“I thought you couldn’t retire to Europe any more.”
If you’ve said that since Brexit, you’re in good company. It’s probably the most common myth we hear from British would-be retirees who still dream of a warmer, easier, more adventurous retirement overseas.
The good news? It is wrong. Ten years after the Brexit vote, British retirees are still moving to Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and beyond.
They’re still buying homes, applying for residency, joining local communities and collecting their UK state pension abroad. Most are having a wonderful time, their long-dreamt of and planned for retirement in the sun come true.
Brexit changed the admin but did not close the door. Yes, there is more paperwork than there was before 2021 when ‘Freedom of Movement’ rules came in. Yes, you now need to think about visas, income thresholds, healthcare, EES, the 90/180-day rule and the long-term effect on your pension.
But none of that means the dream has gone. Indeed in some ways the extra bureaucracy has been positive, regularising people’s affairs.
In Europe’s favourite retirement spots in particular, the route is still surprisingly straightforward for anyone with a reasonable pension and a proper plan.
In Europe’s favourite retirement spots in particular, the route is still surprisingly straightforward for anyone with a reasonable pension, no serious criminal record and a proper plan.
That is why we have updated our Easiest Places to Retire Overseas rankings for 2026. This is not a list of the most beautiful places to spend your later years. It is not a fantasy travel feature. It is a practical ranking for British retirees asking one blunt question:
Where can I actually retire abroad without making my life unnecessarily difficult? And the answer, ten years after Brexit, may be more encouraging than you think.
Why rank the “easiest” places, not the “best”?
There are plenty of rankings for the best places to retire abroad. Some focus on weather, eco-credentials, lifestyle, beaches, restaurants, tax or scenery. Costa Rica and Malaysia often feature highly.
That’s all useful – but only after you know you can legally live there, or where geographically, culturally and economically the barriers are not too high.
What use is finding the “best” retirement destination if the visa is almost impossible, the income requirement is far above your pension or your UK state pension will be frozen once you move? What use is falling in love with a place if there are too few flights back to the UK, healthcare access is complicated or the settlement process leaves you feeling stranded?
Our 2026 ranking starts with the practicalities. We looked at the things that make retirement abroad possible, manageable and financially realistic for British citizens after Brexit.
That means things like how possible it is to get a visa, even if your income or even your health isn’t so great. How easy it will be to settle in and make new friends, not just among other expats but the local community too. How easy is it to get back to the UK?
This is about removing friction. The lower the score, the easier the country is for a British retiree to move to and settle in.
The ranking does not tell you where you personally should retire. That depends on your budget, health, family, property plans and appetite for learning a language. But it does show where the obstacles are lower – and where British retirees may need a stronger plan before they commit.
Which country is easiest?
| Rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ireland | 27 |
| 2 | Spain | 36 |
| 3 | Portugal | 43 |
| 4 | France | 44 |
| 5 | Cyprus | 49 |
| 6 | Italy | 50 |
| 7 | Germany | 57 |
| 8 | Dubai | 60 |
| 9 | Turkey | 62 |
| 10 | Greece | 65 |
| 11 | New Zealand | 85 |
| 12 | USA | 87 |
| 13 | Canada | 88 |
| 14 | Australia | 90 |
Ireland is the easiest country for British citizens to retire to in 2026. That is mainly because British citizens do not need a visa to live there, thanks to the Common Travel Area. It also scores well for travel and language. For anyone who wants the simplest legal move, Ireland is hard to beat.
But Ireland is a special case. It is not in the Schengen area and does not carry the same post-Brexit visa barriers as Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece or Cyprus.
So, once Ireland is set aside, Spain is the standout winner.
Spain comes second overall and first among the classic retirement destinations. That may surprise anyone who assumed Brexit had made Spain too hard. It has not. British retirees can still apply for Spain’s non-lucrative visa, which is designed for people who can support themselves without working. The income requirement is higher than in some countries, but for most homeowners selling in the UK or retirees with pension and savings income, it remains achievable.
Spain also benefits from frequent UK flights, familiar buying processes, established British communities and a long history of welcoming overseas retirees. The paperwork is real, but the route is known, well-trodden and supported by a large network of lawyers, estate agents and relocation specialists.
Portugal and France are close behind. Portugal performs well because its D7 visa is based on passive income and its income requirement is relatively modest compared with many countries. France performs brilliantly on travel and healthcare, and many British retirees find its long-stay visa route clearer than they expected.
