Trial stay abroad: test a move in 1-3 months

How to try a country before you move: tourist stay limits, short-term visa options, what to test, a 13-week plan with weekly tasks and how to keep your home base while you try.

In brief

A trial stay of 1 to 3 months is the most reliable way to learn whether a country suits you, and it costs far less than a mistaken move. For visa-exempt visitors the Schengen rule is 90 days in any 180-day period, unchanged by the Entry/Exit System that has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, so one trial season fits comfortably inside it. This guide covers the stay limits, short-term visa options, what to test, a 13-week plan and how to keep your home base.

Why try before you move

Visiting as a tourist and living somewhere are different experiences. A trial lets you test the things a holiday does not show: how healthcare works, whether your internet and your commute suit your work, how the neighbourhood feels on a Tuesday evening and what the weather is like in the season you will actually be there. It also makes the next decisions easier, including whether to rent or buy and which visa route to choose.

How long you can stay

Schengen area: visa-exempt visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across the whole area, not per country. The Entry/Exit System, fully operational since 10 April 2026, records entries and exits automatically, so it is wise to track your own days and to use the official online calculator.
Outside Schengen: the limit depends on the country and on your passport, so check the official immigration page of the destination before you book. Some countries allow a longer visa-free stay for many passports, but this varies and should be confirmed for your own passport.
If you want more than a tourist stay, look at a short-term residence option such as a remote-work visa.

Short-term and remote-work visa options

Many European countries have a digital nomad or remote-work visa. Reported minimum income differs by source and changes often: roughly EUR 2,700 to 3,300 a month for Spain, about EUR 3,500 for Greece and about EUR 3,680 for Portugal's D8 route from January 2026, according to comparison sites. These are not official figures, so check the national portal before you plan around any of them.
Several non-EU destinations have their own schemes or long stays, and Georgia has no formal minimum income for its simple stay according to one source; whether a visa-free stay of up to one year applies depends on your passport.
A remote-work visa usually makes you a tax resident after a certain period, so plan the length of the trial with the tax rules in mind; see our guide to tax residency when relocating.

See our country guides on digital nomad visas for Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Georgia, Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria and Montenegro, for example the Spain digital nomad visa guide and the Georgia digital nomad visa guide.

Renting for the trial

Rent short term for the first month, in the neighbourhood you might choose, rather than a hotel.
Choose a place with a kitchen, a desk and good internet, so you can test normal life and work.
Read the contract and the cancellation terms before you pay, and avoid long commitments during the trial.
Keep your home address, your accounts and your insurance in place until the trial is over.

What to test

Healthcare: register with a doctor or clinic and find out how appointments and prescriptions work with your cover.
Banking: open the account you would need, or at least test how card payments and transfers work.
Daily logistics: commute, shopping, internet speed, transport and the effort of everyday errands.
Community: attend a few events and see whether you find people you like; if you have children, visit schools and clubs.
Language: try to manage a normal day, and take a short course if available.
Seasons: if you can, test the weather and the quietest part of the year in the place you are considering.
Costs: keep a log of what you really spend, so you can compare it with your plan.

A 13-week plan with weekly tasks

Week 1: settle in, register your address if required and learn the neighbourhood.
Week 2: set up internet, a local SIM and payment methods.
Week 3: find and visit a doctor or clinic; save emergency numbers.
Week 4: open or test a bank account; review your first month of spending.
Week 5: try your usual work routine at a desk or a cowork space.
Week 6: join a community, class or club; meet two or three people.
Week 7: visit schools or services if you have children.
Week 8: take a longer trip around the area to see other neighbourhoods.
Week 9: study the rental or purchase market without committing.
Week 10: test a quiet weekday and a busy weekend; note how you feel.
Week 11: talk to people who live there about visas, taxes and daily life.
Week 12: update your budget with real figures and decide on a visa route.
Week 13: write down what you liked, what you would change and whether you want to continue.

Keeping your home base

Keep your accounts, address and insurance until you decide, so that you can go back easily.
Tell your employer or clients about the trial and agree on how you will work.
Store or rent out your home only when you are ready, not for a trial.
Keep records of your days abroad, because they matter for tax residency and for visa limits.

What a trial costs

A trial costs what a normal month in the country costs, plus flights and insurance, so use the budget method in our cost-of-living guide and then add the extras. Build the figure from your own log, not from averages. If the trial leads to a move, much of the early spending is the same money you would spend anyway.

When to buy, and when not yet

Not yet: during the first stay, while your visa route is unclear or while you have not tested the seasons.
Consider buying: after you have lived in the area, checked your visa route and compared renting and buying, ideally with advice from a lawyer and a tax adviser.
If the visa route involves property, see our guide to residence through property and read the first 30 days checklist for what to arrange after arrival.

Related guides:

FAQ

How long should a trial be? One month is enough to feel the basics, but three months is better because it covers the first weeks of settling in and the first normal weeks after them. Many people aim for one season in the place they like.

Can I work while I try the country? Often yes if you work for clients or an employer elsewhere and your visa allows remote work, but rules differ by country and by visa, so check the official source before you start.

Will the trial count towards tax residency? Days abroad can count, depending on the rules of the country and of the country you leave, so keep a record and ask a tax adviser before a long stay.

Should I bring my family on the trial? If a move involves children or a partner, a trial with them is more informative than a solo scouting trip, even if it is shorter.

A trial stay abroad: how to test a move for one to three months before you commit