Retirement abroad is becoming a more popular option for people looking to enjoy a different pace of life. Each year, hundreds of thousands leave their home countries in search of better weather, lower living costs, a higher quality of life, or simply a fresh setting after decades of work.
But choosing where to retire is about far more than sunshine. Practical factors such as visa rules, access to healthcare, day to day affordability, and how easy it is to settle in can make a huge difference. A place may look ideal on paper, but if residency is difficult or essential services are lacking, it may not be the right fit long term.
This guide explores 11 of the best countries to retire abroad, from popular European favourites to longer haul destinations that continue to attract retirees from the UK and beyond. Whether your priority is value for money, a sense of adventure, familiar surroundings, or year round warmth, there are several destinations here worth considering.
Key considerations when choosing where to retire abroad
• Visa and residency pathways vary enormously — some countries actively welcome foreign retirees, others have limited options
• Healthcare access should be a top priority, not an afterthought
• Cost of living matters more than most people expect, especially over a 20-30 year retirement
• Tax residency implications can affect pension income, savings, and estate planning
• Proximity to home and flight connections matter more as you age
• Language barriers are manageable but worth thinking through honestly
At a Glance: Retirement Destination Comparison
| Country | Retirement Visa | Cost of Living | Healthcare | Climate | Best For |
| Portugal | D7 Passive Income Visa | Low–Moderate | Excellent (public + private) | Warm, mild winters | Affordable European lifestyle |
| Spain | Non-Lucrative Visa | Moderate | Very good | Hot summers, mild coast | Culture & sunshine seekers |
| Malta | Malta Retirement Programme | Moderate | Good (mixed public/private) | Mediterranean, sunny | English-speaking EU base |
| Greece | Financially Independent Person visa | Low–Moderate | Good private options | Hot & sunny | Island lifestyle on a budget |
| Thailand | Retirement Visa (OA) | Low | Good private healthcare | Tropical (hot year-round) | Affordable & warm living |
| Malaysia | MM2H Programme | Low–Moderate | Good private healthcare | Tropical (humid) | Asia with Western comforts |
| Costa Rica | Pensionado Visa | Low–Moderate | Good private options | Tropical (varied by region) | Nature & pura vida lifestyle |
| Australia | No dedicated retirement visa | High | Excellent (Medicare) | Varied — coastal & sunny | Quality of life & family |
| New Zealand | Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa | High | Very good (public system) | Temperate, four seasons | Outdoors & quality of life |
| Canada | No dedicated retirement visa | Moderate–High | Excellent (universal healthcare) | Varied — cold winters | Safety, space & nature |
| USA | No dedicated retirement visa | Moderate–High (varies by state) | Good private (costs vary) | Varies widely by state | Familiarity & variety |
European Sunshine: Affordable, Accessible, and Well-Connected
1) Portugal: Europe’s Most Popular Retirement Destination
Portugal has sat at the top of international retirement rankings for years, and the reasons are not hard to understand. The country offers a warm climate, a relaxed pace of life, world-class food and wine, and a cost of living that remains noticeably lower than most of Western Europe — particularly outside Lisbon and the Algarve coast.
The D7 Passive Income Visa is the most commonly used route for foreign retirees. It is designed for people with a regular passive income, including pensions, and allows you to live in Portugal as a long-term resident. Processing times and requirements can change, so it is worth getting up-to-date guidance before applying.
Portugal also benefits from a well-regarded public healthcare system and a thriving expat community, particularly in the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto. English is widely spoken in urban areas, which eases the transition considerably for those not planning to tackle Portuguese from day one.
| Portugal at a glance |
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| • D7 Visa route for retirees with regular pension or passive income • Lower cost of living than most of Western Europe, especially outside major cities • Strong expat community in the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto • Good public healthcare system, with private options widely available • Direct flights from most UK airports, including budget carriers |
2) Spain: Sun, Culture, and a Familiar Pace of Life
Spain remains one of the most popular destinations for British retirees in particular, with established communities along the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca, and in cities like Barcelona and Seville. The climate is excellent, the food culture is world-class, and public healthcare, once you have residency, is consistently rated as one of the best in Europe.
