Without getting too political, I was extremely disappointed in the recent referendum result. I have lived overseas for the past 5 years including spending a year in Spain and currently residing in The Czech Republic. It was because of EU membership and open borders I have been able to experience life in these amazing countries, something that required no more than a plane ticket and a desire to explore. Things are now set to change and the future of the UK looks a little vague at the moment, so who knows if the opportunities which were available to me so easily will be available to future generations.
If, like me, you are upset over the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU then here is something which might ease the pain a little. A list of possible alternatives to the UK, whilst the politicians fight amongst themselves over what the next steps are. And hey, even if you are happy with the outcome then this is still a list of awesome places to go visit!
1. AUSTRALIA.
20,000 British people migrated to Australia last year alone and it's not hard to see why this is such an appealing option. Great weather, high standard of living, white sand beaches and cosmopolitan cities. This huge expanse of a country is incredibly diverse and has so much to offer.
British citizens under the age of 30 are automatically allowed a 1 year working holiday visa (provided you have no criminal record) and if you complete 12 weeks of agricultural work during your first year then you are given a second year visa. Of course, skilled migrants such as doctors and nurses, or those who hold a trade can instantly get longer term visa's.
2. NEW ZEALAND
Regular readers of my blog will already know how much I adore this little country. I didn't need to wait for a referendum result to migrate here and I am so grateful I was able to call New Zealand home for 2 years.
Similar to Australia, British citizens are automatically eligible for a 2 year working holiday visa for New Zealand (straight from the beginning, no need to work on a farm!). Also, once in the country you can apply for residency fairly quickly or alternatively lots of NZ companies participate in sponsorship visa's, should you want to stay longer.
3. CANADA
Why move to Canada? Well, why not.
It is ranked in the top 10 least corrupt countries in the world, it also has the 6th highest standard of living in the world. It is the world's most educated country with over half it's residents having a degree or higher, plus it has more lakes than the rest of the world's lakes combined!
Now, Canada is a little tricker to get a visa for than Australia and New Zealand. They also offer a working holiday visa scheme to British citizens however they have an annual limit. Every year they offer around 5000 visa's and it's effectively on a first come, first served basis. Considering over 180,000 people applied for Canadian working visa's in 2015 then a little bit of luck is also involved!
4. DUBAI
Everything is bigger and better in Dubai.
It is the ultimate playground, home to iconic skyscrapers, palm shaped islands and luxury shopping malls, Dubai is as glamorous as it is captivating.
But why move here? Well, the major benefit of living in Dubai is the fact there is no income tax. That means you take home 100% of your earnings. Over 240,000 British expats live in the United Arab Emirates, with the majority residing in Dubai. To work in the UAE you need to be sponsored by an employer but more and more companies in Dubai are offering this. Check out www.indeed.ae for sponsorship jobs currently available.
5. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
If Donald Trump gets elected then I will be sure to update this post and remove the USA, however at the moment America is still a pretty incredible country to live in.
America has the 8th highest standard living in the world and it is an incredibly diverse country. It has big cities, beaches, mountains, lakes, deserts and due to such a mixing pot of nationalities, religions and races, it has no official language.
Getting a visa for America is possibly the most difficult out of all the above, it is however possible. The easiest way is to gain sponsorship from an employer in America. Alternatively, you can enter into the "Green Card Lottery" and potentially win a green card to the US. Each year America hands out over 50,000 green cards but bear in mind, in 2014 over 15 million people applied. It's a popular choice.
Although, on a positive note, if Donald Trump gets elected then it will become much easier to obtain one. Every cloud and all that..
Where else would you immigrate to if given the chance?