Moving to Albania: What Every "Europe" Video Gets Wrong

If you've been watching "moving to Europe" videos to prepare for your own move, most of that advice won't hold up here. Albania breaks the rules: the banking system, the housing market, and the tax situation all work differently than what you've seen for Portugal, Spain, or Italy. In this video, I walk through what the first 6–12 months in Albania actually look like — visa timelines by passport, the bureaucracy nobody warns you about, how to house-hunt without overpaying, taxes for both Americans and Canadians, what health insurance really costs, and the six signs that tell you whether you're ready to make the move or just stalling. Resources Mentioned: 🏡 Real estate agent (the one I personally used): https://forms.gle/KXX9CBjYaExBE1PW8 🏥 Health insurance quiz + quotes (IMG Global & International Citizens):   / free-resource-do-152129306   (contains affiliate links) Chapters: 0:00 – Why Albania isn't like other "moving to Europe" videos 1:07 – The honeymoon phase (China vs. Albania) 4:04 – The first 6 months: visas and bureaucracy 6:22 – Finding housing (and my #1 real estate tip) 8:23 – How you know you've actually "landed" 8:45 – Taxes: US Foreign Earned Income Exclusion vs. Canadian departure tax 10:31 – Healthcare: what it really costs 11:42 – Making friends as an expat 12:37 – The beautiful parts: proximity to the rest of Europe 13:26 – Avash avash and life without a car 15:00 – What's really keeping you stuck 18:18 – 6 signs you're ready to move 21:16 – Final thoughts ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 🍁 About Canucks Abroad: I'm Christine, a Canadian who's lived abroad twice — 7 years in China, and now in Tirana, Albania. Canucks Abroad is where I share honest, first-hand advice on relocating, budgeting, and building a life overseas, without the highlight-reel version. 💬 Questions? Drop them in the comments — I read every one. 📩 Patreon group chat for behind-the-scenes content and quizzes: https://patreon.com/CanucksAbroad216?... 🌐 Website members get deeper tools, including the cost of living calculator: canucksabroad.co 📺 We'll be discussing this video on our live stream the last Sunday of the month. DISCLAIMER: This video is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and is not legal, financial, tax, or immigration advice. Visa requirements, costs, and regulations change — always consult a qualified professional before making relocation decisions. This description may contain affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.