In the event that you need to leave the country and find somewhere safe to lay low, where would you run?
Jason Bourne is not the only one who might need a place to disappear. It is very possible to find yourself in a position where you would need to find another place in the world to call home. Any number of infringements can have the government after you.
Edward Snowden and Julian Assange aren't the only ones that needed to find a place to disappear to, but unfortunately for Assange, he didn't do a good enough job of hiding.
Other notable individuals who have had to flee abroad and seek asylum elsewhere were the late chess champion Bobby Fischer, John Robles and Mark Doyon one of Assange's activists.
Even if you aren't an international spy, a government whistleblower, or a serial criminal you may still find yourself on the other side of the law.
If for instance your business gets investigated, a new law is made that makes your business a criminal enterprise, you are a controversial activist, or even if you get involved with the wrong people, or have a half-crazed ex-spouse or pesky creditor even might be enough to want to run to a non extradition country.
Having an idea of where you could safely disappear just in case something happens, might be a good idea, or just a fun thought experiment.
Best Nations For Your Escape Plan
When planning out your perfect escape, one of the first things you should check is which countries you could run to where you are not at risk of being extradited back to the United States as the U.S. has bilateral extradition agreements with over 107 countries.
This means that if you make the mistake of landing up in one of these places, you run a high risk of being sent packing straight back to The Land of the (not so) Free. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the US.
What is Extradition?
Extradition is when one country repatriates an individual who is accused or convicted of a crime back to the country where it was committed. It usually involves a bilateral treaty though these treaties are not legally binding and are based upon the cooperation of law enforcement agencies of both countries.
An extradition treaty means that there is an official and organised mutual agreement between two nations using a bilateral agreement to extradite fugitives back to the soil of the country to face the legal consequences. However, it is important to mention here that extradition is a murky business in practice.
There are many instances where countries that do have extradition treaties have not followed them and times when countries that do not have extradition treaties have sent fugitives back anyway. There are on average 400-700 people that are extradited back to the United States every year.
That being said, you do stand a much better chance if you choose to hide out in a country that does NOT have an official extradition treaty with the United States.
Countries with No Extradition Treaty
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If you need to narrow your list to a few top choices of places in the world where you could hide out, here are a few that might make that list.
Before we get started with the our selection of the best places to visit, here are some ways you can secure your assets, protect your identity and just maybe disappear completely.
- How To Legally Hide Your Money From Creditors, Lawsuits & Divorce
- The Best Asset Protection Strategies Money Can Buy
- Anonymous Offshore Bank Accounts
- Easiest Places to Get a Second Passports & Citizenship
- Asset Protection Trusts To Protect Your Wealth
Let us know if you need help in putting together an offshore protection solution.
We provide offshore banking, company and asset protection strategies to protect what's yours.
How To Disappear Completely
In order to decrease the risk of being found by a governmental or policing agency, you need to learn how to disappear. To become a ghost is much harder than you might think. Social media, credit cards, CCTV, bank accounts, online purchases are all tracked and can ultimately point authorities to exactly where you are.
This means doing a number of things to decrease the chances of anyone trying to find you that includes acquaintances, friends, family, and institutions.
1. Delete Your Online Personality
Get rid of and delete old emails and accounts as well as old forums and social media accounts.
Don't use any type of digital communication especially initially as it is likely that there will accounts open that you forgot about and will track you to where you're at.
Delete your browser history as well as get rid of old former credit cards you left open. The more you use digital communication the easier it is that someone will be able to locate you. To do this right you must be willing to sever all forms of your old life.
2. Sever all connections with your old life
This means getting rid of your old clothes, your car, and any old identifiers that could link you with your old life. This includes things like photos, mementos, bank accounts, and credit cards.
Don't tell your friends or loved ones where you are going as well as not to leave and noticeable signs as to where you are going and your intention for leaving.
Leaving no trace and clues behind will make them less able to track you down and find you
3. Travel alone
If you travel with someone your chances of getting caught increase dramatically.
Not only do you need to make are you are being invisible and doing everything right to not get found, but if have another person that must follow all the same requirements it only makes it harder.
This person will likely see you as who you were and would be more likely to make a mistake when trying out a new persona.
4. New persona
Learn the art of disguise. This can involve things like cultivating a new persona and personality, create a new story, get new clothes, dye your hair and change your outward appearance as much as possible.
There are many variations and extremes that this can all take. Everything from fake IDs to a complete facial transformation.
How deep down the rabbit hole you go will all depend upon your circumstances and who is after you.
5. Move to a place in the world that is not easy to find
While there are many things that need to be planned in order to pull off a quick escape that might help you disappear like having a survival kit, bug-out bag, a proper disguise, but the most important is where you decide to disappear.
There is a misconception that one has to always go to some unknown hellhole at the ends of the earth to escape, however, there are many great places to choose from where you would be unlikely to run the risk of extradition.
