Get paid to move abroad? Yes, you read that right! The idea is gaining ground in countries faced with critical demographic decline and congestion in their megacities. This means that you can benefit from incentives to relocate to smaller towns. Where are such programs on offer, and what do they imply?
Spain
Spain is relying on foreigners to resolve its demographic crisis. The country is clearly looking to kill two birds with one stone as it believes foreigners can potentially revitalize regions far from the major economic hubs. The Spanish government's plan targets rural communities, often abandoned by young people who prefer Madrid. Three small towns are currently offering financing to attract new residents: Ponga, in Asturias (Spain's autonomous community); Rubiá, a small town in the province of Orense; and Griegos, a village in the province of Teruel.
Ponga is offering up to 3,000 EUR (approximatively 3,600 USD) for families with children and up to 2,000 EUR for singles or couples without children. There is also an additional bonus of 3000 EUR for expat women giving birth in Ponga. Meanwhile, Rubiá is offering 150 EUR to each new newcomer.
Griegos promises a job and 3 months' free rent to its new residents. After 3 months, new residents will benefit from reduced rent (225 EUR monthly), which can be further reduced by 50 EUR for each school-age child in the family.
The regions targeted by these programs are often less well-known to tourists. Yet they offer a much sought-after setting and quality of life at a time when more and more people are fleeing the big cities and their drawbacks. These communities are struggling to achieve greater recognition. Griegos is a village that keeps its school open to attract more families. Rubiá makes the most of its good geographical position, linked to Galicia.
Portugal
Same ills, same remedies. The government has set up a special program, "Emprego Interior Mais" (Interior Employment Plus), to attract foreigners to its lands. This program is intended for foreigners and nationals wishing to settle inland. The authorities have drawn up a list of regions targeted by the program. The program grants up to 5291 USD to anyone who decides to settle inland. Digital nomads are also eligible for this incentive.
Italy
In Italy, too, the population is aging, and the birth rate is in decline. The country is struggling to keep its young people in small towns – they prefer moving to big cities, or even abroad, for better career prospects. This has a significant impact on the economy. In southern Italy, Presicce-Acquarica, a municipality in the province of Lecce, is offering up to EUR 30,000 to newcomers. This offer is valid provided the property purchased has been built before 1991, and the new resident is registered with the municipality. Like Ponga, Presicce-Acquarica is also trying to boost its birth rate. The municipality is offering EUR 1,000 for every baby born on its territory. It has also set up a website where you can register.
Greece
Back in 2011, the headline in the press was "The exodus of young Greeks". But years went by, and things kept getting worse in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022. In 2017, the Bank of Greece estimated that 427,000 young Greeks had already left the country between 2008 and 2016. As in Italy, young Greeks prefer to grow their careers overseas. The Greek government is also getting out its checkbook to retain the population in its remote regions and to attract working foreigners. The government has targeted the island of Antikythera, which is particularly affected by demographic decline. As a result, the island is offering families settling there 590 USD per month for the first 3 years of their stay. The offer is only available to families.
Ireland
Ireland has a very specific target group: entrepreneurs. For over 10 years, Ireland has boasted of being the country of startups. The government has invested heavily in attracting foreign creators. Innovation is at the heart of Ireland's strategy, with significant investment in Tech. Ireland grants USD 1,200 to all entrepreneurs who set up businesses in the country. To be eligible, you must already be in Ireland, be a member of the "Enterprise Ireland" program, and set up your business in Ireland.
Chile
Chile is also laying its hopes on international entrepreneurial talent. Since 2016, the government has embarked on an incentive policy to make Chile a hub for startups. The "Startup Chile" program offers 3 packages for foreign entrepreneurs setting up in Chile. Grants for startup creation can range from 14,000 to 80,000 USD, depending on the project's stage of advancement (80,000 USD for a mature project).
New Zealand
Kaitangata is looking for new residents. This small town in southern New Zealand had just 753 residents in 2018 and more job offers than workers. Unlike programs in other towns, Kaitangata council doesn't give money directly to new residents. Instead, it offers a special package of land and housing worth up to 165,000 USD. The condition to be met, however, is that you have to commit to working in the city.
Switzerland
Albinen, a Swiss municipality in the canton of Valais, is also looking for new residents. To cope with the departure of young people and the population decline, the town is offering $25,000 for each new arrival, plus an additional USD 10,000 for families moving with children. To be eligible, you must be less than 45 years old and have been a full-time resident in the country for at least 10 years.
Canada
Canada's various immigration programs encourage prospective expatriates to move to less populated provinces than Ontario or Quebec. For example, the Province of Saskatchewan's Graduate Retention Program offers up to $15,000 in tax credits "on tuition fees for eligible graduates who reside in Saskatchewan and declare their income in the province". To be eligible for the program, you must graduate from an institution on the list drawn up by the Saskatchewan authorities.
United States
This program has been specially designed for remote workers. To attract new workers, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has created Tulsa Remote. This program offers up to 10,000 USD to cover moving and other expenses during the first year in the city. New residents also benefit from coworking space and a monthly housing allowance of 500 USD for up to a year. Eligible applicants must be over 18 and legally able to work in the United States. They must have a full-time remote job or self-employment outside Oklahoma. They must also be able to relocate within one year.
All these cities intend to take advantage of a widespread phenomenon since the health crisis: more and more people are leaving big cities to settle in medium-sized towns. The desire is even stronger among digital nomads and remote workers. Towns hit by population decline are building their programs with them in mind. In Japan, families who agree to leave the Tokyo megalopolis are offered USD 7,500 per child. The urgency, in Japan as elsewhere, is growing day by day. In Canada, cities like Toronto and Vancouver are suffocating. By contrast, other provinces are short of inhabitants. They also rely on their economic dynamism (industries, service companies, universities, schools, services, etc.) to attract immigrants. The more inhabitants there are, the more these services can develop, helping to attract even more new residents.
Useful links:
Emprego Interior Mais (Portugal)
