22 Countries That Will Pay You to Move and Live There 2024

Written by Nina Phillips
Published: March 26, 2024
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Moving to another country is the dream for many people. However, it isn’t always easy. Finding a job, a place to live, and having the money to move you, your family, and all your stuff over there isn’t easy. Thankfully, there are countries that will pay you to move there.

Take a look at these 22 countries that are eager to have foreigners move in. While many have specific qualifications for those moving in, there are plenty of opportunities for those willing to be a little adventurous.

1. Thailand

flag of Thailand

Those willing to teach English, or a few other courses, could move to Thailand for heavily discounted prices.

©Tatohra/Shutterstock.com

Thailand is always on the hunt for people from the US and Canada to teach English. They offer moving assistance and other benefits. The pay isn’t as high as in some other countries, but the low cost of living makes up for it.

2. Portugal

a chalkboard with the question question falas portuges? do you speak Portuguese? written in Portugese, a pot with pencils, some books and the flag of Portugal, on a wooden desk

Feeling like starting up a business? Consider moving to Portugal to do so.

©nito/Shutterstock.com

Portugal has a program known as the Startup Visa. This offers all sorts of benefits for the founders of startup companies to move to the country. Some of the benefits include government grants. However, certain criteria must be followed.

3. Iceland

Icelandic passport with a top picture on its flag, citizens of Iceland

In addition to the startup program, some companies in Iceland will pay you to run their social media channels and promote their business.

©justit/Shutterstock.com

Iceland offers a Startup Iceland program. Through this program, people looking to start up a business in the country get a one-year visa and $50,000. Working in Iceland is rather easy as you don’t need a special permit to work or live there.

4. Vietnam

Vietnam on a map

This is another country that will pay native English speakers and off housing benefits if they come and teach the language.

©Hyotographics/Shutterstock.com

Vietnam offers benefits for people looking to teach English. You have to cover the moving costs, but they give you stipends for housing. Living in Vietnam is prett cheap as well, with $500 to $1,00 per month often being plenty to get by.

5. Estonia

Estonia

This country offers flexible migration policies for people not sure about moving to the country right away.

©Jarreterra/Shutterstock.com

Estonia has a program known as e-Residency. This offers money for people moving to Estonia and starting a business. You can get up to $50,000 and a one-year visa. It’s one of the richest countries willing to pay people to move there.

6. Croatia

Croatian flag

Most of the houses require some extensive renovation, but it could be worth it to get to move to a new country.

©Osman Bugra Nuvasil/Shutterstock.com

Legrad, Croatia is offering free homes to people under 40. The houses only cost a few cents ($0.16 to be specific), as well as $4,000 towards renovation. You do have to be willing to stay for at least 15 years, though.

7. Mauritius

Aerial view of Mauritius island and Le Morne Brabant mountain with beautiful blue lagoon and underwater waterfall illusion

This secluded paradise is looking for start-up companies.

©Myroslava Bozhko/Shutterstock.com

Several categories of start-ups can get moving incentives. Technology, business models, innovations, and finance are just some of them. If you can prove that your idea is viable, can grow, and is unique, you can get up to 20,000 Mauritian Rupees.

8. New Zealand

New Zealand - Ross Dependency smoky mystical flag on the old dirty wall background

The deal below is for a place called Kaitangata.

©vladm/Shutterstock.com

New Zealand doesn’t technically offer to pay you to move. However, they do offer discounted land and housing packages for anyone who wants to make the move.

9. Italy

question parli italiano? do you speak Italian?

Pressice-Acquarica is willing to pay around $32,500 to anyone who moves there.

©nito100/iStock via Getty Images

Italy is offering up to $10,000 and a one-year visa for students and researchers. Additionally, some small towns are willing to pay for foreigners to move there.

10. Chile

Flag of Chile

While not everyone gets $80,000, even the smallest businesses can get $14,000.

©AUTORES DE GOOGLE CC-BY-SA-4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:CC-BY-SA-4.0 - License

Santiago, the capital of Chile has a program called Startup Chile. The program offers $80,000 to people willing to start a business there. It’s equity-free funding and a one-year visa.

11. South Korea

South Korean flag

Korea pays some of the highest wages for English teachers out of all the countries on this list.

©Rob Wilson/Shutterstock.com

Korea offers deals and programs for those willing to move to the country and teach English. The program is open to select countries where English is the main language.

