Most lists of the “best countries to live in” are built on happiness surveys and average salaries. They are interesting, but they do not answer the question you are actually asking: where could I go, could I get a visa, could I afford to live there, and what would it take to get my home there?
This guide answers those questions for the countries people in the UK move to most. We are a removal company, so we cannot tell you which country will make you happiest. We can tell you what each move involves, because these are the moves we manage every week.
Quick answer: for English-speaking life and careers, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA remain the most popular long-haul choices, but each needs a visa that usually depends on your job or skills. For sun and a lower cost of living, Spain and Portugal lead, with visas for people with independent income or remote work. Ireland is the only country where a UK citizen can live and work with no visa at all. For tax and salaries, the UAE. The best choice is the one where your visa route and your budget both work; the table below compares them.
The countries UK movers choose, compared
| Country | Usual visa route for a UK citizen | Removal time from the UK | Removal cost from the UK (guide) | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | None needed (Common Travel Area) | 1 to 2 weeks by road and ferry | Priced by survey | |
| Spain | Non-lucrative visa (independent income) or digital nomad visa; work visa via employer | A few days to 2 weeks by road | £1,200 to £10,000+ (Europe range) | |
| Portugal | D7 (passive income) or D8 digital nomad visa; work visa via employer | A few days to 2 weeks by road | £1,200 to £10,000+ (Europe range) | |
| France | Long-stay visitor visa (no work) or work visa | A few days to 2 weeks by road | £1,200 to £10,000+ (Europe range) | |
| Germany | Residence permit, often applied for after arrival | 2 to 3 weeks by road | £2,500 to £9,000 | |
| Italy | Elective residence visa (independent income) or work visa | A few days to 2 weeks by road | £1,200 to £10,000+ (Europe range) | |
| Netherlands | Work permit via a recognised sponsor, or self-employed route | A few days to 2 weeks by road | £1,200 to £10,000+ (Europe range) | |
| Switzerland | Permit through a Swiss employer (UK quota) or with sufficient funds | 3 to 14 days by road | £1,500 to £5,500 | |
| Australia | Skilled (points-tested) or employer-sponsored visa; working holiday for younger applicants | 8 to 12 weeks by sea | £2,500 (part load) to £8,000 (3-bed) | |
| New Zealand | Skilled migrant or accredited employer work visa; working holiday for younger applicants | 8 to 16 weeks by sea | £1,800 (small, shared) to £14,000 (large) | |
| Canada | Express Entry (skilled) or employer work permit; youth mobility for younger applicants | 4 to 7 weeks by sea | £2,500 to £18,000+ | |
| USA | Employer-sponsored work visa, investment, or family | 3 to 6 weeks by sea | £2,000 to £18,000+ | |
| UAE | Residence visa through an employer, or Golden Visa | 3 to 5 weeks door to door | £1,500 (shared) to £6,000 | |
| South Africa | Critical skills, general work or remote work visa | 6 to 10 weeks door to door | £2,000 to £7,000 | |
| India | OCI card (Indian origin) or employment visa | Priced by route | Priced by survey |
Removal prices and times are Gerson Moving Services’ own published guide figures (October 2026). They depend on how much you are moving, where from and to, and whether you share a container. A survey gives your exact figure. Visa routes are a summary, not advice; follow the links to each country’s official immigration site before you plan.
If you want English-speaking life and a long-term career
Australia is still the country more UK movers think about than any other. It offers the same language, a familiar legal system and a strong job market. The catch is the visa. Most routes depend on your occupation being in demand, through a points-tested skilled visa or an employer who sponsors you; younger people can start on a working holiday visa. It is also the longest removal route from the UK: 8 to 12 weeks by sea, with strict biosecurity checks on arrival, so how your belongings are cleaned and packed matters. See removals to Australia.
Canada suits people with skills in demand and a taste for space and seasons. Express Entry is the main skilled route; younger applicants can use youth mobility. Removals take 4 to 7 weeks by sea, and Canada asks for a detailed list of everything you are bringing, including a list of “goods to follow” if your belongings arrive after you.
New Zealand offers a smaller, outdoors-led life with a skilled-migrant route and accredited-employer work visas. Its biosecurity rules are the strictest of any common destination, and a shared container can take 8 to 16 weeks door to door. Pets need at least ten days in approved quarantine, so plan early.
The USA has the widest range of careers and salaries, but the hardest visa system for most UK movers. Almost every route runs through an employer, a large investment or family. The UK is not eligible for the US Diversity Visa lottery (Northern Ireland is the exception). If you have a job offer, the removal itself is straightforward: 3 to 6 weeks by sea to most ports.
If you want sun and a lower cost of living
Spain is the most popular European destination for people leaving the UK, and the cost of living is noticeably lower outside Madrid and Barcelona. Since Brexit, staying longer than 90 days needs a visa: the non-lucrative visa if you have independent income (common for retirees), the digital nomad visa if you work remotely for clients outside Spain, or a work visa. Removals go by road in a few days to two weeks, and your belongings can enter free of duty and VAT under transfer of residence relief if you apply within the time limit. See our Spain removals page.
