There are a lot of reasons and circumstances that reveal to you that it is time to seek and discover new opportunities, in new lands. You are weary of the same old job or you are seeking a change of environment; expatriation is an adequate way to start. The most common reasons for moving to another country are the insecurity or uncertainty of your current job, your financials, and the future of your family. Another reason might be to seek a better life and explore more opportunities. So, what are some of the expectations expatriates have, before moving to another country? Which countries are ranking at the top among the expatriates’ lists? We will be answering these questions in this article while discovering the top five destinations for expatriates around the globe. Factors affecting the ranking of the countries are quality of life, quality of education, working and cost of living, citizenship rights, passport power, ease of settling, family life, security, and employment laws for expatriates.

After taking into account all the above-mentioned factors, we came up with the following list. We will be explaining each destination with valid reasons. Here are the top five attractive destinations for expatriates around the globe:

5. Spain

The second-largest country in Europe possesses a rich culture and history. Spanish is the official language. It offers a lot of tourists’ destinations, a few of them being the most famous in the world. It is a country that renders a great quality of life; however, certain circumstances will determine how well you can live in Spain. People in Spain are reasonably friendly. Why reasonably? Because there might be times when you won’t find them very amiable. Generally, people here are fairly pleasant. They have a mentality of »live and let live». They will not bother you or judge you. You will not be pressured into doing something that you don’t want to do. Spanish people like to chill out a lot. They can be noisy at their celebrations.

The cost of living in Spain is relatively low. It is an attractive attribute that expatriates find to their liking. However, there are a few things that have been increasing for a few years now; like rent of the houses or apartments. It can be difficult to find a good place to rent in big cities like Madrid or Barcelona.

The cost of living is always directly proportional to the salaries in most countries. The same is true for Spain as well. The salaries here are relatively low. You can live a decent life at a low salary. If you belong to a profession that pays an above-average salary, you are in a great place. Another option is not to depend on the local economy and have an income source outside of Spain. It is a great place for the people who are retiring.

It is a very safe country. Street crime can be a problem but it is not very common in most of Spain. It can be an issue in few larger cities but altogether crime rate is fairly low here. The main point is that you can walk down the street safely. According to the global peace index ranking 2021, Spain ranks at number 31.

A great pro about this country is that the elderly are treated with respect and younger people are treated with great love. Elder people in Spain have a great lifestyle here with good medical facilities and pension benefits. Food and drink options in Spain are the supreme in the world.

Education in Spain is compulsory and is free for Children which is an attractive offer for expatriates. They have in place a decent educational system. People migrating here find it very easy to enroll their kids in local institutions. What is best is that the government is paying most of the bills. Managing a family is quite easy in Spain since there are not many costly things or bills.

The most important thing about employment laws in Spain is that the employer must pay the social security for his employee. Even if you do not have a written contract with the employer and social security professionals glean about this, they will make the employer pay your social security. It is very expensive and can be around 40% of the total salary. They are mostly focused on employee protection and not on employers’ protection. If you are unhappy about a contract you have the option to dismiss that contract within the first 20 days of employment.

There are a lot of employment opportunities for expatriates in Spain. Work can be found easily in big cities. There is always an opening for you. Employment laws are relatively strict and mostly in favor of employees so, you can rest easy.

Getting citizenship for expatriates is hard in Spain. You have to spend at least 10 years in the country and maintain a status of a decent resident of the country. In terms of travel freedom, the Spanish passport ranks 4th in the world. If you are a Spanish passport holder you can avail visa-on-arrival facility in 188 countries around the world.

4. Mexico

Located in South of the North America, bordered by the USA, a country with rich culture and many opportunities for expatriates. It is one of the easiest places in the world to settle in. It presents you with an opportunity for a great and enhanced lifestyle at a very low cost. It is a large country offering various climates and sceneries. People of Mexico have a friendly attitude towards the expatriates. It is very easy to make some local friends. This country offers an attractive environment to live and settle. Some expatriates find it attractive because of its neighbor, the USA. Mexico has been serving as a gateway to get into the USA.

The living cost of the country is quite low. However, the same is also true about salaries. If you are an expatriate who is looking to send money back to your home country, it is not the best option for you. It is a great place for those who are willing to settle here. With a minimum cost of living, even if you are not making much, you can enjoy your life fully here.

Ignore all those news reports that you see on TV about gang violence or narcotics. It is quite safe to live in Mexico. Of course, street crime is everywhere in the world and it is true for Mexico as well. Mexico is full of American expatriates and tourists. It is a matter of research and understanding; knowing where you should go and where you shouldn’t. Its global peace ranking is at number 130, which is not very good, but if you avoid sensitive places; you can live an easy life.

In Mexico, children are treated with great care and love. The elderly possess a great level of respect and standing in society. They can enjoy their life at full potential with medical and health care provided by the government.

The education here is divided into three parts, primary, junior high, and high school. All public schools are free of charge or fee. Attendance is compulsory for all students. However, we cannot say it is the best education system.

A lot of the economy of Mexico depends upon tourism. Its vast beaches, hotels, resorts, and restaurants attract millions from around the world. Thus also producing a lot of employment opportunities. However, most of the jobs offered are informal. Meaning they are not providing social security and other benefits like medical insurances to the employees. If you are thinking of moving to Mexico, try to get a formal job with a written contract in your favor.

You need to have family ties in Mexico or you must be a permanent resident of the country to apply for citizenship. You must have a job and must be over 18 years of age. Mexican passport is ranked 24th most powerful passport in the world. In most countries, you have the facility to get an on-arrival visa. Having citizenship can open a lot of opportunities for expatriates in Mexico.

