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