These are the easiest countries to emigrate to

Thinking of moving halfway across the world? Got a new job in Argentina or France and want to know how easy it is to emigrate? We’ve created a list of the easiest countries to immigrate to for you.

Now even though they are the easiest countries to immigrate to there is still a process to follow, most countries are slightly similar to each other but don’t forget applications can still take time, these countries are just easier than others.

Ecuador

Ecuador often features as a retirement haven and is an amazing country to immigrate to. It’s diverse landscape includes the wonders of the Amazon jungle, the awe-inspiring Andean highlands and herds of alpacas, over 2,200 kilometers of pristine coastline and the unique wildlife of the Galápagos Islands. With its location at the top of South America, it’s also a wonderful base to explore the entire continent. 

Ecuador has a fairly simple process for immigration*:

• A resident visa is available for people who invest $10,000 – $25,000 (US) in Ecuador, either into a business or into an Ecuadorian bank.
• Professional visas are available for 1 year but can be extended indefinitely, for this you have to have a recognized university degree and wish to practice their profession in Ecuador, e.g. doctors, teachers.
• Pension visas also ask that you have $800 a month coming in from your home country.

Argentina

The world’s eight largest county has plenty of space for you to move to. The diverse landscape of this South American country includes immense plains, deserts, tundra, and forests, as well as tall mountains, rivers. Independent from Spain since 1816, English and Spanish is widely spoken, making immigration easy for many expats. The country’s name derives from the Latin word for silver, argentum, and today Argentina is still a great source of valuable minerals, as well as livestock production and cereals.

To easily immigrate to Argentina, you will need:

• You need to ensure you have a valid passport
• You will need to apply for a visa of temporary residence, many visas come under the temporary visa category so make sure you choose the right one for you.
• The financier visa is available to anyone who can guarantee a monthly income of $8500 ARS and deposit it in an Argentinian bank account, you just need to prove this will continue to deposit into your bank when you move to Argentina.
  

Argentina also requires the following for any visa application:

• A police report for your home country 
• A police report from Argentina 
• Your birth certificate
• A copy of your passport
• Two passport photos

You will also need to apply for a national Identity card if you are planning on staying longer than three months.

Panama

Panama has a status as an offshore tax haven and allows easy immigration to expats looking for a cosmopolitan lifestyle with low living costs, in a balmy tropical and strong safety credentials. As Panama uses the US dollar ($) for its own currency,  it makes it one of the easiest countries to immigrate to from US and American’s to transfer money across to new accounts.

• If you are planning to stay less than 6 months you do not need a visa however, if you’re planning on staying for longer you will need to apply. 
• The friendly nations visa will grant a two-year temporary residence permit,
• You can then apply for permanent residence.
• To become a permanent resident you must either buy property in Panama to the value of $200,000 or be employed by a legal Panama corporation with a formal labor contract and work permit. 

There is a list of 50 countries on Panama’s Friendly Nation’s Visa list, so do check if your origin country is on there before you apply.

Singapore

Singapore has historically been a popular destination for expats. It is both economically and politically stable, with Chinese and English being the main languages for day-to-day business. Plus the family-friendly nature of its society makes it equally appealing to Western and Chinese expats. However, the cost of living has soared recently and visa restrictions have been tightened, so it is not quite so easy to immigrate to as it has been in the past.

• To apply to become a permanent resident you need to have a job secured before you apply and move.
• In most cases, permanent residents can apply for citizenship after two years.
• To apply for residency you must be the spouse or partner of a citizen or permanent resident, the holder of an employment pass, a student or a foreign investor.

However, it’s worth noting that all male citizens and permanent residents are required to enlist in the military and fulfill two years of active duty. After these two years, you are required to do 40 days of service a year (for officers) up to the age of 50 and 40 days of service ( for other ranks) up to the age of 40.

See how easily we can help you to immigrate to Singapore.

Mexico

With its vibrant culture, excellent healthcare system and a superior standard of living, as well as plenty of tacos to eat, Mexico is relatively easy to immigrate to. It has always been a popular destination for expats, with Spanish and English being widely spoken, plus the benefits of amazing beaches and beautiful scenery makes for a relaxing lifestyle.

• There is a variety of visas and permits depending on where you are moving from, i.e. the USA, Western Europe or Latin America, you can say visa-free for 3 months.
• If you are planning on staying longer than three months you will need to apply for an immigrant visa.
• For this process, it will be easier to first apply for a temporary residence visa.

GMS experts are on hand to help you easily immigrate to Mexico.

Czechia

Since the Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004 the economy has diversified greatly. Today, Czechia is moving into the high-tech, services-led knowledge sectors, on top of manufacturing, making it one of the easiest European country to immigrate to and work in, with the majority of expats relocating to fulfill employment contracts. Beautiful countryside, low-cost of living and social cities makes it a a great place to immigrate to, plus it is also the seventh safest country to live in, increasing its appeal.

There are four types of visas for entering Czechia:

France

Another EU country that is easy to immigrate to. Just a short hop across the channel for British expats, the French cities of Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux have long been popular with expats. With wine tasting, champagne, skiing, beaches, sailing, and not forgetting croissants and fresh bread for breakfast, wherever you choose to live there is always a diverse range of attractions nearby to, to do at your leisure.

• For visa information, it’s best to go direct to the French government website – https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/

Get a quote from GMS to move to France

All of these countries are easier to immigrate to than many other worldwide destinations, and all offer a great lifestyle and standard of living. Whilst our team of global mobility experts, hear at GMS, are on hand to help and advise you on relocating to any of these international destinations you can also contact the consulate of the country you wish to move to. They will be able to advise you on which visa is right for you and the application process for this. 

Discover more International moving advice 

*Please note that all dates and advice are as of the 1st October, 2021, and are subject to change at any time.