'Best country' for international expats to retire ranks highly for 'leisure and quality of life'
Entry requirements for living in Panama are straightforward
PA
If you’re thinking of starting a new life in a new country then you’re probably familiar with the difficulties of choosing a destination.
Fortunately, foreigners living abroad have shared a wealth of data to help whittle down the list of best locations.
Travelling with Kristin, a YouTuber with experience living in multiple international countries, recently discussed the latest surveys on her channel.
The 12,543 respondents who took part in the survey, by Internationsm, were from more than 175 countries.
Kristin says Panama is renowned for its friendly people
GETTY
The data showed Panama is the best country for expats because it offers some of the most notable perks ex-pats look for in a new home.
These include inexpensive healthcare, and a friendly community, while the drawbacks include the language barrier.
“Panama ranked the highest on the list when it comes to making friends in a foreign country,” explained Kristin.
“It’s right there with Mexico when it comes to ease and settling in, culture and local friendliness."
Kristin continued: “What people love about Panama is being able to find affordable housing, which is a bit surprising to me because I don’t see housing in Panama as being significantly less than some of the other countries on the list.
“People didn’t like it so much for being the best work environment, but it is a place that ranks highly on leisure and quality of life."
However, some expats report struggling with noise levels in the city, particularly in social areas.
“Panamanians are known for partying accompanied by loud music in the streets and people socialising for hours during the night and day,” explained Pacific Prime Latin America.
Regardless, “Panama has been one of the top places for people to retire for many years, they’ve made it very easy," according to Kristin.
She went on: “It’s one of the easiest retirement visas to get, you can get permanent residency there, it’s pretty straightforward."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Panama offers affordable housing
GETTY
“They have really good tax regimes for international residents."
Second on the list of best countries for expats was Mexico, with Indonesia securing the third spot.
According to the Foreign Office, Britons wishing to move to Panama are required to provide three passport-size photos and a written letter stating the types of activities they will conduct in the country.
The two activities Panama immigration is looking for, according to the foreign office, are economic and professional.