Undoubtedly, the UK is one of the best places to live in Europe. However, as a British citizen, you may still want to tour other countries, even if just for the experience.
After visiting different countries as a tourist, you may decide to settle down permanently in a foreign country. Such has been the case for some of the up to 4.7 million British nationals who currently live abroad.
If you plan to relocate abroad, deciding on a particular country may not be easy. To help you make that decision, here are the top five relocation destinations for British tourists:
1. Spain
More than 300,000 British migrants currently live in Spain. It’s one of the best destinations thanks to the low cost of living compared to other EU countries. People in Spain are generally welcoming. As a result, you won’t have a hard time fitting in.
However, you may need to learn some Spanish before relocating. It’s worth it, though, as you’ll be learning the second most spoken language globally by the number of native speakers.
The UK, specifically England, is known globally for its love of football, and Spain shares a similar passion. The country boasts football clubs like Real Madrid (the most successful football club globally), FC Barcelona, Sevilla, and Atletico Madrid.
The quality of life in Spain is also commendable, with an 83.30-year life expectancy. The best cities to stay in are Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and Malaga.
Moving from the UK to Spain was visa-free before Brexit. Now you need to apply for a visa and obtain a residency permit. You can do all of this from the Spanish embassy in the UK.
2. New Zealand
New Zealand was a British colony from 1841 until 1852. To date, the country has a significant number of British residents, and Britain was the primary source of immigrants up until the ‘70s.
With this, you’ll be entering familiar territory when moving from the UK to New Zealand. English remains an official language in the country, so you won’t need to learn any foreign language.
However, you do need a visa. The Working Holiday Visa, Essential Skills Work Visa, Investment Visa, and Partner and Children Visa are common visas for UK nationals migrating to New Zealand.
New Zealand is an ideal destination if you seek peace and wish to escape the political and economic troubles of the world. The country ranks 2nd in the Global Peace Index 2021 ranking, topped only by Iceland.
Furthermore, unlike the UK, New Zealand has space. You have many options when searching for a place to live.
Public healthcare is free in New Zealand, thanks to the publicly funded and regionally administered delivery system. It’s free for citizens, permanent residents, and some work visa holders.
3. Malta
Malta is the smallest EU state yet one of the most popular destinations for migrants on the continent. From the Mediterranean joie de vivre to the rich architecture and nature, there’s everything to love about the country.
Malta and the UK share English as an official language as well. Hence, the country is popular among British expats and retirees. It won’t be difficult for you to find employment or conduct business after moving from the UK to Malta.
Also, Malta isn’t far from the UK. It’ll take around 3 hours to get to London, so you can easily visit the UK whenever you want. Similarly, you can travel to other top EU cities like Paris, Barcelona, and Rome in less than 3 hours.
The cost of living in Malta is much lower when compared to that of the UK. However, the salary rate is also lower compared to the UK, although the country has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.
Notably, the UK is one of the countries that have signed double tax treaties with Malta. Therefore, when you get permanent residence status in the country, you won’t have to pay any tax to the UK.
4. Australia
Australia has a population of 25.69 million people, and over 1.2 million of them are UK citizens. Like the UK, Australia is a sovereign country with English as its national language, although not in Europe.
With its resilient economy, Australia is an ideal destination if you plan on working. As of 2022, it ranks 13 among the world’s largest countries by GDP, notably ahead of Spain mentioned earlier.
Data reveals that almost 49% of Australians (almost half) were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. It shows how accommodating the country is to foreign families. Therefore, it’s an ideal relocation destination if you’re moving with your family.
There are several Australian visas for family members, including the Partner Visa, Prospective Marriage Visa, Aged Dependent Relative Visa, Parent Visa, Aged Parent Visa, Dependent Child Visa, Child Visa, and Adoption Visa.
Australia maintains a strict stance regarding immigration. Therefore, if you plan on migrating from the UK to Australia, you may have to seek professional help, like hiring an immigration lawyer.
5. USA
The USA as a global destination needs no introduction. Often called the most powerful country in the world, the US is the most popular country for international migrants by a mile.
It’s not surprising that there are close to 2 million British nationals in the United States. Since the 1940s, the US and UK have maintained strong allies.
In fact, according to the US Embassy website, “The United States has no closer ally than the United Kingdom.” Hence, immigrating to the USA from the UK won’t be very difficult. The country is welcoming citizens.
Living in the US is less expensive than in the UK by over 16%. This is despite the US having one of the highest standards of living in the world.
The UK and the US boast the best educational systems in the world, with universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Oxford ranked as the best in the world.
Furthermore, the US has the highest nominal GDP in the world, making it an unrivalled destination for job opportunities.
