The dream of retiring abroad is real for many citizens. Two pensioners who fulfilled this requirement are now emigrating again. You want to get to the EU from Nicaragua and you already have a country in mind.
Darrell and Amy Bushnell’s home has been Nicaragua for 18 years, but now they want to start a new adventure. “We have two places in mind: Mexico and Italy,” the 74-year-old early retiree told “Afar”.
Almost 20 years ago, Darrel emigrated to the Central American country with his 68-year-old wife, where he feels very comfortable. They were particularly impressed by the culture and the people, but now they want to try a new adventure.
Mexico would be the easier option because the two Americans already speak Spanish and have friends there. You would like the culture, the people and the landscape. It would also be easier to give her two dogs a new home. “Mexico is an incredible country, there are really good opportunities there,” says Amy.
Additionally, the couple appreciates the cooler climate that Mexico could offer them. They are thinking about settling in the highlands of Mexico, where it is around 50 degrees at night. Amy Bushnell even said that she would be happy to be able to wear a sweater again and that there was even a fireplace there.
As for Italy, they even have family connections there – Amy’s grandmother was Italian. The European holiday destination would also offer the opportunity to explore the entire continent. It “would be fascinating because it would be a whole new country,” Darrell said. But there are also financial reasons for Italy.
Tax incentives play a big role in the couple’s decision making. They currently pay no taxes in Nicaragua on their pension, social security and savings income. Darrell explained that in most EU countries they have to pay between 30 and 40 percent, while in Mexico it is similar to Nicaragua. You pay nothing, but you also have no benefits from the state.
Differently in the EU, Italy offers attractive incentives. There is a regulation according to which “you pay seven percent of social security and pension, but in return you are included in the national health system. We think it’s worth it,” Bushnell told Afar. “Residential Abroad” also reports on the “pensioner regime”.
According to “MoPo”, anyone who registers their residence south of Rome in communities with fewer than 20,000 residents only has to pay seven percent taxes on their income and pension. To do this, however, the main residence would have to be moved to Italy.
A woman found out why emigrating to another European country in retirement also brings with it pitfalls. She wanted to know from seniors in Spain what she needed to pay attention to, but was warned. The high temperatures are not for everyone and are treacherous, especially as you get older.
German skilled workers who work and live abroad are faced with a tax problem: A new decree from the Federal Ministry of Finance could lead to double taxation and back payments – and also burden companies.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) also spoke about the heating law, which caused major discussions last year, at a citizens’ dialogue on the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law in Berlin. He admitted that the law had gone too far.