Your early to mid-20s can be an ideal time to embark on an expat adventure. You're young, you have a newly-minted degree in hand and a thirst for adventure and you're unlikely to have family responsibilities like kids: the world is your oyster. However, financial constraints and a lack of work experience can throw a spanner in the works. How do you go about selecting a suitable destination and crafting your first experience living abroad?
Countries that are the most welcoming for young graduates
Some destinations are better for mid-career expats or expats with families. The cost of living might be high there; there might not be many entry-level job opportunities or spaces for single young people to socialize. You might find yourself in parks surrounded by couples with strollers, which leave you feeling out of place. You don't want a destination where the expat community is mostly made up of retirees. Even if you do find work, the work culture might lack the dynamism and sense of innovation young people in their 20s often see. So, it's important to research well if a destination is not only broadly expat-friendly but also suitable for young expats.
The Economist's Footloose Index is a great place to start. Each year, the magazine uses data from around 150,000 young, early-career expats to rank how appealing a list of countries are to them. Here are their top 15 countries of 2024:
- Canada
- Australia
- The US
- Germany
- Spain
- Switzerland
- New Zealand
- France
- Italy
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Finland
- Portugal
- The UK
- Singapore
Shifts in Canadian and American politics could change the outlook in 2025
Political changes in 2025 might affect the new ranking that will be released later this year. In Canada, Justin Trudeau's mandate as Prime Minister from 2015 to 2024 was marked by an increase in work visas available for young, skilled expat graduates. Yet, his government shifted course in late 2024 by deciding to cut down on immigration, shortly before Trudeau resigned.
It remains to be seen if the next Canadian Prime Minister will make other changes to the country's openness to young expats. This might affect Canada's reputation as the Top 1 welcoming country for international graduates. The Times of India reports that the “Canadian Dream” is starting to crumble, for the young Indian international students and expats who move there, as they struggle with finding qualified and well-paying work. The youth unemployment rate in the country was a high 14% in late 2024, and young, newly arrived expats bear the brunt of it because they have less security than their peers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Heading south to Canada's neighbor, the start of Trump's second term as US president might also drastically change American immigration law and the country's openness to young graduates from around the world. President Trump might reinstate his controversial “Muslim ban,” which would affect the ability of young graduates from many Muslim-majority countries to seek opportunities in the US. Any rise in xenophobia and racism that accompanies his second term will likely deter young expats from choosing the US. Young Chinese talent, for instance, continues to face challenges in securing US visas due to immigration policies established during Trump's first term.
At the same time, Trump has hinted that he might make it easier for international students in US universities to get Green Cards upon graduating, which is good news for prospective young expats already on F-1 visas in the country. The US is attractive to many ambitious young graduates who are looking for an environment with opportunities for creativity and innovation, which may be restricted by bureaucracy in other countries.
Portugal's popularity is on the rise, while the UK is losing appeal
In a longitudinal analysis of the Footloose Index over the years, the country that has gained the most appeal for young graduates since 2010 is Portugal. Why so? In recent years, Southern Europe, in general, has become increasingly popular among expats. Sunny weather and beautiful beaches, an affordable cost of living, and an array of expat visas are some of the pull factors. Some of the visas offered by the Portuguese state are the digital nomad visa, the HQA visa for scientists and entrepreneurs and the Job Seeker Visa. The last visa, in particular, might really interest recent graduates, as it allows them to simply enter the country for 120 days and then search for work on-site.
In Numbeo's Cost of Living Index 2025, Portugal is revealed to be the most affordable country in Western Europe. Starting salaries for fresh graduates can be as low as $30,000 (or even lower in the Global South), which makes it difficult for them to survive in attractive but expensive expat destinations like London and Singapore. On the other hand, destinations like Portugal, Spain and Italy offer them the opportunity to experience a new lifestyle and culture, build an international professional network early in their careers, and discover job opportunities in Europe without needing to live off only instant noodles.
The newspaper Portugal Resident reports that, among prospective British expats, there are increasingly younger, entrepreneurial expats eyeing Portugal. Those looking to set up businesses prefer the bustling yet affordable cities of Lisbon and Porto, while young expats seeking a relaxed lifestyle with great work-life balance prefer the southern Algarve coast, which has stunning beaches.
In contrast to Portugal, the UK has seen the sharpest decline in appeal to young expats since 2010. It was once ranked as the 6th most attractive destination, but factors such as Brexit and the end of free movement for European students, sharp hikes in visa fees, and stricter immigration policies have gradually made Britain less accessible for young expats. Since last year, the Skilled Worker visa requires expats to earn at least £38,700 to qualify for sponsorship by a UK employer. The average salary of people in their 20s in the country is £24,600, which is far below the threshold.
While the 2-year Graduate Visa for international graduates of British universities still exists, it now costs a steep £3,000 (3,600 USD) and might become even more expensive in 2025. The UK might still be a good destination for young expats whose fields have very high starting salaries, like finance, law and technology, especially AI. Mid-career expats will have an easier time meeting the requirements of the Home Office to work and create businesses in the UK.
Spain is becoming a stronger magnet for young Latin American graduates
Over the past 15 years, Spain has consistently been the fourth most popular destination for young, highly-skilled graduates. However, that pattern has picked up pace in the last few years. Some researchers even term these years a “Second Latin American migratory boom” for the country. Multiple push and pull factors are at play. One major push factor is that political or economic instability is making young people leave Venezuela, Argentina and many Central American countries. As reported by El País, the population of Latin Americans in Madrid has crossed the 1 million mark for the first time in 2024.
A pull factor is that Spain has relaxed many of its immigration laws, which has opened doors to young door. Like many countries, it launched a digital nomad visa during the Covid pandemic. Immigration reforms that were passed in 2024 will come into full effect by mid-2025. International students can now apply for a 1-year Job Seeker Visa to look for a job in the country after graduating when previously, they only had 3 months to find employment or leave. Expats on employment visas will be able to do freelance work on the side or hold a second part-time job, and access to legal residency by proving a connection to Spain will also be made easier.
What young graduates might overlook when moving abroad
Sometimes, young graduates might lack a more long-term perspective when moving abroad. True, it's hard to imagine what your late 20s, 30s or even 40s will look like when you are only 22. Still, you should try your best to make research-based predictions about the future of expatriation in a country in 5 or 10 years. This way, you can avoid the risk of outgrowing a destination after a few years of enjoying the "honeymoon phase."
While some countries may offer great opportunities for a few years, they might lack avenues for long-term career advancement or permanent residency. If you're okay with a short-term stay, that's fine, but if you want to build a more sustainable future abroad, it's important to have a long-term plan from the outset, even if you adjust it as the circumstances evolve.
You should take into consideration that by the time you're 35, you might want to raise a family, or you might have health problems. If you're planning on staying abroad in the long term, does your country of choice offer a good environment to raise kids? Is healthcare there accessible and affordable? After working for 5-10 years, might you be able to buy property and become a citizen? While these questions may seem distant or too weighty to think about at 22, they're worth considering from the beginning of your journey. Doing so can help you make more informed choices for a sustainable future abroad.
