expat network

The Easiest Countries To Relocate To On A Working Visa In 2025

Financial experts at Remitly, who provide cross-border payments, analysed data from around 30 destinations globally to reveal the most accessible working visa routes for skilled workers this year.

Rank	Country	Visa Name	Ave. process time (month)	Application fee	# of applications granted	Min. salary required	Max. length of stay (years)	Ave. annual wage (2023)	Ease of entry score /10
1	Latvia	EU Blue Card	0.3	£83	419	£20,508	5	£30,652	7.64
2	Ireland	Employment visa	1.8	£83	30,981	£28,205	5	£44,916	7.32
3	Iceland	Residence permit for employment	3	£91	N/A	£16,973	4	£69,120	6.58
4	Germany	EU Blue Card	3	£83	69,353	£37,530	4	£51,988	6.10
5	United States	H-1B visa	3.5	£162	85,000	N/A	6	£63,343	5.95
6	UK	Skilled Worker visa	0.7	£1,420	54,900	£38,700	5	£45,555	5.91
7	Spain	EU Blue Card	0.7	£74	370	£32,179	3	£40,589	5.90
7	Poland	EU Blue Card	2	£102	7,402	£22,794	3	£32,456	5.90
9	Canada	Work permit (from outside Canada)	3.5	£86	239,646	N/A	4	£52,350	5.87
10	Slovak Republic	EU Blue Card	1	£207	24	£17,059	5	£25,090	5.84

Topping the list with an ease of entry score of 7.64, Latvia offers the most straightforward route for skilled workers in 2025. As part of the EU Blue Card scheme, applicants need to earn just over £20,500 annually and pay a fee of around £83. Latvia also has the shortest processing time in the ranking, just ten working days on average!

Ireland follows closely behind, with an ease of entry score of 7.32 out of 10. Known for thriving industries like pharmaceuticals, tech, education, and brewing, it offers strong career prospects and an average annual salary just shy of £45,000. The Employment Visa costs £83 and allows a stay of up to five years, with a 95% approval rate. However, processing takes longer, around eight weeks.

Iceland ranks third, with an ease of entry score of 6.58 out of 10. Iceland’s residence permit for employment is available to skilled professionals with specialist knowledge and vocational or academic training. While processing can take up to three months, Iceland offers one of the highest average wages in the list at over £69,000, with key industries including energy, tourism, and fishing.

Ryan Riley, VP Marketing for EMEA and APAC at Remitly, comments on the findings:

“This latest research offers valuable insight into the countries leading the way in creating accessible, straightforward pathways for skilled migrant workers, with European countries standing out as some of the most accessible worldwide. With eight out of the top ten all being located in Europe. These nations are not only opening their doors but also recognising the vital role migrants play in driving economic growth and enriching societies.

Skilled workers are the backbone of key industries, addressing talent shortages, fuelling innovation, and contributing both locally and globally. As more countries streamline entry routes, it’s clear that investing in skilled migration is not just a response to labour needs, but a strategic move towards a more prosperous and connected world.”

Further Insights:

The United States offers the longest maximum visa duration (6+ years) but ranks sixth due to processing times and costs.
Italy offers the most affordable work visa at £41, while Australia has the highest fee at £1,569 and the longest processing time (90% of applications processed in six months).

You can view the full research here: https://blog.remitly.com/gb/immigration/best-countries-skilled-worker-visas/

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.