Best Countries to Move to from Australia in 2027: A Practical Guide

At a glance

• New Zealand: worth considering for its residence arrangements for eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents.
• UK, Ireland and Canada: offer temporary work options for eligible younger Australians, with different conditions in each country.
• Singapore: worth investigating if you have a professional job opportunity and meet the work-pass requirements.
• Spain, Portugal, Malaysia and Thailand: have options for qualifying remote workers, subject to each country’s requirements.
• Before choosing: compare your right to live and work there, household income, housing, healthcare and family needs.

These are destinations to investigate for a 2027 move, rather than a universal ranking.

Research checked: 4 November 2026. This guide supports planning for 2027 using information available at the review date.

Choosing where to move overseas usually starts with something quite personal. A job opportunity. Family you want to be closer to. The chance to live somewhere different while you can.

Then the practical questions arrive. Can you work there? What will your income cover? Can your partner come with you? And how much of your home should you take?

For Australians planning a move in 2027, New Zealand deserves consideration for its particular residence arrangements. The UK, Ireland and Canada offer temporary work opportunities for eligible younger Australians. Singapore may suit a move built around a professional role, while Spain, Portugal, Malaysia and Thailand have options worth investigating if you can work remotely.

They suit different circumstances. Before choosing a destination, it helps to understand what would make the move workable for you.

Which countries are worth considering?

Use this table to narrow your research. It summarises the considerations explained in the country sections below; the order is not a ranking.

What do the latest expat rankings actually suggest?

InterNations’ Expat Insider 2026 survey placed Panama first, followed by Mexico, Thailand, the UAE, Brazil, Spain, Singapore, Portugal, Malaysia and Luxembourg. The UK and Canada appeared near the bottom of that survey’s overall ranking. InterNations’ 2026 results.

Those results are useful, but they need context. The survey gathered responses from 7,786 expats of 162 nationalities. Thirty-one countries met its minimum sample requirement of 50 respondents per destination. It measures participants’ satisfaction with life abroad, rather than assessing whether an Australian applicant can obtain residence or find suitable work. Survey methodology.

Use the results to identify questions worth asking. A country’s position cannot tell you whether your qualifications will be recognised, your children will settle into school or your income will cover the home you need.

Our shortlist combines destinations with relevant Australian entry arrangements and countries offering options for particular working situations. It is a starting point for comparison, rather than a prediction of where everyone should move in 2027.

New Zealand: a practical place to start your research

For an Australian citizen, New Zealand has a significant advantage: you can usually live, work and study there without applying for a visa before travelling. You would normally receive an Australian Resident Visa on arrival, provided you meet the requirements.

Australian permanent residents may also qualify, but normally need an NZeTA before travelling and must meet the relevant residence and return-travel conditions. Australian temporary residents do not qualify through this arrangement. Immigration New Zealand explains the requirements.

That makes New Zealand worth investigating if you want to explore living overseas without starting with an employer-sponsored immigration route.

You still need to choose the right location. Compare actual job opportunities, rental properties and commuting arrangements in the places you would consider living. Straightforward entry arrangements do not answer those questions for you.

If you are taking a household, think about the vehicle at the same time. Our guide to moving a car to New Zealand explains the shipping and arrival process, including the checks to make before committing to freight.

United Kingdom: consider the opportunity and the budget together

The UK may make sense if you have family connections, a particular role in mind or want to spend a few years working overseas.

Eligible Australian citizens aged 18–35 can currently apply through the Youth Mobility Scheme. It provides an initial stay of up to two years, with an option for Australians to apply for a further year. Conditions apply, including financial requirements. The route does not permit dependants and is not itself a route to settlement. UK Government eligibility guidance, scheme overview.

For someone eligible, that creates a defined opportunity to experience life in the UK. A family relocation or permanent move needs a different assessment.

Be realistic about the finances, too. The UK’s weak personal-finance results in the 2026 InterNations survey are a reason to check the numbers carefully. Expat Insider results.

Build your budget around the salary and neighbourhood you are actually considering. Include rent, transport, household bills and trips home. An attractive role can still be worth taking, but you should know what everyday life will cost before accepting it.

