Looking to relocate abroad and get paid for the privilege? While it may seem too good to be true, a growing number of national governments and local authorities are offering incredible financial incentives to entice new, legally eligible residents, typically to rural and underpopulated areas. From relocation bonuses and remote working grants to housing subsidies, these initiatives aim to revitalise communities and stimulate economic growth.
Whether you're dreaming of a fresh start in the American heartland or a blissful life in a picturesque Italian village, read on to get the lowdown on 10 countries that will pay you to move there. All dollar amounts in US dollars.
America may not seem the most welcoming place for migrants right now. However, the US is home to a diverse array of incentive schemes open to Green Card holders.
For starters, Alaska will give you hard cash to live there. Every person residing legally in the state for at least a year is eligible for the Alaska Permanent Fund payment, a dividend from the state's oil and natural gas revenues. The 2025 handout stands at a tidy $1,702 (£1.3k), but it was a substantial $3,284 (£2.4k) in 2022.
Elsewhere, numerous states and local communities offer plum incentives to new arrivals, especially remote workers and homebuyers. The MakeMyMove platform has become a hub for these deals, showcasing sweeteners that range from substantial cash and housing grants to complimentary co-working spaces, gym memberships, and even free groceries.
Notable initiatives include Ascend West Virginia and Tulsa Remote, which offer newcomers working remotely $12,000 (£8.9k) and $10,000 (£7.4k) respectively. Over in Michigan, Jackson will pay you $25,000 (£18.6k) towards building a new home, while other towns offer free land plots.
The Emprego Interior MAIS programme is your ticket to a new life in the tranquil Portuguese countryside. It offers a grant of up to $5,624 (£4.2k) if you move to an underpopulated rural inland location, where you can either find a local job or work remotely.
This government initiative supports families and singles alike, providing a bonus for each person who relocates. It’s perfect for foreign nationals with legal residency who are keen to embrace a serene, laid-back lifestyle while contributing to a growing community.
In fact, Portugal is something of a relocation and remote working paradise. The country's Digital Nomad Visa is extremely affordable and highly regarded, providing a streamlined route for non-EU nationals to live and work in the country.
Meanwhile, highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs may qualify for grants, tax breaks, and startup support, and residents under 35 can tap into housing assistance and tax relief schemes.
Sunny Spain is also grappling with rural depopulation. While there isn’t a national programme encouraging people to move to the country’s struggling villages, several local communities are stepping up with their own offers.
Couples relocating to Ponga, Asturias (pictured) receive a $3,495 (£2.6k) grant, plus an additional $3,495 (£2.6k) for each child born in the village. New residents in Rubiá, Galicia can claim a monthly payment of $175 (£130) for their first year. Xesta, also in Galicia, is offering housing for just $117 (£87) a month, Griegos in Aragon provides three months of free rent, and Castilla-La Mancha's Olmeda de la Cuesta is selling off land for peanuts, with prices starting from just $173 (£129).
The Live in Ambroz initiative in Extremadura is a unique programme aimed at remote workers. It offers grants of up to $17,500 (£13k) to digital nomads and tech professionals who commit to living in the out-of-the-way region for at least two years.
The funding helps with housing and living costs. There is extra support available for women, individuals under 30, and those moving to Extremadura’s smallest pueblitos (settlements).
Rural depopulation is also a major issue in Italy, where villages across the nation have been left nearly empty as younger generations flock to the cities. In response, the country has launched an impressive variety of schemes, arguably more than any other in Europe, to bring people back.
Scores of villages now offer one euro homes, from Borgomezzavalle in the Alps right down to Cammarata in Sicily, though most come with plenty of strings attached. Beyond ultra-cheap homes, housing grants are also available. For instance, Trentino (pictured) offers up to $116,500 (£86k) to renovate crumbling properties, and Recoaro Terme in Veneto provides up to $25,600 (£19k).
There’s no shortage of straight cash incentives either. In Calabria, remote workers moving to mountain villages can receive $1,165 (£866), and up to $25,600 (£19k) if they start a business.
In Emilia-Romagna, people under 40 who relocate to its small towns may qualify for grants of up to $34,950 (£26k), while the village of Candela in Puglia (pictured) is paying individuals up to $930 (£692) and families $2,330 (£1.7k) to make a new life there.