Non-EU nationals looking to retire in Spain typically apply for the Non-Lucrative Visa, which requires proof of sufficient financial means to support themselves without working. It does not allow employment but is well-suited to retirees living on pension income or savings.
Spain offers considerably more variety than its sunshine reputation suggests. From the dramatic landscapes of Andalusia to the mild, green valleys of the north, there is a version of Spanish life to suit most tastes and budgets.
| Spain at a glance |
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| • Non-Lucrative Visa for retirees with sufficient independent income • Excellent public healthcare system for registered residents • Large and well-established British expat communities in coastal areas • Moderate cost of living — lower than the UK in most regions • Rich cultural life, excellent food, and strong transport links |
3) Malta: An English-Speaking Mediterranean Base
Malta is one of the most overlooked retirement destinations in Europe, and one of the most underrated. A small island nation in the Mediterranean, Malta is an EU member state where English is an official language — a significant practical advantage for anyone not keen on learning a new language in retirement.
The Malta Retirement Programme (MRP) is specifically designed for non-EU nationals, including British citizens post-Brexit. It offers a formal residency route for retirees, with a flat tax rate on foreign-sourced pension income and various other benefits for those who qualify.
Malta’s climate is superb, with over 300 days of sunshine a year and mild winters by European standards. The island is compact enough to be highly navigable, and infrastructure — including healthcare, banking, and transport — is well-developed. The main trade-off is space: Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
| Malta at a glance |
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| • Malta Retirement Programme (MRP) designed for foreign retirees • English is an official language — no language barrier • EU member state with strong legal and banking infrastructure • Excellent Mediterranean climate year-round • Easy connections to mainland Europe and the UK |
4) Greece: Island Life at an Affordable Price
Greece offers a compelling combination of natural beauty, ancient culture, outstanding food, and a cost of living that remains among the lowest in the EU. Whether you are drawn to the whitewashed villages of the Cyclades, the lush Ionian islands, or the cosmopolitan energy of Athens, there is enormous lifestyle variety on offer.
Greece has become increasingly attractive to international retirees in recent years, partly due to a favourable flat-tax regime introduced for certain foreign pension holders. There is also the option of the Golden Visa route for those investing in property, which can provide a pathway to residency. As always, visa rules and tax arrangements are subject to change, and taking professional advice is essential.
Private healthcare in Greece is generally good and affordable by Western European standards, though the public system can be variable in quality depending on location.
| Greece at a glance |
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| • Favourable tax treatment available for qualifying foreign retirees • Some of the lowest living costs in the EU • Extraordinary variety of landscapes and island lifestyles • Good private healthcare options at reasonable cost • Warm Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers |
Tropical Living: Asia, Central America, and the Warm South
5) Thailand: Affordable Comfort in Southeast Asia
Thailand has been drawing foreign retirees for decades, and its appeal shows no sign of fading. The combination of a low cost of living, warm weather year-round, excellent private healthcare, and a welcoming culture makes it one of the most practical retirement destinations outside of Europe.
Thailand offers a formal retirement visa — the Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) Visa — available to those aged 50 and over who meet certain financial requirements. The visa is typically granted for one year and can be renewed annually. Requirements and processes can evolve, so current official guidance is essential.
Cities like Chiang Mai offer a particularly popular base, combining a good quality of life with low costs and a large international community. Bangkok provides world-class hospitals and connectivity, while coastal areas like Hua Hin and Phuket appeal to those who prioritise sea and sunshine.
| Thailand at a glance |
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| • Retirement Visa (O-A) for those aged 50 and over meeting financial thresholds • Very low cost of living — your pension stretches significantly further • Excellent private hospitals, particularly in Bangkok and Chiang Mai • Warm climate year-round — hot and tropical • Well-established international retirement communities |
6) Malaysia: Southeast Asia With a Western Comfort Level
Malaysia occupies an interesting position in the retirement destination landscape. It offers the warmth and low costs of Southeast Asia while also providing a level of modern infrastructure, English-language familiarity (a legacy of its colonial history), and Western-style amenities that many other countries in the region cannot match.
