Are you eyeing retirement with dread or joy? Either way, a retirement overseas could be your key to a wonderful new chapter in life, packed with new adventures, friendships and experiences.

Just the concept of retiring can be daunting, especially for those who thrive on being busy. Now combine that with moving abroad. Exciting: but adding a whole other dimension.

In this article we look at today’s retirement landscape and research some key nuggets for helping you make a success of an exciting and fulfilling retirement overseas.

Contents

• How long do I have?
• We still dream of retirement overseas
• Enjoying retirement overseas: beware loneliness
• Your friend: the great outdoors overseas
• A new culture to explore
• Use social media
• Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have?

Probably longer that you imagine! The days of getting a gold watch and only having a few years to enjoy it are long gone. Retirement ages may be rising the world over, but you still have much longer to enjoy it. Today the average man retiring at the UK’s state pension age has a life expectancy of 85 years and 88 for women, according to the ONS’s Life Expectancy Calculator.

That’s 19 or 22 years of leisurely retirement to fill, preferably somewhere warm and sunny.

Of course, many of us work beyond state pension age, while others retire early, whether by choice or necessity. Currently, the typical retirement age in the USA is 62. In the UK it is 66, which matches the median age at which both men and women aspire to retire, according to 2025 data from Royal London.

Encouragingly, almost half of all retirees surveyed by the insurance and pension provider said they retired sooner than they planned, rising to over half of retirees in their 50s and 60s. Almost four in ten retired when planned, with only one in seven (14%) retiring later than intended.

One caveat is to budget for a longer retirement. Some use the 4% rule, only using 4% of their capital each year. You should also get good financial advice from an IFA licensed to work in the country where you’re retiring. Your Overseas Home can help with an introduction to a trusted wealth manager or IFA.

We still dream of retirement overseas

Despite Brexit, the dream of retiring abroad is alive and strong. A fifth of UK workers in both the age groups 18-34 and 45-54 would like a move abroad in retirement, according to a recent report by Barnett Waddingham. The pension and insurer provider’s research also showed that travelling (36%) is top of list of things people aspire to do in their retirement.

Moreover, despite Brexit, retirement to Spain, retirement to France, retirement to Portugal and other popular locations can be easy, with easily accessible visas.

Your Overseas Home’s research shows that Spain is the number one retirement destination for British people, closely followed by Portugal, France, Italy and increasingly Cyprus. For US citizens, Portugal’s favourable tax and visa schemes helped it to the number one destination in recent years. Now that those have largely gone, Spain has caught up in popularity, with France not far behind.

Enjoying retirement overseas: beware loneliness

Wherever you spend your retirement, in your home country or abroad, you’ll need to give serious consideration to your healthcare and ongoing financial requirements. Get these sorted and you’re halfway to a successful retirement.

According to US insurer Mass Mutual Retirement Happiness Study (2024) retirees are most anxious about health issues (34%), financial uncertainty (26%) and feeling old (22%).

Be sociable and don’t let loneliness get a chance

Crucially, what too many expats fail to address are the emotional and social implications that come with moving to a new country and settling there. Research published this year in the journal Psychology and Aging showed that retirees who move abroad may be at greater risk of loneliness than those who stay in their home country. Reduced contact with family and old friends – including adult children – as well as difficulty forming new friendships and connections in their new countries are the main causes. According to Mass Mutual’s report, nearly half (47%) of retirees who say they are unhappier in retirement agree that retirement has made them lonely at times.

So think clearly about where you wis to live. In a Your Overseas Home survey, more than half of respondents said they would prefer to live among the local population, not fellow expats. That’s laudable, but you need to be clear-sighted in your own ability to learn a language sufficiently to make friends.

Your friend: the great outdoors overseas

Which raises the question, how do you minimise your chances of getting lonely? Retirees who are much happier in retirement are more likely to be filling their free time with multiple kinds of activities, says Mass Mutual. These include spending time with loved ones (76%), exercising (70%), pursuing hobbies (63%) and travel (62%). People aged 65 and over spend an average of seven hours and 10 minutes a day on leisure activities, according to the ONS.

Your retirement overseas; your time for fun!

Gardening ranked as a favourite hobby among over-50s in a Saga survey, getting the thumbs-up from half of people surveyed. Close behind as 2nd favourite are walking and sending time with pets (46%), then outdoors activities (43%), travelling (37%) and DIY/ arts and crafts (28%).

An over-riding message is that activities that are social and outdoorsy are top picks amongst retirees. This is especially relevant for expats living somewhere with balmy year-round climates. It’s also why golf is so popular. Being a member or regular visitor to a golf club offers you chance to join a community and enjoy the sports social side. Or you could opt to live within a golf resort, where the clubhouse and communal amenities, never-mind the fairways, are typically busy social hubs for international residents.

Joining a lawn bowls club, which you see dotted around expat-friendly areas, is another option. Alternative group activities include salsa/dancing, fitness classes, yoga/pilates – preferably on the beach – swimming/aqua-based fitness and walking/hiking.

A new culture to explore

There are less energetic, more cultural ways to integrate and meet people. Many new expats start by signing up to language classes to learn the local lingo – a great way to meet fellow new arrivals. Otherwise, cooking classes to learn the local cuisine, wine-tasting to discover the regional plonk, book clubs, art and painting groups, music events and karaoke nights could all be waiting for you, depending on where you are.

Your cultural retirement overseas, the Musee d’Orsay, Paris (Takashi Images / Shutterstock.com)

Opportunities to do volunteering or charity work are also popular and can include helping out with people, animals and conservation. Sixteen per cent of respondents in a recent McCarthy Stone survey said they regularly volunteer or do charity work. As well as giving back to your local community, volunteering keeps you busy and provides a sense of belonging.

Use social media

They may be killing of real social interactions, but social media is a great way to make initial connections. Use platforms like Facebook and Meetup.com to see what’s out there in your local area. Expat blogs and forums where people can exchange ideas can be invaluable resources and help you meet likeminded people in your locality.

Starting your own blog is another great way to explore your new country and record your impressions. And if you do start your own blog, we would love to hear about it, so please contact us!

It’s your retirement overseas and you will know the best way to make it work for you. At Your Overseas Home we speak to hundreds of retirees overseas every year, and what comes through clearest is the need to embrace your new life. See problems as challenges and opportunities, the (wine) glass is half full!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest and safest country to retire in?

Portugal is often considered both affordable and safe for retirees, thanks to its low cost of living, modern healthcare and welcoming expat communities. Spain, Greece and some parts of Italy are also popular choices. Cyprus is a very popular choice for UK retirees, with English widely spoken – and they drive on the left!

Can a UK citizen retire abroad?

Yes, UK citizens can retire abroad, even after Brexit. Popular retirement destinations like Spain, France, and Portugal offer visa pathways, even post-Brexit. It’s important to check local residency requirements and healthcare options. The evidence is that unless you have family in those countries, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are much harder to retire to as UK citizen, with European countries easier to retire to.

Can you claim UK pension if you retire abroad?

Yes, UK State Pension can be claimed if you retire abroad. However, whether it increases annually depends on the country you live in. Many EU countries and countries with social security agreements with the UK do qualify for the annual uprating.

What is the best place to retire overseas?

The best place depends on your priorities — weather, healthcare, affordability, and lifestyle. Spain and Portugal are consistently top picks for northern Europeans and increasingly, for Americans, France and Italy also attract retirees looking for culture and scenery.