your specific contributions will be recorded and recognized well before retirement age.
- This covers elderly, disability, and survivor pensions, as well as work-related illness and accident benefits, but it does not cover general healthcare; private international insurance should be considered for non-work related medical care.
- Bilateral agreements also exist outside this multilateral convention for Latin American countries including Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Only Mexico and Uruguay have such an agreement with the US, and only Barbados and Jamaica have such an agreement with the UK.
- Most Latin American countries tax on a territorial basis, meaning once you establish tax residency elsewhere, home-country tax obligations on foreign-sourced income generally end; Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico are the exceptions. Mexico operates a residence-based system that functions similarly in principle, though enforcement for those without Mexican-sourced income is less clearly defined in practice. Brazil and Argentina tax residents on worldwide income regardless of where that income is earned. Consult with a tax authority to verify your individual situation and needs.
- Double taxation treaties exist between many LATAM countries and their key emigration destinations — including Spain's extensive bilateral treaty network covering Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and others — which can reduce or eliminate dual tax obligations. Verify whether your home country and destination country have a bilateral treaty in place, and always consult a qualified tax professional; thresholds and rules change annually.
- Returning expats should plan for reverse adjustment such as re-establishing local banking relationships, transferring foreign pension entitlements, and navigating tax re-residency, which can take months. Some countries indicate specific windows during which customs benefits apply.
- Most Latin American governments have made at least some provisions to receive returnees and see returning migrants as potential human capital with skills that can contribute to the local economy. Those governments have or are considering programs to match returnees with public sector roles and private sector opportunities where international experience is valued.