Idea to Action: 7 Days Toward an Exit Plan

A Task a Day to Get You Started

I’ve said before that everyone should have an exit plan, even if you never intend to use it. Just knowing you have come up with one can be calming. In uncertain political times, it’s easy to feel helpless, like events are rushing forward and we’re strapped into the ride whether we like it or not. An exit plan doesn’t mean you’re packing your bags tomorrow but it does give you options. Such a plan can give you back a sense of power, choice, autonomy and control (all ingredients many are missing these days).

I think the hardest part of doing something so big, such as considering a potential relocation, is getting started. So I thought I would put this together: A concrete task a day that you can do in a week (or if you prefer, a task a week). Of course this isn’t a project that is done in a week. However, I hope this week-at-a-glance can give you a frame for putting one foot in front of the other to go in the right direction. The core idea here is to shift away from simply thinking or talking about it, toward actual concrete steps.

So here’s the week. One action per day. Seven tasks that are doable and focused. A week of preparation that can turn your vague “someday I should” into a clear “I’ve started.”

Day 1: Check Your Passport

This is the simplest but most important step. Do you have a passport? If you don’t, start applying today. Nothing else in your exit plan matters without this document. It’s the key that unlocks every other door. Don’t put this off. Make an appointment, fill out the forms, get the photos taken. The peace of mind from having it in hand is worth the effort.

If you do have a passport, look at the expiration date. Many countries require that you have at least six months of validity left before they’ll let you in. If you’re within a year of expiration, start the renewal process immediately. Backlogs can stretch for months, and the last thing you want is to be stuck waiting on paperwork when you need it most.

Photo by Brands&People on Unsplash

Day 2: Clarify Your Goal

Why do you want an exit plan? Write it down. For some people it’s safety, such as a contingency in case politics take a darker turn. For others it’s retirement, a chance to live somewhere affordable with good healthcare and now is your chance. For some it’s opportunity, a fresh start, or simply the knowledge that you could leave if you chose to which gives you back a sense of power.

Be honest with yourself. Are you imagining an emergency “bolt bag” scenario where you might need to leave quickly? Or are you thinking about a long-term relocation that could unfold over years? Clarifying your why will help you focus. It keeps you from drowning in possibilities and lets you shape a plan that fits your actual needs.

Day 3: Examine Your Essential Documents

Most people underestimate how many documents are needed when they move across borders. Today’s task is to start to collect them. Start with what you already have and make a list of what you’re missing. Common documents include:

• Birth certificates

• Marriage or divorce certificates

• Diplomas and transcripts

• Medical and vaccination records

• Financial and tax records

Decide what you have already, and what you will need to order or obtain from a source. With the ones you have, scan and save digital copies to an encrypted drive or secure cloud service. Then gather the originals in one safe place such as a fireproof folder or a lockbox (something easy to grab in a hurry).

Having everything in order saves stress when you’re filling out visa applications, proving qualifications, or even just registering with a local doctor abroad. Conversely, its missing details like this that can weigh you down and stop you in your tracks.

Day 4: Start Researching Destinations

Choose two or three realistic destinations. If you’ve had your eye on Canada, you can look at my past articles on pathways to Canada, the rural immigration pathway, or how seniors can stay more than 6 months. If not Canada, you might get started with my article on five stable democracies that offer retirement visas. And here google and youtube are your friend: So many before you have researched American expat locations so you can learn from them.

Look into the basics: Cost of living, healthcare access, visa requirements, language, and the expat communities of each. If there are ‘must haves’ you can use those to quickly reduce the possibilities.

Make a simple comparison chart. You aren’t making final decisions, but just getting started. A chart can reduce your sense of overwhelmed. And seeing the trade-offs on one page can help clarify what matters most to you.

Day 5: Explore Legal Pathways

Every country has multiple pathways in: retirement visas, skilled worker programs, student visas, family reunification. Today, take your top two or three countries and identify at least one pathway for each.

Write down the requirements, costs, and timelines. Is it a retirement visa that requires proof of income? A skilled worker visa that needs a job offer? A student visa that involves enrollment? Narrow it down to one or two that are most feasible for your situation. Now you are more set up for a deeper dive.

Day 6: Check Your Finances

Look at what you have: savings, pensions, income streams. Calculate what it would cost to live abroad for three to six months. Consider starting a small “Plan B fund” by opening a new bank account for that purpose. Even a few hundred dollars in a separate account makes a difference. It signals to yourself that this plan is real, and it builds over time. You don’t need to have all the money today—you just need to start.

Day 7: Build a Connection & Take One Step

Find a way to connect with others who have already done what you’re considering. Join an expat forum or Facebook group for your top country. Watch YouTube channels or read blogs of people who’ve made the move. Better yet, reach out directly. You will find that people are often surprisingly willing to share advice.

Then take one symbolic action. Book a scouting trip. Buy a plug adapter for the country you’re eyeing. Sign up for a language class. These gestures matter because they transform intention into action. It helps to more concretely move you from abstract idea to a genuine back up plan.

Final Thoughts

In just one week, you have started an exit strategy. You’ll have checked your passport, clarified your goals, gathered your documents, researched destinations, explored legal pathways, reviewed your finances, and built a connection with people who’ve already made the leap.

Most people who make exit plans never end up using them. But those that do feel better for having done it. Preparation itself is calming and putting your negative emotions about the political situation into positive action can be therapeutic.

Thanks for reading!
Canada Resists