Move for money: Places paying you to settle in

Albinen, a picturesque village in the Swiss Alps, offers up to $50,000 in financial incentives for families willing to relocate. This includes $25,000 per adult and $10,000 per child. Photo: Onepau, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Several countries and regions worldwide are offering financial incentives to attract new residents, aiming to boost local economies and combat population declines.

From grants for property renovations to stipends for relocating families, these programs provide attractive opportunities for individuals willing to move to specific areas. Here’s a look at some of the places where you can get paid to relocate.

Ireland

Incentive: Up to €92,000 (approximately $100,000)

Details: Ireland offers substantial grants to individuals willing to purchase and renovate properties on its offshore islands. This initiative aims to revitalize these remote areas by attracting new residents. Source: forbes.com

Switzerland

Albinen

Incentive: Up to CHF 50,000 (approximately $50,000)

Details: The village of Albinen offers financial incentives to families who commit to living there for at least ten years. Eligible families can receive up to CHF 25,000 per adult and CHF 10,000 per child. The requirements: Candidates must be younger than 45 and the families selected have to agree to stay in the village for 10 years or forfeit the money, and invest a minimum of CHF200,000 in buying or building a property. You must also have a C residence permit or Swiss passport.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

Ponga in Spain is one of the regions that offer to pay for relocating. in the scenic region of Asturias in northern Spain, offers an enticing relocation incentive to attract young couples. The town provides €3,000 (around $3,200) per adult, with additional funds for children. Photo: Sitomon, Wikipedia Public domain

Spain

Ponga Incentive: €3,000 (approximately $3,200) per adult, plus additional funds per child

Details: The town of Ponga in Asturias offers financial incentives to young couples willing to relocate, aiming to rejuvenate the aging population. Each couple receives €3,000, with an additional €3,000 for each child born in the town. Source: euronews.com

Rubia Rubiá, a village in Galicia's Ourense province, is offering financial incentives to attract new residents. With a population of approximately 1,400, the local council provides monthly payments ranging from €100 to €150 to individuals and families who relocate there.

Source: euronews.com

Antikythera, a small island in Greece, offers a unique incentive to encourage families to relocate. The island provides €500 (around $540) per month for three years to families who move there, with priority given to those with at least three children. Photo: Jimmyoneill, Wikipedia CC BY 2.5

Greece

Antikythera

Incentive: €500 (approximately $540) monthly for three years

Details: The island of Antikythera offers a monthly stipend to families who relocate, aiming to increase the population and stimulate the local economy. Priority is given to young families with at least three children. Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

Italy

Sardinia

Incentive: Up to €15,000 (approximately $16,000)

Details: Sardinia offers grants to individuals who move to villages with populations under 3,000 and use the funds to renovate a home. This initiative aims to combat rural depopulation and preserve cultural heritage. Source: forbes.com

Presicce, located in the picturesque southern Italian region of Puglia, offers up to €30,000 to individuals and families who relocate and renovate homes in the town. Photo: oraz75, Flickr CC BY/-ND 2.0

Presicce

Presicce in the southern Italian region of Puglia is offering incentives for people to move there as part of an initiative to combat rural depopulation. The local government is paying new residents to relocate and settle in this charming town.

Incentive: Up to €30,000

Program: Presicce is offering up to €30,000 to individuals and families who choose to buy and renovate homes in the town. This financial support is provided to help cover the costs of restoring properties in the historic center of Presicce.

Source: euronews.com

Santo Stefano di SessanioIn 2020, the small medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, in southern Italy, introduced a relocation initiative to combat rural depopulation. The program offered grants of up to €8,000 annually for three years, as well as a symbolic rent for housing.

Entrepreneurs were also eligible for a non-repayable grant of up to €20,000. This move was prompted by concerns over an aging population, with 41 of the village's 115 residents being over 65, and only 13 under the age of 20.

Source: weforum.org

Canada

Saskatchewan

Incentive: Up to CAD 20,000 (approximately $14,400) in tuition reimbursement

Details: The Graduate Retention Program in Saskatchewan offers tuition rebates to graduates who live and work in the province for at least seven years, encouraging skilled individuals to contribute to the local economy.

Japan

Incentive: Up to ¥3 million (approximately $28,000)

Details: Japan's Regional Revitalization Program offers financial support to individuals willing to relocate to rural areas and purchase vacant traditional homes, known as «akiya.» This effort seeks to address urban overpopulation and revitalize the countryside.

Croatia

Incentive: Financial grants for home purchases and business initiatives

Details: Croatia offers financial support to individuals and families willing to relocate to rural or underpopulated areas. Incentives may include grants for purchasing or renovating homes and subsidies for starting businesses, especially in regions affected by emigration.

For example:

Young couples and families moving to certain towns or villages may receive financial assistance to buy property or establish residency.

The government also provides tax incentives and funding for entrepreneurs who invest in local businesses or agriculture.

USA

Vermont

The Vermont Worker Relocation Incentive Program offers grants of up to $7,500 for individuals moving to Vermont to either take a job within the state or bring their remote job with them. This initiative aims to attract workers to Vermont, including in the tech sector, and was funded by a $3 million grant from the Vermont Legislature. The program includes a pre-approval process for applicants to confirm eligibility before moving.

Australia

Australia offers several relocation incentives to encourage people to move to regional or rural areas, particularly for sectors with workforce shortages. Here’s a summary of key programs:

Western Australia: The state government offers a $10,000 relocation incentive for skilled construction workers, addressing workforce shortages in the building industry. This offer has been extended to workers from New Zealand as well.

Source: (wa.gov.au).

Queensland: Queensland Health provides relocation support for health professionals moving to the state. This support may cover relocation costs depending on the role and circumstances.

Source: (careers.health.qld.gov.au)

Victoria: The Victorian government offers incentives of up to $50,000 for qualified teachers relocating to regional areas to address teacher shortages.

Source: (vic.gov.au).

Rural and Remote Australia: Aged care workers relocating to rural areas may receive one-off payments of up to $16,500 to assist with relocation costs.

Source: (rurallap.com.au)

New South Wales: The Regional Relocation Grants program helped job seekers move from metropolitan areas to regional NSW, though this specific program has concluded. Similar initiatives may be available in the future.

Source: revenue.nsw.gov.au