Best Countries to Relocate to in 2026
More people are moving abroad than at any time in a generation — for lower costs, better weather, lower taxes, or a fresh start. But the “best” country depends entirely on your income type and goals. This guide compares the 10 most popular and accessible destinations side by side, with real income thresholds, visa difficulty, taxes, and paths to citizenship — each backed by a full step-by-step guide.
The 10 Best Countries to Relocate To
Ordered by overall popularity and accessibility. Each card links to a full guide with visa requirements, cost of living, taxes, a step-by-step timeline, and a free downloadable document checklist. Income figures are for a single applicant on the headline visa route.
Portugal
D7 Passive Income / D8 Nomad
Spain
Non-Lucrative / Digital Nomad
Mexico
Temporary Resident Visa
Costa Rica
Pensionado / Rentista
Italy
Elective Residency / Nomad
France
VLS-TS Visiteur
Germany
Freelancer / EU Blue Card
Canada
Express Entry (points)
Australia
Skilled points / 482
New Zealand
Skilled Migrant (SMC)
Most of these destinations have origin-specific guides. UK citizens: see our Moving Abroad from the UK hub (Spain, Portugal, France, Australia, and visa-free Ireland). Canadians: start with Moving to Portugal from Canada. Americans: see all US–Europe guides.
How to Choose the Right Country
There is no single “best” country to relocate to — the right answer depends almost entirely on how you earn your money. Immigration systems sort applicants into a handful of archetypes, and your income type decides which doors are open to you. Before comparing destinations, work out which of these four routes fits you:
1. Passive income or retirement. If you live on a pension, Social Security, dividends, rental income, or annuities, the easiest routes in the world are open to you. Portugal’s D7 (€920/month), Costa Rica’s Pensionado ($1,000/month), and Italy’s Elective Residency Visa are all designed for exactly this profile. The catch: these visas prohibit working, including remote work, so your income must be genuinely passive.
2. Remote work for a foreign employer or clients. Digital nomad visas are the fastest-growing category. Spain’s DNV (€2,850/month) and Portugal’s D8 (€3,680/month) are the strongest in Europe, letting you live in the EU while keeping clients abroad. Watch the fine print: France bans remote work on its Visiteur visa, and Italy keeps remote work strictly separate from its retirement visa.
3. Skilled employment. If you’re under 45 with a degree and in-demand skills, points-based systems offer a direct path to permanent residency — no employer sponsor required for Canada’s Express Entry. Australia and New Zealand run similar skilled-migration systems, and Germany’s EU Blue Card is the European equivalent for graduates with a job offer.
4. Investment. If you have significant capital, several countries offer faster routes — though Spain ended its Golden Visa in April 2025 and Portugal removed the real-estate option, so this category has narrowed in Europe.
Once you know your route, three other factors usually decide between finalists: cost of living (Mexico and Costa Rica are 40–55% cheaper than a major US city; Portugal and Spain around 30–40% cheaper than the US or UK), tax treatment of your specific income, and language — English goes a long way in Portugal, the Netherlands, and Germany’s cities, while France, Italy, and Spain reward learning the local language.
“There’s a country with no visa at all.” For long-term residence there almost never is — the 90-day visa-free window (Schengen, or the US–Mexico tourist entry) is not a way to live somewhere. The one real exception is Ireland for British citizens, via the Common Travel Area. “Moving abroad escapes US tax.” The US taxes citizens on worldwide income wherever they live, so Americans keep filing Form 1040, FBAR, and often FATCA from day one — tax treaties and the Foreign Tax Credit prevent double taxation, but not the paperwork.
Best Country by Goal
Skip the long list — jump straight to the destinations that fit your situation.
🏖️ Best for retirees & passive income
Lowest thresholds; pensions and Social Security qualify.
Portugal D7 €920/mo · Costa Rica Pensionado $1,000/mo · Italy ERV (7% flat tax)
💻 Best for remote workers
Dedicated digital nomad visas; work for clients abroad.
Spain DNV €2,850/mo · Portugal D8 €3,680/mo · Italy DNV €28,000/yr
💵 Best for a tight budget
Lowest cost of living and lowest income bars.
Mexico · Costa Rica · Portugal — compare with the Cost of Living Calculator
🛠️ Best for skilled workers
Points-based PR; no passive income needed.
🗣️ Best for English speakers
English is official or very widely spoken.
Canada · Australia · New Zealand · Ireland (for UK citizens)
🛂 Best for low taxes
Most favourable treatment of foreign income.
Costa Rica ($0 territorial) · Italy (7% flat) · New Zealand (4-yr exemption)
Wise charges up to 8× less than traditional banks on international transfers — and many consulates accept a Wise balance as proof of funds. Open your account before you go.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you
Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Income is for a single applicant on the lowest-threshold route. Figures are approximate — always verify with the official consulate before applying. Scroll the table sideways on mobile.
