The Best Incentive Programs for Moving to Europe
The Best Incentive Programs for Moving to Europe
The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a double whammy to areas in Western Europe already struggling with negative population growth from emigration or declining birth rates. Some countries and cities are offering appealing incentives to move there to work, refurbish properties, or raise families. If you’re considering a move abroad and need that last little push to get you out of your comfort zone, consider one of these destinations; they’ll welcome you with open arms.
Ireland: Islands
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Ireland’s Our Living Lands program will grant you €84,000 to refurbish a home on one of 30 remote islands. It won’t be an easy project, and you’ll still need to qualify for residency, but Ireland does offer a retirement visa if you have $4,000/month in retirement income.
Italy: Presicce-Acquarica
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Presicce-Acquarica is offering up to €30,000 if you buy a home built before 1991. You can also collect €1,000 for each baby you have there. Find more details at the town’s website.
Italy: Various Towns
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Towns all over Italy are offering homes for one euro (about $1.07). The catch? You’ll need to renovate any property you buy. Like in Ireland, you aren’t guaranteed residency by purchasing a home, but there are many more routes to residency in Italy than there are in Ireland.
One option is a retirement visa if you have retirement income of €2,600/month, or about $2,800. This site offers more details.
Spain: Ponga, Asturias
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This town in Northern Spain will pay €3,000 to families with children and €3,000 more for having a child there. They also pay €2,000 to singles or couples.
Spain: Rubiá, Orense
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This Spanish town north of Portugal will supplement your income with €150 per month, which goes a lot further there than it does in the States.
Spain: Griegos, Teruel
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Griegos, Teruel, between Madrid and Barcelona, will give a job and three months’ free rent to families with kids. After that, rent is only €225/month, or about $240, minus €50 for each school-age child in your family.
To live in Spain, you can apply for a non-lucrative visa, digital nomad visa, highly qualified work visa, or golden visa.
Greece: Antikythera Island
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Antikythera Island in Greece will pay families with children up to €450/month for three years, along with free housing and food. You’ll enjoy life with your family on the Mediterranean Sea and contribute by plying a trade like fishing or baking.
You’ll need a residence visa and can choose from several options.
Portugal: Interior Areas
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Portugal’s program grants up to €4,800 to people who settle in inland Portugal, including digital nomads. Unlike crowded Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve, interior Portugal still offers affordable housing.
New Zealand: Kaitangata
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Ok, so it’s obviously not in Europe, but we couldn’t resist sharing this famously rumored incentive. Since 2016, a New Zealand town in a gorgeous region of the country’s South Island has been reported to be offering NZ$160,000 in land and housing for those who move there and work.
Alas, this story isn’t true. Although the town was advertising its affordable land and housing, it doesn’t offer grants or easy visas programs. And the mayor says to please stop calling. However, the town is still hiring, so it’s definitely worth a look.
Want to Move to Europe? Here Are 16 In-Demand Jobs and How to Apply.
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Can you guess the most in-demand jobs in Europe? At least 15 countries reported shortages in these 16 fields, and there are more than four and a half million jobs listed on this portal.
➤ Want to Move to Europe? Here Are 16 In-Demand Jobs and How to Apply.
This European Country Goes Mega Viral for Hiring Americans
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In 2022, 76,221 Americans moved to the European Union. The largest group, 12,220, moved to France. Still, many Americans who want to move to Europe are concerned about being able to afford some of the pricier destinations and are worried about finding a job. Most countries in Europe don’t offer a digital nomad visa for Americans working remotely, so you’re only able to stay 90 days at a stretch in the E.U.
That may be why 2.3 million people on TikTok have watched this video featuring a less-popular country that’s actively recruiting people in many job roles, including engineers, accountants, servers, retail workers, chefs, and more.
➤ This European Country Goes Mega Viral for Hiring Americans
Guide to Expat Jobs, Digital Nomad Jobs, & Working Abroad
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For most of us looking to move abroad, finding our new home country is only half the battle. Luckily, the job market for expats has shifted over the last several years. Digital nomad jobs and remote work opportunities really exploded in the wake of 2020, allowing more chances than ever to work from wherever you choose to live. So how can you earn a living once you leave the US?
➤ Guide to Expat Jobs, Digital Nomad Jobs, & Working Abroad
How to Leave America: 6 Steps to Your New Life
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Are you thinking about leaving the United States? You’re not alone; as many as 15% percent of Americans say they want to leave the country permanently.
➤ How to Leave America: 6 Steps to Your New Life
Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?
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Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?