3. Portugal

Another attractive destination for expatriates around the globe is Portugal. It is one of the oldest countries in Europe with a great deal of culture and history to offer. With amazing and understanding people, life in Portugal gets interesting with every passing day. They are hardworking people, they love football, they are very funny, and they value their friends and family. All of these traits of Portuguese people make expatriates want to move to Portugal.

It offers a reasonable cost of living which is the main reason why it attracts expatriates. Of course in major cities, the cost of living is quite high as compared to rural areas. If an expatriate can live with modesty, he can survive easily in Portugal with a steady average income.

Expats can either send their children to public schools which are almost free of cost or they can enroll them in private or international schools. The education system provided by the government is pretty decent however due to a recent debate on how the quality of education is declining in public schools; the expatriates tend to enroll their kids in private institutions.

If you become a citizen of Portugal you can travel to all of Europe without a visa and you don’t need a work permit to work anywhere in Europe. Even your kids can go anywhere in Europe to study or visit. These are some of the other attractions that Portugal offers to expatriates.

It ranks 3rd in the global peace ranking 2021, which brings it to the top spot among the safest places to live on earth. So, you can relax about the security issues here. For expatriates who are concerned about their security, there is no better place than Portugal.

Portuguese are very conscious about their elders and they are too protective of their families. Basically, they adore their families. Children are treated with love and the elderly with respect. Pensions and medical facilities are provided to the elderly.

Most of Portugal’s economy depends upon its tourism hence a lot of jobs are related to this particular sector. The unemployment rate is quite low here. The Portuguese employment laws are similar to most European countries. Obtaining a work visa/permit in Portugal is an exceedingly complex task. To favor the citizens one of the main requirements for the visa to be granted is that there is no able person to occupy the position in Portugal. It doesn’t mean that it is not possible to get a work permit.

Employment laws or labor laws favor both employers and employees. You can sign a long-term, part-time and other types of contrast with the employers as allowed by the law. Overall Portugal is a dream destination for most of the expatriates around the globe.

2. Vietnam

Sharing a border with China and Thailand, Vietnam is known for its tourist spots like beaches, rivers and old temples. Over the last few decades, more people are moving to Vietnam as expatriates than in any other country. If you are planning to retire to a beautiful destination, or you want to start a business in an Asian country, Vietnam might just be the best choice for you. They are very generous people with great hospitality towards expatriates and foreigners. They care how you think about them and they are very careful about their reputations. You might want to avoid making a scene with a Vietnamese in public.

The living cost in Vietnam is exceptionally low. Everyone is willing to provide you services in Vietnam at very low rates. Starting life in Vietnam is very easy and even easier to settle in. There are a lot of choices of apartments to rent or buy. It attracts expatriates because of its growing market and business opportunities. With its amazing tourist destinations, beaches, and great weather, it has become one of the most popular countries to move to.

It is a very beautiful country which is rich with a stunning and colorful history. Its history dates back to thousands of years and possesses a fascinating culture and traditions. They celebrate many festivals around the year, with each festival having its own separate meaning and reasons. If you are talking about Vietnam and not talking about its food you are missing a lot. The food of Vietnam is counted among the best in the world.

Vietnam is much safer to live and work in as compared to its neighbors or most of the Asian countries. The crime rate is very low but you can take precautions to avoid petty theft or any street crime.

Vietnamese passport ranks 98th in the world with a facility of on-arrival visa in more than 48 countries. A maximum employment contract of 24 months can be signed here. Salaries are fair and you can earn a handsome amount and live a decent life.

1. Taiwan

Expatriates around the globe have ranked Taiwan higher than any other country on the planet. It is an island country located in East Asia, under the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China. Nearby countries are China, Japan, and the Philippines. Two of which are among the top economies of the world. Taiwan is a very exotic place with rich culture and traditions. They are very convenient people, they have taken the word «convenience» to a whole another level. You have everything you will ever need within a hundred meters of your apartment. You got hospitals, clinics, schools, grocery stores, mechanics, and literally everything you might need in your everyday life. More than 85% of Taiwanese live near convenience stores.

Living costs and rents in Taiwan are very low. Here people can live easily survive on the lowest salaries. Expatriates can expect two types of jobs in Taiwan. Either you can get a part-time job that pays you hourly or you can get a full-time job that will pay you after an agreed period.

Taiwan is an extremely safe country with a very minimum record of violent crimes. You will not experience any theft, pick pocketing, or other street crimes here. As a parent, an expatriate prefers to live and work here since the safety of the family is most important. Knowing that his kids are growing up in a safe environment, he is content and happy with his life. It ranked 34th on the global peace index.

A disadvantage of living in Taiwan is the regular earthquakes. Unfortunately, it is geographically located on the edge of the tectonic plates, hence earthquakes are a regular problem here. You will experience 3 to 4 earthquakes a year while living here. Another natural disaster that is common here is typhoons. They are really strong ones capable of shaping trees in half and throwing motorbikes in the air. If you are an expatriate who is coming to Taiwan you need to avoid renting an apartment in very old buildings and keep an eye on weather warnings and predictions.

A super cheap health insurance plan is in place in Taiwan. It is probably the best thing about Taiwan. It covers 99% of your health care needs and is funded by the Taiwan government. You and your family never have to worry about health expenses. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, poor or rich; nearly 99% of Taiwan’s population is covered. The cheapest health plan in the world with 99% of expenses covered; is waiting for the expatriates in Taiwan.

A basic law that applies to all the employers in Taiwan is that they must get permission from the government before bringing an expatriate to work in the country. You must have a work permit before starting work here. A foreigner will not work more than 12 years, counting from his day of arrival in the country.

Taiwan’s passport ranked 31st most powerful passport in the world with the option of on-arrival visa in a lot of countries around the globe.