16 Countries That Will Actually Pay You to Move There 

So, you want to move abroad but don’t know where to go? Well, there’s no getting around it, moving overseas can be pretty expensive. Even if you move to a cheaper nation, setup costs, visas, and accommodation can quickly spiral, at least for the first few months.

So, it’s a huge deal that there are 16 countries that will actually pay you to move there – yep, you read that correctly.

These are popular countries as well, it’s not just places that you’d never want to live in. There are a range of locations all around the world and with a range of incentives.

Of course, there are different ways to qualify for each place, so we’ll go through each place one by one to see if you fit the criteria and how much they’ll pay you to move! Let’s dive in and find out more.

Why Do Countries Pay You to Move There?

Okay, so I appreciate that these schemes are a little weird, so why do countries pay you to move there? Well, there are a lot of different reasons why, but a lot of the time it’s to boost the population and local economy. 

Despite there being 22 countries on this list, many of them have specific towns, islands, or regions that qualify for the incentive. Usually, this is an area that has an aging population and needs more young people to regenerate the region.

Sometimes, it’s because there is a shortage in certain professions or businesses. In order to attract global talent, many governments will sweeten the pot with a guaranteed job, and relocation expenses, including a stipend to entice you.  

Occasionally, some towns and villages will open up a housing renovation initiative. Some of the most famous ones involve you being able to buy a home for one euro. This is contingent on the fact that you invest a certain amount of money fixing it up and live there full-time afterward, stimulating the local economy. But more on that later! 

European Places

One of the most common regions that’ll pay you to move there is Europe. Coincidentally, it’s also one of the most popular regions for expats, especially US expats, so it goes hand in hand. With history, culture, and natural beauty, there are a lot of great reasons to move to Europe.

Depending on the country you move to, you might also gain access to the European Union, allowing you (eventually) to live, work, and study across the 27 different nations without a visa. 

Austria

If you’re a highly skilled worker, you might be able to apply for Austria’s Red-White-Red Card. This is a specialist program that gives new residents support if they want to move and work in the land of Mozart and The Sound of Music. 

There are relocation packages available, but it all depends on the employer. However, there are some huge brands that call Austria home, such as Red Bull, who pay generous relocation packages. 

Channel Islands (UK)

Located to the south of Great Britain, towards France, the Channel Islands are made up of four main nations. The island of Sark is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the second largest nation, and is in need of more residents.

The Sark Society is giving a one-off payment of $20,000 in relocation costs and a one-year visa to help you find your footing. It’s quite a remote island, but it’s naturally beautiful and you can travel between the different Channel Islands pretty easily. 

The incentives and pay conditions: You’ll receive $20,000 and a one-year visa to move to the remote island of Sark.

Estonia

If you want to live in one of the burgeoning tech hubs in Europe, check out Estonia. Located in the northeast of Europe near Russia and Finland, it’s a great blend of Eastern European affordable, historic vibes and Scandinavian work-life balance and cool. 

With the nation’s reputation for tech start-ups, including being the home of Skype, they offer e-residency schemes that allow you to start your dream business in Europe. If your business is selected for the program, you’ll receive anywhere up to $50,000 in funding as well as a one-year visa to get started.

The incentives and pay conditions: New businesses can receive up to $50,000 and a one-year visa.

Greece (Antikythera)

Ever dreamed of moving to a remote Greek island to live out your Mamma Mia fantasy? The Greek Orthodox Church is paying people to move to the small island of Antikythera as there are only 50 inhabitants on the entire island.

Basically, this is a drive to repopulate the island, so you’ll get a juicy payout from the church. This includes free housing, a plot of land to build on, and 500 euros a month for the first three years. Over the three years, that’s 18,000 euros and you get a house as well – what’s not to love about that?

The incentives and pay conditions: You’ll get a monthly stipend of 500 euros for the first three years, gifted by the Greek Orthodox Church. You can also receive free housing and a plot of land to build on to repopulate the island. 

Ireland

As one of the most beautiful places in the world, filled with myths and legends, Ireland is an amazing place to relocate to. You have the added bonus that as an American, you won’t have a language barrier (unless you live in a Gaelic-speaking town) and there is a culture overlap. You can also get to the eastern seaboard within a few hours, so there’s a convenience factor here too.

