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Why Astute Expat exists
The world is shifting quickly, and many governments are asking more of their citizens while offering less in return. Leaving your country is not the right decision for everyone, but everyone deserves a second option: a residency, a passport or a structure abroad, ready if and when it is needed.
Having options outside one country used to be something only the very wealthy arranged. It should not be. It is also far easier to set up calmly than in a hurry, and some people only realise they should have started earlier once it is too late. That is why our philosophy is simple: diversify before you need to.
Our principles
Calm
No urgency and no hype. Big decisions deserve a clear head and enough time.
Precise
Real timelines, real costs and real requirements, always in writing.
Honest
If a program is wrong for you, or you are better off waiting, we say so.
Discreet
Your plans are your business. We never name our clients.
Jeremy Hartley
- 15+ years in businessFrom his first business as a teenager, selling on eBay out of his mother’s garage, to founding, growing and operating multi million dollar companies
- 7 figure exitsBuilt and successfully exited multiple seven figure companies in ecommerce and construction
- 10+ years of travelMore than 60 countries visited and 7 lived in, learning first hand how each country really works, from the government offices to the banks
- 5 languagesPicked up through years of travel and establishing himself in countries across three continents
- Local teamsLawyers, accountants, real estate and buyer’s agents in every country we work in, built up over years on the ground
- Hands onPersonally invested in every client’s plan, and has been through the programs himself, so he knows them from the inside
After more than 15 years founding and operating businesses in Australia, which led to multiple seven figure exits, Jeremy realised that to keep growing at the pace he wanted, without being held back, he would have to find new opportunities beyond one country. So he moved abroad and restructured his life and businesses from the ground up.
He did most of it himself: the residencies, the banking, the company structures and the paperwork in other languages. Along the way he realised how difficult it is to get right without someone who has been through it, and how costly a single mistake can be. His one regret was not making the move sooner, after years of paying so much and receiving so little in return. That is why Astute Expat was born. Because the smartest move is the one you plan before you need it.
Jeremy takes this work extremely seriously. Moving your residency, citizenship or company is one of the biggest decisions you will make, and he wants to get it right for you: honest advice, clear costs in writing, and a plan that still holds up years from now. He is genuinely passionate about this work, and still counts himself lucky to have built a business that can change people’s lives so profoundly.
The journey, start to finish
Four stages to build the right plan and a fixed price, then five to carry it through to approval and keep you settled and compliant afterwards.
Plan
- 01
Free 15 minute call
We start with you, not a country: what you want to achieve, who is moving with you, your budget and your timeline. Then we look at the programs that genuinely fit. No cost and no obligation.
- 02
Strategy session, if you want one Optional
A one hour deep dive with Jeremy into your whole situation, followed by a written plan with your Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. The US$500 fee comes off any service you go ahead with.
- 03
Fixed fee quote
Within a few days you receive a written quote for the programs you chose: our fixed fee, the government costs, the investment and a realistic timeline. You know the full number before you commit to anything.
- 04
Engagement and documents
You sign a simple engagement letter, then we assist you in obtaining the relevant documents and have them apostilled and translated, fixing any problems before anything is filed.
Deliver
- 05
Your local team
Our local team of licensed lawyers and agents in each country gives the local legal advice and files on your behalf. You deal with one team; we handle the rest.
- 06
Filing and appointments
Applications are submitted, biometrics and appointments scheduled, and government questions answered. You hear from us at every milestone, without having to chase.
- 07
The government decides
Approval rests with the authorities, not with us or anyone else. We track the application, respond quickly to any request and keep you informed. No honest adviser can promise an approval.
- 08
Approval and beyond
Residency cards or passports in hand, then bank accounts, a company if you need one, renewals in the calendar and, where it applies, your path to citizenship.
- 09
Settling in
The same local team stays with you once you arrive: your local ID and tax number, driver’s licence, business permits and any other licences, then your personal and company tax filings every year, so everything stays compliant. More on settling in.
Before you start
Is the first call really free?
Yes. It is 15 minutes to understand your goals and point you to the programs worth considering. If none fit, we will tell you.
What does the fixed fee quote include?
Our professional fee for the agreed scope, the government and third party costs we know about, the qualifying investment and the expected timeline, all in writing. If something outside the agreed scope comes up later, we tell you before any extra cost is incurred.
Do I need the strategy session?
No. Most clients with a clear goal go straight from the free call to a quote. The session is for people weighing several countries, a family move, company structures or significant assets, and its US$500 fee is credited if you go ahead.
Who actually files my application?
Our local team of licensed lawyers or authorised agents in that country. They are responsible for the local legal advice; we manage the process and keep you informed.
What if my situation changes along the way?
Tell us as soon as it does. We review what it means for your application and your plan, and adjust before it becomes a problem.
Start with a conversation
Tell us where you are and where you would like to have options.