Which countries pay you to move there in 2026? Explore verified relocation incentives in Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Japan and the U.S., including who qualifies, immigration rules, current application status and how much each program can offer.

Which Countries Pay You to Move There in 2026? Verified Relocation Incentives

Last checked: August 20, 2026

What if moving to a quiet European village, a mountain town or a remote-work community came with financial help?

Search for “countries that pay you to move there in 2026” and you will find plenty of eye-catching claims: Italy will pay you to move there, Switzerland gives families money to live in the Alps, Ireland offers huge grants for island homes, or Japan pays people to leave Tokyo.

Some of these claims are based on real programs.

But there is an important distinction.

In most cases, an entire country is not offering unrestricted cash to anyone who moves there. The legitimate programs are usually run by a national employment agency, regional government, municipality or local relocation organization. They also come with conditions involving employment, residency, property purchases, renovation, remote work or minimum periods of residence.

Most importantly, a relocation incentive is not the same thing as an immigration visa.

Here are some of the most credible relocation incentives to know about in 2026, based on current official government and program information.

Countries and Regions Offering Relocation Incentives in 2026

Country	Program or Location	Best For	2026 Status
Portugal	Emprego Interior MAIS	Workers, remote workers, self-employed people	Current government program
Italy	Sardinia small municipalities	People buying or renovating a primary home	Funded for 2026–2028; municipal calls vary
Switzerland	Albinen	People already established in Switzerland	Current municipal program
Ireland	Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant	Buyers renovating vacant homes	Active
Japan	Regional Relocation Support	Eligible Tokyo-area residents moving regionally	Active in participating areas
United States	Tulsa Remote	Remote workers with U.S. work authorization	Active
United States	Ascend WV	U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents working remotely	Applications currently open
Spain	Extremadura Digital Nomad Program	Remote workers	First application round closed

Portugal｜Emprego Interior MAIS

Portugal has one of the clearest government-backed relocation incentives for people willing to establish themselves in the country’s designated interior territories.

Emprego Interior MAIS is operated through Portugal’s Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, or IEFP.

The official IEFP page was updated on May 7, 2026 and states that the measure financially supports workers who transfer their habitual residence to qualifying interior areas in order to carry out professional activity there.

Qualifying situations can include starting a new job, transferring an existing professional activity, becoming self-employed, creating a business or performing qualifying remote work from an eligible interior location.

This makes Portugal particularly interesting for remote workers.

The official rules specifically recognize workers and independent professionals carrying out their activities remotely from Portugal’s interior. They also recognize foreign workers providing remote services to organizations headquartered outside Portugal.

Can foreigners apply?

Potentially, yes.

Eligible applicants can include citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland, as well as third-country nationals who are legally resident in Portugal.

This point is important.

Emprego Interior MAIS does not itself give someone the right to immigrate to Portugal.

A non-EU applicant must first have the appropriate legal status, visa or residence authorization required to live and work in Portugal.

The relocation support and the immigration process are separate.

The program also requires the qualifying change of residence to be permanent for at least 12 months and imposes additional rules regarding the new residence and professional activity.

For someone who already qualifies to legally reside in Portugal and wants to work remotely or relocate employment away from the country’s major urban areas, this is one of the more practical programs on this list.

Italy｜Sardinia Small-Town Housing Incentives

Italy frequently appears in viral stories about towns paying people to move into empty houses.

Some of those offers are temporary, highly localized or already expired.

Sardinia, however, has an official regional anti-depopulation initiative that remains particularly relevant in 2026.

In April 2026, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia approved updated rules covering grants for purchasing, renovating or restoring primary residences in municipalities with populations of up to 5,000 people.

The regional government explicitly identifies population decline as one of the problems the measure is intended to address.

It also places significant importance on attracting new residents from other Italian regions and from abroad. Regional priority criteria include relocation from outside Sardinia, newly formed households, families with minor children, household size and younger applicants.

Is Sardinia really paying foreigners to move there?

That wording is too simplistic.