Ireland: establish your work permission and accommodation early

Ireland is worth considering if you want an English-speaking base in Europe. The appropriate route depends on whether you are planning an extended working holiday or moving for a longer-term position.

Ireland’s Working Holiday Authorisation is available to eligible Australians aged 18–35. It supports a stay of up to one year, with a maximum of six months working for any one employer. Embassy of Ireland guidance, Irish immigration guidance.

For an employment-led move, the Critical Skills Employment Permit is one route to investigate. It requires an eligible role, the applicable remuneration and qualifications, and a job offer lasting at least two years. Official Critical Skills guidance.

Give accommodation its own place in your planning. Use current listings alongside the Residential Tenancies Board’s rent data to assess the locations you could realistically afford. RTB rental information.

Before setting a household delivery date, consider whether you will initially be staying in temporary accommodation and how much space you are likely to have once you find a home.

Canada: appealing for an extended stay, with some financial homework

Canada offers eligible younger Australians a way to spend an extended period working and travelling overseas.

Under the current International Experience Canada arrangements, Australian citizens aged 18–35 can apply for the Working Holiday category for a stay of up to 24 months. Requirements include sufficient funds and health insurance for the stay, alongside the other eligibility conditions. Approval is not automatic. Canadian Government eligibility requirements.

That may suit someone who wants time to experience living in Canada before considering longer-term options.

However, Canada ranked last for personal finance among the destinations included in the 2026 InterNations survey. That is reported experience from the survey’s respondents, rather than a forecast of your own finances. Survey findings.

Research the city and province where you would actually live. Look at available work, rental properties, transport and the effect of seasonal conditions on your plans.

If permanent relocation is the goal, investigate that pathway separately. A temporary working opportunity should not be treated as a promise that you can remain indefinitely.

Singapore: start with the role and the employment package

Singapore is worth investigating when you have a professional opportunity that could support the move.

For many applicants, the relevant route is an Employment Pass. Eligibility includes an age-adjusted qualifying salary and, unless exempted, assessment under the points-based COMPASS framework.

There is a confirmed change relevant to 2027. For new applications from 1 January 2027, the minimum qualifying monthly salary rises to S$6,000 outside financial services and S$6,600 in financial services. Those are the starting thresholds for the youngest applicants; higher amounts apply with age. Meeting the salary requirement alone does not guarantee approval. Singapore Ministry of Manpower guidance.

Before accepting an offer, ask what the package includes. Work through housing, healthcare cover, relocation costs and, if relevant, schooling. Confirm your partner’s position rather than assuming your work pass gives everyone the same rights.

The useful comparison is between your household’s current circumstances and the full arrangement being offered in Singapore. A headline salary gives you only part of that picture.

Spain: investigate the remote-work requirements before making plans

Spain may belong on your shortlist if you want to live in Europe while maintaining qualifying work for an overseas business.

Its telework visa is designed for eligible applicants carrying out remote work or professional activity for companies outside Spain. The official requirements address matters including the working relationship, qualifications or experience, financial means and social-security arrangements. Spanish Government telework guidance, official consular requirements.

A job you can do on a laptop is a starting point. You still need your employer’s agreement and confirmation that the proposed arrangement meets the relevant requirements. Use the Spanish consulate responsible for your Australian place of residence to check the application process.

Then consider how the working day would feel. If your role remains tied to Australian office hours, map out the time difference before choosing where to live.

It is much easier to discuss those working arrangements before the move than after you have signed a lease.

Portugal: a possible fit for qualifying overseas work

Portugal also has a residence route for eligible people working remotely for employers or clients outside the country.

AIMA’s official guidance sets out requirements for the residence-permit stage, including the appropriate residence visa, evidence of the overseas working relationship and accommodation documentation. The temporary residence permit is currently issued for two years and can be renewed for successive three-year periods, subject to the requirements. AIMA remote-work residence guidance.

That makes Portugal worth researching if your income can continue independently of finding a local job.

Before committing, confirm the current visa requirements through the responsible Portuguese consular service. Keep the initial visa application and the subsequent residence-permit process distinct in your planning.

