World War 3 Safe Havens: Where Americans Are Going

I wrote this now-viral article titled “Where to Go If World War 3 Breaks Out” a few months ago. With the risk of global conflict never being higher than ever now, I’ll reveal here on YouTube where thousands of Americans are moving. These three countries aren’t random picks. They’ve been graded on four critical metrics.

But who am I to talk about this? I’m James and I’ve personally lived in over fifteen countries, invested in several, and helped hundreds of Americans move abroad as well. All right, let’s dive in.

Most people think a Plan B is just about finding a “safe” country. When we evaluate potential safe havens for our clients, we use four critical metrics that most people completely ignore:

Geographical shielding – How far are you from conflict zones and strategic military points? Are you protected by geographical barriers?

Self-sufficiency – Can the country feed itself and power itself if global trade routes shut down?

Strategic value – You don’t want to be sitting on oil reserves or rare earth minerals that make your new home a target.  Is your jurisdiction a potential target?

Residency access – If you’re moving during a crisis, you need legal status in months, not years.

Most countries that you might expect to see on our list fail at least two of these. Switzerland is too close to European conflict. Canada is a NATO member with a giant target on its back. Even Costa Rica – where every American thinks they’ll retire – fails the self-sufficiency test.

But the three countries I’m about to show you? They nail all four metrics. And the best part? You can establish residency in two of them for under $10,000. Let’s start with Paraguay.

Country 1: Paraguay

Paraguay wins on every metric. First, geographic shielding. Paraguay is deep in South America with no strategic ports, no nuclear facilities, and no military targets. It’s virtually invisible on any launch map. Second, complete self-sufficiency. The Itaipú dam produces more electricity than Paraguay can use. Fertile plains (similar to the midwest but double the heat) export soy and beef worldwide. Third, zero strategic value. When’s the last time you were angry at a Paraguayan? No NATO bases, no enemies, and historically strict neutrality keeps the country off adversaries’ hit lists.

And, this is important, you can get residency in Paraguay in as little as ninety days. Their Independent Means Visa requires proof of … well, that you’re alive pretty much. Get your apostilled documents over to the Freedom Files, visit the country, and you’ll walk away with a temporary residency card that can be converted to permanent after three years.

The tax situation? Oh boy, do I have a sweet deal for you. Paraguay’s territorial tax system means zero percent on all foreign-sourced income for life. Your retirement income, employment income, capital gains – All of it. And from a cost of living standpoint, expats’ budgets in Paraguay average 62% below the US, letting a single retiree live well under $1500 per month.

If nuclear war breaks out, prevailing winds push most Northern fallout north of the Equator. Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation buffers Paraguay too. The biggest danger would be global food shortages, which Paraguay’s grain surplus directly solves.

All right, now let’s talk about Paraguay’s oft-confused neighbor Uruguay, the Switzerland of South America.

Country 2: Uruguay

Uruguay is sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil, far from major missile trajectories with no foreign military bases allowed in its territory. Like Paraguay, it generates over 90% of electricity from hydro, wind, and biomass. Grass-fed cattle outnumber people four to one. It’s basically one big ranch outside of Montevideo and Punta del Este, a popular vacation spot for Porteños from Argentina.

Uruguay’s Rentista residency program requires proof of $1500 monthly in passive income and hands you permanent residence within 6-12 months. Live 6 months per year in Uruguay for 3 years if you’re married, 5 if you’re single, and apply for a passport giving you visa-free access to over 150 countries. Why is this important? Uruguay offers one of Latin America’s strongest passports. 

But if that required residency period scares you, don’t let it. Uruguay’s tax benefits are insane. Choose either an 11-year 0% tax holiday on all foreign dividends and interest, or a permanent 7% flat rate for life. More countries should offer options like this. There’s no wealth tax on foreign assets, no inheritance tax, and no exit tax. Montevideo’s café culture, Atlantic beaches, legal marijuana policy, and exceptional healthcare place Uruguay in the top 50 globally for quality of life and #52 in the Global Peace Index right ahead of … you’ll never guess … the United Arab Emirates.

However, the cost of living is not as low as its surrounding countries. And Uruguay won’t wow you from a cultural standpoint any time soon. But do you really care about these factors when we’re talking about nuclear strikes? Uruguay’s surplus renewable power grid stays online even if global oil trade collapses. Now, let’s head to a different part of the world where billionaires are building bunkers left and right (try to say that five times fast).

Country 3: New Zealand

High on most nuclear winter destination lists, “down under” is geographically isolated, far from the world’s major conflict zones. Even with global powerhouse China in their backyard, these countries’ distance from war theaters makes them less likely to enter a global war.

That’s why many academic studies rank the isolated New Zealand as the world’s preferred nuclear winter refuge. The dairy and lamb industries feed the nation many times over, and abundant freshwater take care of the necessary but energy-intensive crops.

But New Zealand’s residency requirements are steep. The Temporary Retirement Visa demands an investment of $450,000 – and that’s only for a two-year stay. The wealthier among you can pivot to the Active Investor Plus Visa which requires $3-7 million for temporary residency and can be converted to permanent residence after three years of minimal physical presence in the country.

Now, you don’t have to relocate on this latter program, but if you do, new tax residents can also claim the four-year Transitional Resident Exemption, shielding most foreign income from New Zealand tax. How about that for a non-tax friendly country?

If any of these three countries sounds like your survival plan, the Freedom Files can help make it reality. Our Freedom Consult is built exactly for you. We cover all your goals and map out the countries that fit them. That way, you can navigate the bureaucracy needed before the bombs drop. 

The best time to secure your freedom was five years ago. The second best time is right now, before these programs get more expensive or shut down completely. Check out our free 162-page guide on your options overseas below, or if you’re after low taxes abroad, keep watching to learn exactly which jurisdictions we believe are the best for you.