Few countries are now offering financial incentives to attract new residents in a bid to revive shrinking rural towns, support entrepreneurship, and boost local economies. From Europe to Asia, governments are paying people to relocate—offering grants, housing support, and even monthly stipends.
In Italy, some regions offer up to €30,000 for newcomers willing to move to and invest in depopulated villages. Japan is providing incentives of up to ¥1 million to encourage urban dwellers to settle in the countryside. Greece, Portugal, and Spain also have similar schemes aimed at drawing families and business owners to their lesser-populated areas.
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These programmes are not without conditions. In most cases, applicants must commit to long-term residency, start a business, or renovate and live in old homes. The goal is not just to move people, but to breathe life back into struggling communities.
Anyone considering these offers should carefully review visa requirements, tax obligations, healthcare access, and local laws. With the right preparation, these programmes can offer a rewarding opportunity to embrace a new lifestyle and make a real impact.
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Here are seven countries currently offering monetary benefits for people willing to relocate, according to AOL.
1. Chile
Chile’s Start-Up Chile programme targets entrepreneurs in the tech space. Launched in 2010, the initiative provides three types of equity-free grants based on the stage of a business.
Build Grant: Offers 15 million Chilean pesos (about $15,000) for early-stage start-ups over a four-month acceleration programme.
Ignite Grant: Provides 25 million pesos (around $25,000) to start-ups with a functional product under three years old. It also allows an optional extension of 20 million pesos.
Growth Programme: Supports established companies seeking to scale in Chile, offering up to 75 million pesos (around $100,000) over eight months.
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2. Ireland
Ireland’s “Our Living Islands” policy, introduced in 2023, aims to bring life back to 30 remote islands by supporting individuals and families to move there. The government offers up to €84,000 for the purchase and renovation of abandoned homes on these islands.
Residents must rely on boats or planes for travel, as the islands are not connected to the mainland by bridges. The programme does not cover immigration procedures, so applicants must secure Irish residency through the standard process.
3. Italy
While Italy’s €1 homes have made headlines, some regions now provide direct financial support for people who wish to relocate.
Tuscany: Offers between €10,000 and €30,000 to those willing to buy and live permanently in one of 76 mountain towns.
Sardinia: Grants up to €15,000 for individuals or families to purchase and renovate homes in towns with populations under 3,000.
Applicants from outside the EU, including U.S. citizens, must apply for a long-term residence permit. Italy also recently launched a digital nomad visa, and towns like Ollolai offer free accommodation for up to a month under the programme.
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4. Japan
Japan’s Regional Revitalisation Corps programme invites people to live and work in rural areas, aiming to address declining local populations. Participants receive a salary of three million yen (approximately $19,000) for at least one year, with a possible extension up to three years.
Fluency in Japanese is required, as participants are expected to integrate into the local community and contribute through volunteer work or public service roles.
5. Mauritius
Mauritius offers limited financial support to attract entrepreneurs. The government provides a grant of 20,000 Mauritian Rupees (around $440) for promising start-up businesses that choose to relocate to the island.
To access the grant, applicants must present a viable business idea to a government committee and meet visa and relocation requirements.
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6. Spain
Spain has several regional schemes aimed at increasing the population in smaller towns. The region of Extremadura offers relocation grants for people working remotely:
Under 30s: €10,000 to move to towns with fewer than 5,000 residents.
Others: €8,000 under the same conditions.
After staying for two years, a third-year grant of €5,000 (or €4,000 for those over 30) is available.
In addition, Spain’s Entrepreneur’s Visa programme offers up to $50,000 and a one-year visa to individuals launching or scaling start-ups within the country.
7. Switzerland
In response to declining population numbers, the village of Albinen in Switzerland is offering to pay new residents under the age of 45 to settle there.
Adults: 25,000 Swiss francs (about $30,000).
Children: 10,000 francs (about $12,000) per child
Applicants must obtain permanent residency, purchase property in the village, and commit to living there for a minimum of 10 years.
