Other countries/islands that have a better lifestyle than the U.K.

[nellytheelephant1980]

Do these places exist?
I'm genuinely really unhappy in this country and we are looking to go elsewhere. We work to pay the bills and hardly get by. We are both professionals with no debt. Our professions could move elsewhere easily.

Is there anywhere in the world with lower costs of living and just a happier way of life? Is any country escaping these energy bills and petrol prices for example?

I'm telling you Northern Ireland is the place to be look at this:

www.mcafeeproperties.co.uk/property/ballymoney/mbl669932/153c-finvoy-road/?fbclid=IwAR20x-tv2ZRDAgua2qb4CAVmQcw2TD4vfrOTCTPuPKmsGKLyuR6d0ZHT2go

@Jansobieski that is correct, you can only stay in europe for 90 days without a visa of you have a british passport and dont have citizenship of the country you want to spend 90+ days in however, citizenship is not difficult to obtain. I have 2 family members who have each moved to a different different European country since brexit and the process was very simple. It tooks a fews months but that was the only hardship. One did the forms themself so it cost them very little, the other paid a lawyer around 1k euros to do everything. Both now have their British passports alongside the right to remain indefinitely in the European countries they are living in.

@Dasher789 it may be easy to get citizenship in some other countries but the PP was talking about France. You have to be resident for more than 5 years, pass a language test then jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops. The whole process takes about 2 years and there is no guarantee of success.

I'm sorry but I laughed out loud when I saw this one! I was brought up in that town and couldn't get out quick enough! I wouldn't move back there for all the tea in China! There are some very pretty places to live nearby (Portrush, Cushendun/dall etc), but Ballymoney is a hard pass from me, no matter how pretty the house.

Which country? As Frenchfancy says, generally you have to be resident for many years first or, in a few cases, invest large sums of money. I wouldn't class that as easy.

Agreed..

Friend of ours here in France, long term resident, finished the citizenship application process some months back and is sweating on the outcome ATM.

Easy and "a given" it is not.

Blimey

I have been through the process in Italy and it took 4 years from application. Add to that 10 years of continuous residency (less if married to an Italian citizen). It's not quick!

I don't think you will be able to escape energy bills easily, but could you live somewhere without a car? Be it in the UK or elsewhere. Savings from not having a car add up.

Following with interest If it were not for the language barrier I'd happily move to France.

My friends - gay couple with children - moved to coastal Spain. Both work on line and have an absolutely fabulous life. They wouldn't return for anything. I'd follow them if I could.

Surely it's something one needs to find themselves?
Many people mention France yet I cannot imagine living there .Nothing wrong with it but simply don't feel like I belong there...On the paper it might seem better but its only when asking locals and staying there for a while will you know the culture,mentality and the actual issues locals face.There is no paradise land...one thing or another suffers.It all depends what is important to you.

I think the language barrier is harder than most people think. I'm fluent in Italian but I moved here 25 years ago and there are still things I misunderstand or can't express properly. It's frustrating. I'm not sure at my age I could learn another language to the level I feel I need to feel at home in a new country.

I live in Spain. Moved to escape brexit. Absolutely love it. Yes there are something's ....the paperwork is overwhelming.
The language is a barrier (I'm getting there!).

Standard of living so much better. We eat out many times a week go to the beach after work in s beautiful location
It's all much calmer and less negativity.

If you can get out , do.

Obviously it's not as easy now post brexit but there are ways

@Dasher789 This is not exactly the case. We were in Denmark 'before' the end of withdrawal agreement. Because we work for ourselves this involved having £20k in the bank as a couple, fingerprints and mugshots and frequent 'renewals' - that was to live and work there. If we wanted a Danish passport that involves if I remember correctly - 8 years and language tests (and it's an incredibly hard language to learn)

Everywhere is different-- if you are non EU- some have requirements about 'money and income' - Spain for instance you are ok if you have more than £28k a year income but can't work for a Spanish company for a year (so you need high pensions or royalties etc) and you have to have private health- different of course if you are sponsored by a Spanish company

Often your residency relies on that job- if you lose that job then you don't have the right to stay in many places unless you fulfil the other terms for being there as 'self employed' or without a job.

Sweden for instance has no actual category for self employed for non EU - you kind of have to set a company up and be 'monitored' and you also need large amounts in the bank

Netherlands has really specific levels of higher education and qualifications for non EU - unless you are a refugee etc.

It may be you know people who either have company transfers- loads of UN Brits in Denmark for instance who are sponsored , or you know people who can get in on grounds of having lots of money and don't need to work.

I do wish people wouldn't imply it's easy- it's much easier if you are very well off or have a job that is very much a shortage occupation or a company that will do transfers. In some places it's easier if you are self employed but not anything within the local economy and it's no point comparing anyone who left ore December 2020- rules were different- but even then (like us) some people are still having to jump through hoops. In the end we decided to come back for many reasons but may well go again in a few years but somewhere less stringent than Denmark!!!

What about moving to a boat in the UK? My gardener pays £5 a month electricity whereas I pay over hundred and it is going up in October hence selling my car in the spring as I work from home.

I would hate living on a boat but luckily have no need for a car once ds finishes his army cadets and turns 18.

The only country British people can move to without any visa/work permit hassle is the Republic of Ireland. There is freedom of movement between the UK and the Republic (for people not goods lol) so you can come to Ireland tomorrow, and work legally with almost no red tape whatsover. (Ok, you need to get a PPS number and open a bank account) You can even vote in most elections.

But housing rentals are a nightmare right now, healthcare is not amazing (nicest nurses/midwives though). No language barrier though - Irish really not necessary except in certain professions. And people are generally lovely!

Also curious to know which countries? But I'm also 99% sure you are talking about work/residency permits, not citizenship. They are quite different things.

If you buy a property in Greece for £500k+, you get a European passport.

@OhMerde And this is a prime example of why Brexit is not such a big deal to the seriously well off . They still have far more options open to them and many wouldn't need to work either, so that aspect isn't an issue

@morgenmorgen

Also curious to know which countries? But I'm also 99% sure you are talking about work/residency permits, not citizenship. They are quite different things.

Very much agree, it's also important to consider when is meant by "since Brexit"

It was still relatively easy to establish residency in some European countries up until the end of transition, it was at that point it got more difficult.

Netherlands has really specific levels of higher education and qualifications for non EU - unless you are a refugee etc.

Crikeyalmighty are all refugees accepted or are some sent back to their original country?
Is there any way someone would be accepted from Britain as a refugee?

@Hopeforall No idea what percentage get returned I'm afraid- but if they are like Denmark and I suspect they are, it will be a fair old few and strict rules for the ones they do allow to remain. Sadly I don't think refugee status has been conferred on the UK yet!!