I'm a passport bro who travels the world to date foreign women. I hope to settle down one day but for now I love exploring the world.

• Austin Abeyta is a self-described passport bro who runs a TikTok documenting his travels.
• "Some people criticize the women who date passport bros, believing that they are only after a Green Card," Abeyta said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Austin Abeyta, a 32-year-old digital nomad who's one of the most popular "passport bros" on TikTok. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in Colorado Springs. The city is home to both Army and Air Force bases so I had the chance to make friends with people from all over the US. Growing up, I had an average Colorado childhood — I played sports, hung out with friends, and went snowboarding.

In 2019, I moved to Seattle to work as a curriculum developer at a computer science school. I started feeling upset and exhausted after work, which is when I started wondering about working abroad. I spent my evenings doing nothing but playing video games and eating Chipotle burritos. At the time, I was paying $850 a month to live in a small, crappy apartment with roommates.

When the pandemic hit, I felt stuck in my life. I had just gotten out of a serious relationship and my car got totaled. It felt like the universe was nudging me to leave. But there was a silver lining to all my troubles — I took on a job as a data analyst in 2020, and it went remote. I thought that if I could work from my room and be productive, then I could do it from Mexico or Indonesia, or even Japan. So I took a leap of faith and became a digital nomad later that year.

One of the biggest challenges was convincing my manager, Sam, that the tax laws allowed it. I also had to ensure that I would be productive while traveling. Thankfully, Sam listened to me with an open mind, took a risk, and allowed me to work remotely anywhere in the world.

Why becoming a passport bro is the best decision I've ever made

Before becoming a digital nomad, I had relationships with women in the US. While I believe that there are amazing women in the US, I've found dating outside the country to be more fun and exciting.

I've traveled to 11 countries so far, including Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, and South Korea. Becoming a digital nomad is one of the greatest life hacks ever invented — and it's only becoming easier. The second I clock out of work I am on vacation. Most people in the US take off less than three weeks a year.

I now describe myself as a passport bro — someone who travels the world and dates foreign women, hoping to find a life partner. I also run a TikTok account with some 430,000 followers, where I share my journey and offer advice to others who are also interested in becoming a passport bro.

One of the best things about being a passport bro is the lower cost of living abroad. For example, in some countries, earning $40,000 is enough to support a family. This means that my partner can choose if she wants to work or not, or if she'd rather focus on running the house and taking care of our children. In the US, many dual-income families can't have the same freedom and flexibility, simply because it's much more expensive to live there.

As a passport bro who's constantly traveling, I surround myself with women who are my type. In other words, I choose to be with women who have the qualities that I'm looking for. I've found many women overseas to be more open-minded. I think finding a life partner is one of the most important decisions in life, so dating in different countries gives me the best odds of finding a partner.

There are many misconceptions about being a passport bro

Passport bros have their fair share of criticism. For example, some people say that passport bros are losers who don't do much to upgrade their lives. But I've found that this isn't true — many passport bros work hard to get great degrees in fields like cyber security, data analytics, and programming. I run a group on Discord for passport bros, and much of the discussion is about sharing knowledge and career advice.

Another misconception is that passport bros can't meet the standards of women in the US, so they travel overseas to date foreign women. But this perspective is elitist — what makes Western women the pinnacle of the global dating scene? Is the only reason someone travels abroad to date that they can't find a partner in the US? I believe many passport bros feel that it's the opposite and that it's women in the US who can't rise to their standards.

Some people criticize the women who date passport bros, believing that they are only after a Green Card. But this point of view is elitist too. I've found that many people abroad have happy and beautiful lives and that the US isn't this aspirational place where everyone wants to live. I've met many women abroad who appreciate passport bros, including lawyers and women with degrees from Cambridge University.

Many passport bros want to settle down — but with the right person

I love my life and plan to continue traveling the world for a few more years. I want to start a family one day and don't want to be traveling while raising kids, so I hope to settle down in one of my favorite countries. The top contenders on my list now are Brazil, Colombia, and South Korea.

As a digital nomad, I'm living a life that's impossible for me in the US. Ultimately, I hope to marry someone beautiful, loyal, and family-oriented. I want to give her the choice to stay at home and raise our kids if that's something she wants. I work hard so that I'll be able to afford a nice house for my family and take care of them.