Destinations currently under stress.
Most retirement-abroad sites never publish this section. Affiliate relationships and optimistic positioning make honest safety updates inconvenient. We think that’s backwards. Every destination on these pages has strengths — but some are navigating situations right now that anyone researching a move deserves to know about. This page is updated as conditions change.
Ecuador
Ecuador declared an internal armed conflict against criminal organizations in early 2024, and the situation has continued into 2026. The U.S. added “terrorism” to Ecuador’s advisory risk factors in 2025. Coastal provinces — including Guayaquil and surrounding areas — have been most affected, with curfews imposed in four coastal provinces in March 2026 and 75,000 security forces deployed. The government also requested and received U.S. airstrikes on narcoterrorist camps near the Colombian border.
Cuenca and the highland cities have been less directly affected than coastal areas, and a large expat community continues to live there. But the national security situation has changed materially since 2023, and anyone researching Ecuador should verify current conditions carefully rather than relying on older content that predates this conflict.
verify current U.S. State Dept advisory level & Cuenca-specific conditions before planningColombia
Colombia remains the least peaceful country in South America on the 2025 Global Peace Index, with ongoing conflict between government forces and armed groups including the Gulf Clan and ELN in rural and some urban areas. Medellín’s expat neighborhoods — El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado — have maintained relatively normal daily life, and expats continue to live there without major incidents. But the national picture requires ongoing attention, and conditions can change at the neighborhood level.
Colombia has improved dramatically over the past two decades, and that progress is real. The honest position is that it rewards people who do careful research and stay engaged with current conditions — not people who read a two-year-old blog post and assume things are stable.
verify current U.S. State Dept advisory & Medellín-specific neighborhood conditionsCanary Islands, Spain
The Canary Islands have experienced sustained anti-tourism protests since April 2024, continuing through 2026. Demonstrations have occurred across all major islands, with incidents including rental car arson, hostile graffiti, and organized marches. The tension stems from housing costs, strained infrastructure, and local frustration with mass tourism — not targeted hostility toward individual residents. But the social environment has shifted, and short-term rental availability is being actively restricted by local authorities.
Long-term residents report daily life continuing normally. The issue primarily affects new arrivals trying to find housing, and people whose presence in the islands is associated with tourism rather than community membership. Worth monitoring before committing to a move there.
verify current rental market conditions & local sentiment before planning a moveMexico — variable by state and city
Mexico is not one place. Several states carry U.S. State Department Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories due to cartel activity. The most popular expat destinations — Lake Chapala, Mérida, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta — are in areas with Level 2 advisories and strong safety reputations. Mérida in particular is consistently ranked the safest city in Mexico. But the country requires state-by-state research, not a national-level assessment.
Anyone planning to move to Mexico should look up the specific State Department advisory for the state they’re considering, not just the country-level summary.
check U.S. State Dept advisory for your specific target state before planningSouth Africa — new tax rule March 2026
South Africa removed the exemption on foreign retirement income for South African tax residents effective March 2026. Foreign pensions, Social Security, and retirement income are now taxable for people who become South African tax residents. This is a significant change from previous rules and affects the financial case for retiring there materially. Anyone who was planning a move based on older information should verify the current tax situation with a qualified advisor before proceeding.
Additionally, South Africa ranks 5th most dangerous globally on the 2025 crime index, and the Canadian government issued a high-caution advisory for the country in late 2025. These facts existed before the tax change; the combination warrants careful evaluation.
verify current tax rules with a qualified advisor & research neighborhood-level safety specificallyThailand — new foreign income tax rule 2026
As of 2026, Thailand taxes foreign-sourced income remitted into Thai bank accounts for tax residents (those spending 180+ days in the country). This closes a loophole that many expats previously used and represents a meaningful change to the financial picture for long-term retirees. The retirement visa income threshold is also set in Thai baht, meaning the dollar equivalent fluctuates with exchange rates — in 2024–2025 this ranged from roughly $1,850 to $2,800/month.
Thailand’s private healthcare and quality of life remain genuinely strong. The financial planning required has become more complex.
verify current foreign income tax rules & visa threshold with a qualified tax advisor before planningNot sure where you fit yet?
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