5 countries that pay you to move there in 2026

Moving abroad can be expensive, but in some countries, governments are offering financial incentives to attract new residents, workers, entrepreneurs and families.

The programmes are designed to tackle population decline, revive rural communities, attract workers and bring vacant homes back into use.

For prospective migrants, this can mean receiving thousands of dollars in grants or relocation support — although most schemes come with conditions such as securing employment, starting a business, buying or renovating a property, or committing to live in a particular area.

Here are five countries with relocation incentives or grants available in 2026.

1. Ireland

Ireland is offering substantial financial support to people who take on vacant or derelict properties and bring them back into use.

Under the country’s Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, eligible applicants can receive up to €50,000 to renovate a qualifying vacant property, while a derelict property can attract up to €70,000.

The incentive is even higher for qualifying properties on offshore islands.

The island rate can reach €60,000 for a vacant property and €84,000 for a derelict property, making Ireland one of the countries frequently mentioned in relocation incentive lists.

However, the money is not simply handed to someone for moving to Ireland.

Applicants must own the property or be in the process of buying it, and the property must meet conditions including having been vacant for at least two years and having been built before the relevant cutoff date. The property can be used as the applicant’s home or made available for rent.

The scheme was also expanded in 2026 to cover certain conversions of vacant commercial and public buildings into residential units.

2. Japan

Japan has introduced relocation support as part of efforts to encourage people to leave heavily populated areas and settle in regional communities.

Under the country’s Regional Revitalization Migration Support Programme, people who live in Tokyo’s 23 wards or commute there from the wider Tokyo area can qualify for financial support when they move outside the Tokyo metropolitan area to work, establish a business or meet other programme requirements.

The national framework allows support of up to ¥1 million for a relocating household and up to ¥600,000 for an individual, although the exact amount and conditions are determined by participating prefectures and municipalities.

Families relocating with children under 18 can also receive additional support of up to ¥1 million per child under the programme’s framework.

The important catch is that this is not a general payment for every foreigner who decides to move to Japan. Eligibility is tied to specific residency, employment, entrepreneurship and location requirements.

Individual municipalities can also offer additional incentives to attract residents.

3. Portugal

Portugal has a relocation support programme aimed at encouraging workers and entrepreneurs to settle in the country’s interior regions rather than concentrating in major urban centres.

The Emprego Interior MAIS programme provides financial assistance to eligible workers who relocate their residence to an inland territory because of employment or the creation of their own job or business. The programme also includes support for people moving from abroad, provided they meet Portugal’s immigration and programme requirements.

The support can include a direct payment, additional assistance linked to family members and a contribution towards transporting household belongings.

Government information has previously put the maximum support at about €4,827, although the amount depends on the applicant’s circumstances and applicable rules.

Portugal also provides tax benefits for people who move their permanent residence to qualifying interior territories.

For foreigners, however, receiving relocation support does not automatically provide the right to live or work in Portugal. Applicants must still satisfy the country’s immigration requirements.

4. Italy

Italy has become one of the most widely reported destinations for people looking for relocation incentives, particularly in small towns experiencing population decline.

Several Italian regions and municipalities have introduced schemes designed to encourage people to settle in depopulated communities, purchase or renovate homes, or establish businesses.

Calabria, for example, has pursued its “Abita Borghi Montani Calabria” initiative to encourage people to transfer their residence or establish and maintain businesses in participating mountain villages. In February 2026, the Calabria regional government said agreements had been signed with 64 municipalities, while 89 municipalities had been admitted to the initiative.

The programme has a total allocation of €5 million, with funding directed largely towards new business activities as well as support for pensioners and remote workers.

Italy’s relocation offers vary considerably by region and municipality, meaning there is no single nationwide “Italy will pay you to move there” scheme.

Applicants therefore need to check the specific municipality or regional programme before making relocation plans.

5. Switzerland

Switzerland has also attracted international attention for relocation incentives offered by small communities seeking to increase their populations.

One of the best-known examples is Albinen, a small mountain village that has offered financial incentives to qualifying adults and children who settle there and meet strict conditions.

The programme has been widely reported as offering around CHF25,000 per adult and CHF10,000 per child.

But the headline figure comes with major conditions.

Applicants must meet age and residency requirements, purchase or build qualifying property and commit to remaining in the village for a specified period. Those who leave before meeting the required commitment can be required to repay the incentive.

The programme is therefore better understood as a long-term settlement incentive rather than free money for anyone looking for a new home in Switzerland.

What to know before applying

The phrase “countries that pay you to move there” can make these programmes sound simpler than they really are.

In most cases, governments are not paying people simply to arrive at the airport and settle.

The money is normally connected to a specific objective.

That could mean renovating an abandoned house in Ireland, moving from a major metropolitan area to a regional community in Japan, taking a job in Portugal’s interior or establishing a business in an Italian village.

There may also be substantial upfront costs.

For example, Ireland’s property refurbishment grant is designed to help cover eligible renovation expenses, meaning an applicant still needs to be able to purchase the property and finance the work in line with the scheme’s rules.

Immigration is another important consideration. A relocation grant does not automatically give a foreign national the right to enter, live or work in a country.

For Nigerians and other applicants outside Europe or Asia, immigration eligibility should therefore be checked separately before making financial commitments.

The best opportunities are those where the relocation incentive matches the applicant’s existing plans — whether that is remote work, entrepreneurship, property investment or moving with a family.

With careful planning, these programmes can reduce some of the financial burden of relocating abroad, while also offering governments a way to revive communities that need new residents.

Vanguard News

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