10 Countries That Will Pay Americans to Move There in 2025 (Seriously)

Imagine swapping your morning commute for a stroll through an ancient village. Picture your office view as a sun-drenched coastline or a majestic mountain peak. This dream is becoming a reality for many. 

A growing number of places are offering financial perks to attract new residents. The rise of remote work means more people can live anywhere. At the same time, many beautiful towns face declining populations. They need new energy, families, and skills to thrive.

This creates a perfect match. Communities get a chance to grow, and you get a chance to start a new adventure.

This guide will explore 10 of the best countries that will pay you to move there next year.

1. Italy: Revitalize a Village and Live La Dolce Vita

Italy is famous for its efforts to rejuvenate its charming small towns. Several regions offer significant cash grants to newcomers. These programs aim to breathe life back into historic communities.

What’s the Offer?

Villages across Italy will pay you to relocate. Offers can be incredibly generous. For instance, the town of Presicce-Acquarica in Puglia has offered up to €30,000 (about $32,500). Similarly, Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo has provided grants up to €44,000 (about $47,700).

Who Qualifies?

These programs often target younger individuals and families. Many require applicants to be under 40 years old. You must commit to becoming a resident. You also typically need to buy and renovate an older home, often one built before 1991. Some grants require you to start a local business or fill a needed job.

How to Apply

Details for these programs change frequently. The best approach is to check the official municipal website, or comune, of the town that interests you. Look for announcements about new residency incentives.

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• Italy Has Over 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – These Are 15 You Absolutely Should Not Miss

2. Spain: Find Your Home in a Charming Rural Pueblo

Spain is another European gem offering fantastic relocation incentives. Its rural towns, or pueblos, are known for their beauty and relaxed pace of life. Many are looking for new residents to join their communities.

What’s the Offer?

Several towns have programs to attract new families. Ponga, a stunning village in the Asturias region, has famously offered €3,000 (about $3,250) to couples who move there. It also offers an additional €3,000 for every child born in the town.

In Galicia, the town of Rubiá offers a more modest but steady supplement of €100-150 per month to new residents.

Who Qualifies?

These programs are often aimed at families and remote workers. A key condition is a long-term commitment. For example, the Ponga program requires you to live in the town for at least five years.

Non-EU citizens will also need to secure a long-term visa, such as Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, which has its own income requirements.

How to Apply

You should contact the local town hall, or ayuntamiento, directly. Programs like Ponga’s have been on and off, so it is vital to verify the current status before making any plans. Spain’s relocation incentives are perfect for families looking for a change.

Also Read: 17 Breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites That Show You the Spain Most Travelers Miss

3. Switzerland: An Alpine Grant for a High-Quality Life

For those dreaming of crisp mountain air and a high standard of living, Switzerland has an offer that is hard to ignore. The picturesque village of Albinen is looking to reverse its population decline with a substantial grant.

What’s the Offer?

Albinen is offering a significant financial incentive to new residents. The grant provides 25,000 Swiss Francs (about $27,500) per adult. It also includes an additional 10,000 Swiss Francs (about $11,000) for each child. For a family of four, that could total 70,000 Swiss Francs.

Who Qualifies?

This program comes with strict conditions. Applicants must be under the age of 45. You must commit to living in Albinen for at least 10 years. Most importantly, you must buy or build a home in the village valued at a minimum of 200,000 Swiss Francs (about $220,000). This is one of the countries that will pay you to move there, but it requires a serious upfront investment.

How to Apply

Interested parties should consult the official municipal website of Albinen for the latest information and application forms.

4. Greece: Repopulate a Historic Aegean Island

Have you ever imagined living on a remote Greek island? The tiny island of Antikythera is turning that dream into a real opportunity. This initiative aims to welcome new families to its small, close-knit community.

What’s the Offer?

The program, sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Church, is quite generous. It offers new residents a monthly stipend of €500 (about $540) for their first three years on the island. In addition, you receive free housing and a plot of land to farm or build on.

Who Qualifies?

The program specifically targets families with children. The goal is to fill the local school and bring a youthful energy back to the island. Professionals like bakers, builders, and fishermen are particularly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

There is a crucial update for 2025. The houses planned for new residents have not yet been completed due to administrative delays.

Therefore, the program is not actively accepting new families at this moment. You can contact the local authorities on the neighboring island of Kythira for updates on its status.

You May Like: 9 Hidden Greece Islands Without the Crowds

5. Ireland: Restore a Home on the Emerald Isle’s Coast

Ireland’s rugged coastline is dotted with beautiful, remote islands. To ensure these communities have a sustainable future, the government launched the “Our Living Islands” policy.

What’s the Offer?

This program offers substantial grants to people willing to restore vacant or derelict homes on about 30 of its offshore islands. You can receive up to €84,000 (about $91,000) to cover the costs of major renovations, such as structural work and re-roofing.

Who Qualifies?

The grant is for renovating properties that were built before 1993 and have been vacant for at least two years. Here is the main catch for international applicants: you must already have the right to live and work in Ireland. This grant is not a visa program. It is designed for people who can already legally reside in the country.