The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme has historically been one of the most well-regarded retirement visa schemes in Asia, allowing qualifying applicants to live long-term in Malaysia. The programme has undergone significant changes in recent years, with revised financial requirements, so it is important to check current eligibility criteria before planning your move.
Kuala Lumpur offers excellent connectivity and a cosmopolitan lifestyle, while Penang is a firm favourite among international retirees for its food, culture, and charming heritage streets.
| Malaysia at a glance |
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| • MM2H programme — one of Asia’s best-known long-stay retirement routes • English widely spoken, particularly in business and professional settings • Good private healthcare at a fraction of Western European costs • Tropical climate year-round • Diverse food culture and well-developed expat community in Penang and KL |
7) Costa Rica: Pura Vida and a Purpose-Built Retirement Visa
Costa Rica is one of the few countries in the world that has designed a residency programme specifically around retirement income. The Pensionado Visa requires applicants to demonstrate a regular monthly pension income above a set threshold and, once approved, comes with a range of benefits including discounts on healthcare, transport, and leisure activities.
Beyond the visa, Costa Rica’s appeal lies in its extraordinary natural environment — rainforests, volcanoes, Pacific and Caribbean coastlines — and a culture that genuinely embraces the concept of pura vida (pure life). It is also politically stable by regional standards and has no standing army, which it abolished in 1948.
Healthcare standards are generally good, with both public and private options available. The cost of living is higher than some other Central American countries but remains considerably lower than the UK or North America.
| Costa Rica at a glance |
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| • Pensionado Visa — a dedicated retirement residency route based on pension income • One of the most politically stable countries in Central America • Strong nature tourism infrastructure and outstanding natural beauty • Reasonable cost of living, particularly outside the capital San José • Growing expat community with established support networks |
The English-Speaking World: Familiar, High-Quality, and Worth the Distance
8) Australia: Quality of Life at Its Highest
Australia consistently ranks among the best countries in the world for quality of life, and for good reason. The healthcare system is outstanding, the climate across much of the country is excellent, the infrastructure is world-class, and English is the first language. For retirees with family already in Australia, a common situation given decades of emigration from the UK, it often sits at the very top of the list.
The visa pathway for retirees without Australian family or citizenship can be more complex than some destinations. The former Retirement visa (subclass 410) and Investor Retirement visa (subclass 405) are both closed to first-time applicants, meaning retirees generally need to look at other family-based or investment-related pathways currently.
The cost of living is higher than in European or Asian alternatives, particularly in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, but many retirees find the lifestyle trade-off more than worthwhile. The food and café culture alone, which is one of Australia’s genuine strengths, is something many expats cite as a daily highlight. Coastal communities in Queensland and Western Australia in particular offer excellent weather and a pace of life that suits retirement beautifully.
| Australia at a glance |
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| • World-class healthcare system (Medicare) — one of the best globally • Outstanding quality of life, consistently highly ranked internationally • Strong rule of law, political stability, and excellent infrastructure • Warm to hot climate across much of the country, particularly Queensland and WA • Large and well-established UK expat community • Cost of living is higher — plan your budget carefully |
9) New Zealand: Outdoor Living and Exceptional Natural Beauty
New Zealand offers a lifestyle that is genuinely difficult to replicate elsewhere. The combination of dramatic natural landscapes, whether that’s iconic scenic train journeys through the Southern Alps or coastal walks that feel genuinely remote, a temperate climate, a very high quality of life, and a culture that values outdoor living makes it one of the most appealing retirement destinations for those who want space, clean air, and safety as part of their daily life.
New Zealand does have retirement-related visa options, but they are relatively limited and often come with strict eligibility rules. The Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa is available to people aged 66 and over who meet investment and income requirements, while the Parent Retirement Resident Visa is aimed at those with an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. Because these routes are quite specific, it is important to check the latest criteria carefully before making plans.