12. Denmark

Copenhagen iconic view. Famous old Nyhavn port in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark during summer sunny day with Denmark flag on the foreground.

The country of Denmark will pay $50,000 and offer a one-year visa for entrepreneurs.

©Nick N A/Shutterstock.com

Denmark offers incentives for start-up businesses to move to the country. There are plenty of bonuses and public funding for their companies in addition to the government’s initial bonus.

13. The United States

View of the United States Capitol Rotunda Dome in Washington DC with the Star Spangled American Flag against colorful dramatic sunset sky background

Some states will pay as much as $15,000 for you to move there.

©tokar/Shutterstock.com

Several places in the United States offer benefits for people who want to move there, including parts of Alaska, New York, and Connecticut.

14. England

flag of England

The country managed to reach only 59 percent of its recruitment targets for teachers, so it moved to looking outside o the country.

©Pavlo Lys/Shutterstock.com

England is in desperate need of teachers, especially those focused on language or physics. They’re offering 10,000 pounds to anyone looking to relocate and become a teacher.

15. Sark

The island of Sark at summer

This UK island also offers amazing tax benefits for residents, as an added bonus.

©Peter Csakvari/Shutterstock.com

Sark is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the UK. They have a program called the Sark Society that offers $20,000 and a one-year visa to those wanting to move to the island.

16. Spain

Spain flag isolated on the blue sky with clipping path. close up waving flag of Spain. flag symbols of Spain.

Some places in Spain will pay you several thousand dollars to move there.

©Tatohra/Shutterstock.com

There are a few remote locations in Spain that offer deals to people willing to move to the country. Ponga, Rubia, and Griegos are just a few examples. They also have an Entrepreneur visa for those looking to start a business in Spain.

17. Ireland

Some of the islands are very remote, cut off from the mainland for most of the day due to the tide.

©iStock.com/Oleksii Liskonih

Ireland is offering a grant of nearly $100,000 for anyone who wants to move onto one of their coastal islands. Most of the islands are remote, but the beauty far outweighs the lack of nightlife.

18. Greece

While not all of Greece is paying people to live there, one island in particular is eager to have an influx of people.

©Naypong Studio/Shutterstock.com

The island of Antikythera has less than 50 people living on the island, so the Greek Orthodox Church is offering anyone who wants to live there a house and a monthly stipend of 500 euros for three years to anyone willing to live on the island.

19. Canada

Male surgeon or doctor with stethoscope on the background of the Canada flag. Health care and medical concept. Surgery concept in Canada.

For those planning to move to Canada, you have to live in the country for at least 10 years.

©lunopark/Shutterstock.com

Canada is another country offering a Start-Up Visa. They provide you with a one-year visa and $50,000 in funding.

20. Switzerland

Flag of Switzerland also known as the Swiss flag

It’s a little harder to get the benefits of moving to Switzerland than other countries on this list.

©iStock.com/mehmetbuma

Albinen, Switzerland has fewer than 250 residents. People who relocate to the village will get up to 25,000 Swiss francs per adult and 10,000 per child. However, you do have to be a Swiss citizen or have a permanent residency permit.

21. Austria

Official passport of Austria, Austrian citizen.

You can get $10,000 to move to Austria.

©MariKravchuk/Shutterstock.com

Austria has the Red-White-Red Card program. This program offers funding to support people with high-level skills to move to the country. Some employers will sweeten the deal by offering additional relocation bonuses.

22. Japan

Rising Sun Flag

Teaching English is another way to get to Japan, though you don’t get quite so many benefits.

©Mybona/Shutterstock.com

Japan has struggled with decreasing birth rates over the last few years. To make up for this, the country is offering the Regional Revitalization Program, which offers up to $10,000 to move to a rural part of the country.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © mkos83/iStock via Getty Images


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About the Author

Nina is a writer at A-Z Animals, FIDIS Travel, and Giant Freakin Robot. Her focus is on wildlife, national parks, and the environment. She has been writing about animals for over three years. Nina holds a Bachelor's in Conservation Biology, which she uses when talking about animals and their natural habitats. In her free time, Nina also enjoys working on writing her novels and short stories. As a resident of Colorado, Nina enjoys getting out in nature, traveling, and watching snow hit the mountains from her enclosed porch.

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