What is the Best Country to Live in as an Expat?

Ever imagined what it would be like to live in another country? We’ve all been there!

But moving abroad can be a life-changing and tricky decision.

There is a lot to consider before emigrating, and with the world at your feet, where do you choose to go, and which is the best country for expats?

Better opportunities for education, job security, quality of living, low crime rates and healthcare access are just a few of the major reasons why you would choose a life as an expat.

Whatever your preferences – livability, affordability or safety, we have listed some of the best countries for expats who are seeking to experience life abroad in this guide.

New Zealand

Let’s start with the country that invented bungee jumping!

The population of New Zealand (roughly 4,850,000 people, plus 26.16 million sheep!) enjoy an incredibly high-quality standard of living and economic opportunities (okay, maybe not the sheep!).

The indigenous Mauri people and the quarter of the residents who identify as “immigrants”, co-exist peacefully here, making it one of the safest countries (not to mention one of the happiest!) in the world.

There is an excellent work-life balance and political stability, which makes New Zealand one of the top desired destinations for expats.

They feel the benefits of the country’s laid back lifestyle, with more free time after work to experience the adventure capital of the world’s huge variety of activities.

This means better well-being and quality of life for most immigrants.

With stunning natural beauty, ancient forests, impressive glaciers, vast wine regions and some of the best ski slopes in the world, it’s no surprise that the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed entirely in New Zealand.

If you are between 18 and 30, you can get a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa, stay for a year and pick up jobs in hospitality, tourism and agriculture.

Do you need more reasons to go there?

Australia

Of course, Australia!

You’ve got this big, beautiful, geographically diverse nation, teeming with rainforests, mountains, deserts, coral reefs and some of the most beautiful beaches on this planet!

Despite snakes, spiders, sharks and box jellyfish, Australia still manages to be one of the safest countries in the world!

And not only is it safe, but it’s also incredibly rich too, with an annual GDP per capita of $57,000 US dollars and an average income of 64,000 US dollars a year.

It’s more affordable than ever to live in one of the most culturally and geographically diverse continents on Earth (with the US dollar now worth $1.29 Australian dollars).

While most expats choose Melbourne and Sydney (which are among the best cities in the world to live in), smaller cities like Broome, Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth also allure immigrants with cheaper rents and unparalleled scenery.

With the most efficient healthcare system, a high life expectancy of 84 years, excellent schools with some of the best universities in the world, it’s no wonder why so many expats are moving here.

The super fun laid-back lifestyle and a government that cares about its citizens attracts more and more people, and the population is increasing by around 1.3% each year (still, Australia has an extremely low population density).

If you are between the ages of 18-30 (or 35 depending on your nationality), the Australian Working Holiday Visa gives you the opportunity to live, work and travel the country for a year – or up to three if you do enough specified work.

Canada

The Great White North is above all one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, with so much untouched wilderness!

But let’s get down to business.

Canada is also one of the most tolerant states for people of different races, cultures and religions, which makes it a great choice for expats.

There are so many reasons why people move to Canada.

It is often ranked number one in the United Nations annual Human Development Index, which considers factors such as life expectancy, job opportunities, overall quality of living and more.

The country has a stable economy and living up north comes with excellent public education, low crime rates (Canada is like Disneyland compared to other countries), eco-consciousness, great air quality, incredibly friendly residents and more nature than you can imagine.

Canada has an excellent social safety net including full employment insurance, universal healthcare, a national pension plan, and a provincial welfare system.

It’s not hard to see why the quality of life here is so high and the people are so happy.

Thanks to its strong economy, Canada can accept more immigrants from around the world than any other western nation (per capita).

After all that is said, it’s clear why so many travellers choose Canada as their working holiday destination.

The Canadian Working Holiday Program enables visa holders between the age of 18 and 30 (or 35 depending on their nationality) to work, live and travel in the White North for up to two years.

Thailand

No list of the top expat destinations would be complete without mentioning Thailand – the land of smiles.

This is a beautiful country with a soul. Think about white-sand beaches, turquoise seas, beach-rimmed islands, mountainous jungle retreats and jagged limestone cliffs.

There are lots of reasons why expats choose Thailand. The jewel of Southeast Asia really has it all.

You get a year-round tropical climate, serene shrines, temples, spectacular skyscrapers, palm-lined beaches, all kinds of modern comforts, affordable prices, budget high-quality medical care and low cost of living. Do you need more?

If you are thinking about moving to Thailand, you have plenty of options because the country is expat-friendly for both digital nomads and families looking to explore the laid-back vibe. Indigenous people in Thailand are some of the most welcoming in the world.

There is something alluring about this corner of the world. It’s easy to live a comfortable lifestyle, without the extra expenses and headaches which are common for the West.

Foreigners are allowed to work in Thailand if they have a work permit and a valid visa.

Is it easy to get a job? This depends entirely on your background, experience and current market opportunities.

If you want to visit like a tourist and stay in Thailand for more than 30 days (and up to 60 days), you will need a Thailand Tourist Visa.

Vietnam

Just like Thailand, Vietnam is a popular option for expats looking to relocate to Southeast Asia.

Imagine tropical beaches, mangroves, jagged mountains, mountainside rice terraces and all the rich culture and history in between.