| Country | Best route | Min income (single) | Difficulty | Tax highlight | Citizenship | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | D7 Passive Income | €920/mo D8 nomad €3,680/mo |
Easy | NHR closed → treaty / IFICI (tech only) | 10 yrs | Medium |
| Spain | Non-Lucrative (NLV) | €2,400/mo DNV €2,850/mo |
Moderate | Beckham Law 24% flat (DNV employees) | 10 yrs | Medium |
| Mexico | Temporary Resident | MXN 35,193/mo varies by consulate |
Easy | Foreign income generally untaxed | ~5 yrs | Low–Med |
| Costa Rica | Pensionado / Rentista | $1,000/mo (pension) Rentista $2,500/mo |
Easy | Territorial — $0 on foreign income | 7 yrs | Medium |
| Italy | Elective Residency | €31,000/yr ≈€2,580/mo |
Moderate | 7% flat tax (S. Italy retirees, 10 yr) | 10 yrs | Low |
| France | VLS-TS Visiteur | ≈€1,478/mo no remote work |
Moderate | US pensions taxed in US (treaty) | 5 yrs | Low–Med |
| Germany | Freelancer / Blue Card | No fixed floor Blue Card €50,700/yr |
Moderate | Progressive (high) | 5 yrs (3 fast-track) | Med–High |
| Canada | Express Entry (points) | Points-based CAD $15,263 funds |
Strict | Worldwide income | 3 yrs | Native |
| Australia | Skilled points / 482 | Points-based age under 45 |
Strict | Worldwide; super/PFIC issues | 4 yrs | Native |
| New Zealand | Skilled Migrant (SMC) | Points-based age 55 or under |
Strict | 4-yr foreign-income exemption | 5 yrs | Native |
The five “Easy/Moderate” European and Latin American countries reward passive income — a fixed monthly figure unlocks the visa. The three “Strict” countries (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) reward skills and age through a points test, with no income figure but a real chance of rejection if you score too low. Citizenship timelines marked in green are the fastest; the 10-year EU countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy) are slower but deliver an EU passport.
Use the free Proof of Funds Calculator to check which visas you qualify for based on your monthly income — instantly, no signup. Compare living costs with the Cost of Living Calculator, or generate a personalised document list with the Visa Checklist Generator.
Frequently Asked Questions
For people with passive or retirement income, Portugal’s D7 visa has one of the lowest thresholds in Europe at €920/month, and Costa Rica’s Pensionado visa requires just $1,000/month from a pension. Mexico’s Temporary Resident visa is popular with Americans for its proximity and straightforward consular process. For British citizens, Ireland is the easiest of all — under the Common Travel Area no visa is required at all. The “easiest” country depends on your income type: passive-income retirees, remote workers, and skilled professionals each have different best options.
The lowest income thresholds among major relocation destinations are Costa Rica’s Pensionado visa at $1,000/month (from a qualifying pension, including US Social Security) and Portugal’s D7 Passive Income visa at €920/month (roughly $1,000). Mexico’s Temporary Resident visa sets a legal minimum near MXN 35,193/month (≈$1,750), though US consulates often expect more in practice. For cost of living, Mexico and Costa Rica are the most affordable on this list, typically 40–55% cheaper than a major US city, while Portugal runs about 30–40% below US and UK levels. Compare exact figures with our Cost of Living Calculator.
For Americans, the most popular destinations are Mexico (proximity, low cost, MXN 35,193/month income route), Portugal (the D7 visa and a large English-speaking expat community), and Costa Rica (territorial tax means $0 tax on foreign income). Remote workers favour Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, and skilled professionals under 45 often target Canada’s Express Entry system. US Social Security and pension income qualifies as passive income for Portugal, Costa Rica, and Italy’s retirement visas.
Since Brexit, British citizens need a residence visa to live in the EU, but clear routes exist. Spain (Non-Lucrative Visa), Portugal (D7), and France (VLS-TS Visiteur) are the most popular European choices. Ireland requires no visa at all under the Common Travel Area, and Australia remains a traditional route via the Working Holiday and skilled visas. One key difference for retirees: the UK State Pension keeps its annual increases in the EU but is frozen if you move to Australia. See our Moving Abroad from the UK hub for full UK-specific guides.
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa (€2,850/month, with an optional 24% flat Beckham Law tax regime for employees) and Portugal’s D8 Digital Nomad Visa (€3,680/month) are the two strongest dedicated remote-work routes in Europe. Both let you live in the EU while working for clients or employers abroad. Important caveat: France bans all remote work on its Visiteur visa, and Italy’s Elective Residency Visa also prohibits working — Italy instead offers a separate Digital Nomad Visa requiring €28,000/year.
Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system, so foreign-source income is not taxed at all ($0). Italy offers a 7% flat tax on all foreign income for retirees who move to a qualifying southern town, for up to 10 years. New Zealand gives new tax residents a roughly 4-year exemption on most foreign income. Note that Portugal’s well-known NHR regime closed at the end of 2023 — it was replaced by the narrower IFICI regime for tech and research roles, so most retirees now rely on the US/UK–Portugal tax treaty instead. Americans always keep filing US taxes regardless of destination.
Among these destinations, Canada has the fastest route — citizenship after just 3 years (1,095 days) of permanent residence. Germany now allows citizenship after 5 years (3 in exceptional cases) and permits dual nationality since June 2024. France and New Zealand are around 5 years, and Australia about 4 years. Portugal, Spain, and Italy require 10 years of residence, but the payoff is an EU passport with the right to live and work across all 27 member states. All of these countries permit dual citizenship for US and UK nationals.
Yes. Several countries are designed exactly for retirees living on a pension or fixed passive income. Costa Rica’s Pensionado visa accepts $1,000/month from a lifetime pension (US Social Security qualifies, with no minimum age). Portugal’s D7 visa requires €920/month, and Italy’s Elective Residency Visa about €31,000/year. These routes accept pensions, Social Security, dividends, rental income, and annuities — but not salary or active work. Use our free Proof of Funds Calculator to check which thresholds your income meets.
Prefer professional guidance?
A licensed immigration consultant can compare your options and handle your visa application end-to-end — reducing rejections and processing delays.
Visa requirements and income thresholds change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the official consulate or embassy of your destination country before applying. This guide is informational only and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Last verified June 2026.