The interesting thing about the Irish move incentive is that it has to do with starting new businesses. If you want to start a new business and you can show a business plan that demonstrates your business can make at least 10 jobs and earn over three million euros in the first three years, you can receive start-up capital.

Dublin is home to some amazing tech start-ups, so you’ll be in good company. The caveat is that you have to register your new business in Ireland, not in your home nation.

The incentives and pay conditions: You can get start-up capital for new businesses from the Irish government on the condition that you can show your company is capable of creating at least 10 jobs and €1 million in sales over the first 3 years. 

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Italy

Honestly, Italy is one of the most popular countries for relocation incentives. Not only is it ideal for getting a slice of la dolce vita, but there is also a wide range of towns and regions to choose from. 

The three most popular places are:

• Candela, Apulia
• Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo
• Calabria

Candela, Apulia

This small medieval village is known as Little Naples, but it is located in the heart of the Italian countryside. However, like many villages in Italy, the population is dwindling. If you have a salary of at least 7,500 euros, you can apply for residency in Candela and be rewarded with 800 for a single person, 1,200 for a couple, or up to 2,000 for a family. 

Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo

If you love to live around delicious vineyards, you might want to consider moving to the town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo. This historic town has hefty incentives for new residents who are aged between 18 and 40. 

You’ll need to either be an EU resident, a non-EU resident with an Italian residency card, or a new resident who wants to open a business. If you fit the bill, you can be rewarded with an incentive of up to 44,000 euros.

Calabria

Fancy living in the toe of Italy within striking distance of Sicily? The region of Calabria is looking for new residents under the age of 40. If you move there, you’ll receive between 800-1,000 euros a month for the first two to three years which can equate to 19,200 to 36,000 euros total!

Spain

If you want to move to sunny Spain, you have the choice of not one but two locations to bring your dream to life. While much of Spain is thriving, a lot of small towns and villages have fallen into disrepair and fallen out of favor. As a result, councils are offering huge incentives for families to move in and repopulate the region.

For the town of Ponga in Asturias, each family will get $3,000 to move to the town and an additional $3,000 for each baby that’s born. If you prefer mountain regions, you can move to the town of Rubia in Galicia, the town will pay you between 100-150 euros per month to help supplement your income. 

The incentives and pay conditions: Families moving to Ponga will receive $3,000 to move and an extra $3,000 for each child born in the town. If you move to Rubia, you’ll get an additional 100-150 euros per month. 

Switzerland

Fancy living in the beautiful Swiss mountains? The small town of Albinen in Valois is looking to repopulate with new families. There are a few conditions. You have to be a Swiss resident, under 45, commit to living there for a minimum of 10 years, and live in a house worth at least 200,000 Swiss Francs ($223,000). It’s a lot of conditions, but the incentives are great.

For each adult that moves to the town, you’ll receive 25,000 Swiss Francs ($28,000), and if you’re bringing children, you’ll get an additional 10,000 Swiss Francs ($11,000). However, if you leave Albinen before the 10 years is up, you have to repay the whole incentive. 

The incentives and pay conditions: You’ll receive $28,000 per adult and $11,000 per child that moves to the town, on the condition that you’re a Swiss resident, under 45, stay for 10 years, and live in a house worth at least $223,000.

United Kingdom

While the UK immigration policy is famously strict, there is one major exception – the country is in dire need of teachers! If you’re a qualified teacher specializing in languages or physics and want to move to the UK, you can receive up to £10,000 to relocate and settle on the other side of the pond.

This extends all around the UK, so you don’t need to stick to a major city if you don’t want to. If you’re interested, check out the International Relocation Payment (IRP) for more details and how to apply. 

The incentives and pay conditions: Receive up to £10,000 to relocate as a language or physics teacher or trainee teacher. 

North American Places

Want to move away but remain closer to home as a US citizen? Well, there is a huge range of states and countries in North America that’ll pay you to move there. This way you can start fresh without huge cultural barriers or language difficulties (for the most part). 

Canada

Feeling sad about all your recent student debt? If you’ve graduated from higher education (college or equivalent) within the last seven years, you can potentially apply for the Saskatchewan Graduate Retention Program (GRP). 

