At one point or another, we all come to a conclusion about how interesting it would be to live and work abroad for a while. There is something about the aspect of experiencing other cultures that can intrigue the mind. Meet new people, learn a new language, see how other countries function, etc. And it is in this spirit that Movers Development is here today. We provide you with a list of top countries to live abroad today. So, we hope that you will find one or more of these appealing enough to consider a relocation there.
7 top countries to live abroad today
#1: Canada
Moving trends show that the amount of ex-pats going over to Canada has evolved to the point where you now have over 60 legitimate ways to Canadian immigration. And if that weren’t enough, the current government is more than open towards foreign residents. So, as long as you have a US passport and a polite manner about you, you will have no trouble securing a 6-month tourist visa. This should give you more than enough time to scout out the terrain. And if you play your cards right, you can easily apply for an extension.
On the other hand, if you happen to graduate from a post-secondary program in Canada, you are rewarded with a one- or two-year work permit. Also, bear in mind that NAFTA still offers a visa for certain highly-skilled professionals.
#2: Mexico
If you are more interested in top countries to live abroad and get a nice tan, then Mexico is definitely the way to go. South across the border, you can apply for a four-year temporary resident visa. All you have to do is prove that you have a $1,500-per-month income or $25,000 in your savings account. And it’s nothing but sunny beaches for you!
If you are looking for the plus sides – it’s cheap and you can drive there! Besides, if you’ve ever crossed the border legally, you already have the paperwork for a six-month stay. You can’t work legally with it, but six months should be plenty of time to research and discover some long-term solutions.
Since you cannot apply for a temporary resident visa in Mexico, you can scout out what you need during the first six months and then return to the States. And once you return, you can apply for a visa there. You should also know that once renewed, temporary resident visas can extend up to four years and they come in:
- Lucrative classifications – for those looking to work or start a moving business.
- Non-lucrative classification – popular among retirees. All you need is proof of financial self-sufficiency (savings or income from retirement).
#3: New Zealand
New Zealand has made it easy for ages between 18 and 30 to visit them with their generous working holiday visa program. This program grants young ex-pats one year to explore without legal residency. You can either work for a year or study for six months with this visa. However, this program is not for just anyone with an empty bank account and a dream. There is still the matter of you being obliged to have a minimum of 4,200 New Zealand dollars on your account. And if you are older than 30, it gets a little more complicated. In these cases, certain occupations have priority:
- engineers
- tech workers
- nurses
#4: The United Kingdom
Now that Brexit has come into play, the UK plans to simplify the application process for work visas to non-EU tech professionals. And with the Brexit aftermath, the UK is still a compelling financial option for those with US dollars. So, as long as you have a valid job offer, you can apply for a work visa. Otherwise, you have six-months time to explore and reside in the UK before you return home.
Bear in mind that there is currently a plethora of US-owned companies with offices in the UK. So, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one of these companies to sponsor your work visa. All you need is a little perseverance, like for any of the other top countries to live abroad today. Surely you have 10 friends from college who’ve worked in London. So, get on Facebook or LinkedIn and reach out to them for help. Wait a couple of months, send emails regularly, spend hours on Skype interviews. Eventually, you will land a job in London or another larger city, along with a company to sponsor your work visa.
#5: Ireland
Opposite of the UK and just across the Irish Sea, we have Ireland, as a remaining member of the European Union. This does not, however, stop them from offering residency options. And the best part is that as long as you have a parent or even great-grandparent born in Ireland, you can claim Irish citizenship. For those between the ages of 18 and 30, who are still full-time students, a working holiday visa for the duration of one year is another viable option. Everyone else is allowed to stay in the country for up to 3 months.
#6: Scandinavia
Scandinavian countries are regular on the lists of top countries to live abroad, and the major reasons for this are:
- High standard of life
- Gender Equality
- Generous immigration policies
In accordance with the Schengen Agreement’s, you can overstay the limit of 90 days as long as you have a work visa. Exceptions exist everywhere, and here that is the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. This area is exempt from the usual Schengen limitations, which means you can live and work there for as long as you like. Bear in mind that you will have to carry a firearm to protect yourself from polar bears when venturing outside the settlements.
#7: Singapore
When it comes to high-income work, no one comes as close as one of the Four Asian Tigers. What most ex-pats find appealing about Singapore is the lack of a language barrier, given that everyone speaks English. Other than that, there are also factors such as excellent living standards, quality of healthcare, and local transport infrastructure.
Other countries you might consider as the top countries to live abroad today
- Ecuador – the clear winner when it comes to ex-pat destinations. For the second year running, it has been ranked among top countries to live abroad today, among both men and women.
- Panama – ex-pats in Panama consider their personal happiness to have increased since moving there. Indeed, most people make the decision to relocate there purely for a better quality of life.
- Indonesia -an affordable single-entry visa that you can renew for up to 6 months – sound good enough? Well, this is probably the major reason why so many expats decide to move here.
- Thailand – although education for foreigners might end up costing you a bit more, the overall low cost of living will more than balance it out. When you add friendly locals and great weather, you come to realize why most expats are satisfied here.
- Malta – according to popular opinion – the best destination for working abroad. Overall job satisfaction is high, people are happy with their career prospects, work-life balance, and working hours. What more can you ask for?
- Luxembourg – expats are generally happy with their job security in Luxembourg. In addition to that, the career prospects and work-life balance are more than optimal.