The program is a housing incentive rather than unconditional relocation money.

A qualifying applicant generally needs to purchase, renovate or restore a property that will become a primary residence in an eligible municipality.

There is also an important 2026 detail that many articles miss:

The regional government establishes the overall framework, but individual municipalities publish and administer their own calls for applications.

That means a municipality may be eligible under Sardinia’s regional policy without having an application window open at the exact moment you check.

Anyone considering the program should therefore identify potential towns first and then check the municipality’s current application notice before purchasing property.

Sardinia has committed regional funding to the initiative for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Buying a property in Sardinia also does not automatically give a non-EU buyer the right to reside permanently in Italy. Immigration eligibility must be handled separately.

Switzerland｜Albinen Housing and Family Incentive

One of the internet’s most famous relocation stories concerns Albinen, a small mountain municipality in the Swiss canton of Valais.

The basic story is real.

Albinen operates an official Wohnbau- und Familienförderung, or housing and family support program, designed in part to combat population decline and encourage long-term residence.

The municipality still publishes the program, application forms and governing regulation on its official website. Albinen also specifically warns that international coverage of the program has sometimes created misleading impressions about who can qualify.

Can you simply move from another country and collect the money?

For most people, no.

The current municipal regulation contains substantial eligibility requirements.

The supported property must generally serve as a primary residence rather than a vacation or second home, and the qualifying investment must meet a minimum threshold.

There is also an age requirement tied to the program’s 45-year threshold.

Most importantly for international applicants, the current regulation states that foreign applicants must hold a Swiss C settlement permit when the contribution is paid.

A C permit is an established Swiss settlement status.

That requirement changes the practical meaning of this program dramatically.

Albinen should not be described as a simple immigration opportunity where a person living anywhere in the world can arrive in Switzerland and receive relocation money.

Instead, it is much more relevant to people who already have sufficiently established Swiss residency rights.

Recipients are also making a long-term commitment. Under the current regulation, selling the qualifying property or giving up tax residence in Albinen and moving away before the required 10-year period expires can result in repayment of the housing support.

So yes, the famous Albinen incentive is real.

But the viral version of the story usually leaves out some of its most important conditions.

Ireland｜Vacant Property and Offshore Island Grants

Ireland is frequently described online as a country that will “pay you to move to an island.”

That is not exactly how the program works.

Ireland operates the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which helps qualifying buyers and owners bring vacant and derelict homes back into residential use.

The Irish government confirmed the continuation of the program through 2030, and the scheme remains active in 2026.

To qualify under the standard scheme, a property generally must have been vacant for at least two years and must meet the program’s age requirements. The government currently states that substantial financial assistance is available toward refurbishing qualifying vacant properties, with enhanced support for qualifying derelict homes.

What makes Ireland’s islands different?

Ireland’s Our Living Islands policy provides enhanced support for qualifying properties on designated offshore islands.

The government introduced an island-specific increase to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to help return unused island properties to residential use and strengthen year-round island communities.

This is potentially one of the largest financial incentives in this article.

But it is still important to describe it accurately.

Ireland is not giving people money simply for arriving on an island.

The funding is connected to the refurbishment of a qualifying property.

Does buying an Irish property give you residency?

No.

Property ownership and immigration permission are separate matters.

For someone who does not already have the legal right to reside in Ireland, buying or renovating a property does not by itself create that right.

Non-EEA nationals generally require the appropriate immigration permission to live or work in Ireland.

Japan｜Regional Relocation Support

Japan has a real government-supported relocation system, but it is one of the most frequently misunderstood programs on lists like this.

Japan’s regional relocation support initiative is primarily designed to encourage eligible people in the Tokyo metropolitan area to move to participating regional communities.

The national program allows participating prefectures and municipalities to provide relocation support to qualifying individuals and households.

Eligibility is connected to specific residence, employment and relocation criteria involving the Tokyo area, and local governments can establish additional requirements.

Will Japan pay someone overseas to immigrate?

That is not what this national relocation program is designed to do.