Think Italy's one euro homes are cheap? Believe it or not, the northern Croatian village of Legrad has been offering houses for just 15 cents (11p) apiece since 2018.
The initiative is designed to attract young families to the community which, like so many in this round-up, has seen its population plummet over the years.
To qualify for the programme, applicants must be under the age of 45, married or in a committed relationship, have no criminal record, and must not own any other property.
The town also offers financial assistance of up to $3,900 (£2.9k) for new residents to renovate homes or up to $5,400 (£4k) towards the purchase of a new property. The programme has already borne fruit, attracting newcomers from within Croatia and abroad, and the increase in the number of children has led to the construction of a new daycare centre.
Fancy living on a beautiful Irish island surrounded by nature and a slower pace of life? Thanks to the Our Living Islands scheme, you can do just that and receive up to $98,000 (£73k) towards restoring a home.
Launched in 2023, the scheme is an enhanced version of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which offers up to $82,000 (£61k) to renovate abandoned properties on the mainland. The Our Living Islands initiative provides higher amounts to compensate for the increased costs of living and working on these isolated islands.
To qualify, the property must have been vacant for at least two years and built before 1993.
Despite the generous offer, only 29 people had applied for the grants by early 2025, highlighting the challenges of attracting residents to these remote areas. While the islands are undeniably stunning and home to friendly, welcoming communities, the lack of amenities and often harsh weather – think endless rainy days and wild Atlantic storms – are major turn-offs for some.
In the midst of a rural depopulation crisis, Japan is offering incentives to encourage people to move to the countryside from crowded cities like Tokyo. Households that commit to relocating receive $6,795 (£5k) and an additional $6,795 (£5k) per child, while individuals starting a business or finding local work can get up to $20,295 (£15k)
These programmes are open to both Japanese citizens and foreign nationals, as long as they meet visa requirements.
Foreign nationals are also permitted to purchase akiya homes, basically abandoned properties often in very isolated rural locations that are listed on so-called akiya banks.
Always super-cheap, some are even given away for free. But it's important to note that some homes can come with back taxes and other expenses, while others require such extensive renovation that they end up being far from budget options.
Australia is all about attracting skilled foreign workers, and the Land Down Under has a number of schemes to reel them in.
The programmes are varied. They range from the Western Australian Construction Visa Subsidy, which offers foreign tradies up to $6,520 (£4.8k) to help offset visa and moving costs, to stipends for care workers who relocate to remote and rural areas. They can get up to $10,770 (£8k) in relocation support and annual retention bonuses of $3,900 (£2.9k) for two years.
Best of all, workers in remote rural areas of Oz can pull in remarkably high salaries, unlike other countries, where jobs in urban areas tend to offer better pay. Electricians can earn up to 29% more while GPs command a premium of 27%, according to data from the Regional Australia Institute.
By way of example, the tiny outback town of Julia Creek in Queensland (pictured) hit the headlines earlier this year when it advertised for a GP role paying up to $445,000 (£331k) a year, with free accommodation, a vehicle allowance, and five weeks of annual leave. This is just one of the many lucrative opportunities on offer in the outback, if you can handle the isolation.
In their bid to combat depopulation, two picturesque Swiss hamlets are offering financial incentives to attract new residents.
For instance, the picture-postcard village of Zeneggen in the canton of Valais offers families a grant of $4,870 (£3.6k) per child to encourage them to settle in the community. The goal is to bring in young families to prevent the village from dwindling away.
A more widely known scheme in the village of Albinen is even more generous, providing a grant of $30,920 (£23k) per adult and $12,370 (£9.2k) per child.
Still, this enticing offer comes with some strict conditions. To be eligible, applicants must be under 45, commit to living in Albinen for at least 10 years, and buy or build a home worth a minimum of $247,420 (£184k). And only foreign nationals who have legal residency may apply.
Rural depopulation is the major driver of relocation incentive schemes around the world. But as we've seen, a number of countries shower overseas entrepreneurs with rewards to help them set up businesses, including Chile.
Start-Up Chile, the nation's flagship programme, offers significant incentives to founders from all over the world to build and grow their companies in the capital Santiago.
The programme offers up to $100,000 (£75k) in equity-free funding to startups with global potential, a figure that isn't to be sniffed at.
In addition to the bumper cash grant, successful applicants get a working visa, access to a vast network of mentors, and a swish co-working space to boot.
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