These European Countries Will Actually Pay You to Move There

A Greek Island With Fewer Than 50 Residents Wants Your Family

Antikythera sits in the Aegean Sea between Crete and the Peloponnese, covers less than eight square miles, and currently has somewhere between 24 and 40 year-round residents depending on the season. A few decades ago that number was closer to 300. In response to that decline, community leaders and the Greek Orthodox Church of Kythera created a relocation initiative aimed specifically at families willing to settle permanently and contribute to island life.

The package includes free housing provided or newly built for selected participants, a monthly stipend of €500 (around $540) per household for three years, totaling roughly $18,000 to $20,000 overall. But here's the important fine print: only five families will be selected, and priority goes to families with at least four children and practical trades like baking, fishing, farming, or construction that support island life. This isn't a lifestyle experiment for remote workers. The island wants neighbors who can help keep essential services running, and the selection process is structured accordingly.

As of early 2026, housing construction is still underway and no families have moved in yet due to administrative delays. This is a moment to make contact and get on the radar rather than pack your bags tomorrow. To inquire, contact the Kythira Department of Tourism at +30 273 603 1213, weekdays from 8am to 12pm.

The US government has taken steps to ease the pressure, including releasing emergency oil reserves, easing sanctions on Venezuela, and temporarily waiving the Jones Act to allow more flexible maritime shipping. But analysts say these efforts won't bring sweeping relief, because refineries buy crude in advance and it takes time for new supply to trickle down to consumers. In other words, don't expect prices to drop before spring break.

Switzerland Is Offering Up to $68,000 Per Family to Move to an Alpine Village

The mountain village of Albinen in the Swiss canton of Valais has been making headlines since 2017, and the offer still stands. The local government offers 25,000 Swiss Francs (around $27,000) per adult who moves there, plus an additional 10,000 Swiss Francs (around $11,000) for each child. A family of two adults and one child would receive around 60,000 Swiss Francs, or roughly $68,000.

The requirements are real and worth understanding before you get too excited. You need to be under 45, purchase a home worth at least 200,000 Swiss Francs (around $226,000), and commit to staying for a minimum of ten years. Leave early and you'll need to repay the grant. The bigger catch for Americans is the residency requirement: applicants must hold a Swiss C permit, which is permanent residency, and typically requires living in Switzerland for five to ten years first on a B permit. If you're an EU citizen or from the US or Canada, the C permit generally becomes available after five years of continuous residence.

In short, this isn't a shortcut to moving to Switzerland from scratch. But for anyone already living there, or willing to make the longer-term commitment, Albinen is a genuinely beautiful place to put down roots.

Ireland Is Offering Up to $92,000 to Renovate a Home on a Remote Island

Ireland's approach is the most generous on paper. The Irish government's Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant offers up to €84,000 (around $92,000) for anyone willing to buy and renovate a derelict property on one of approximately 30 inhabited offshore islands off the west coast. For vacant but non-derelict properties the grant is €60,000 (around $67,000). The program is active, confirmed through 2026, and part of a broader ten-year plan called Our Living Islands.

The important caveat for American readers is that while there are no restrictions on purchasing property in Ireland, you need Irish residency to actually claim the grant. Buying a house doesn't automatically give you the right to live in Ireland long-term, and without residency you can't access the funding. Americans with Irish ancestry through a parent or grandparent may be eligible for Irish citizenship, which is worth exploring if this is a serious consideration.

For those who do qualify, the islands are extraordinary. The Aran Islands, where parts of The Banshees of Inisherin were filmed, are among the most culturally rich places in the country. Inishbofin, Clare Island, Bere Island, and Tory Island, the most remote of the group, round out a list that reads like a bucket list. Grant money must be used for renovations and the property must become your primary residence or a long-term rental.

Italy's Dolomites Are Offering Up to $107,500 to Move to a Mountain Village

The largest grant on this list comes from Trentino in northeast Italy, and it's fully funded through 2026. The Province of Trento has allocated €5 million for 2025 and another €5 million for 2026, and is offering up to €100,000 (approximately $107,500) to buy and renovate a home in one of 33 selected mountain villages. The grant breaks down into up to €80,000 toward renovation work and up to €20,000 toward the property purchase, with no repayment required as long as you meet the conditions.

