Can you practice psychiatry from a sunny apartment in Lisbon overlooking a praça…
Or a beach house in Costa Rica while sipping from a coconut?
Answer: HECK YES.
And not only is it possible—it’s happening.
I’m a US-trained Child, Adolescent & Adult psychiatrist who created my own location-independent telepsychiatry practice that I now run from Portugal. Over the past five years, I’ve helped over 100 adventurous psychiatrists figure out how to do the same.
They all start with the same dream—and the same doubts.
So if you’re wondering whether this is legal, feasible, or even remotely realistic… you’re in the right place.
Here are the top 5 questions I hear from psychiatrists ready to explore a Telepsychiatry Private Practice that travels abroad.
1. Is it legal to practice psychiatry from abroad?
Yes—with a few important caveats.
The key point: from a licensure standpoint, the encounter takes place where the patient is located at the time of the appointment. No state medical board has clearly restricted the practice of telemedicine from outside of the United States.
Just keep three extra things in mind:
- The DEA prohibits prescribing controlled substances from outside the U.S.
- Medicare (and some private insurers) don’t allow billing from abroad.
- Your malpractice policy must explicitly allow international residence.
But once those are accounted for? You’re good to go.
2. What if I’m not a business person?
Let’s be honest – medical training teaches you to follow hierarchy, not build businesses.
But if you can navigate a psychotic patient with a complex medical history, you can figure out how to open a business bank account.
You don’t need an MBA to do this.
You need clarity, confidence, and a plan.
Instead of immediately worrying about “How do I get patients through the door?”, take a step back. Start with this: “What patients am I most excited to see—and provide outstanding care for?”
That one question will help you build a practice that caters to patients you truly enjoy working with, without burning yourself out.
Sure, there are some details to figure out – how to incorporate your business, setting up a bank account, and choosing your tech stack – but none of it is harder than residency. With the right roadmap and an organized approach, it’s totally doable.
3. What EMR should I use? Can I access my EMR from abroad?
Yes—as long as you have:
- A good Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- A secure, cloud-based EMR
- A reliable internet connection
The EMR you choose will depend on who you serve and how you work—but yes, it’s fully accessible from anywhere with internet access.
4. How do taxes work if I move abroad?
Here’s the short version:
If you’re a U.S. citizen or green card holder and become a tax resident of another country, you’ll file taxes both in the U.S. and in your new country.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll pay double.
The U.S. has tax treaties with many countries, and the Foreign Tax Credit allows you to reduce your U.S. tax liability by the amount you pay abroad—often resulting in a net U.S. tax bill of $0, even though you still have to file.
Of course, every situation is unique. Before you choose a business structure or move abroad, work with a tax expert who understands both U.S. and international systems.
5. Is there a clear, step-by-step roadmap to help me build this?
Our CME-accredited online course, Telepsychiatry from Abroad, walks you step-by-step through everything you need to launch a location-independent practice—from understanding the legal landscape to defining your niche, choosing your tech tools, and making the leap abroad with confidence.
✅ Specifically designed for U.S.-trained psychiatrists
✅ So you can work with patients you love
✅ From anywhere in the world
But don’t just take it from us, here’s what an alum of the course had to say:
“Before this course, I knew I wanted to start a telehealth private practice and move abroad within a few years, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. This course helped me clarify which patients I want to work with, set up a business structure suited for overseas practice, and gain the confidence to start the process. Now, I feel this is entirely achievable, and I have a solid action plan to make it happen!”
— Dr. Emily Rosen, EmpowerHer Psychiatry
This activity is approved for up to 8.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through the MGH Institute of Health Professions.
Curious about building your own telepsychiatry practice from abroad?
Take our free 8-question quiz (takes 45 seconds) to find out where you are now + the 3 smartest next steps for you. 👉 Take the quiz
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Emeric Bojarski, MD, is a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist who runs his telepsychiatry private practice out of Coimbra, Portugal. He graduated from Harvard Medical School, completed his Adult Psychiatry residency at Yale, and his Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at MGH/McLean. He is the co-founder of Hippocratic Adventures. When not seeing patients or helping fellow physicians move abroad, he enjoys competitive long-distance running, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and studying game theory and design.
Here are the CME Details: Physicians: MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this live activity for a maximum of 8.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
JA Statement: In support of improving patient care, MGH Institute of Health Professions is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team
Updated January 12, 2026. Originally published August 26, 2025
