What are the easiest countries for Americans to move to and work?
The expat life is becoming increasingly charming to more and more Americans, with many people growing wary of the American lifestyle. Thanks to advances in modern communication and travel technologies, becoming an expatriate no longer means cutting off all ties with people back home or waiting for ages to get letters responded to. It no longer means you’d have to wait ‘til retirement or to give up a lucrative career just to enjoy living in an entirely different country either. The international business community now has a more promising, more diverse workforce that makes living abroad as doable as it is as exciting.
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Of course, the opportunities for American expats in every country are not equal. Just because your American passport can take you to basically any trip in the world does not mean you should take your entire life and household to it. Some countries are made for American expats, and some are better off of any travel itinerary altogether. Unsurprisingly, some of the countries on this list are also on our list of the 10 Easiest Countries to Immigrate to.
We have used suggestions from HSBC’s Expat Explorer Global Report and the latest results from the InterNations 2015 Expat Survey to come up with the 11 easiest countries for Americans to move to and work.
Read on to find out if your dream destination is in the top 11 list!
11. Mexico
Did you know that in 2009, there were over one million Americans residing as expats in Mexico? This statistic has officially sealed our closest neighbor the home of the largest American expatriate population in the entire world. And there’s really no reason not to: it’s close, it’s easy to travel to, there aren’t many restrictions in moving, and the cost of living is generally much cheaper than in the United States. If it were not for the security and political situation, and the language barrier challenges, Mexico would easily have been in the top rank of the 11 easiest countries for Americans to move to and work.
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10. Thailand
If you can stand the sweltering heat and the pounding rains of this Southeast Asian kingdom, in exchange of paradise-like beaches, great food, friendly people, and cheap cost of living, then by all means plan your move to Thailand. It’s the cheap and laid-back lifestyle that has attracted so many Americans to this Buddhist kingdom. Digital nomads especially love the fast and reliable internet service hereabouts; aside from that, one of the most lucrative careers here is teaching English as a foreign language as local schools have a high preference for American teachers. The downside: there is a political situation that comes and goes every now and then and the lifestyle that is closest to the comforts of home is resigned to major cities like Bangkok. You can also expect a gap in English communication.
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9. Malta
Fulfill your Mediterranean dreams without breaking your budget by moving to Malta! This island nation south of Italy’s Sicily is beautiful and cheaper than any of the EU nations making it one of the most attractive American expat destinations. Malta is primarily a retiree favorite, but jobs in English education, tourism, and online entrepreneurship have great potential here. The main downsides of this island nation include overcrowding during the peak of tourist season (not a problem if you’re in the travel industry) and garbage. But making your move legal here is not much of a hassle, as Malta’s permanent residence visa is available for anyone and not just limited to citizens of EU nations.
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8. Switzerland
The Swiss are hard workers, so if you cannot live with that, you had better stay home in the US or pick another location. There are minimal challenges with the language, but the views, the environment, and the general attitude of the country is all well worth it. Americans can stay up to three months in Switzerland using only their valid passports and green card – more than enough time to check out for job openings, apartments, and other moving in necessities. Should you get a job, your company will have to vouch for you to get the necessary residence permit and prove that you are needed by the company, and your position cannot be filled in by a local. Once this is out of the way, nothing should stop you from commencing your expat life in this beautiful country.
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7. Sweden
Don’t expect to make friends right away with the locals but expect to live a much higher quality of life! Everything about Sweden is ideal – the air is clean, the water is even more so, and there are tons of things to do. There should not be any language barrier problems, since the Swedes are very proficient in the English language, but they would appreciate if you learn their language if you do decide to live here. It may be harder for an American citizen to move here for long-term or permanently, compared to someone from Europe – but it should not be impossible. The cost of living is a little more expensive, and benefits may be exclusive to its own citizens but top notch services – from education to healthcare – are easily available and affordable for all.
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6. UAE
With the unbearable desert heat and the massive cultural difference, what could possibly make the United Arab Emirates an ideal country for American expats? There are tons, but foremost of all of them would have to be job security. The UAE’s progressive and global economy offers a plethora of job opportunities. And while living in the UAE is quite on the expensive side, the salaries are rather large too. The international community in UAE is also very expensive and very diverse making it more extra expat-friendly. Working and residence permits in the UAE are normally handled by the employers so the visa should not be an issue as soon as you bag a job.
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5. Germany
Germany is one of the friendliest countries for expats as far as immigration policies are concerned. Case in point: Germany offers potential expats the opportunity to visit the country to find work through the special Jobseeker’s Visa. The cost of living, however, is a little expensive, but you’ll be delighted to enjoy all its developed country benefits plus interestingly diverse culture.
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4. Singapore
Its temperate climate is probably the last thing expats love about Singapore. What actually makes this place ideal for American expats is the small country’s global community and the number of big companies hiring international workers. There is a great job opportunity here for anyone who’s in banking, education, and IT most especially. In fact, everyone is already here – including Eduardo Saverin of Facebook fame. Trust that the biggest companies in the world have opened an HQ hereabouts. The downside to Singapore is its high cost of living. Because of limited space, real estate can really burn a hole in anyone’s bank account. But Singapore’s more eco-friendly urban spaces are irresistible!
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3. New Zealand
New Zealand is more than just the land of kiwis and Hobbits these days: it’s also one of the hottest destinations for American expats. The island-nation and neighbor of Australia is becoming a hotspot for American skilled workers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the American lifestyle. Moving to New Zealand is fairly easy, with the usual immigration requirements as most other developed countries – check out this page for reference. The thing that most Americans get surprised about when moving to NZ is just how relaxed and how laid-back the lifestyle is in the country. Everyone wears flip flops (or jandals to locals), and kids can freely roam around barefoot – making it ideal for expat parents looking for a relaxed environment to raise their children in. Imagine it as an island paradise with first-world country benefits (and frequent earthquakes, FYI).
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2. Canada
It’s amazing how Canada’s proximity to the United States makes it both so similar and yet so different from us. Canada makes it to the second rank on this list of the 11 easiest countries for Americans to move to and work for reasons that are obvious. Logistically, Canada is the easiest to transfer to for work and living. It offers tons of working and residency visa options that you can check out here to give you ideas on what suits you and your qualifications best. Americans in Canada enjoy being rather close to home and enjoy the benefits of living in a country as progressive, as clean, and as safe as Canada.
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1. Australia
Australia’s immigration policies for expats may be a little more tedious, but once everything – and by everything, we say it to mean the paperwork, visa requirements, proofs, and potential job opportunity – moving to Australia is rather easy for American expats. What makes it top the list of the easiest countries for Americans to move to and work is mostly its availability of work for skilled professionals. Once you’ve proved your skills to the immigration bureau (which you can check beforehand through the Skilled Immigration points calculator), and filled up the paperwork, you’re good to go. Australia is in many ways cheaper than the US, but if you’re looking to bring your US brands to Oz, you’re going to be in some bad financial situation. What makes it ideal for American expats is its generally more laid-back lifestyle, great outdoors, and lack of language barrier problems (save maybe for Australian slang, which takes a while to get used to).
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