Trickiest Countries For Expats To Relocate To

Relocating to a new country as an expat can be an exciting but challenging experience. Some countries have strict immigration laws, and there may be other barriers, such as vaccine or language requirements and hefty fees to be paid.

But which are the trickiest for those looking to emigrate? We’ve compared some common expat destinations to find out.

Which are the trickiest countries to emigrate to?

Not all countries make immigration easier for foreigners. There are a number of factors that can make it tricky to move abroad, including:

• Expat population
• Recommended vaccines
• Work visa fees
• Work visa minimum earnings threshold
• Estimated work visa processing time
• Language proficiency tests

Of course, requirements vary depending on the specific visa you’re applying for, so to keep things consistent, we’ve looked at the closest equivalent to a skilled worker visa for each country. You should always be prepared before you plan on moving and be aware of which countries are most likely to reject your visa or residence application.

If you want to relocate, don’t forget about international health insurance. A detail that is often overlooked yet plays a crucial role in ensuring the wellbeing of expats and their families.

Which countries are hardest to emigrate to?

1/ India

Employment Visa / 6.45

India tops the list with its Employment Visa, having a difficulty score of 6.45. India has a low expat population percentage (0.4%), the visa demands significant fees of 16.25 lakh (roughly £427), and you’ll require at least three vaccinations (with a further five depending on circumstances).

2/ Australia

Medium Stream Temporary Skill Shortage Visa / 6.42

Australia follows closely with its Temporary Skill Shortage visa (medium stream). This visa has a high difficulty score of 6.42, reflecting Australia’s higher fees (AU$3,035/£1,570), long processing times (4 to 8 months) and the fact that you must pass an English-language proficiency test.

3/ Finland

EU Blue Card / 5.78

Finland, offering the EU Blue Card, has a difficulty score of 5.78. Finland has a high earnings threshold for applicants for a Blue Card, at €62,508 (£53,513), as well as application costs of €380 (£325).

Which country has the fewest expats?

India has the fewest expats / 0.4%

Looking at the number of expats currently residing in a country gives us a general idea of how easy it is for people to move there and how appealing it is to expats. It also provides an idea of how easy it will be to adapt to a new country, which is always easier if there’s already a significant expat community. Remarkably, just 0.4% of India’s population were born outside the country.

Which country requires the most vaccinations?

India requires the most vaccinations / 3-5 vaccinations

Another consideration when moving countries is whether or not you’ll need to book any vaccinations. On top of routine vaccinations such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), most travellers to India require vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. On top of these, some travellers may also need to be vaccinated against cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis.

Which country has the highest visa-related fees?

Australia has the highest visa-related fees / £1,570

For the medium-term stream of Australia’s Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), the costs start at (AU$3,035/£1,570). There may also be other costs, such as your English language tests, health checks and police certificates.

Which country has the highest salary threshold?

Luxembourg has the highest salary threshold / £72,580

Many countries require applicants to earn over a certain amount to qualify for a worker’s visa. This includes the EU Blue Card, with each government setting its own threshold. Luxembourg has the highest, at €84,780 (£72,580). It’s important to note that these figures can vary year by year, and for certain professions that are in high demand or require specific skills, the threshold may be lower.

Which country takes the longest to process applications?

Canada takes the longest to process applications / 41 weeks

One of the most painful parts of the process can be waiting for your application to go through. According to the Government of Canada’s processing time tool, wait times for a temporary residence work permit for someone from the UK currently stand at around 41 weeks, but these are subject to change.

Which countries require a language proficiency test?

Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom all require a language proficiency test

Some countries require language proficiency tests for their work visa application process. Three countries on our list make these tests a requirement, with all three being English-speaking countries. However, while other countries might not require you to pass a test, the application process and documentation will likely be in the local language. If your job requires you to communicate in that language, then not speaking it is likely to count against you. It’s also important to note that other types of visas may require a language test.

Which countries are easiest to emigrate to?

1/ Hungary

EU Blue Card / 3.85

With a difficulty score of 3.85, Hungary stands out as relatively more accessible for expats. The salary threshold for Hungary is pretty low, at Ft5.8 million (£12,982), and the fees are just Ft26,000 (£58). There’s also no language test requirement, and just one required vaccination for most travellers.

2/ Malta

EU Blue Card / 3.87

Malta, with a difficulty score of 3.87, also presents a less challenging migration process. Over a quarter of the Maltese population are expats, suggesting that the process is relatively easy compared to other countries. You also don’t need to worry too much about vaccines, with just tetanus required for most travellers and rabies for some.

3/ Austria

EU Blue Card / 3.91

Austria’s difficulty score of 3.91 reflects its relatively welcoming stance towards expats seeking the EU Blue Card. It’s another country with a relatively high expat population (19.3%), and the processing times are just eight weeks, which is relatively quick compared to other countries.

Wherever you move, go with total peace of mind

At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience of helping expatriates finding best places in the world to move abroad and settle into their new lives overseas by providing world-class international health insurance. Plus, we produce lots of expert material to help you and your family adapt to life abroad.

Making the move to another country can be challenging. But no matter where you go, you can take one thing off your mind. William Russell offers global health insurance that covers you for everything from minor injuries to long hospital stays, and we can even offer medical evacuations to patients who require emergency treatment that isn’t available locally.