It is primarily an internal regional revitalization measure.

The target population includes qualifying people moving from Tokyo or its surrounding commuter region into participating local communities.

Someone living in the United States, Taiwan, Canada, Australia or Europe should therefore not interpret Japan’s relocation-support system as a general invitation to immigrate in exchange for money.

Foreign residents who are already legally established in Japan may potentially qualify if they meet the relevant national and local requirements, but immigration eligibility remains separate.

Individual Japanese prefectures and municipalities can also operate their own housing, childcare, employment and relocation incentives, so the benefits available vary considerably by destination.

United States｜Tulsa Remote

The United States does not have a federal program that pays foreigners to immigrate.

Several American cities and states do, however, operate relocation programs designed to attract remote workers who already have the right to work in the country.

One of the best-known examples is Tulsa Remote in Oklahoma.

Tulsa Remote continues to offer a relocation incentive to selected remote workers who move to Tulsa.

Applicants must be at least 18, already authorized to work in the United States, have full-time remote employment outside Oklahoma, be able to relocate to Tulsa within 12 months after approval and have lived outside Oklahoma for the full year before applying.

Tulsa Remote does not provide immigration sponsorship simply because someone applies to the relocation program.

That means international applicants need to already possess qualifying U.S. work authorization.

Another detail worth knowing is that Tulsa Remote’s terms classify its financial incentive as taxable income rather than tax-free relocation money.

Renters generally receive the incentive through scheduled payments, while qualifying participants purchasing a home can potentially receive the remaining incentive in a lump sum under the program’s homeownership option.

United States｜Ascend West Virginia

Ascend West Virginia, commonly known as Ascend WV, is another established American remote-worker relocation program.

The program is currently accepting applications for participating West Virginia communities and combines a cash incentive with benefits related to outdoor recreation, coworking and community activities.

Applicants generally need to reside outside West Virginia and maintain qualifying full-time remote employment.

But there is an important eligibility difference between Ascend WV and Tulsa Remote.

Tulsa Remote states that applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Ascend WV’s 2026 eligibility rules are narrower: applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, in addition to meeting the employment and remote-work requirements.

This means someone in the United States under another form of temporary work authorization should not assume that being eligible for Tulsa Remote also makes them eligible for Ascend WV.

The Ascend WV incentive is distributed over the program’s two-year period, although qualifying participants who purchase a home can potentially accelerate remaining payments after verification.

Spain｜What Happened to the Extremadura Digital Nomad Grant?

Spain still appears in many “get paid to move abroad” lists because of Extremadura’s program for attracting digital nomads and remote workers.

The program was genuine.

But there is an important 2026 update.

The official Junta de Extremadura page currently marks the first application round as “Fuera de plazo,” meaning the application period has ended.

The official filing period ran from October 9, 2024 through October 8, 2025. The government page was updated in June 2026 and continues to show that first application period as closed.

Therefore, an article published in 2026 should not tell readers that they can currently apply for the original Extremadura offer.

Approved participants from the earlier program may still be moving through the program’s residency and payment stages, and the underlying framework includes a second stage for qualifying beneficiaries who remain in Extremadura longer. But that does not make the original first-round application window open to new applicants.

For new applicants, Spain belongs on a watchlist.

A future application round would need to be confirmed through an official Extremadura announcement before readers should rely on it.

Does a Relocation Grant Give You a Visa?

This is the most important point in the entire article:

A relocation incentive and immigration permission are normally two separate things.

Portugal’s relocation program does not automatically issue a Portuguese visa.

Buying and renovating a qualifying home in Sardinia does not automatically give a non-EU buyer Italian residency.

Ireland’s vacant-home grants do not turn property ownership into immigration status.

Albinen’s program actually requires foreign applicants to have an established Swiss C settlement permit by the time the payment is made.

Japan’s national relocation support is primarily an internal migration program.

Tulsa Remote requires U.S. work authorization, while Ascend WV currently requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence.

So before considering the grant amount, ask the more important question:

Can I legally live and work there?

