🌎 The Expat Bro Starter Kit

Introduction

This guide gives you the essentials. The full picture — neighborhood deep-dives, visa walkthroughs, bank account playbooks — is in the Premium Guide. But if you're just getting started, this will point you in the right direction.

Pre-Departure Checklist

Documents

• Passport valid for 6+ months beyond your planned stay
• Digital copies of all important documents (cloud backup)
• International driver's license (if you plan to drive)
• Vaccination records
• Travel insurance documentation
• Proof of onward travel (some countries require this)

Financial

• Notify your bank of travel plans
• Get a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card
• Set up Wise account for international transfers
• Have $500+ USD cash as emergency backup
• Know your ATM withdrawal limits

Tech

• Unlock your phone for international SIMs
• Download offline maps (Google Maps, Maps.me)
• Set up VPN (ExpressVPN or NordVPN)
• Download translation apps with offline packs
• Get a portable charger

Health

• Get travel health insurance (SafetyWing, World Nomads)
• Fill prescriptions for 90+ days
• Get vaccinations (varies by country)
• Know your blood type
• Research hospitals in your destination

Country Comparison

Factor	🇲🇽 Mexico	🇨🇴 Colombia	🇻🇪 Venezuela	🇧🇷 Brazil
Ease of Entry	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost of Living	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Safety	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
English Spoken	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐
Internet Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Digital Nomad Visa	✅	✅	❌	✅

Visa Overview

🇲🇽 Mexico

• Tourist: 180 days on arrival, no visa required
• Extension: Visit Migración office before expiration
• Residency: Temporary resident visa requires $2,500/mo income proof

🇨🇴 Colombia

• Tourist: 90 days on arrival, extendable to 180 days
• Digital Nomad: 2-year visa, requires $3,000/mo income
• Extension: Apply at Migración Colombia before expiration

🇻🇪 Venezuela

• Tourist: 90 days on arrival for most nationalities
• Reality: Banking is complicated, bring USD cash

🇧🇷 Brazil

• Tourist: 90 days on arrival, no visa for Americans
• Digital Nomad: 1-year visa, requires $1,500/mo income
• Extension: Apply at Federal Police (Polícia Federal)

Banking Basics

Before You Leave

1. Get a no-foreign-fee credit card (Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture)
2. Set up Wise account for transfers
3. Have backup cards from different banks
4. Notify banks of travel plans

In-Country Options

• Mexico: Cash widely accepted, OXXO for bill pay
• Colombia: Nequi app works well for foreigners
• Venezuela: USD cash is king
• Brazil: Nubank, need CPF (tax ID) for most things

Safety Quick Reference

General Rules

1. Don't flash expensive items
2. Use Uber/DiDi instead of street taxis
3. Stay aware of your surroundings
4. Keep phone in pocket, not hand
5. Learn "no thanks" in local language

If Robbed

• Don't resist — your safety is worth more than stuff
• Hand over what they want
• Report to police for insurance purposes
• Cancel cards immediately

Emergency Numbers

🇲🇽 Mexico	911
🇨🇴 Colombia	123
🇻🇪 Venezuela	171
🇧🇷 Brazil	190 (police) / 192 (ambulance)

10 Mistakes to Avoid

1. Booking long-term housing before arriving — Always see it first
2. Overpacking — You can buy things locally
3. Not learning basic Spanish/Portuguese — Even a little goes far
4. Using street taxis — Apps are safer and often cheaper
5. Flashing wealth — Leave the jewelry at home
6. Ignoring local customs — Being late is normal, adapt
7. Only hanging with other expats — You'll miss the real experience
8. Overstaying visas — Fines and complications aren't worth it
9. Not having backup payment methods — Cards get blocked
10. Expecting things to work like home — Embrace the differences

Next Steps

This guide covers the basics. For comprehensive neighborhood guides, step-by-step visa applications, bank account playbooks, and much more, check out The Complete Relocation Bible at expatbro.co/guides.

Or book a strategy call to get personalized advice for your situation:

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