You’ll need to have studied at one of the approved institutions for at least six months, but there are plenty across the world on the list. The program works by paying out 20,000 CAD over the course of seven years once you live in Saskatchewan. For the first four years, you’ll get $2,000 per year and then for the last three, you’ll receive $4,000 per year.

The incentives and pay conditions: Qualifying graduates will receive $20,000 CAD over the course of seven years if they move to Saskatchewan. 

USA

With so many states looking to pull in different demographics and business styles, there are plenty of opportunities to relocate to new locations. Whether you’re qualified in an in-demand profession, want to start a new business, or want to head to a new small town in need of new families, there are a few options to take into account.

Alaska

The most northerly state in the US has an interesting incentive when it comes to relocating. Since 1976, there has been a Permanent Fund Dividend. This fund is designed to share Alaska’s oil profits with residents, so if you stay for a full dividend year, you’ll get a lovely payout.

In 2022, residents of Alaska received $3,284. Add in the tax-free nature of the state, and that almost balances out the high cost of living in one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world.

The incentives and pay conditions: A dividend share payout from the Permanent Fund Dividend each full year you live in Alaska. This varies, but it’s around $3,200 per year.

Iowa

Want to move to a brand new town? Well, the aptly named Newton, Iowa is seeking new residents and families to populate the city. In order to do this, they want to entice people to build their own houses in the city. 

Once you’ve bought your plot and had the plans approved by the council, you’ll receive $10,000 towards the cost of your house build. If your house gets valued at $100,000 at the end of things, you’ll also receive a tax abatement which is awesome. As an added bonus, you’ll get a coupon book for local stores and restaurants that’s valued around $2,500 as a welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift.

The incentives and pay conditions: Receive up to $10,000 towards building a house in Newton once you’ve approved the plans and bought a plot of land. Feel welcomed by the council with a coupon book of local discounts worth $2,500.

Kansas

If you want to move to the state capital of Kansas, Topeka, you could be in for a healthy payday. The city is hoping to attract young professionals and digital nomads alike, so they have two scales depending on which camp you fit into.

For remote workers and digital nomads, Topeka Council will pay up to $5,000 to relocate. However, if you work on-site for a Topeka company that participates in the Choose Topeka scheme, you can be paid up to $15,000 to move to the Kansas capital. 

The incentives and pay conditions: Relocation costs of up to $5,000 for remote workers or up to $15,000 for on-site employees for participating Topeka employers. 

Minnesota

Want to move to the bustling metropolis of Bemidji, Minnesota? Well, with just 14,000 residents, this city is keen to attract digital nomads and independent businesses to the area. It boasts some of the fastest internet speeds in the country, and you’ll be rewarded with $2,500 in housing relocation costs, a free co-working space, and access to their special Community Concierge Program, which helps you set up your business. 

The incentives and pay conditions: Up to $2,500 to relocate, free co-working space, and access to their Community Concierge Program if you move to Bemidji.

Oklahoma

Tulsa, the second largest city in Oklahoma is in desperate want of digital nomads. They’re on the hunt for more young professionals to invest in the local economy. As a result, the city will pay up to $10,000 in housing or set-up costs as well as desk spaces and plenty of networking events to help you find friends in the area.

The incentives and pay conditions: Up to $10,000 in housing costs or as a monthly set-up stipend for digital nomads moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s second-biggest city. You’ll also receive free desk space and access to exclusive networking events.

Vermont

If you love fall foliage, quaint towns and hikes, and Ben and Jerry’s, you might want to think about applying for the Worker Relocation Incentive Program. 

You can either apply for the New Relocating Worker program or the New Remote Worker program. To qualify for either, you need to earn at least $15.33 per hour, be a full-time Vermont resident, and pay local Vermont taxes. In return, each of these programs offers up to $7,500 to help with relocation fees so you can relax and enjoy the crisp Vermont vibes!

The incentives and pay conditions: Receive up to $7,500 in relocation costs as long as you qualify for either the New Relocating Worker program or the New Remote Worker program and earn over $15.33 per hour.

Rest of the World

Want to go further afield? There are a few places across Oceania, Asia, South America, and Africa that will pay you to move there. They’re rarer than other regions at the moment, but there is still a great selection of places to move to without spending a fortune.