Best Nations For Your Escape Plan
Russia, China, and Mongolia
Brunei
The Gulf States
Montenegro
Eastern Europe: Ukraine and Moldova
South-East Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
Island Nations: Maldives, Vanuatu, and Indonesia
Africa: Ethiopia, Botswana, and Tunisia
U.K. And Other Countries
Countries You Can Run To Become Invisible
Here are a few of the best options:
1. Russia, China, and Mongolia
Russia and China are at the top of our list of top non-extradition countries. These are two big nations that are not easily pushed around. Neither of them has extradition treaties with the US. Furthermore, both have a history of rather ‘cold’ relations, so are unlikely to want to play nice.
One famous case of non-extradition in Russia is that of Edward Snowden who was able to find asylum there.
Both Russia and China can be ideal places to reside for both short-term and long-term. They are affordable, and their vast size and diversity mean that you can live any kind of lifestyle that suits your preferences and budget.
Another good non-extradition country to mention is Mongolia, which is sandwiched between China and Russia. Mongolia is an affordable place to lie low for a while and has a rapidly growing economy.
This means you could even come across some good business and investment opportunities while you are there.
2. Brunei
Brunei is one of the richest countries on the list of nations with no extradition treaty. The Sultan of Brunei does not take orders from anyone and doesn’t take kindly to outside interference.
Brunei is not what you would call a constitutional democracy, with the Sultan personally owning every square inch of the Island and all the wealth on it. However, if you are able to overlook these drawbacks and abide by the social rules, you may find it to be a decent place to stay for a while.
3. The Gulf States
The Gulf States are another set of wealthy countries with no extradition treaties. These include Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. However, some of these states have made it explicitly clear that they don’t want to be safe havens for fugitives, so it is best to tread with caution.
You might not interested in living according to the type of local culture of these Middle Eastern countries, but places like Dubai are home to large international communities and offer luxurious and comfortable lifestyles. Jordan and Lebanon are two other Middle Eastern nations with no extradition treaties.
4. Montenegro
The small Balkan country of Montenegro is possibly the most beautiful and unique country on this list. It offers nomads, travellers (and fugitives) a great lifestyle and good investment opportunities.
Unlike its neighbours, Serbia and Croatia, Montenegro does not have an extradition treaty with the US. It is also not a part of the EU which means it offers a certain degree of privacy.
5. Eastern Europe: Ukraine And Moldova
These two fast-growing Eastern European nations might not have been first on your list. However, both offer good investment opportunities in their up-and-coming economies.
Ukraine is also a good jurisdiction for offshore banking. Most importantly, neither of them have extradition treaties with the US.
6. South-east Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, And Laos
The South-East Asian countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are great expat hangouts without extradition treaties. Vietnam and Cambodia are especially popular tourist and business destinations.
Here, you can enjoy a high quality and affordable lifestyle, be made to feel very welcome, and take advantage of the many business opportunities available.
7. Island Nations: Maldives, Vanuatu, And Indonesia
If your preference is to seek safety on a beautiful island, then look no further than Maldives, Vanuatu, or Indonesia. All three offer excellent lifestyle and business opportunities, and are ideal safe havens, as they do not have extradition treaties.
Vanuatu is a tax-free jurisdiction with an interesting citizenship by investment program, so you could even become a fully-fledged Vanuatuan citizen while you are there. Maldives offers beautiful beaches and crystal waters, along with good investment opportunities in the real estate space.
Indonesia, home to the popular Bali, is a favourite among expats and has a very fast-growing economy.
8. Africa: Ethiopia, Botswana, And Tunisia
If you are feeling more adventurous and would like to venture over to Africa instead, then Ethiopia, Botswana, and Tunisia are three good prospects which do not have many extradition treaties. Ethiopia and Botswana are two of the strongest economies on the African continent.
Those wishing to enter developing markets can use their escape as an opportunity to explore these promising places.
The North African nation of Tunisia is home to another up and coming African economy and is also a beautiful beach destination for those who prefer the Mediterranean climate.
Difference Between No Extradition Treaty and Non-Extradition
As we mentioned previously, there is a difference between being in a place which has no extradition treaty and not being extradited. There are examples of countries which do have extradition treaties but have still refused extradition in the past, such as Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Iceland, and Switzerland.
There are also instances where countries have extradited fugitives even without extradition treaties, such as in the case of Spain and Yemen. There are no guarantees.
There are certain countries which do not extradite their citizens under any circumstances, such as Brazil, Venezuela, and Cuba. In fact, Brazil is one of the easiest places to become a citizen through naturalisation, so perhaps that is also something to consider.
What About the UK and Other Countries with No Extradition?
Many of the countries listed above also do not have extradition treaties with the UK and Scotland. Other good options for UK citizens include Armenia, Belarus, South Korea, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. For citizens of other countries, it is best to first check which countries do not have formal extradition treaties with your home nation.
Once you have a comprehensive list, you can select your ideal location from there based on your personal preferences and situational requirements.
Although there is no such thing as guaranteed safety, you have a much better chance if the country you choose to run to does not have an extradition treaty with your home country, nor a history of ad hoc extraditions taking place.
*Disclaimer: All information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice nor do we suggest doing anything that would be illegal.
