Vance is the first to admit: winter isn’t his thing.

The globe-trotting entrepreneur enjoys hockey but has little love for the ice, slush, and bitter cold that defined his years growing up in Canada and the northeastern United States.

“The original inspiration was really just to become a snowbird,” he told PolyPassport. “To escape winter.”

His exit plan gained momentum after he picked up a copy of Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Workweek, the New York Times best-seller that teaches readers how to “escape the 9-5” and “live anywhere.”

The idea just clicked. Vance realized he didn’t have to settle for the life he’d been handed. He could choose a new path — one that felt fuller, freer, and above all, warmer.

That realization eventually led him to Latin America, where he has since built a life and career helping others follow in his footsteps. Today, Vance runs My Latin Life, a blog and consultancy that guides would-be expats through the process of settling in Latin America.

Vance’s own process began in Mexico, a country that checked all the right boxes. The weather was an obvious upgrade, but it was far from the only draw. Mexico offered a vibrant culture, exciting nightlife, a lower cost of living, access to fresh food and famously welcoming people.

“I loved it,” he recalled.

It didn’t hurt that Mexico makes it easy to stay legally. Securing residency requires little effort, and maintaining it has not forced Vance to stay in the country year-round. Now he’s well on his way to picking up a Mexican passport alongside his US and Canadian ones, in addition to existing residencies across Latin America.

The basic residency visa in Mexico requires a minimum monthly income of $4,350 — about 15% lower than the average salary in the United States — or total savings or investments of $73,000. For permanent residency, the bar is higher but not completely out of reach for some: $7,350 in monthly income or $293,000 in assets.

Vance calls Mexico a “no-brainer” but has equal praise for Paraguay. The country’s requirements are similarly manageable — retirees can qualify for residency with as little as $1,100 in monthly income — and it offers the chance to acquire citizenship after only three years.

Argentina is another favorite in the region. It offers one of the fastest paths to citizenship in the world — just two years — not to mention, a powerful passport. But it requires at least six months of physical presence each year to remain in good standing.

There is no shortage of residency and citizenship opportunities in Latin America, but some expats overlook the area because of perceived security risks. Vance pushes back on how some Western governments portray the region. “I really think Latin America for the most part is actually less dangerous than the United States,” he said. “There's a lot of misconceptions about Latin America.”

Through My Latin Life, Vance has worked with people at every stage of life to help them make the leap. The region offers something for everyone, he said.

Retirees find their savings stretch further in the region’s warm climates and culturally rich cities. Young singles are drawn to its lively social scene, and families appreciate the affordability of private schooling and extracurricular activities.

“You could get like a Hall of Famer or Argentine tennis player or something like that to be your kids’ coach for like pennies on the dollar,” Vance said.

To anyone considering the move, Vance offers one last piece of advice: “You really got to see it for yourself.” Latin America may be safer, more welcoming and more affordable than you might think. It’s a place where you can live life on your own terms.

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