With striking natural beauty, Vietnam is a great choice for expats because of its stringent financial security, positive work-life balance and welcoming environment for newcomers.

This country is a promising land with a not-too-high cost of living and a lot of attractive job opportunities.

Vietnam has entered the best 10 countries for foreigners to work and live, according to the HSBC Expat 2019 report.

Even though most new arrivals settle in one of Vietnam’s major cities, there are plenty of other options including the booming beach resort of Da Nang and the charming ancient canal city of Hoi An.

Wherever expats choose to settle, they will find locals who are friendly to foreigners both in smaller villages and the larger cities.

If you decide to visit Vietnam just like a tourist and to feel the local spirit before relocating, you will need a Vietnam tourist visa and we can help you.

Germany

This is the largest nation in the EU, but despite having so many people, Germany manages things incredibly well.

The country’s rich culture, natural beauty and comprehensive social security are appealing to immigrants, especially if you are looking for a welcoming environment to raise a family.

Most expats have a positive experience in Germany when it comes to the prospects of career advancement, economic stability and improvement in work-life balance.

Not only is it cheap compared to its European neighbours, but the country possesses one of the largest economies in the world and is one of the globe’s leading exporters and importers.

Services that include industries such as healthcare, tourism and telecommunications contribute the greatest amount to the country’s economy and the unemployment rate is below 5.8% (February 2021).

How is all of this possible, you may wonder.

Well, maybe it has something to do with the excellent education system and free public universities, remarkable infrastructure, safety, outstanding public transit system and the impeccable healthcare system.

Japan

Everything Japan does, it does well.

If you want to live a long and happy life, this is the place to go.

Surrounded by cherry blossom trees and lush forests, the country blends its rich, ancient traditions and history with aspects of Western societies.

Here, harmony and discipline are very important, and Japanese people try to avoid conflicts as much as possible. Life expectancy is 85 years old, making it the longest on Earth.

Is it a surprise that Japan is one of the most literate, the world’s most industrialized and technologically advanced nations?

Even though it’s expensive, Japan offers a generally high standard of living combined with great educational institutions and a healthcare system.

The cities are clean, safe and modern with insanely quick internet speed. Despite being the largest city in the world, Tokyo is also the safest city in the world.

Even though communication can be challenging if you don’t speak Japanese, English-speaking doctors and international schools are available in the bigger cities and in Tokyo, a large amount of the population can speak English.

Denmark

This country breeds happy foreign citizens.

Denmark is the world’s absolute best country to live in for both business and life according to CEOWORLD magazine.

Countries are ranked based on a number of factors, including the cost of living index, pollution index (air quality), personal safety and house price to income ratio.

You can find the highest quality of life on the planet, the second happiest nation with the best healthcare system in the world and so much more in Denmark.

The capital Copenhagen is affordable, clean and green and is often regarded as the most livable city on Earth.

Danish people prioritize life over work and spend over two-thirds of their non-vacation days enjoying life. But you should not mistake their flexible work schedules and 33 hour work weeks for laziness!

Expats with a high level of education can enjoy great professional and personal development opportunities.

Sweden

Do you hate stress? Who doesn’t! Then, Sweden’s six-hour workdays and five weeks of paid vacation time are definitely attractive.

Regarding family life, the Nordic countries truly shine and Sweden is not an exception.

What’s more, the economy here is thriving and Sweden was named as the best country in the world to move to and raise children in according to a new poll.

What’s more, Sweden’s actually the second-best country for business. The great work-life balance leads to extremely happy residents with GDP per capita over 57,000 US $.

Sweden also offers a relatively low cost of living compared to the rest of northern Europe and money isn’t really an issue here.

In addition, 40% of expats living in Sweden confessed that living there helped them save for their retirement.

According to independent.co.uk, 41% of respondents said that their move helped their progress towards buying a first or next property.

The country has wonderful public transportation, free universal coverage in one of the top three best healthcare systems in the world and an emphasis on social equality.

Oh, and let’s not forget how clean it is here. And by clean we don’t just mean the amazing air quality, pure water from every tab and spotless streets.

The government here is pretty clean as well. Sweden’s actually the fourth least corrupt country in the world.

Switzerland

Every inch of this country is jaw-droppingly gorgeous!

With impeccably clean streets, some of the world’s best ski slopes, lots of cheese and awesome castles, it’s no surprise that Switzerland is one of the top places in the world for expats.

But Switzerland is not on this list just for the beautiful alps, azure lakes, dazzling glaciers and stunning landscapes, it’s also one of the world’s wealthiest countries.

Let’s add the rich culture and history, impeccable healthcare and public transit system.

Switzerland is also the third happiest country in the world with the second highest quality of life, extremely high life expectancy (84 years) and the least amount of corruption.

Not to mention, this is one of the safest places on Earth! This, in addition to the low taxes, helps Switzerland maintain its strong economy, highly skilled workforce and extremely low unemployment rate of just 3.4%.

Who can help me with my move abroad?

If you find any of the countries above as the best country to live in, then it’s time to start preparing for the move. Visa First remains at the forefront of the visa services industry with over 16 years of experience in visa processing and immigration services. We have established ourselves as a trusted name within the industry.

We take care of the documents and tricky application forms associated with arranging travel visas and work permits.

If you are planning a trip abroad, simply contact our team to find out how we can help you to apply for your visa.

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