As the baby boomer generation creeps closer to retirement, many may be considering moving to another country to relax and enjoy their later years. Spain continues to be the destination of choice for many, hosting the largest number of British citizens outside the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), just over a third of British citizens living in Spain are aged 65 years and over.
But there is more to retirement abroad than Spain. There are plenty of other options for retired citizens looking to move away from Britain, which you may not have considered:
St Kitts and Nevis offer retirees a relaxed way of living
St Kitts and Nevis is a two-island nation that offers an authentic Caribbean experience with excellent weather, idyllic coastlines, and a more relaxed way of living in comparison to Britain. While the island’s themselves are small, visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities throughout the year, including hiking, water sports, golf, boating and fishing.
By making a pre-designated contribution to the country’s Sugar Industry Diversification Fund or in government-approved real estate projects, retirees are also able to apply for economic citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis. Successful applicants can then enjoy all of the benefits that come with being a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis, including greater international mobility and the ability to pass citizenship on to future generations by descent.
Malaysia offers modern city living with low prices
A cultural hotpot of diversity, Malaysia has long been a favourite with luxury holidaymakers. But aside from the tourists that flock to Bali’s beaches, Borneo’s rainforest and Kuala Lumpur’s cosmopolitan centre, Malaysia has plenty to offer retirees too.
The Southeast Asian country ranked as sixth best destination to retire for expatriates in the Annual Global Retirement Index, edging out popular European retirement destinations Spain and Portugal. The index highlighted the low cost of living as a key reason as to why Malaysia makes a suitable retirement destination. According to an international survey on the cost of living, the Malaysian cities of Kuala Lumpur, George Town and Johor Baru beat more than 200 cities worldwide in terms of affordability.
In addition to this, the country also boasts excellent healthcare and a multicultural population of welcoming natives where most people speak basic English.
New Zealand offers an exceptional quality of life
New Zealand’s cost of living is not much cheaper than that of the UK, but it more than makes up for this with the quality of life it offers. The Mercer Quality of Living 2017 survey ranked New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, as the third best place to live, behind Austria’s Vienna, and Switzerland’s Zurich. Capital city Wellington came in at a respectable 15 out of 231 cities surveyed.
Furthermore, New Zealand was voted 2017’s best country in the world to retire in, following an annual survey of 21,000 participants by US News and World Report. For expats looking to settle down in New Zealand, a Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa permits two years of residence in the country. This can be easily renewed at the end of the two year period, but also offers flexibility if you decide to head elsewhere.
Goa offers a relaxing life with cheaper living expenses
With its sprawling cities, unprecedented population growth and relentless pace of everyday life, India might not be the first destination that springs into mind when considering retirement. But there is so much more to India than the pulsating mega-cities that grab the headlines. Forget Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, and cast your gaze south-east to the coastal state of Goa.
Not only is Goa a tropical paradise with coconut groves and white sand beaches, it’s also one of the cheapest places to live in India. Due to a centuries-long rule by the Portuguese, Goa is accustomed to Western norms and offers a cultural mix in its architecture, cuisine and lifestyle. Because of this, Goan communities are widely accepting of newcomers from the West, ensuring a peaceful retirement to all those that choose to emigrate here in their later years.