The message is simple: retiring to Europe is still very possible. Brexit added a few gates but it did not build a wall.
Which countries are hardest – and why?
The hardest countries in our 2026 ranking are Australia, Canada, the USA and New Zealand.
That does not mean they are bad places to retire. Far from it. They can offer high standards of living, English-speaking environments and strong lifestyle appeal. The problem is access, unless you have family members already living there.
Australia ranks last because it offers no simple, mainstream retirement route for British citizens without family connections and scores poorly on income and investment-related access. It is also a very long way from the UK, living costs are high and UK state pensions are not uprated for retirees living there.
Canada has similar issues. It is English-speaking and safe, but it does not have a simple retirement visa for British pensioners. The distance from the UK is significant and, crucially, the UK state pension is frozen for people retiring there.
The USA also ranks poorly. Healthcare is expensive, there is no straightforward retirement visa, travel is long-haul and the immigration system is not built around welcoming ordinary foreign retirees on pension income.
New Zealand offers some retirement-related routes, but they come with high age, income, investment and maintenance-fund requirements. For many British retirees, the numbers are simply too demanding.
For those with very high incomes or wealth and who can outsource the legwork to expert lawyers, very few doors are closed
The lesson is not “avoid these countries”. For those with very high incomes or wealth and who can outsource the legwork to expert lawyers, very few doors are closed. It is that ease matters. If you have family, wealth or existing ties, one of these countries might still work. But compared with much of Europe, the route is harder, longer and more expensive.
So, on what criteria did we base the Easiest Places to Retire Overseas 2026? There were ten in total, with some new rankings this year.
1. Retirement-style visa
The first and most important question is simple: does the country offer a practical route for retirees?
For British citizens moving to Europe, this is where many fears are misplaced. Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus and Greece all have visa or residency routes that can work for retirees with passive income. They may not always be called “retirement visas”. Spain has the non-lucrative visa. Portugal has the D7. France has long-stay visa options. Italy, Greece and Cyprus also offer residency routes for people who can support themselves without working.
That matters because most retirement visas are not really about age. They are about income, health insurance, accommodation and proof that you will not become a burden on the state.
Ireland is the exception because British citizens do not need a visa at all. That is why it tops the ranking.
At the other end, the USA, Canada and Australia score poorly because they do not offer a straightforward retirement visa for ordinary British pensioners. New Zealand has a temporary retirement visitor route, but its financial requirements are high, including investment and maintenance funds.
This is the first Brexit myth to bust. You can still retire to Europe. You just need the right visa rather than the old EU freedom of movement route.
2. Minimum income requirement
Once a visa route exists, the next question is whether you can meet the financial threshold.
This is where the ranking becomes more practical than romantic. A country might sound wonderful, but if it asks for more income than your pension, savings or investments can comfortably support, it may not be the easiest option.
Portugal performs well here, with a lower passive income requirement than many rivals. Cyprus also scores strongly, while Turkey has one of the lower financial thresholds in the ranking. Spain’s requirement is higher, but it remains realistic for many retirees with a combination of state pension, private pension, savings, rental income or investment income.
France sits in the middle. Its income requirement is not the lowest, but it is far from the highest and the wider package – close travel, good healthcare and familiar legal processes – keeps it near the top overall.
Italy and Greece are tougher on income. Italy’s elective residency route has a higher financial bar, while Greece’s figure is also demanding compared with Portugal or Cyprus.
The countries that struggle most are those where there is no standard retirement route or where access depends on much bigger investment. Australia, Canada, the USA and New Zealand all score poorly here because the route is either unclear, unavailable or expensive for a typical British retiree.
Your first task is not choosing a beach. It is checking the numbers.
3. Ease of travelling from the UK
Retirement overseas is easier when getting home does not feel like a military operation.
That is why travel is part of the ranking. For many retirees, being able to return for family events, medical appointments, weddings, funerals, grandchildren or just a proper cup of tea with old friends can make all the difference.
Ireland is the clear winner. Flights and ferries are short, frequent and often affordable. France follows closely, helped by flights, ferries, Eurostar and the option to drive. Spain also scores well, thanks to the huge volume of flights between the UK and Spanish airports. Portugal and Italy remain manageable, though journey times and regional access vary more depending on where you settle.
Germany performs well for travel too. It may not be the obvious retirement choice for many British buyers, but it is close, connected and easy to reach.
Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Dubai are a fairly long flight away and those can be limited in winter to, for example, a Greek island. They are still realistic, especially if you do not need to come back often, but the journey is longer and can be more tiring.
The long-haul countries are where the ranking shifts sharply. The USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are not just far away – they make spontaneous visits home harder and more expensive.
Retirement is not only about where you live. It is also about who you can get back to.
4. Language and day-to-day communication
Language can make or break your first year abroad. Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand pose no challenges, although French may help in parts of Canada.
Dubai also scores strongly because English is widely used in daily life, business and services. Same with Cyprus, partly due to its history and long relationship with British residents and visitors. That makes settling in easier, especially for retirees who worry about dealing with healthcare, property maintenance or official paperwork in another language.
In Europe, the picture is more nuanced. Spain, France and Germany score in the middle because English is commonly taught in schools there and in any case you will have learnt at least one of them yourself at school.
Portugal, Italy and Turkey can be more tricky. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) ranks language learning difficulty by the time it takes native English speakers to reach professional working proficiency, and puts Turkish in a higher category.
Greece scores lower too partly because the alphabet can feel like an extra barrier if you are starting from scratch. That does not make Greece impossible – plenty of British retirees manage very happily and some even learnt it at school – but it does mean you should arrive with a plan to learn the basics and build local support.
It is worth pointing out, that a long and healthy retirement can be supported by good brain health. The difficulty of learning a language can therefore be a benefit in itself.
5. Cost of living
A retirement destination becomes much easier when your money goes further.
That is why cost of living is one of the most important measures in the ranking. If you are living on a pension, and especially if your visa does not allow you to work, monthly costs matter. Food, utilities, healthcare, transport, home maintenance, council-style taxes and insurance all add up.
Turkey scores best for affordability, which helps it climb the ranking despite weaker scores elsewhere. Spain also performs well, as does Portugal. Both remain attractive for British retirees who want to reduce day-to-day costs without sacrificing access to healthcare, flights and established expat support.
Italy and Greece sit in the middle. Both can be good value, especially away from the most expensive cities and tourist areas, but costs vary sharply by region. Rural Italy is a very different financial proposition from central Rome. Crete is different from central Athens.
France is more expensive than Spain and Portugal in this ranking, though many retirees still find value in smaller towns and rural departments. Ireland, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia all score worse on affordability, reflecting higher living costs.
Cost is never only about the national average. The property you buy, the region you choose and how often you travel back to the UK will shape your real budget. But for ease, countries where normal life costs less have a clear advantage.
6. Safety
Feeling safe matters at any age, but it becomes even more important in retirement.
You want to feel confident walking home, using public transport, dealing with tradespeople, leaving your property empty for short periods and building a new social life. Safety is not only about crime statistics. It is about whether you feel relaxed enough to enjoy ordinary life.
Portugal scores very well in the safety ranking, helping it secure third place overall. Spain also performs strongly, as does Ireland. Dubai scores well too, which helps offset its weaker performance on pension uprating and travel distance.
France, Germany and Canada sit in the middle-to-strong range, while Italy, Cyprus and Greece are slightly lower but still realistic retirement choices. The USA scores weaker on safety than most European options in the ranking.
Turkey performs poorly on this measure, which pulls down its overall score despite its affordability and relatively accessible financial requirements.
Safety should be considered at a local level too. A country ranking can only tell you so much. The feel of one neighbourhood can be very different from another. Before buying, spend time there outside peak holiday season. Visit at night, speak to residents, test the walk to shops and check how comfortable you feel without the glow of a holiday mood.
Your instincts are data too.
7. Ease of settling in
A retirement move is not finished when the removal van leaves.
The first six to 12 months are often the hardest. You need to find doctors, sort out utilities, learn where to shop, understand local bureaucracy, meet people and work out your new routine. That is why ease of settling in deserves its own place in the ranking.
Cyprus performs especially well here. English is widely spoken, British residents are well established and the practical transition can feel gentler than in some other countries. Dubai also scores strongly, helped by its international population and English-language services.
Spain performs well too. The size of the British community can be a real advantage, especially in areas with long-established overseas buyers. Portugal also scores respectably, with many international residents and strong appeal for retirees.
France, despite its closeness to the UK, scores lower for ease of settling in. That may reflect bureaucracy, language expectations and the need to integrate locally rather than rely only on expat networks. Italy and Germany also require more active adaptation.
Canada and the USA score poorly in this category in the 2026 data, while Germany ranks lowest. That does not mean people cannot settle there well, but it suggests the process may require more effort, patience or prior ties.