Which Relocation Program Is Most Realistic for Foreigners in 2026?

There is no single best program because eligibility depends heavily on immigration status, employment and whether you are willing to purchase property.

For an international remote worker who already has or can independently obtain legal Portuguese residency, Portugal’s Emprego Interior MAIS is one of the more practical programs because remote work is explicitly included and legally resident third-country nationals can potentially participate.

For someone interested in buying a home in Europe, Sardinia is particularly interesting because the 2026 regional rules specifically recognize attracting residents from abroad as an anti-depopulation priority. However, applications depend on individual municipal calls.

Ireland offers exceptionally substantial property-refurbishment support, particularly on qualifying offshore islands, but it should be viewed as a housing-renovation grant rather than a simple moving bonus.

Albinen has a genuine cash housing incentive, but the Swiss C-permit requirement makes it poorly suited to someone trying to immigrate to Switzerland for the first time.

Japan’s program is most relevant to people already living in the Tokyo region and considering a move elsewhere in Japan.

For people already legally able to work in the United States, Tulsa Remote remains one of the more straightforward city-based relocation programs. Ascend WV can also be attractive, but its current citizenship and permanent-residency requirements are stricter.

Common Myths About Countries That Pay You to Move

“Italy will give anyone money to move there.”

Not exactly.

Sardinia has a genuine housing incentive, but applicants must satisfy property, residency and municipal requirements.

“Switzerland will pay foreigners to live in the Alps.”

Misleading.

Albinen has a legitimate program, but foreign recipients need the required Swiss settlement status and must satisfy strict property, age and long-term residency conditions.

“Ireland gives you money just for moving to an island.”

No.

Ireland’s large island incentives are connected to refurbishing qualifying vacant or derelict homes.

“Japan will pay foreigners to immigrate.”

Not through the national relocation program discussed here.

The program primarily encourages qualifying Tokyo-area residents to relocate to participating regional communities.

“Spain is currently paying digital nomads to move to Extremadura.”

The original program was real, but its first application round is closed as of August 2026.

“If a U.S. city pays remote workers to move there, it will sponsor my visa.”

No.

Tulsa Remote requires applicants to already be authorized to work in the United States, and Ascend WV currently requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence.

What Should You Check Before Applying?

Relocation programs can change quickly, especially when they depend on annual budgets or municipal funding.

Before making plans, verify the current application window, eligible geographic area, immigration requirements, employment conditions, property requirements, minimum residency period, repayment clauses and tax treatment.

For property-based programs, never buy a home solely because an old article says a grant exists.

Check whether the specific municipality is accepting applications and whether the grant must be approved before signing a purchase contract or beginning renovation.

Albinen, for example, requires applications to be submitted according to its municipal process, while Sardinia’s broader regional framework is implemented through municipal calls.

The Bottom Line｜Do Countries Really Pay You to Move There in 2026?

Yes—but the reality is more complicated than the viral headlines.

There are genuine places offering meaningful financial incentives in 2026.

Portugal financially supports qualifying workers relocating to designated interior regions.

Sardinia supports people purchasing or renovating primary homes in smaller municipalities.

Albinen has a genuine housing and family incentive.

Ireland supports the restoration of vacant and derelict homes, with enhanced grants on qualifying offshore islands.

Japan supports qualifying Tokyo-area residents relocating to regional communities.

Tulsa and West Virginia operate established remote-worker relocation programs in the United States.

Spain’s Extremadura digital-nomad initiative was also legitimate, but the first application round is currently closed.

The key is understanding what the money is actually for.

These programs are usually designed to solve a specific local problem: population decline, abandoned housing, worker shortages, rural revitalization or the concentration of remote workers in major cities.

If your lifestyle already fits the goals of one of these programs, the incentive can make a move significantly more attractive.

But choose the destination first because it makes sense for your life, immigration status, work and long-term plans—not simply because a headline promises free money.

Data Sources

Portugal: Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, Emprego Interior MAIS. Official program information updated May 7, 2026.

