Thinking about joining an intentional community abroad?
It’s an exciting thought!
Living in a community overseas offers a chance to embrace a new culture, build meaningful relationships, and live a lifestyle that aligns with your values. For some, the appeal to move is driven by the desire to escape escalating climate issues, political uncertainty, or simply to find a more sustainable and supportive way of life in a different cultural setting.
But, like any big move, it’s important to go in with a clear understanding of what to expect. Below are the key things to consider when deciding if joining an intentional community abroad is the right move for you.
Considerations for Joining an Intentional Community Abroad

Understanding the basics: What does joining an intentional community abroad involve?
Joining an intentional community abroad means becoming part of a shared lifestyle focused on communal living, sustainability, or shared values like permaculture, cooperative economics, or spiritual practice. Each community offers something unique. For example:
- La Ecovilla in Costa Rica: This ecovillage is well-known for its focus on sustainable living, regenerative agriculture, and a strong sense of community among international members. Many residents are expats, making it an easier transition for those new to living abroad.
- Auroville in India: Auroville is a diverse, spiritually-oriented community with members from over 50 countries. It focuses on human unity, sustainable development, and cultural diversity, offering a rich environment for anyone looking to expand their worldview.
Visiting communities abroad can be an amazing experience, but joining is a more serious commitment.
Ask yourself:
- Have you lived in or spent significant time visiting other countries before? If not, you might want to try a long visit to experience the unique rhythms and challenges of life abroad.
- What other languages do you speak or could you pick up easily? Only the larger ecovillages are likely to embrace English as the main language if it isn’t typical in the wider culture.
- Where could I envision myself going through the immigration process? Eventually, getting “residency status” in your chosen country will be necessary.
To help you explore this lifestyle firsthand, consider joining an Ecovillage Tour to communities abroad. It’s a great way to experience community living before making a long-term commitment and to meet others on a similar journey.

Navigating immigration: Does joining an intentional community abroad change the process?
Joining an intentional community abroad usually doesn’t exempt you from standard immigration processes.
As an American or EU citizen, it’s relatively easy to visit most countries in the world as a tourist. That’s how you’ll likely travel for your first visits to communities abroad. If you decide to stay longer (typically more than 90 days), you’ll need to obtain some type of visa – be it an extended tourist visa, student, volunteer, or worker visa. Later, if you decide to pursue residency or even full citizenship, you typically will need to purchase property within the country and go through more lengthy application processes.
Many larger intentional communities are experienced in helping new members navigate these processes. They might even offer documentation or resources to support your visa application.
In India, Auroville is designated as an international township, which actually has a special visa status allowing “a non-Indian to reside in Auroville for one year with the possibility of extending the duration of stay for 3 more years.” On Joining Auroville has more detailed information, but please make sure to verify visa requirements well in advance to ensure you’re prepared.
If in doubt, it’s best to work with a trusted company to support your move abroad. For example, Overseas Property Alert has an article specifically about intentional communities and could be a good resource for you.
Private consultants can advise you on the specifics of your move. For example, this international lifestyle consultant specifically helps retirees make the transition to intentional communities in Mexico.
Given the popularity of moving abroad, there are even entire communities or networks of expats with plenty of free resources. For example, the ExodUS Summit is for black women seeking to live abroad.

Tips for a smooth transition when joining an intentional community abroad
A smooth transition starts with thorough preparation. Here are a few specific tips to make the process easier:
- Pre-visit the community: If possible, take a short trip to experience the community before committing. The Ecovillage Tours to Costa Rica, India, and other countries offer an ideal way to get a taste of community life, meet current residents, and ask questions directly.
- Consider the language barrier: Does the community not only speak your language but also use it in meetings, meals, and other communal settings? Even if the community primarily uses your language, consider whether you’ll be able to find work or social activities outside of the community.
- Stay connected: Join online forums or social media groups to connect with current and former members. Most intentional communities will have social media accounts you can follow.
- Spend time before committing: Consider spending a long period (at least one year) before formally joining a community. This gives you time to fully understand the community dynamics and whether you feel genuinely at home.

Financial considerations: Job, retirement, and health care when moving to an intentional community abroad
One of the most critical considerations when joining an intentional community abroad is financial planning. Here are some tips:
- Research income options: Depending on your work, you might be able to maintain remote employment. Some communities like, RISE Costa Rica, specifically attract remote workers who appreciate the balance between work and community living. Alternatively, some communities offer opportunities for residents to contribute skills in exchange for housing or a small stipend.
- Consider retirement funds: If you’re retired, research how your benefits might be affected by living abroad. Costa Rica, for example, has a popular pensionado visa program for retirees.
- Health care access: Some countries have affordable health care systems, while others may require you to purchase international health insurance. In Costa Rica, health care is accessible and often highly rated by expats. On the other hand, in India, health care can be affordable, but insurance coverage is still recommended.
Financial stability is key to a smooth transition. Calculate your monthly expenses, and if possible, visit communities with a variety of living arrangements to get an idea of potential costs.

