Last week we brought you the news that Britain has slipped to position number 25 in International Living magazine’s annual review of its Quality of Life Index. It seems that the recession has taken a toll on people’s quality of life in the UK, and as a direct result it is becoming a less-appealing destination all the time!
To inspire those who’ve been perhaps contemplating a relocation away from Great Britain as a result, we provided the first part of a review into International Living’s top places to live abroad. We worked through their list from 10 to 6 in our report ‘Quality of Life Index Top 10 Places to Live Abroad 2010 Part 1’ and took in Italy, Canada, Belgium, America and Luxembourg.
Today, in the second part of our review of the so-called best places to live in the world for the most idealistic quality of life, we’re working our way from New Zealand at number 5 in the Index, through Germany, Switzerland and Australia, finishing up with France which, for 2010, comes in at the number 1 position in the Quality of Life Index according to International Living.
5 – A New Life in New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most popular long-haul destinations with emigrating Britons, and since its profile has been significantly raised through its positive promotion in a number of high-profile Hollywood blockbusters, so the wider world has awoken to this nation’s potential.
What’s So Good About Life in New Zealand - New Zealand is a stunning country – quite possibly one of the most beautiful in the world. It has dramatic, diverse and unspoilt landscapes, charming towns and communities, vibrant cities, and an exceptionally laid back pace of life. The nation is literally full of immigrants (!) making it a relatively easy place to settle down to a new way of life. Economically and politically speaking New Zealand is in a strong position, and yes, the quality of life in the country is very good!
What’s NOT So Good About Life in New Zealand - New Zealand is so far from ‘home’ for so many people. The only exception being for Australians – but even then they face between a 3.5 and a 10-hour flight to get there. This can make staying in touch with your old life incredibly difficult, time consuming and expensive. Therefore, a move to New Zealand is not for those unsure about their new start – it’s a country that requires detailed consideration and exploration before you commit to it. Life in New Zealand can work at a slightly slower pace sometimes too, and this can be frustrating for some people.
How Can You Move to Live, Work or Retire in New Zealand - New Zealand has an active immigration policy based on the points system for skilled immigrants. Alternatively, if you have family ties with the country or are a strong and significant investor, you may very well be welcome. The application process for a visa is long however, and not to be underestimated. Find out well in advance of your move date what obligations you will have to fulfil in order to get your visa application processed in time.
4 – Getting Out and Going to Germany
Germany is overlooked by Britons as a place to live, work, retire and even a country to visit for a holiday – and yet Germany has a lot in its favour. It can perhaps be thought of as a country happy to hide its light under a bushel though!
What’s So Good About Life in Germany - Germans seem quite happy to keep Germany a secret – they know how great their country is, how you have everything from massive cities to rural farming communities, stunning beaches, beautiful lakes, spectacular mountains and a really good climate with 4 very distinctive seasons. The healthcare and education standards in Germany are exceptionally high, living standards are good and the way of life is pleasant and healthy on the whole. So, Germany is a great place to consider for families as well as those looking for a real and solid alternative as a retirement location.
What’s NOT So Good About Life in Germany - Learning German can be quite a challenge, and understanding the German mentality is an additional hurdle! Eventually however, you’ll realise that Germans are family orientated, they enjoy their free and social time, they have traditions and ‘ways’ and like to stick to them, but if you want to join in and wholly integrate you’re welcome. To do so however, you may well have to adapt and compromise – and you will certainly have to get used to huge amounts of seemingly ridiculous red tape and fairly high taxes! Unemployment is also a rising concern as it is in many parts of the world thanks to the economic climate.
How Can You Move to Live, Work or Retire in Germany - for Brits and those with a passport from the EU, relocation is easy because of the open border policy. You do have to register with the local community/council whenever you relocate within Germany however, so that you can be properly filed and taxed according to the State in which you reside! Those from nations without such close links to Europe will have to check their conditions for entry with the German embassy in their home nation.
3 – Starting Something New in Switzerland
Switzerland is another secret – it is a stunning country with an excellent standard of living, where integration can mean you have a really pleasant existence – but where it can be quite hard to find acceptance.
What’s So Good About Life in Switzerland - Switzerland is beautiful with its lakes and mountains, it has fabulous infrastructure, an excellent and affluent economy, it is politically strong and is exceptionally stable in terms of its governance and the overall position of the nation on the world’s stage. This can make it a very ‘safe’ and stable choice for those seeking a place in the world where they are assured of a good quality of consistent life!