Italy: Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, 2026 rules for anti-depopulation first-home purchase and renovation assistance in municipalities with populations of up to 5,000.

Switzerland: Gemeinde Albinen, Wohnbau- und Familienförderung official program page and current consolidated municipal regulation.

Ireland: Government of Ireland, Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and Our Living Islands policy.

Japan: Cabinet Secretariat of Japan, Regional Revitalization Relocation Support program.

Spain: Junta de Extremadura and Servicio Extremeño Público de Empleo, Digital Nomad relocation assistance.

United States: Tulsa Remote official program details and terms; Ascend West Virginia official 2026 FAQ and program information.

Image Source

Image source: AI-generated editorial illustration.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration, legal, tax, financial, employment or real-estate advice.

Program information was checked against official national, regional, municipal and program sources available on August 20, 2026. Application periods, funding allocations, eligibility criteria, immigration requirements, participating municipalities, property rules, employment conditions, payment amounts and availability can change at any time or close when allocated funding is exhausted.

A relocation incentive does not automatically provide a visa, residence permit, work authorization, permanent residency or citizenship. Before relocating, purchasing property, signing a contract or making financial commitments, confirm the latest information directly with the relevant government authority, municipality or official program.

2026 Relocation Incentive Amounts

Portugal — Emprego Interior MAIS

The 2026 base assistance is €3,759.91 for qualifying permanent employment, transfer of qualifying permanent employment, self-employment or business creation.

Qualifying fixed-term employment or scholarship arrangements lasting at least 12 months can receive a base amount of €2,685.65.

The base benefit can increase by 20% for each household member who relocates with the recipient. A complementary payment of €805.70 can also be available toward transporting household belongings.

Italy — Sardinia

The current regional framework provides up to 50% of eligible purchase, renovation or restoration expenditure, with a maximum contribution of €15,000 per beneficiary and household.

Sardinia has allocated €15 million per year to the measure for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Actual application availability depends on individual municipal calls.

Switzerland — Albinen

The current municipal regulation provides a one-time contribution of CHF 25,000 for an eligible individual, CHF 50,000 for an eligible couple and CHF 10,000 per qualifying child.

The qualifying investment must generally be at least CHF 200,000.

Foreign applicants must hold a Swiss C settlement permit when the contribution is paid, and leaving or disposing of the qualifying residence before the 10-year commitment ends can trigger repayment.

Ireland — Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

The standard Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides up to €50,000 for a qualifying vacant property.

A qualifying derelict property can receive up to €70,000.

On qualifying offshore islands covered by the enhanced scheme, the limits increase by 20%, bringing the potential maximum to €60,000 for a vacant property and €84,000 for a qualifying derelict property.

Japan — Regional Relocation Support

Participating prefectures can generally set support of up to ¥600,000 for a qualifying single applicant or up to ¥1 million for a qualifying household.

Households relocating with eligible children under 18 can receive an additional amount of up to ¥1 million per qualifying child, subject to participating local-government rules.

United States — Tulsa Remote

Selected participants can receive a total relocation incentive of $10,000.

Renters can receive the incentive through scheduled distributions, while qualifying homebuyers may be eligible for lump-sum treatment under the Homeownership Initiative.

The program’s legal terms specify that the incentive is taxable income.

United States — Ascend WV

Selected Ascend WV participants can receive $12,000 over the program’s two-year period.

Qualifying participants who purchase a home may be able to accelerate remaining payments into a lump sum following verification.

Current 2026 eligibility requires applicants to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Spain — Extremadura Digital Nomad Program

The first Program I application round offered €10,000 to qualifying applicants in designated priority categories, including applicants under 30, women and those registering in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents.

Other qualifying Program I applicants could receive €8,000.

The broader framework also provides a potential second-stage amount of €5,000 or €4,000 for qualifying Program I beneficiaries who satisfy the additional continued-residence requirements.

However, the original Program I application period ended on October 8, 2025 and is officially marked closed as of August 2026. New applicants should wait for a new official call before treating this as an available relocation incentive.