The authorities are ready to allocate a considerable sum to newcomers, but they will have to meet a number of strict conditions.
Some towns and picturesque villages in various parts of the world are willing to pay considerable sums to those who decide to move there. This is reported by the publication Business Insider.
This is how local authorities are trying to save the semi‑deserted regions from decline and find new workers.
However, no one just gives away money for free – each such program has its own strict pitfalls.
The publication has compiled a list of 6 attractive destinations offering relocation payments.
Switzerland: up to 30,000 dollars
The small Alpine village of Albinen in the canton of Valais offers adults 25,000 francs (about 30,412 dollars), and an additional 10,000 francs for each child. The program was launched back in 2017, when the village’s population had dwindled to fewer than 300 people: there is no school, no bank, no post office, and only one pub remains.
The conditions are not easy: the applicant must be up to 45 years old, buy a house in the village worth more than 200 thousand francs, live there for at least 10 years and obtain Swiss citizenship. If the move doesn’t “last” ten years, the money will have to be returned. In 2023, the program suddenly went viral: according to Albinen Mayor Beat Jost, the mayor’s office received about a hundred requests every day.
Greece: scholarship and free accommodation on the island
The tiny island of Andrikoura, located between Crete and mainland Greece, is ready to pay families with three or more children a monthly stipend of 500 euros for three years, as well as provide free housing and food. The program was launched back in 2019, when only 24 residents remained on the island.
The project was suspended and resumed several times – most recently in 2023, with financial support from the Hellenic Orthodox Church. As of January 2026, no family has moved in yet: the construction of the housing is still ongoing, although applications continue to be accepted.
Italy: 15 thousand euros
The Italian island of Sardinia, despite having a population of nearly 1.6 million, is struggling with an outflow of residents from small towns. Those who move to a settlement with a population of up to 5,000 people receive 15,000 euros for housing repairs, as well as 600 euros per month for the birth or adoption of the first child and 400 euros for each subsequent child.
The main requirement is to reside permanently in Sardinia and obtain registration there within 18 months.
Ireland: up to 70,000 euros
The Our Living Islands programme, launched in 2023, offers up to 70,000 euros to those who decide to settle on one of the 30 Irish islands that are not connected to the mainland by a bridge or causeway. The money is allocated through a grant scheme for the renovation of housing built before 1993.
The Irish government explained the purpose of the program as follows: so that “sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live—and thrive—on the coastal islands for many years to come.”
Japan: up to one million yen
Since 2019, the Japanese government has been paying those who are willing to move from crowded Tokyo to rural areas: one household receives 1 million yen (about 6,400 dollars), and a single person receives 600,000 yen. If the migrant starts a business in the new location, the amount can be increased by another million yen.
It is not difficult for foreigners to buy real estate in the Japanese countryside, but to obtain the grant itself, they need to have the status of a permanent or long‑term resident — a work visa is not enough.
Spain: up to 40,000 euros
The Revive program in the Spanish province of La Rioja is designed for people under 45 who are ready to move to towns with a population of up to 5,000 people. The amount of the payment depends on the size of the settlement: from 20,000 euros (2,001–5,000 inhabitants) to 40,000 euros (fewer than 500 inhabitants). The money must be spent on purchasing or renovating housing and must be lived in for at least five years.
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