Chile

Who hasn’t imagined living in a stunning mountainous wilderness filled with amazing wine and artistic culture? Well, if you want to relocate to South America, Chile is offering a huge start-up fund for new businesses.

The Start-Up Chile fund will offer entrepreneurs up to $300,000 of Community Lending Programs (CLP) funding to start their businesses. One of the cool things about this fund is its commitment to gender parity. In fact, 50% of the funding applications are earmarked for female-owned organizations.

The incentives and pay conditions: Start-ups can receive up to $300,000 of funding to get started in Chile.

Japan

From the beautiful wilderness of Mount Fuji and the ski slopes of Sapporo to the bustling, culture-filled cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, there are so many amazing places to live and work in Japan. It also has one of the best standards of living, but despite this, the population is aging and the birth rate is on a downward spiral.

Historically, visas for Japan have been tricky to get, but the new high-skilled worker visa allows you to renew indefinitely. In terms of funding, the Regional Revitalization Program is an incentive for people to move to more rural areas of Japan.

This incentive means that you’ll receive up to $10,000 in relocation funding which will help you set your life up.

The incentives and pay conditions: You can receive up to $10,000 to move to a rural area of Japan. 

New Zealand

Want to live in the land of the long white cloud? The stunning country of New Zealand is bursting with natural beauty, vibrant cities, and great food and wine scenes. It’s commonly one of the best places to live in the world, but the immigration process can sometimes be tricky, especially if you want to live abroad long-term.

However, New Zealand are in need of more teachers. In fact, they’ll pay $10,000 NZD for each teacher who wants to relocate to New Zealand. If you’re a secondary school teacher, you’ll also get immediate residency, which is a huge bonus.

The incentives and pay conditions: Teachers will receive $10,000 NZD to move and secondary school teachers can receive immediate residency.

Mauritius

Feel like spending the next few years in a tropical island paradise? The African island nation of Mauritius has its own start-up fund, designed to stimulate the local economy. Any businesses that move there can receive 20,000 Mauritian Rupees which is around $430. 

The cost of living in this amazing country is super low, so 20,000 rupees can go a long way. For example, the monthly cost of living for a single person is on average $590. If you hire local staff who are graduates from the national SME fund, their wages can be supplemented by the government up to 14,000 Mauritian Rupees ($300).

The incentives and pay conditions: If you move your business to Mauritius you’ll receive around $430 and if you hire local SME scheme graduates, you’ll receive $300 towards their salary from the government. 

Places that Will Pay You to Move If You Want to Renovate a Property

Ireland

If you choose to live on a remote Irish island, the government will give you a grant of up to €84,000 ($92,297). This is on the condition that you buy a house on a remote island. 

A lot of these are in disrepair, you will have to fix up and renovate the house, so the grant predominantly goes to the cost of renovation and living in a remote location. These are islands primarily on the Atlantic coast which can be unforgiving, especially in the winter season, so take this under consideration before you commit to the move. 

Italy

As one of the first countries to offer one euro houses in return for renovation investments, Italy has a wide range of locations to choose from. There are a few regions that are more popular than others, so you might want to consider:

• Sicily
• Sardinia
• Abruzzo
• Milan

While each region varies when it comes to conditions, there are a few common threads that you might want to think about, especially the fines!

• Even though the houses “cost” one euro, most schemes require you to have 5,000 euros as a deposit to be able to start renovations.
• You need to submit your planning permission within six months of buying the property, otherwise, you’ll face a fine of up to 10,000.
• If you don’t start building work within the first year, you’ll face another fine. 
• Fully renovate the project within three years, and live there as a primary residence. 

Legrad, Croatia

Croatia is definitely a country that’s on the rise, and it’s a huge popular vacation spot. With more infrastructure and low costs of living, it’s becoming increasingly popular with expats. The small village of Legrad used to be a hive of activity, but its aging population means it’s in need of regeneration. 

So, the council is selling houses in the village for the grand sum of 1 Kuna (about $0.16 cents). This is obviously a ridiculous price, and you’ll need to be under 40, financially stable, and you have to commit to staying there for at least 15 years. In addition to super cheap houses, the state will also give you $4,000 towards the cost of the refurbishment. 

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