What’s NOT So Good About Life in Switzerland - Switzerland is extremely expensive and expats from all walks of life and all nations can have very awkward moments where they have to accept blatant racism which is accepted on many surprising levels. The language can be a barrier – and depending on where in the country you live, French and/or German language skills would benefit you hugely. Tax can be high depending on your status, and it can be hard to find employment if you fall out of your job as a foreign resident.
How Can You Move to Live, Work or Retire in Switzerland - If you want to live and work in Switzerland and have an offer of employment, or if you’re retired and a person of independent means or a business person/investor interested in contributing to the country, you may well have your application for residency accepted. Each application is looked at on a case-by-case basis, so you need to work hard at proving why Switzerland should take you in if you make an application for residency! There are those out there who will assist with your application – but as is always the bottom line with countries where you have to apply for residency, if you have something that you can offer to the country in terms of skills or investment, you should have your application viewed favourably. If in doubt, speak to the Swiss consulate in your home nation and get full details of the process you will have to complete to get residency.
2 – After an Awesome Life – Move to Australia
Along with New Zealand, Australia is high on a Briton’s list of places in the world to emigrate to. The nation has so much going for it as a lifestyle destination, it’s no surprise that it is incredibly popular.
What’s So Good About Life in Australia - Australia has excellent weather, a diverse landscape, stunning beaches, and it offers up a great outdoor lifestyle opportunity to people of all ages. Australians don’t generally have to go too far back to plot their immigration status – which means newly arrived migrants shouldn’t find it too difficult to integrate. The way of life is generally laid back – but at the same time you can build a great career path for yourself ‘Down Under’ if you want, and you can play hard as well!
What’s NOT So Good About Life in Australia - Australia is often accused of lacking culture and history, and the ‘typical’ Australian male can be quite a poor ambassador for the nation! The country has quite a supply of deadly, poisonous and scary wildlife, and as with New Zealand, Australia’s distance from Europe, UK and the US can make it a difficult nation to really call home if you suffer with missing your family and friends.
How Can You Move to Live, Work or Retire in Australia - for those who want to visit Australia there are quite generous visa rules that allow for long periods in which you can travel around, study and even work to a certain degree – although criteria change based on your age, nation of origin and so on. In terms of residency and work permits, it’s a similar story to New Zealand and Canada in that there is a requirement for skilled individuals and/or investors. You will have to prove your suitability and/or eligibility for a visa and go from there.
1 – Finding a Fabulous Life in France
France is International Living magazine’s number one nation in the world in terms of the quality of life it affords its residents and citizens. It is a worthy holder of the title because the way of life in France is generally very good, offering those in the nation the chance to have a very enjoyable life indeed.
What’s So Good About Life in France - Britons are secretly very jealous of the French because they have France! France is a beautiful country – with every type of climate and landscape you could want within its borders. It has the Alps and the Med, it has Paris and St. Tropez, it has the best vineyards in the world and it’s home to champagne, some say the food in France is the best in the world – and even those who disagree will consent to the nation being gastronomically superior! The French people are famous for being passionate and beautiful, they have style and know how to live a good life. They work well to fund a fabulous social life, and the French enjoy more holidays that their British or American counterparts. What’s more, France is close to the UK, has incredible infrastructure, it has a relatively stable economy and a strong political presence internationally. Healthcare and education standards are high – and apart from in Paris, much of the country remains affordable even with a strong euro and a weak pound.
What’s NOT So Good About Life in France - You’ll need to learn to speak French if you want to get the most out of the country – and France has bad points as well as good that some people overlook until they move to France to live their dream and realise that their dream is a fantasy. I remember reading a report about someone who had gone in search of a rural idyll in France to fulfil their aspirations for a ‘perfect’ life, only to discover that rural France was as ‘backwards,’ slow and unsophisticated as rural ‘anywhere.’ The person writing was so disappointed to discover that it wasn’t like living in Paris, and instead of being able to instead embrace the wonderful aspects of life in the rural countryside, they fled back to London!
How Can You Move to Live, Work or Retire in France - Brits and other Europeans are fortunate in that they can move to France unhindered, others have to prove themselves of value to the nation! The French embassy in your nation will be able to tell you which criteria you will have to fulfil to gain residency.
So, that concludes our run down of the top ten places in the world to live if you want the best quality of life – according to International Living anyway! If any of the countries appeal to you, why not do more specific research about the pros and cons of living abroad in the given nation, before spending an extended break in the country of your choice to see if it could fulfil the dreams and aspirations you have of it.
Related Reports – Quality of Life in Britain Getting Worse
Quality of Life Index Top 10 Places to Live Abroad 2010 Part 1
