Moving to Timor-Leste from Maryland

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Maryland to Timor-Leste — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Maryland to Timor-Leste, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese and Tetum. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Maryland to Timor-Leste, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
57 ↓ 3% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Timor-Leste · UN DESA

Who's moving to Timor-Leste?

Top countries of origin for Timor-Leste's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Maryland to Timor-Leste.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MD
33.4%
TL
3.8%

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Maryland across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MD
91.6%
TL
39.0%

Maryland performs better than Timor-Leste across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MD
3.7%
TL
1.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$69,127
TL
$4,600

Maryland generally does better on employment & economy, though Timor-Leste leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MD
76.8 yrs
TL
69.9 yrs

Maryland performs better than Timor-Leste across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Timor-Leste. To live, work, or study long-term in Timor-Leste, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Timor-Leste's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa on Arrival
United States passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Timor-Leste.
Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Timor-Leste passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Timor-Leste?

Usually fine from major cities in Timor-Leste. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Timor-Leste compared to Maryland?

Timor-Leste performs significantly better than Maryland across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What language do they speak in Timor-Leste?

The official languages in Timor-Leste are Portuguese and Tetum. In Maryland, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

TL
Population 5,773,552 1,445,006
Currency United States Dollar ($) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English Portuguese, Tetum
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +670
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911