Expert: Pete Larsen - 10/28/2009

Question
hi my family and our best friends would like to move oversea we are not sure if we should move to panama or Columbia or Uruguay. i read so much things about all 3 country since i wanna make sure that we pick the right one. we have about 20k to spend into a small business plus i get each month a couple hundred dollar from my family as support. so my questions are as follow: which of those 3 country would U recommend? we have kids and want them to be educated and visit good schools are they available in all 3 mentioned countries? also is 20k enough to open a small business like bakery or restaurant?? or do U recommend any other business? is it difficult to get permanent visa and we ca get that when we in the country?
thanks U so much for your help and answers

Answer
I wouldn't be able to answer as to Panama or Columbia but as for Uruguay, the private schools are excellent.  The public schools are good as well.

As for the costs for opening a small business - the more you have to invest the better off you will be.  If you are trying to open an American bakery, then you will be competing with some of the best baked goods that I have ever experienced, which is the Uruguayan Bakery.  It is possible to find an existing bakery for rent and you could do some searches online in Spanish but it is likely you will have to wait until you are there to find something.

If you will be owning property, then it is easy to get a permanent visa.  More information here:  http://www.uruwashi.org/Consular.htm

Hope that helps.

Pete