From Constant Traveler to Spanish Citizen: My Journey to Finding Home Abroad

My international travel journey started in 2008, though it was mostly for work. By 2015, I decided to leave the corporate world behind and embarked on a 14-month solo adventure in South America. That trip changed everything—I didn’t want to stop traveling.

If you’re more of a visual learner, check out my YouTube video where I talked about how I found my home away from home.

For years, I lived a cycle of traveling for months, returning to the Philippines, my home base, and repeating. It was exhilarating but also exhausting and financially draining. At one point, I even hit rock bottom, broke and questioning my nomadic lifestyle. I realized I needed something more permanent and sustainable.

I had explored much of Asia, South America, and the US, but Europe always felt out of reach—too expensive and restrictive with its 90-day tourist visa. When the pandemic hit in 2020, it grounded my travels but allowed me to focus on remote work, which eventually flourished. By 2021, I was saving more than ever and ready to explore options for moving abroad permanently.

I considered Canada, but age was a barrier. Australia seemed too far and isolated. That’s when I stumbled upon Europe’s Long-Term Visas and found Spain. For Filipinos, Spain offers a fast track to EU citizenship—just two years of legal residency. It seemed like a no-brainer.

At the time, Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa didn’t exist yet, so I applied for a non-lucrative visa instead. I was confident, but my application was DENIED. Instead of giving up, I pivoted to Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa and was approved within weeks. I moved to Europe in October 2021, and my love affair with the continent began.

Fast forward to today: after 2.5 years of legal residency in Spain, I’m officially a Spanish citizen. It’s been a wild ride, but this journey feels like it was always meant to be. Dreams do come true—sometimes, you just have to follow the breadcrumbs and keep moving forward.

If you have questions, please feel free to send me an email. Thanks for stopping by!