Portugal offers mild weather, a slower pace and a strong English-speaking community, especially on the Algarve and around Lisbon. The D7 visa is for people with passive income such as pensions; the D8 is for remote workers. Our best places to live in Portugal guide compares the regions.
France and Italy suit people who want space, food and history more than sunshine alone. France’s long-stay visitor visa does not allow work; Italy’s elective residence visa needs a stable independent income. Both are reachable by road in under two weeks.
Ireland is the only country where a UK citizen can move, live and work with no visa, thanks to the Common Travel Area. The language and culture are familiar and the UK is a short flight away. Two things surprise people. First, the cost of living, especially rent in Dublin, is higher than most of the UK; our Ireland vs UK guide compares the figures. Second, your belongings cross an EU customs border, so a declaration is needed even though you are not. The move itself takes one to two weeks by road and ferry. See removals to Ireland.
Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland are a day or two by road and offer strong salaries, with visas that are usually tied to a job. Germany lets UK citizens apply for a residence permit after arrival, but customs will ask for proof of your registered address before your belongings are released, so they should follow you by a week or two. Switzerland is outside the EU, so customs applies, and work permits for UK citizens come from a separate quota.
Narrowed It Down To Two Or Three Countries?
Tell us which ones. A move manager can give you a realistic removal time and price for each, and explain the customs side, so the move is one less unknown in your decision.
If you want tax-free salaries
The UAE has no personal income tax, a large British community and well-paid roles in finance, energy, healthcare and education. Residence almost always comes through an employer, or through a Golden Visa for investors and some skilled professionals. One rule matters for your removal: your residence visa should be issued before your belongings arrive, because it is part of the customs clearance. Removals take 3 to 5 weeks door to door. Housing and school fees can be high, so an employer package makes a big difference.
And two more to consider
South Africa attracts people with family ties, outdoor lives and a lower cost of living, and now offers a remote work visa as well as critical skills and general work visas. Its customs rules are particular: some goods must have been owned for 12 months, and everything must be clean. Removals take 6 to 10 weeks door to door.
India is a common move for people of Indian origin returning, often with an OCI card, and for corporate assignments on an employment visa. Duty-free import of household goods depends on your citizenship and how long you have lived abroad; our India removals page explains the rules.
What to check before you choose
- Can you get a visa? This rules more countries in or out than anything else. Check the official immigration site for your situation, not a summary (including this one).
- Can you afford to live there? Compare rent, healthcare and school costs in the city you would actually live in, not the national average.
- What will you take? A long sea route makes it worth deciding early what to ship and what to sell. Our guide on whether to ship your furniture helps.
- How will the move work at the other end? Customs relief, inspections and delivery timing differ by country. This is where the country guides above are most useful.
- What do the 90/180-day rules mean for you? In the EU and Schengen area, UK citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa. Anything longer needs one. Our EES and ETIAS guide explains the new border checks.
If you are moving with children, our guide to the best countries for UK expat families goes further on schools and safety. If you want the simplest visa route, see the easiest countries to emigrate to. And for where people are actually going, see where Brits are moving abroad in 2026.
How Gerson Moving Services can help
Whichever country you choose, your move starts with a survey of your home and a dedicated move manager who is your primary contact throughout. They explain the customs rules for your destination, give you a realistic timeline, and coordinate the move from packing day to delivery. Gerson Moving Services is a member of the British Association of Removers, IAM accredited, holds FIDI FAIM, and is part of the AGM Group.
We are not immigration advisers. We can point you to visa and immigration support, but the visa itself is a matter between you and the destination country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best country to move to from the UK?
There is no single answer; it depends on your job, budget and visa options. Australia, Canada and New Zealand are popular for careers in English; Spain and Portugal for sun and lower costs; Ireland for no visa at all; and the UAE for tax-free salaries.
Which country can I move to from the UK without a visa?
Ireland. Under the Common Travel Area, British citizens can live and work in Ireland with no visa or permit. For EU countries, you can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa, but living there needs one.
What is the cheapest country to move to from the UK?
For the removal itself, nearby European countries are the cheapest, because belongings travel by road in days rather than by sea over weeks. For the cost of living, Portugal and much of Spain are lower than the UK, while Ireland, Switzerland and much of Australia are higher.
How long does it take to move my belongings abroad?
From a few days to around two weeks for most of Europe, three to seven weeks for North America and the UAE, and two to three months for Australia and New Zealand. Customs and delivery at the destination are included in those door-to-door times.
Can I take my furniture when I move abroad?
Yes. Most countries let used household belongings in free of duty if you are moving your home there and meet their relief conditions, usually that you have owned and used the items for a set period. Whether it is worth shipping depends on the route, the item and the cost of replacing it.
Do I need to choose a country before getting a removal quote?
You need a destination for an exact price, but a move manager can give you guide prices and timings for two or three countries you are considering, which can help the decision.
Related Topics
- The easiest countries to emigrate to from the UK
- Best countries for UK expat families
- Where are Brits moving abroad in 2026?
- Cost of moving abroad from the UK
Start with a realistic picture of the move
Tell us the countries you are considering and roughly when. A move manager will come back with a removal time and price for each, and what the customs side involves, so you can compare the move as well as the country.
