The most popular destination for ex-pats? - UK Business Labs

**Mark** · #1 (**permalink**) 26-09-2008, 11:11 PM

What's currently the most popular destination for ex-pats? Is it still Australia?

GFCanvasPrintsUK · #2 (**permalink**) 18-10-2008, 09:21 AM

I would have thought Spain

Journey · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 10:33 AM

I think it's still Australia because of its high standard but affordable cost of living compared to other developed countries.

mandyjane · #4 (**permalink**) 09-12-2008, 03:31 PM

dismiss UAE, particularly Dubai. Gaining in popularity as we speak!

**Ray Stewart** · #5 (**permalink**) 09-12-2008, 03:48 PM

Without exception, every person/family I know that emigrated to find a better life/weather/etc... have ended up back in good old blighty. They fought the urge with varing degrees of success but eventually every single one has returned.

There must be a moral there...

adampink · #6 (**permalink**) 15-12-2008, 03:39 PM

My brother is in Spain and business is just as bad.

**BITS** · #7 (**permalink**) 16-12-2008, 01:29 PM

I would have thought Australia, I know about 6/7 people/familes that have emigrated there in the last 8 years - none of them are back yet.

Lee Edge

bizwiki · #8 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Stewart

Without exception, every person/family I know that emigrated to find a better life/weather/etc... have ended up back in good old blighty. They fought the urge with varing degrees of success but eventually every single one has returned.

There must be a moral there...

Really? My neighbours are from Manchester and they've lived in Perth for 30 years. On our street there are 2 Australian families, the rest are from the States, the UK and South Africa. I haven't heard anyone talking about moving back yet :-) I know a lot of expats here have family visit from the UK once a year until they too move out.

We visit the UK frequently for work and sort of live between the two countries (offices in both) so maybe that takes the edge off. And email, webchats, instant messengers and social sites help you to feel you're still very much in touch. I do miss the lack of instant, free babysitters though :-(

**Ray Stewart** · #9 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 11:51 AM

I only know people who have gone to europe. I haven't known any that have gone further - apart from my Sister (New Zealand) but even she, having pursuaded 2 out of 3 of her children to move their families out there 5 years ago, is getting restless and considering moving again - much to the kid's annoyance.

TownDeeds · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 08:24 AM

There was an item on the morning news about people moving back from Spain in their droves as it's now too expensive to live there. Apparently the cost of living has gone up, the exchange rate has gone down (so pensions don't go as far) and property has dropped up to 30%.

James.

redboxva · #11 (**permalink**) 09-03-2009, 05:20 PM

It's a similar story in Portugal. The price of living has shot up here, but if you're not making any more money, it's hard to make ends meet. I think there will be a lot of vacant properties about come the summer as people can't sell their homes, either. All a tad triste.

aixueer · #12 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 09:02 AM

I have currently relocated to China
The number of expatriates here (and in Hong Kong especially) is steadily growing!
Though right now there are more expats from Germany, France and America.

**Mark** · #13 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 09:26 AM

Interesting; do you think China is becoming increasingly popular for British ex-pats? If so, is this purely because of the trade ties or something else?

MIRRORSTYLE · #14 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 09:38 AM

CYPRUS has become a popular destination for ex-pats,not too far and very english in lots of ways being an ex-British colony.

**Mark** · #15 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 10:10 AM

'A building site with palm trees', I've heard some people call it!

redboxva · #16 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 01:22 PM

China. Curious. I take it that it's people who are actively employed/seeking work rather than the retirees that we see in these parts. Personally, I'd have real problems working somewhere like China, but then I wouldn't go to the States either.

**1clickprint** · #17 (**permalink**) 01-04-2009, 05:35 PM

i have considered Cyprus myself and will probably move there when i retire ( a while to go yet though ) The weather is constant and the people are extremely friendly.

A friend of mine moved there several years ago, he and his wife make a very good living singing in clubs and pubs.

i can't sing though, unless the sound of wailing cat is your thing so i think its back to the grind for the next 15 years!

bobpilk · #18 (**permalink**) 01-04-2009, 08:59 PM

Quite fancy Malta myself. But she who must be obeyed says absolutely not, says she was born in England and she will die in England

**NikkiPilkington** · #19 (**permalink**) 01-04-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobpilk

But she who must be obeyed says absolutely not, says she was born in England and she will die in England

Leave her in england then

bobpilk · #20 (**permalink**) 02-04-2009, 08:13 AM

Now that could be very tempting, I might just have to drive past your house on the way and drop her off with you

AboveParr · #21 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 04:43 PM

I've just started working with a client in Spain and I can't blame him for setting up over there and letting me do his UK work, especially when I look up at the grey sky!

I'm fairly sure we're off to either New Zealand or Florida once the kids can cook for themselves...

**Kay** · #22 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 10:14 AM

I run an expat forum and would say that Canada is where everyone seems to want to go. I don't understand it myself as I like warmer weather. Also, Canada is very difficult to emigrate to these days - so much red tape and a long, long wait. Some people have to put their lives on hold for four years or so.

Bulgaria was flavour of the month for a while, but I've been told that it's passed its peak. Malta is gaining in popularity. A lot of people don't like New Zealand because they think it'll be Little Britain but it's not. France is quite popular - quick to nip 'home'. Spain has had a lot of hassles over property laws. Malaysia could be up and coming - their government even has a special visa for those who want to make Malaysia their second home. Malaysia's not bad, English is widely spoken and it's fairly well developed but I don't think I'd like to live there permanently.

The Start Up Sage · #23 (**permalink**) 16-08-2009, 10:00 AM

Given the number of enquiries we are getting from the UK from people looking to start a business in Australia, I would say interest in Australia remains very high.

None of the people who have migrated and started a business that we know have returned to the UK. The exception being for holidays to show off their beach houses and suntans.

The Start Up Sage
Start a Business - New business start up Australia - Business Switch

**UK Business Network** · #24 (**permalink**) 16-08-2009, 01:06 PM

Australia is top of my wifes list, I worry about the insects!

We are going to build an American and Aussie version of the UK Business Network eventually, we have the domains, will have them ticking over with something on them shortly just to get some traffic.

I was in SE Asia for about 18 months, and it was mostly Swedes & Brits, good few Aussies tho, and never met a bad one, it just my fear of small crawly things!

**AdamW** · #25 (**permalink**) 16-08-2009, 01:58 PM

It's the big crawly things that I don't like! But Aus would be the place for me.