I hold and Australian passport and am about to retire (coming up to 60) and would like to spend years touring through Europe, starting and finishing with a 6 month stay in the UK. I can cover living expenses (including health cover) and have no other problems that would prevent acceptance (no criminal record and no desire to obtain work). The plan is to return to Australia and therefore I am not looking for permanent residency.

I would have thought self funded retirees that will put money into Europe and take nothing but memories away would be welcomed but alas, it appears not the case.

I have contacted 2 "visa specialists" and been disappointed with the result - forum checks on them were negative as well.

Research so far tells me Shengen visas are out (too short and extended stays, even going in and out of non convention countries is unlikely to be sufficient), there are 1 year options as a temporary resident in France, Austria and Germany but renewal may be a problem if I don't reside in the country for most of the year. There are options to buy property in Portugal and others (500,000 Euro) where it appears I can have temporary residency status. The amount of investment is very high relative to my needs and these appear to be for those moving permanently

Then I came across a Bulgarian investment option that requires 300,000 euro investment in property and allow significant freedom, i.e. no need to stay in the country - free to roam

http://www.key2europe.com/en/Real-Estate-Investment

Has anyone found a solution to long term touring in Europe?
Is this Bulgarian scheme legitimate?
Can anyone recommend reliable visa specialist's that can truly help?

Have you asked on the Europe Forum? Someone there may have some ideas for you.

Perhaps one of the Slow Travelling Fora, Slow Travel or Untours. Just thinking that they're likely to have members who can take a more leisurely approach, yet not necessarily becoming a resident/ temporary resident.

Hope you find a solution - that's my idea of a year or two well spent, too.

Thanks for the heads up I will try the options you mention

Those "visa specialists"and Bulgarian investments sound dodgy to me. Have you approached the embassies of countries that you'd be interested in, on a formal level? If one says No, talk to another. If, say, the Norwegians or the Swiss (not members of the EU but signatories to the Schengen agreement) have a way of granting you an extended visa of some sort, the other Schengen signatories will honor it.

The Schengen concept is a fluid one when it comes to things other than the run-of-the-mill "90 days in - 90 days out" rule.

It's tough these days - Australia is no easier in those respects than Europe. I was the beneficiary of Australian's "Assisted Migrants' Passage" in 1970, and a few years later the borders were closed. But if you persevere, I think you'll find a way - just don't risk the "back alleys" - anyone will take your money for a worthless piece of paper that looks awfully legit...

Good luck!

€300K is a hell of a lot of money to pay for a property you don't want in a country you don't want to visit!

a better course, IMHO, [assuming that you are ok for getting into the UK] is to use it as your base to dip into and out of the schengen zone.

eg in a 12 month trip, you could start with 90 days in France and spain, then tour the UK for 90 days, [June, July, August, say] then head for Italy and Greece, and at the end of the 90 days, go to the countries that used to make up Yugoslavia [which have stayed out of Schengen, according to the map] or back to the UK.

I think you might fancy a taste of home after that.

More on the storm:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9146...sweeps-country

Oops, wrong thread, sorry!

lol mel - perhaps the wind has affected you more than you thought!