Family matters: Moving abroad with children and joining an intentional community
Bringing children along on this journey can be both challenging and rewarding. Many intentional communities are family-friendly, offering a supportive environment where children can learn from nature and a diverse group of people. Consider communities such as:
- ÉcoVillage de Pourgues in France: This growing ecovillage is inspired by the principles of sudbury schools, with a emphasis of free and intergenerational learning.
- Schloss Tempelhof in Germany: A sizable community with their own school in which the children are encouraged to learn from a variety of people in the village according to their interests.
- La’akea Community in Hawaii: While not outside the US, this community welcomes families and places a strong emphasis on alternative education and cooperative living.
When moving with children, it’s essential to research schooling options. Some communities have homeschooling programs, while others might have local schools nearby. Make sure to inquire about the community’s approach to family integration and what resources they have available.

Living abroad part-time: Is part-time community living abroad an option for you?
For some, the idea of joining an intentional community abroad is appealing, but a full-time commitment might feel too overwhelming or impractical. Living abroad part-time can offer a unique solution, allowing you to experience community life and international culture without completely uprooting your life. Here are some considerations if this approach appeals to you:
- Seasonal Residency: Many intentional communities, especially in countries with distinct tourism seasons, welcome part-time residents or seasonal volunteers. This can be a great way to spend the winter months in a warm, tropical location like Costa Rica and head home to the US during the rainy season.
- Community Expectations and Flexibility: It’s essential to check whether the community you’re interested in allows for part-time residency and transient lifestyles. Some communities, like Traditional Dream Factory in Portugal, are intentionally more flexible, welcoming transient residents and fostering a nomadic culture. However, most communities prefer residents who are more consistently present and actively contributing to the community’s growth. Investigate if residents can sublet their spaces or if there are specific guidelines for coming and going.
- Financial Flexibility: Part-time living allows you to maintain a home base in your native country, which can ease financial concerns around healthcare, taxes, and retirement benefits. For instance, you could live in the community for a few months each year, continuing work remotely or spending the remaining months earning in your home country.
- Immigration and Visa Considerations: Part-time living can simplify visa requirements, as you might only need a tourist visa rather than a long-term residency permit. However, it’s important to understand the specific rules for each country. In Costa Rica, for example, tourists can stay up to 90 days, after which a quick border crossing can renew their stay. In the Schengen Zone in Europe, you can stay for 90 days but then must leave for 90 days before returning.

Finding the right fit: Which communities and countries are welcoming to foreigners?
When it comes to joining an intentional community abroad, not all communities are equally welcoming to foreigners. Certain countries—like Costa Rica, Portugal, and Thailand—are known for their friendly expat communities and open-minded local cultures.
You may also want to look for communities that are already highly international. This will ease your transition, as they are often more familiar with integrating newcomers from diverse backgrounds.
Typically, the larger the community, the more international it’ll be. And it is more likely that English will be spoken as the primary language during gatherings and meetings. Here’s a video featuring the biggest intentional communities in the world, including:
- Findhorn, Scotland (https://www.findhorn.org/)
- Tamera, Portugal (https://www.tamera.org/)
- Auroville, India (https://auroville.org/)
- Sekem, Egypt (https://www.sekem.com/en/index/)
- Eco Village Ithaca, USA (https://ecovillageithaca.org/)
- Sieben Linden, Germany (https://siebenlinden.org/en/ecovillag…)
- Damanhur, Italy (https://damanhur.org/)
Making the decision: Is joining an intentional community abroad the right move for you?
Ultimately, the decision to join an intentional community abroad is a personal one. Take time to reflect on your reasons for wanting to make this move. Are you seeking a stronger sense of community? Do you crave a slower, more sustainable lifestyle? Are you ready for the challenges that living abroad can bring?
If you’re considering this lifestyle but aren’t quite ready to commit, consider traveling with Ecovillage Tours to experience a diversity of communities firsthand. These tours provide a taste of what intentional community life is like, so you can make an informed decision based on your own experience.
By taking these steps and reflecting on your goals, you’ll be well-prepared to decide if joining an intentional community abroad is the right move for you. And remember, there’s a whole network of communities around the world that may be eager to welcome you.
Found these tips helpful? More to add? What is your experience with intentional communities abroad?
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