Countries That Will Pay You to Move There

Ireland

Through the Our Living Islands program, you can qualify for a Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to refurbish a home on one of 30 islands off the coast of Ireland. You’ll have to purchase a property that was constructed before 2007 and has been vacant for at least two years to qualify. These islands are scarcely populated and are often very remote, making it somewhat challenging to reach the mainland, so this program aims to rejuvenate the islands.

According to the policy, the program aims to revitalize population levels, diversify island economies, enhance health and wellbeing services, empower island communities, and build innovative and sustainable futures. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant can be used throughout Ireland for up to €70,000, and the ceiling was increased by up to 20 percent for the Our Living Islands program due to the added expense of refurbishing on the islands. The property will need to be your primary residence. Foreign nationals can participate, but this policy doesn’t facilitate immigration procedures, so you’ll need to do that on your own.

Italy

We’ve all seen the headlines about Italy’s €1 homes. These homes are often in disrepair, and the program requires you to renovate the home at your own expense, but there are grants available.

In Sardinia, you can receive a grant of up to €15,000 to purchase and renovate a home in a town with less than 3,000 residents. You’ll need to register for residency within 18 months of buying your property, as the goal of the program is to repopulate rural areas.

Tuscany will give you anywhere from €10,000 to €30,000 to live in a mountain town with less than 5,000 residents. The grant can’t exceed 50 percent of your expenses, so you’ll still need to spend a fair amount to participate in the program. Phase 2 applications for the program are open until June 2025. Note that you’ll need to have a long-term residency permit before applying.

The town of Ollolai recently launched a website aimed at U.S. citizens concerned about the recent election results. Although they aren’t paying you to move there, they give U.S. citizens special priority and will guide you through the immigration process. Digital nomads can also live in Ollolai for almost free for up to one month (and I’ve already applied).

These programs are frequently popping up, so keep an eye out for updates. As with Ireland, the goal is to revitalize forgotten-about towns. But even when moving to a bustling metropolis, contributing to society should be at the forefront of expats’ minds. “Developing your life in a foreign country presents a challenge and opportunity to be better,” says Henry. “As a permanent guest in a country that is not my own and is in no way obligated to accept me, I think daily, ‘What am I contributing to Thai society to show my value?’”

Chile

Santiago, Chile, hopes to become the world’s next major technology hub. So, if you have an idea for a start-up or an existing company, you can move to Santiago and receive one of three grants through Start-up Chile.

The first is the Build grant for early-stage start-ups. You’ll be part of a four-month acceleration program to grow your company and receive 15 million Chilean pesos, about $15,400, of equity-free funding. Ignite is for startups with a functional product and less than three years of development, which also receive the fourth-month acceleration program but an increased 25 million ($25,600) Chilean pesos and the opportunity to access an additional 20 million ($20,500) Chilean pesos to continue growing your business. The Growth program is for expansion-stage startups, which will receive an eight-month accelerator program and 75 million ($77,000) Chilean pesos, equity-free.

Japan

Through the Regional Revitalization Corps, you can volunteer to help rural communities combat depopulation. Japan’s metro centers are highly concentrated, but the rural areas receive far less tourism. So, the program offers a salary of about three million Japanese yen (around $19,000) to live and work in the communities for one to three years. Volunteers support local residents while also helping people become established in the region.

The program works with local governments to determine the specific activities and benefits. You’ll need a high level of Japanese to qualify, but this could be a great opportunity to experience one of the most popular destinations in Asia.

Croatia

Although you won’t get paid to move there, you can purchase a home in Legrad, Croatia, for just one kuna, or approximately 13 cents. They started the program in 2018, and five houses have been sold since then. You’ll need to be under 45 with no criminal record, no current homeownership, and in a marital or extramarital partnership. The town offered renovation support a few years ago, but it’s unclear if that’s still an option for prospective buyers.

Switzerland

You can move to Albinen, Switzerland, a town with just 200 residents, and receive 25,000 Swiss francs ($28,500) per adult and 10,000 Swiss francs ($11,400) per child. You must be under 45, purchase a home worth at least 200,000 Swiss francs ($228,000), and live there for at least 10 years. The town is extremely small, with no school, bank, or post office, and just one pub and shop. Even so, the town was inundated with applications from foreigners, so it’s unclear how many spots are left.

Spain

Digital nomads, especially those working in tech, can move to the Extremadura region of Spain, north of Seville. Nomads under 30 can receive a grant of €10,000 to live in an area with a population of less than 5,000 people. After two years, those under 30 can receive another €5,000 to stay another year. You must participate in Spain’s digital nomad visa program to qualify. If you like the Spanish charm but don’t want to deal with the crowds and prices of Madrid or Barcelona, this is a fantastic opportunity.