Move & Get Paid: 5 Countries Offering Relocation Incentives

Several governments are offering financial incentives to attract residents to regions experiencing population decline, though these programs typically require commitments like employment or property renovation rather than providing unconditional funds.

1. Japan

Japan’s relocation support is available to those who lived in Tokyo’s 23 wards or commuted there and then move to eligible municipalities outside the greater Tokyo area. The program offers up to ¥1,000,000 for a household and up to ¥600,000 for a single person, with an additional child-related boost of up to ¥1,000,000 per accompanying household member under 18 in qualifying cases.

The structure of the program is decentralized, with prefectures and municipalities handling operational details, meaning amounts, deadlines, and paperwork vary by location. Eligibility is tied to qualifying employment, telework, municipal conditions, or startup support, and applicants are generally expected to apply within a year of moving and intend to stay for at least five years.

2. Portugal

Portugal’s Emprego Interior MAIS program supports workers or self-employed people who move to officially defined interior territories. The base support is 7 times the IAS for an open-ended contract or for creating your own job or company, and 5 times the IAS for a fixed-term contract of at least 12 months.

With the 2026 IAS set at €537.13, this equates to roughly €3,759.91 or €2,685.65 before any extras. The program also includes a 20% increase for each household member who relocates with the applicant and an additional 1.5 times the IAS for transporting goods. The program requires relocation to an interior territory and is best utilized by those who secure a contract or business plan first.

3. Ireland

Ireland’s Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant offers up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 for derelict properties. For qualifying offshore islands, the government offers up to €60,000 for vacant homes and up to €84,000 for derelict ones.

The scheme supports refurbishing a property to live in or rent out, and a recent update adds an enhanced package reaching up to €140,000 for complex projects. This program focuses on revitalizing vacant buildings, particularly in smaller towns.

4. Norway

Norway’s incentive focuses on student debt relief through Lånekassen’s Finnmark and Nord-Troms debt-cancellation scheme, which allows up to NOK 60,000 of eligible student debt to be written off each year for those who live and work in approved areas, starting in 2025. An additional NOK 20,000 per year is available for qualifying primary school teachers.

A separate rural-municipality debt-cancellation scheme offers up to NOK 25,000 per year in debt cancellation for those in designated less-central municipalities, starting January 1, 2025. This program is beneficial for those with existing student debt.

5. Chile

Chile’s support is geared towards entrepreneurs through Start-Up Chile, which provides equity-free funding for startups. The Build program offers 15 million Chilean pesos, while the Growth program offers 75 million Chilean pesos.

The program emphasizes acceleration, networking, and support for establishing a business in Chile, including visa assistance. It is designed for founders with viable business plans rather than a general relocation incentive.

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This article originally appeared on Guessing Headlights: 5 Countries That Will Pay You To Move There And Start A New Life