Moving to Florida: Complete Guide 2025

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Moving to Florida in 2025 is the dream of many people who seek quality of life, professional opportunities and a pleasant climate throughout the year. Whether to enjoy Miami’s vibrant lifestyle, the tranquility of Orlando or Miami’s paradisiacal beaches, planning to move to the United States requires organization and attention to detail.

This complete guide was created to help you understand all the steps of the process, from financial planning and obtaining a visa to choosing the ideal property and adapting to the new routine. Here, you will find essential information about housing, education, work, transportation and much more, ensuring that your transition to Florida is smooth and successful.

Get ready to take the next step towards a new life in the US!

1. Initial Planning: The First Step to Move to Florida

If you are reading this guide, you have already taken the first and most important step to good planning: seeking information!

Your goals – whether it’s a family looking for quality of life, a professional looking for new opportunities or someone starting a new phase of life – will directly influence how you should prepare for change.

For example, although Florida’s climate is known to be pleasant, it can vary significantly from one region to another, affecting lifestyle. Families with children need to carefully consider the options of schools and universities, while professionals should prioritize cities with expanding markets.

Whatever your situation, this guide is designed to guide you through each step of the process of moving to Florida, so that your transition is smooth and successful.

2. Where to Live in Florida?

The main centers we recommend to live in Florida include the central region of the state, where the city of Orlando is located, South Florida, which is home to major centers such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and the Tampa Bay region, known for its balance between quality of life and dynamic economy. Each of these areas offers different lifestyles, meeting different profiles and objectives.

The choice of city or neighborhood will depend on the lifestyle you seek. Suburban cities offer a more residential and quiet environment, ideal for families, while trendy neighborhoods of Miami, such as Brickell, bring all the urban “vibe” of South Florida. Coastal cities are perfect for those who want to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Florida. Florida also offers incredible regions in its central part, with immense chains of lakes, which are home to charming small towns, with all the benefits and advantages that life on the edge provides. This is the case of Windermere, known as “the city between lakes”, close to Orlando.

In terms of cost, the most expensive square meters are concentrated in Miami, which leads the luxury market, while the central region of Florida, such as Greater Orlando, offers more affordable options.

The weather can also impact your decision about where to live in Florida.Florida’s climate varies between tropical in the south (in regions such as Miami and Florida Keys) and subtropical in the north (near Jacksonville and Tallahassee). This variation ensures hot and humid summers and incredibly mild winters, providing ideal conditions to enjoy beaches and outdoor activities practically all year round.

Cities like Miami and Key West, two of the hottest in Florida, offer the possibility of enjoying the beaches even in the height of winter. In the central region of the state, where the city of Orlando is located, winters are also mild, with average temperatures between 10°C and 22°C, ideal for exploring theme parks and outdoor attractions.

To help you with your decision, we have prepared detailed articles with the best cities and neighborhoods to live in Florida. Check it out below:

The best neighborhoods in Miami to live or invest in

Cities near Orlando ideal to live in

Cities near Miami to live or invest

3. Documentation and Residence Visa

To live in Florida, the first step is to ensure that your documentation is in order. A valid passport is essential, as is the American visa. It is essential to obtain the guidance of lawyers specialized in immigration.

Understanding the different types of visas available is the starting point for those who want to live in Florida. There are two main categories: non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas. Non-immigrant visas, such as B-2 for tourists or F-1 for students, are intended for temporary stays and do not allow you to reside permanently in the country or work. Immigrant visas, such as the IR-1 visa, obtained through a kinship, or the EB-5, for investors who apply in business in the US, offer the possibility of permanent residence, ensuring greater stability for those who seek to live in the United States.

Immigrant visas are directly related to the so-called “Green Card”, that is, the permanent residence visa in the US.

It is important to clarify that, in many immigration programs, the immigrant visa does not grant the definitive Green Card immediately, but rather a conditional one. In the case of the EB-5 visa, the applicant usually receives a conditional Green Card valid for two years, allowing him to reside, work and study in the US. After this period, it is necessary to prove that the program’s requirements, such as job creation, have been met to apply for the permanent Green Card.

Getting the long-awaited Green Card is a long and bureaucratic process. The good news is that today there are several strategies and programs of the American authorities that facilitate the process.

ATTENTION: The information presented in this topic should not be interpreted as legal or immigration advice. AMG International Realty, as a real estate agency, does not provide services or advice in visa or immigration processes, nor is it responsible for any decisions or actions taken based on the information provided in this article. If you want to know more about the different types of visas, we recommend that you seek guidance from an immigration lawyer or properly qualified specialized consultant. We can indicate offices in Florida.

4. Property Choice

The time has come to choose the property where you will live in Florida!

Florida offers a variety of housing types: studios, apartments, townhomes, single family homes, villas, among others. Understand all the terms and types in this article

The Real Estate Broker’s Choice

The first thing you should do is choose an experienced real estate broker, specialized in Florida and the region where you want to buy. Avoid purchasing a property directly, without the guidance of a qualified professional. Although real estate portals offer easy access to ads, many buyers end up tempted to trade on their own, which can result in a disastrous experience.