The program is primarily open to Italian residents and Italians living abroad. Foreign nationals can apply if they are legally able to purchase property in Italy, but navigating Italian property law and residency requirements as a non-citizen adds a meaningful layer of complexity. The ten-year residency or long-term rental commitment applies to everyone, and renovations are capped at €200,000 to prevent the grants from being used to build luxury properties that don't fit the local character.

The villages are located across Trentino's valleys between Lake Garda and the Dolomites, including places like Mezzano in the Primiero valley and Luserna on the Alpe Cimbra plateau. These aren't tourist towns. They're places where the arrival of a handful of new households genuinely changes daily life. Applications are accepted through scheduled windows, so timing matters. Check provincia.tn.it for the current application calendar.

Other Places Worth Knowing About

Europe isn't the only region running these programs, and the four above aren't the only options:

• Ponga, Spain in the Asturias region offers €3,000 per adult and €3,000 per child to young families willing to relocate permanently

• Sardinia, Italy offers €15,000 (around $16,000) to those who move to a municipality with fewer than 3,000 residents and buy or renovate a home

• Calabria, Italy offers around €28,000 to qualifying individuals under 40 willing to move to villages with fewer than 2,000 residents and start a local business or fill an in-demand job

• Japan's rural prefectures have been running relocation subsidies for years, with some programs offering up to 1 million yen (around $6,500) for families willing to move outside major cities

The common thread is the same everywhere: depopulation is a genuine global challenge, and governments are increasingly willing to make it financially worth your while to be part of the solution.

The fantasy of moving abroad and starting over somewhere beautiful has never been more actionable. These programs are real, the money is meaningful, and the locations are genuinely extraordinary. Just go in with your eyes open: the grants come with real commitments, real residency requirements, and real paperwork. Do your research, contact the relevant authorities directly, and verify current status before making any plans. The door is open, but you have to actually walk through it.

Frequently Asked Questions: Getting Paid to Move to Europe

Can Americans apply for European relocation grants?

It depends on the program. Italy's Trentino grant is open to foreign nationals who can legally purchase property in Italy. Ireland's grant requires Irish residency, which Americans don't automatically have from buying property alone. Switzerland requires a C permit, which takes years to obtain. Greece's Antikythera program doesn't restrict by nationality but has very specific family criteria. In all cases, the path for Americans involves more steps than the headlines suggest.

How much money can you actually get for moving to Europe?

Switzerland offers around $27,000 per adult plus $11,000 per child in Albinen. Ireland offers up to $92,000 in renovation grants for island properties. Italy's Trentino program offers up to $107,500. Greece's Antikythera initiative offers free housing plus around $540 per month for three years, totaling roughly $18,000 to $20,000.

How many families will Greece accept on Antikythera?

Only five families will be selected. Priority goes to families with at least four children and practical skills like baking, fishing, farming, or construction. It's a competitive, interview-based process rather than an open application.

What are the long-term commitments involved?

Most programs require a minimum residency commitment of between three and ten years. Switzerland requires ten years and a path to permanent residency. Italy's Trentino grant requires ten years of primary residency or long-term rental. Ireland requires the renovated property to become a primary residence or registered long-term rental.

Can you use these grants to buy a vacation home?

No. Every program on this list explicitly requires the property to be a primary residence or long-term rental. Short-term vacation rentals and holiday homes are not eligible.

Is the Switzerland Albinen program still accepting applications in 2026?

The program is still active, but it has been overwhelmed with international inquiries since going viral, with the village receiving around 100 inquiries per day at peak. Most foreign applicants don't meet the residency requirements. By 2023, only around 17 applications had been approved. Contact the Albinen municipal authority directly for current status.

Is the Trentino Italy grant still available in 2026?

Yes. The Province of Trento has confirmed €5 million in funding for 2026, and applications are being accepted through scheduled windows. Check provincia.tn.it for current application dates.

What kind of lifestyle should you expect in these places?

Quiet, nature-forward, and community-oriented. These are not urban environments. Shops, services, and healthcare are limited compared to city living, and transportation can be ferry or mountain-road dependent. For people drawn to that kind of life, the tradeoffs are the whole appeal. Go in with clear expectations rather than a highlight reel in your head.