Filipinos always talk about migrating to another country when they’re unhappy with things: the traffic, low salaries at home, lack of opportunities. “Anywhere but here!,” the discontented sector would say.
A big factor also is the uncertainty in the political situation. For example, some are alarmed at the fact that the city is already overrun with Chinese mainlanders. And then we have elected officials like Senate President Tito Sotto (no less!) defend the country’s sovereignty like this –
So…where to now Pinoys? A lot of our countrymen are already finding their luck abroad and the numbers are not dwindling soon.But for anyone who needs enlightenment, we’ve compiled a list of these countries where it’s easy and affordable to migrate in case you find yourself being eased out of your rightful place by an ocean of China fish. Besides, a dose of adventure is always good. You could be the next successful immigrant story!
First things first, we will be excluding the usual countries like US,Canada, Australia and New Zealand from the list since there’s already a lot of information about them, and also a constant wave of migration. The purpose of this article is to focus on lesser-known destinations.
1. Going to Central America, try to consider PANAMA which has almost the same weather as the Philippines and is economically-developed, being known worldwide as a shipping route. The city is cosmopolitan and reminds one of Florida. The US dollar is the official currency and the country overall is a good mix of expansive coastlines, mountains and rain forest.
What does it take to live in Panama? A $5000 deposit in the bank enables one to apply for permanent residency and older people who get a retiree visa just need to show a monthly income or pension of $1000.
2.Up next…Europe. This is a tough nut to crack since most countries in the continent require you to make an upfront financial investment of from 250,000 to 500,000 euros to be a resident. We really don’t want to sell our kidneys! However, experts like Henley & Partners recommend beautiful AUSTRIA as an easy country to relocate owing to the fact that it issues 10 types of residency permits. It’s a plus if you are a start-up founder or belong to a highly-skilled occupation with a job offer. Otherwise, Austria will only require you to prove you have “adequate means of subsistence” which amounts to a monthly income of 933 euros if you are single (about P54,000) or 1,400 euros (P81,000) if you’re a couple. Not bad since you can easily earn money off the internet these days.
Tip to surviving in Austria: learn some German.
3.BELIZE is not on the radar of everyone but this country is beginning to get attention for its ease of immigration. While located in Central America, its coast is in the Caribbean sea and English is the official language. What to see in Belize? lush jungles, pristine reefs ideal for deep sea diving and centuries-old Mayan ruins.
Start your new life in Belize by entering as a tourist and renewing your visa every month. Once you reach 50 weeks (!!) you can already apply as a permanent resident. Older individuals (45 years old and above) usually opt for the Belize Retired Person’s Incentive Program (QRP) as long as there’s money equivalent to $2000 moving in your bank account every month. With this program, you are required to be in Belize just once a month per year.
4. In Latin America, URUGUAY with its scenic coastline is one country worth considering for a number of reasons. It has four seasons; earthquakes and hurricanes don’t occur here; it has a stable economy; and foreigners have the same rights as citizens in buying/selling property. Moreover, a Uruguay passport is quite powerful, with visa-free access to 155 countries.A work permit is not hard to get in Uruguay. Tourist visas can be easily converted to a work visa and English teachers are in demand.
5. When it comes to imposing mountain peaks, majestic Black Sea resorts and expansive wineries, the friendly country of GEORGIA in Eastern Europe is worth a look.The capital city of Tbilisi is highly cosmopolitan, with buildings in town that are a mix of ultra-modern and classical. To start a life in Georgia, it is easy to get a short-term work permit as an entrepreneur or freelancer showing your professional qualifications.Then, you just need to provide a reference from a Georgian resident or citizen and money deposited in the local bank amounting to $1,700. Teaching English provides a lot of opportunity since the government has an existing program to replace Russian as the second primary language by 2020.
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