How to choose a country to move to? Criteria to consider

Andrei Burenok, creator of the travel service tripmydream, has visited 62 countries, where he filmed videos about emigrating to these countries. On his YouTube channel, he shared his ranking of the best countries to move to:.

In addition, based on the experiences of expats in different countries around the world, Andrei has compiled a list of criteria for choosing the most comfortable country for you.

But these criteria may vary for each family — first, you need to determine what is most important to you. Everyone moves for different reasons: some are fulfilling their dream of living by the ocean or in a bustling metropolis, while others are forced to leave their homes in search of safety. This determines the characteristics of the country that is right for you — there is no one right answer for everyone, as everyone has different needs.

What should you consider when choosing a country to move to?

Often, people start with the criteria for potential countries, but it is even more important to start with yourself — your "baggage" that you will take with you. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses to better determine which country you will be most comfortable adapting to, considering these criteria:

• how old you are,
• what is your state of health,
• what is your education,
• what experience do you have and what are you specialized in (what kind of work can you do),
• who will be moving with you,
• how much savings you have,
• do you have the skills to work remotely,
• Do you know any foreign languages, and how quickly are you willing to learn?

By assessing your strengths and weaknesses, you can determine which criteria for choosing a country are a priority for you.

Criteria for choosing a country to move to

Safety

The first criterion that will be of interest to everyone (but you decide for yourself how important this criterion is to you) is safety. This applies not only to safety on the streets of the country, but also to internal and external geopolitical security in the country, including environmental safety: the risk of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and so on.

Climate

The next criterion by which it is important to evaluate countries is climate, ecology, and nature. Do you want a change of seasons? How hot is it in summer and how cold is it in winter? Pay attention to the rainy seasons and the humidity of the climate. What kind of nature is there, and is there any at all in a particular country, and how much does that suit you?

Cost of living

Before moving, it is important to assess the cost of living in the country and compare it with your financial capabilities. You need to calculate how much money you will need to live on: rent, food, transportation, entertainment, healthcare, and other categories of expenses that you will have.

You can use the Numbeo service to monitor current prices. It is one of the most popular resources where you can view and compare the cost of living in different cities and countries based on the cost of rent, real estate purchases, utilities, food, and even education.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

Work

This is an important criterion that influences the choice of a country to live in — how realistic it is to find professional fulfillment and provide for your family there. Some countries are waiting for foreign workers to fill open positions, while others do not have enough jobs even for locals — in this case, it will be extremely difficult to find a job without knowing the language. However, many countries also have a shortage of qualified specialists, so if you have a profession, know the language, and can get your diploma recognized, you have every chance of finding a high-paying job.

You should also explore the possibility of starting a business: how easy it is for a foreigner or resident to start their own business, what taxes they will have to pay, and whether it is advisable to pay taxes in that country at all.

The complexity of legalization

The next important point is legalization. How easy is it to obtain a visa, residence permit, permanent residence permit, and possibly citizenship and a passport in the future? How long will it take, and how willing are you to go through all the bureaucratic steps and fulfill the conditions, such as not leaving the country for a certain period of time, working under contract, learning the language to a certain level, and so on.

Healthcare

The level of healthcare, the availability of qualified specialists, whether there is free public healthcare, and how convenient it is to use it all play an important role. If public healthcare is not of a high standard, it is worth looking into private healthcare and insurance.

Additional questions: how does emergency medical care work (can you call an ambulance, for example), how are serious illnesses treated in the country, how long is the waiting list for surgery. This is an important point, especially if you are already retired or have health problems.

Also, if relevant to you, find out about pregnancy and childbirth. In most European countries, healthcare in this area is of a very high standard and is free for citizens and residents.

Language

When moving to another country, it is important to realize that knowing the language of the country you live in is almost always a must. You need to figure out how difficult the language is and whether you can learn it. In some countries, you can live comfortably with only English, but in most European countries, it will be more difficult without knowledge of the national language.

Culture and mentality

The local culture determines how well you will be able to integrate into society and live a full life there. What holidays are celebrated and how are they celebrated? How familiar are you with them? What are the traditions, religious principles, and characteristics of the mentality? For example, the siesta, which is an integral part of the culture of several European countries, when everything is closed at lunchtime and no one works — this is not suitable for everyone. Also, pay attention to local laws and the legalization of substances that you are used to perceiving as prohibited.

The attitude of locals towards visitors of your nationality

In many countries, a large number of migrants affects the economy, the availability of jobs, the cost of real estate, and the overall atmosphere in the country. This is especially true for countries that invite people to take up permanent residence.

Find out how people of your nationality are treated in a particular country. Living in a country where you are not welcome is not the best option. The easiest way to find this out is to ask questions in social media chats where migrants in a particular country or even city gather.

The country's economy

It is also a good idea to study how the country earns its income, the structure of its GDP, and how it has changed over the last 10-20 years before deciding which country to move to. Use critical thinking and try to understand how the country's economy might develop over the next 10-20 years, where you and your children will live, and where your grandchildren might be born. What are the prospects for their future there?

Entertainment

This criterion is not the most important initially, but it is quite important in the long term. How developed is the entertainment infrastructure, what cultural and natural attractions are there to visit? If the borders are closed, what options are there for travel and leisure without leaving the country?

Air hub

If your work or life requires you to fly somewhere from time to time, you need to consider whether there is a place nearby from which you can fly to different parts of the world. For example, these could be cities such as London, Istanbul, Dubai, or New York.

Where can I find information?

• YouTube videos about countries that interest you;
• Forums;
• Telegram channels and groups where people describe their experiences of living in different countries;
• And, of course, search for information on the internet.