Florida’s real estate market is complex, not only because of the diversity of regions, neighborhoods and types of properties, but also because of specific legislation. For example: Did you know that there is a huge tax difference if you buy the property by the Individual, instead of buying through a company?

There are numerous details of the purchase process that only an experienced broker in Florida can guide you correctly.

To help you in this very important choice, we have prepared a detailed article on how to select the ideal broker:

How to choose the ideal broker in Florida

Can foreigners finance the purchase of a property in Florida?

Yes, foreigners can take advantage of low American interest rates and finance the purchase of a property through banks in Florida. The first step is to make a credit pre-qualification, which will give you predictability of the amount you will be able to borrow from the bank and also the loan conditions.

AMG International Realty has long experience and great relationship with local banks to guide you in the credit approval process.

What documents do I need to be able to buy a property in Florida?

For the purchase, the valid passport is enough. In the case of financing, other documents will be requested by the bank.

Other frequently asked questions

As the acquisition of a property is a complex topic, we have developed another practical guide only with the process of buying a property in Florida. Access here

5 – How the health system works in the United States

The health system in the United States is a combination of public and private services and differs greatly from those of other countries. In the United States there is no universal public health system.

Although there are public programs such as Medicare (for the elderly), Medicaid (for low-income people) and VA (for veterans), most Americans rely on private health insurance, often provided as a benefit by the employer. However, for those who do not have access to these plans, it is necessary to purchase insurance individually, which can be expensive and depend on specific conditions.

Private health insurance in the US works with a payment scheme that combines different costs. In addition to the monthly premium (amount paid to keep the plan active), there is the deductible, which is the amount that the insured must pay before the plan begins to cover medical expenses. After reaching the deductible, the insured usually pays a percentage of the costs (called co-payment or co-insurance) until they reach the maximum annual spending limit, at which time the plan covers 100% of the expenses. These costs vary greatly, depending on the type of plan and coverage chosen.

For those who are planning to move to Florida, it is essential to understand that access to health care in the US is neither automatic nor free. Purchasing health insurance is essential to avoid exorbitant expenses, since consultations and treatments can cost thousands of dollars without coverage. In addition, immigrants and visitors should check options such as international insurance or specific plans for legal residents. Health planning should be a priority when organizing the change.

6 – Economy and Job Opportunities

Florida is consolidating itself as one of the most promising states in the United States for those seeking professional growth and new opportunities. Large corporations, including several on the Fortune 500 list, are migrating to cities such as Miami and the Greater Orlando region, attracted by the business-friendly environment, low taxes and a fully expanding economy. Miami, in particular, has stood out as a financial and technological hub, earning nicknames such as “South Manhattan” and “Wall Street of the South” due to the growing presence of financial institutions and technology companies. The city also rose seven positions in the global ranking of the best ecosystems for startups, reinforcing its role as a strategic destination for entrepreneurs.

Greater Orlando and Central Florida are also attracting attention, especially for the role of the Florida High-Tech Corridor, which covers Orlando and surrounding cities. This region has become an important technological and innovation center, attracting companies from the technology, health and aerospace sectors.

7 – Teaching quality: Excellent Schools and Universities

Florida is recognized for the quality of its educational institutions, ranging from elementary schools to renowned universities. The state offers a wide network of public, private and charter schools, meeting the needs of different family profiles.

In higher education, Florida stands out for housing some of the best universities in the country. Recently, the U.S. News & World Report, an American portal recognized for its analysis and rankings, especially in the area of education, released its list of the best American colleges for 2025. Florida has gained prominent positions, with four institutions among the 50 best public universities in the United States, ranking second among the states with the most universities in this ranking segment, in addition to having six universities in the top 100.

Get to know the 10 best universities in Florida

8. Opening Accounts and Services

• Bank Account:
  • Passport, valid visa, and proof of address required.
• Essential Services:
  • Water, power and internet are easily activated with proof of residence.
• Credit Card:
  • Building a credit history is essential; start with credit cards for beginners.

9. Adaptation and Integration

• Socialization:
  • Participate in community events.
• Family Planning:
  • Search for parks, schools and cultural activities for children.

10. Legal and Tax Considerations

• Taxes:
  • Florida does not charge state income tax, but there are federal taxes.
• Specialized Consultant:
  • Hire lawyers or accountants specialized in foreigners to avoid tax and legal problems.

Do you want to move to Florida?

AMG International Realty is a global real estate consultancy specialized in Florida, focusing on serving the foreign public. Our commitment goes beyond the simple purchase or sale of real estate. We recognize that acquiring a property abroad can be part of a strategic investment, a vacation haven or a crucial step in a broader life-changing process for a different country, with all the challenges and decisions that this involves. Therefore, our mission is to act as your trusted partner at all stages, offering support before, during and after the acquisition of the property.

I am available to help you with all your needs. Contact me right now by WhatsApp: +1 305 761 2655 (Heloisa Arazi).