Build a budget for your chosen location using accommodation you would actually consider renting. Include healthcare, transport and travel back to Australia. If you are keeping Australian clients, agree on working hours and availability before deciding that the arrangement will suit you.

Malaysia: check the revised rules for 2027 planning

Malaysia has a specific option for qualifying remote professionals through the DE Rantau Nomad Pass.

Its rules are changing. MDEC’s published enhanced framework takes effect from 1 December 2026 and allows eligible holders to seek renewals supporting a total stay of up to four years. Each renewal requires approval; it is not a four-year permission granted at the outset.

The published annual income threshold increases to US$36,000 for Tech Talent applicants, while the US$60,000 requirement for Non-Tech Talent remains unchanged. The pass remains temporary and does not provide a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship. MDEC’s enhanced-framework FAQ.

If Malaysia interests you, check which category your work falls into before relying on an income figure.

There is also an immediate timing issue: MDEC says new applications are paused from 1–30 November 2026 and are scheduled to resume on 1 December. MDEC programme notice.

For a 2027 move, use the revised guidance rather than an older digital-nomad article.

Thailand: distinguish an extended stay from permanent relocation

Thailand has a Destination Thailand Visa category that includes qualifying digital nomads, remote workers and freelancers.

The published framework provides five-year visa validity with stays of up to 180 days per entry, and a possible extension of up to a further 180 days. It includes financial-evidence requirements and documentation supporting the activity for which you are applying. Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa framework, Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra guidance.

Five-year visa validity should not be read as permission to remain continuously for five years.

If you are considering this route, confirm that your work and intended activities fit the category. It should not be treated as a general permission to take any job in Thailand.

For an initial extended stay, consider starting with furnished accommodation and a smaller shipment. You may want time to understand the location and your longer-term plans before sending the contents of an Australian home.

What about Panama, Mexico and the UAE?

Panama and Mexico deserve further research if they interest you personally. Their strong survey results are a reason to investigate, rather than proof that their residence options fit your circumstances.

The UAE needs particular care in a guide looking ahead to 2027. At our November 2026 review, Smartraveller advises Australians to exercise a high degree of caution, citing terrorism risks and the unpredictable regional security situation. It also warns of possible travel disruption. Check the live advice before making commitments. Current Australian Government advice.

Survey results gathered earlier in the year cannot fully describe conditions at the time you move.

How to choose between the countries on your shortlist

Once you have two or three realistic options, compare them using the same household assumptions.

Confirm who can live and work there

Check the position for every person moving. Citizenship, age, occupation and family circumstances can change the available options.

An Australian passport and Australian permanent residence are different things. Living in Australia does not automatically give someone access to arrangements available to Australian citizens.

Smartraveller recommends checking the appropriate visa with the destination’s embassy or consulate because rules can change. Australian Government visa guidance.

Compare the money you would have left each month

Use realistic income and actual housing options. Add utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or schooling where relevant, and the cost of visiting family.

Keep the initial relocation budget separate. Flights, temporary accommodation, deposits and shipping may all need paying before your new routine is established.

If you are retaining Australian property, investments or employment, get advice on your tax position. Moving overseas does not automatically end Australian tax residency. ATO explanation of tax residency.

Work through an ordinary week

Think about where you would shop, how you would get to work and what happens when a child is sick.

Consider language, social connections and the support you currently get from family. Those details may have more effect on your experience than a destination’s place in a ranking.

Decide what to take once the move has a shape

A year in a furnished apartment calls for different decisions from a long-term move into an unfurnished family home.

Before arranging freight, establish what accommodation you expect to have, what will fit and what you would otherwise need to replace. If your plans are still developing, compare a smaller shipment with storage in Australia.

You do not need to decide the future of every piece of furniture before exploring your options.

Planning your overseas move with Palmers

Once you have a destination in mind, tell us where you are moving, who is going and what you are considering taking.

We can help you work through the transport side of the relocation and explain the moving options available for your route. If you are still choosing between taking a household, sending selected belongings or using storage, that is a useful conversation to have early.

Explore Palmers’ international moving services or speak with our team about your plans for 2027.