How to Apply

Applications are managed through local authorities. You must provide proof of ownership or a purchase agreement for an eligible property along with a detailed renovation plan.

6. Portugal: A Warm Welcome for Rural Settlers

Portugal is a top destination for expats and digital nomads. While its popular Digital Nomad Visa does not come with a direct cash grant, the country does offer financial support for those willing to move to its less-populated interior regions.

What’s the Offer?

The “Emprego Interior MAIS” (Inland Employment PLUS) program provides direct financial support. Individuals can receive an initial grant of around €2,600, with the possibility of receiving up to €4,827 in total support to cover moving costs and family needs.

Who Qualifies?

This program is for people who find a job or create their own business in Portugal’s designated interior territories. It is open to both Portuguese citizens and foreigners who move to these areas for work. It is one of the more accessible relocation incentives for those seeking employment.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the IEFP, Portugal’s Institute for Employment and Vocational Training. You must apply within 90 days of starting your employment contract or creating your business.

Also see: 10 Places To Retire For Americans in Portugal So Perfect, You’ll Wonder Why You Didn’t Move Sooner

7. Chile: Launch Your Startup with Government Backing

For entrepreneurs with a great tech idea, Chile offers one of the world’s most renowned accelerator programs. Start-Up Chile is designed to turn the country into a global innovation hub.

What’s the Offer?

Start-Up Chile provides equity-free funding to promising startups. The program has different tiers. The “Build” program offers around $15,000 for early-stage ideas. The “Ignite” program offers about $31,000 for startups with a functional product. The “Growth” program provides approximately $78,000 for established companies looking to scale.

Who Qualifies?

This is a competitive program for innovative, technology-based startups with high growth potential. Founders from all over the world can apply. You will need a solid business plan and be prepared to pitch your idea to a panel of experts.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the Start-Up Chile website. The selection process includes a written application, evaluation by expert judges, and an interview.

8. Japan: Embrace the Countryside with Revitalization Grants

Japan is facing significant demographic challenges, with an aging population and many young people moving to big cities. To counter this, the government has launched a Regional Revitalization Program to encourage people to move to rural areas.

What’s the Offer?

The central government supports local municipalities in offering financial incentives. These can include a one-time payment of up to ¥1,000,000 (about $6,400).

Families with children may be eligible for additional support. Some programs also offer grants up to ¥3,000,000 (about $19,200) for starting a business.

Who Qualifies?

These programs target young professionals, remote workers, and entrepreneurs. A key requirement is a commitment to stay in the area for at least five years.

Applicants must be willing to contribute to the local community, whether through employment, starting a business, or participating in local activities.

How to Apply

These relocation incentives are managed at the local level. You will need to research specific prefectures and towns, such as Okutama in the Tokyo prefecture or various towns in Hokkaido, to find active programs and their application details.

Read: I Lived in Japan for 4 Years — Here Are 12 Unspoken Rules To Follow When You Visit

9. Canada: A Pathway to Residency in Rural Communities

Canada is actively seeking skilled immigrants to help grow its economy. While it doesn’t offer direct cash payments for moving, its Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) provides a valuable alternative: a clear path to permanent residency.

What’s the Offer?

Now called the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), this program allows participating communities to nominate skilled foreign workers for permanent residence.

This is a huge benefit, as it provides long-term stability and access to Canada’s high quality of life.

Who Qualifies?

To be eligible, you must have a valid job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating communities across provinces like Manitoba or Saskatchewan.

You also need to meet work experience, language, and educational requirements. The program is designed to fill genuine labor shortages in these regions.

How to Apply

The first step is to find a job with a designated employer in a participating community. Once you have a job offer, you can apply for a community recommendation and then submit your application for permanent residence to the Canadian government.

10. Austria: A Points-Based System for Skilled Professionals

Austria offers a fantastic quality of life in the heart of Europe. While the government doesn’t directly pay individuals to move, its Red-White-Red Card program creates opportunities for skilled workers to receive attractive relocation packages from employers.

What’s the Offer?

The Red-White-Red Card is a visa program for highly qualified workers from non-EU countries. It operates on a points-based system that assesses your qualifications, work experience, age, and language skills.

Securing this visa makes you a highly attractive candidate for Austrian companies, many of which offer relocation support to attract top talent.

Who Qualifies?

The program is designed for skilled workers in shortage occupations, other key workers, and graduates of Austrian universities. You need to score at least 70 points on their eligibility calculator to qualify.

How to Apply

You can apply for the Red-White-Red Card at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country. You will need to provide extensive documentation to prove you meet the points criteria.

Final Thoughts on Countries That Will Pay You to Move There

The idea of getting paid to move abroad is more than just a dream in 2025. From the sun-soaked villages of Italy to the innovative hubs of Chile, they are offering life-changing opportunities.

These programs are a chance to reinvent your life, contribute to a new community, and uniquely experience the world.

However, do your research. Each program has specific requirements and commitments. But for those willing to take the leap, the rewards can be incredible. Your next great adventure could be just an application away.