The healthcare system is well regarded and provides a good baseline of care. The cost of living is high by global standards, particularly in Auckland, though regional areas can offer a more affordable alternative without losing much of the lifestyle appeal.
| New Zealand at a glance |
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| • Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa available for some applicants aged 66+ • Parent Retirement Resident Visa available in some family-based cases • Exceptionally high quality of life and outstanding natural environment • Good public healthcare system • Temperate climate with four distinct seasons • Strong affinity with UK culture and significant British expat presence • Cost of living is high, particularly in Auckland and Wellington |
10) Canada: Space, Safety, and Universal Healthcare
Canada offers a combination of natural grandeur, political stability, and universal public healthcare that is hard to match. The country is vast, which means the lifestyle experience can differ enormously depending on where you settle — from the vibrant, cosmopolitan feel of Vancouver and Toronto to the quieter, more affordable charm of smaller cities and rural communities. For wildlife enthusiasts, Canada is in a league of its own, with the range of species you can encounter across its forests, tundra, and coastlines being staggering.
Canada does not have a dedicated retirement visa for foreign nationals. For those without Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, the route to long-term living in Canada typically involves family sponsorship or investor routes, and long-stay options for retirees are limited. However, for those who already have the right to live there, or have a Canadian family, it is one of the finest places in the world to retire.
Winters are a serious consideration, particularly in central and eastern Canada. If climate is a priority, British Columbia’s Pacific coast offers considerably milder winters than the rest of the country.
| Canada at a glance |
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| • No dedicated retirement visa — options depend heavily on personal profile and family connections • Universal public healthcare — one of the most comprehensive systems in the world • Outstanding natural environment and very high quality of life • Climate varies dramatically — winters can be severe in many regions • Cost of living is moderate to high, particularly in Vancouver and Toronto |
11) United States: Variety, Vibrancy, and a Familiar Culture
The United States offers an extraordinary variety in climate, culture, cost of living, and lifestyle that few other countries can compete with. Few things illustrate that better than Route 66, which cuts through eight states and half a dozen completely different versions of American life. From the sunny beaches of Florida and California to the dramatic deserts of Arizona and the cultural richness of the Eastern Seaboard, retiring in the US means choosing from an almost overwhelming range of environments.
The USA does not offer a specific retirement visa for foreign nationals. The route to long-term residency is complex and typically requires family connections, an investor route, or another qualifying pathway. For British nationals in particular, long-stay options without the right to remain are limited. That said, for those with existing residency rights, or who retire there after years of working in the US, it remains one of the world’s most compelling destinations.
Healthcare is excellent but expensive, and private health insurance is a critical consideration for any retiree planning a long stay. Cost of living varies enormously by state, with states like Florida and Arizona offering more retirement-friendly cost profiles than New York or California.
| USA at a glance |
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| • No dedicated retirement visa — long-stay options for foreign nationals are limited • Enormous geographic and lifestyle variety — pick the America that suits you • Healthcare is world-class but private — budgeting for health insurance is essential • Cost of living varies significantly by state • Culturally familiar for UK, Australian, and Canadian retirees in particular |
How to Choose the Right Retirement Destination
No two retirements look the same, and the best country for you will depend on a combination of practical factors and deeply personal ones. Tools like the OECD Better Life Index can help frame the comparison as it ranks countries across health, safety, and everyday wellbeing, but budget and healthcare access should still be your first real filter.
Visa access is another early consideration. Some countries on this list actively welcome foreign retirees with dedicated visa programmes. Others, particularly the major English-speaking destinations, have more complex routes that depend on your specific circumstances, family connections, and financial profile.
Climate, proximity to home, language, and the availability of an existing expat community all matter too, particularly if you are planning a move that is likely to be long-term or permanent. It is also worth thinking honestly about practical issues that become more significant as you age: flight connections home, availability of specialist medical care, and the accessibility of everyday life.
The best way to approach a retirement move abroad is to visit your shortlisted destinations before committing, speak to people already living there, and take professional advice on both the visa and the financial side of the transition.
Planning Your Move Abroad
Retiring abroad involves far more than packing up and getting on a plane. Visa applications, tax residency considerations, healthcare arrangements, and the practicalities of moving your belongings internationally all require careful planning — ideally well in advance of your intended departure date.
Visa Bureau provides guidance on visas, residency pathways, and moving abroad across many of the world’s most popular destinations. Whether you are still in the early research stage or ready to take the next step, getting the right information early makes everything that follows considerably smoother.