The easiest retirement is often the one where you can build a life, not just buy a home.
8. Visa processing time
A retirement plan needs a timeline.
Visa processing time can turn a confident move into a long wait. It can affect when you sell your UK home, book removals, reserve a rental, move pets, arrange healthcare and start the property-buying process. The clearer and quicker the process, the easier the country feels.
Ireland scores perfectly because British citizens do not need a visa. France performs strongly, with a relatively efficient route compared with several competitors. Portugal and Spain sit in a workable range, though applicants still need to prepare carefully and allow for appointment availability, paperwork checks and possible delays.
Turkey also performs reasonably well, which helps its overall position. Dubai scores strongly for ease of settling in but less well on processing time in the ranking. Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Germany sit in the middle, meaning retirees should build in more planning time.
The USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand rank poorly because the issue is not only time – it is the lack of a simple retirement pathway or the complexity of the route available.
The biggest mistake is treating a retirement visa like a travel form. It is not. You may need proof of income, accommodation, health insurance, criminal record checks, translated documents, apostilles and appointments. Start early and keep digital and printed copies of everything.
Good paperwork is boring. It is also the bridge to your new life.
9. Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the biggest emotional factors in any retirement move.
You may feel fit, active and raring to go, but access to reliable healthcare becomes more important as you get older. You need to know how you will see a doctor, what insurance is required, how prescriptions work and whether you can access state healthcare once resident.
Germany scores best for healthcare in the 2026 ranking, followed by Italy and France. That gives those countries a major advantage for retirees with long-term health priorities. France in particular remains one of the most reassuring options because of its strong healthcare system and relative closeness to the UK.
Ireland and Spain also perform well, while New Zealand ranks respectably. Cyprus sits in the middle, and Portugal scores lower in this particular healthcare ranking despite its overall retirement appeal.
The USA performs worst. This is not because it lacks excellent hospitals. It is because healthcare access and cost can be a serious concern for retirees without the right insurance or residency status.
Before moving anywhere, speak to a specialist about healthcare access for your visa type. Some countries require private health insurance at the visa stage. Others may allow access to the state system after residency or through reciprocal arrangements. The detail matters.
A sunny retirement feels much easier when you know what happens if you need help.
10. UK state pension uprating
For British retirees, pension uprating is one of the least glamorous but most important parts of the decision.
If you retire in many countries, your UK state pension continues to rise each year under the usual annual increase system. If you retire in others, it can be frozen at the amount you receive when you move. Over a long retirement, that difference can be huge.
In our ranking, the UK state pension is uprated in Ireland, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, Turkey and the USA. It is not uprated in Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Dubai.
That is one reason several long-haul English-speaking countries perform badly overall. Canada, Australia and New Zealand may feel familiar linguistically and culturally, but the frozen pension issue can seriously affect long-term finances.
European countries do well here. For many British retirees, this is one of the biggest arguments for staying within Europe rather than moving to a more distant Commonwealth country.
The key is to think long term. A frozen pension may not feel like a problem in year one. After ten, 15 or 20 years, it can become painful, especially if local costs rise, exchange rates move against you or healthcare expenses increase.
A retirement plan should not just work on the day you arrive. It should still work when you are 85.
So, where should you start?
If you want the legally simplest move, Ireland is the easiest place to retire overseas in 2026.
If you want the classic European retirement dream, Spain is the strongest all-round option in this year’s ranking. It combines a clear visa route, good travel links, a familiar property market, strong expat networks and manageable living costs.
Portugal and France are close behind. Portugal is especially strong on income requirements and affordability, while France is excellent for travel and healthcare. Cyprus is a strong option for anyone who wants English to be widely spoken, while Italy offers outstanding healthcare and a deeply rewarding lifestyle for retirees ready to handle a higher income threshold and more bureaucracy.
Greece and Turkey remain possible, but they come with more trade-offs. Germany is practical and strong on healthcare, though less obvious as a retirement dream for many British buyers. Dubai is easy in some ways but harder in others, particularly when it comes to pension uprating.
The long-haul English-speaking favourites – Australia, Canada, the USA and New Zealand – are not impossible. But they are harder, especially on visas, cost, distance and pension rules.
Ten years after Brexit, the message is much brighter than many people think. You can still retire overseas. You can still retire to Europe. You can still buy a home, build a new routine and make your pension work harder.
The dream did not end. It just needs a better checklist.
