Below you can find the list of 5 easiest countries to immigrate to from the United States. For methodology and discussion of the topic please read this article.
5. MALTA: ranks 5th in our list of the easiest countries to immigrate to. This beautiful archipelago is a marvelous place to call home. Scores of tourists and expats forming a beeline for this southern European state every year just get smitten by its Mediterranean climate, sandy beaches, architectural gems, rich culture and sheer joie de vivre. In terms of cost of living, Malta is relatively cheaper than other European states, and provides top-class healthcare. Being a party to the Schengen Agreement, Malta gives US citizens visa-free entry for up to 90 days for business and tourism purposes, but to obtain citizenship a residency requirement has to be met first by applying for one program from a bunch of different residence schemes being offered. For getting citizenship, one must be a permanent resident for six years, of which four consecutive years should be spent in Malta. You can also apply for Maltese citizenship by birth and descent, by adoption or by marriage. Another route culminating into citizenship starts by obtaining a work permit followed by a residence permit and lastly filing of application. Malta also offers the fast-tracked Individual Investor Program under which an applicant making one-time investment of €800,000 can get citizenship in just 12 months. Malta does not restrict holding dual nationality.
Malta
4. NEW ZEALAND: Located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand with its 9300 miles of coastline, unparalleled subtropical surf beaches, rolling green hills, snow-capped mountains, magnificent fjords and captivating waterfalls has been one of the top three most beautiful countries of the world. The Kiwi Land has almost all facilities for you ranging from a high quality of life, low cost of living, top-class healthcare, to an impressive education system. If you fantasize about leaving the US and start life anew, you should like to know that NZ has doled out lots of rights for expats, and has been embracing many more immigrants every year. US citizens may reside and work in this country for an indefinite period and that too as a permanent resident on a skilled migrant visa. Certain other work visas allow you to live and work here for a set period and may lead to a residence. You may also choose from investment visas whereby you have to invest at least NZD 3 million. New Zealand permits both dual and multiple citizenship.
New Zealand
3. IRELAND: In Ireland you will begin to feel at home within no time. So just pack your bag and touch down in this Emerald Island of irresistible beauty. It has a lot to offer, from an outstanding quality of life, a robust healthcare, solid education system to a tremendous outdoor appeal involving world heritage sites, serene lakes, amazing pastures and bustling cities embracing an incredible culture and mythological traditions. Acquiring Irish citizenship is a tightrope walk however, but worth the effort. Pathways include citizenship by descent, by marriage or by naturalization process. You can become a naturalized citizen by living in Ireland for one year. To obtain citizenship, you must live there for at least four cumulative years over the next eight years. You may enter visa-free, but to stay beyond the 90-day visa validity, you will need to seek permission by selecting one from a set of visa schemes that suits your situation and needs best. This extension in duration of stay will, in return, solidify your chances of getting citizenship. Ireland does not require you to relinquish your US citizenship.
Dublin, Ireland
2. SWEDEN: Regarded as a Scandinavian paradise offering a pristine standard of living, including free education and top-notch healthcare, an economically stable Sweden makes a remarkable second home. Inspired by its progressive egalitarian values, the Nordic country has set out the most generous immigration policy which is evident from an influx in the number of immigrants it embraces each year. With a valid passport, US citizens are allowed to stay in Sweden for up to 90 days, but if they plan on working, studying or starting a business, a residence permit has to be requested. To be able to apply for citizenship, one must have lived in Sweden for five uninterrupted years with a permanent resident status sans any criminal conviction. Just keep in mind once you have crossed into Sweden, you will have to deal with a high cost of living and high tax rate. Owing to its corporate culture, Sweden’s Golden Investor Visa is quite popular with investors and entrepreneurs which helps secure Swedish citizenship with a minimum investment of €100,000 after having lived five continuous years holding a permanent resident status. Another plus, Sweden permits dual citizenship.
Stockholm, Sweden
1. CANADA: Blessed with incomparable natural beauty in the form of mesmerizing waterfalls, snow-laden mountains, crystalline glaciers, deep blue lakes and evergreen forests, the Land of Maple Leaf has for long been the top choice of expats planning a smooth transition abroad. Canada is politically, economically and socially the most stable, not to mention peaceful, country on the planet. The cost of living here is a bit high than the US, but it does provide a universal healthcare system. Canada, a massive country spanning across six time zones, has designed more than 60 immigration programs to choose from, with one Express Entry program, meant to fill skill shortages, being the most popular worldwide. Other pathways include having a job offer in Canada, having a sponsor letter from a family member, or making an investment of CAD 125,000 by starting or purchasing a business. Unless you become a permanent resident and live there for three years in a five years period, you will never be eligible for Canadian citizenship. Furthermore, you will be required to meet your tax filing obligation, prove language proficiency skills and take a test demonstrating your knowledge on your rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen. Good for you dual citizenship is legal in Canada.
See also 15 Easiest Countries to Get Permanent Residency in the World
