9 Best Countries for Americans to Move To

Yes, Americans crashed Canada's immigration site on election night. But that doesn’t mean you can't easily become a Canuck. In fact, the country has some of the laxest immigration laws for U.S. citizens and is one of the best countries for Americans to move to.

Skilled entrants can go through Canada's express entry program online. Once you fill out the application, you're awarded a certain number of points based on skills, work experience, education, language ability, and any job offers you have in Canada. If you don't have a job offer, you can register with the country's Job Bank. Based on your ranking, you're then invited to apply for permanent residency.

The cost of permanent residency is about $365 USD; you can find out your eligibility here.

While this option only applies to those of the Jewish faith, moving to Israel, or making Aliyah, is hassle-free and easy. You can learn more about the process here if you're a U.S. citizen. There are also specialized absorption programs for particular groups like young adults.

Moving to Australia is relatively easy for Americans, especially if you're between the ages of 18 and 30. Those that fall in this age range qualify for a working holiday visa, which allows you to live and work in Australia for a full year. Australia is one of the best countries for Americans to move to short-term with a student visa or skilled migrant visa. If you love it and want to stay in Australia long term, it's helpful to be sponsored by a business and then apply for permanent residency, and eventually by citizenship. Check Australia’s Visa Finder tool for more information.

For a working holiday visa you are required to have a ticket home and proof of sufficient funds. The cost for the visa is about $320 USD.

U.S. citizens between 18 and 30 can apply for a working holiday visa and live and work anywhere in New Zealand for up to a year. Anyone can also apply for a temporary work visa for a set period, student visa, or skilled migrant visa—this allows you to stay in the country for a longer period of time. New Zealand is one of the best countries for Americans to move to because it has a "skilled shortage list checker;” so you if your skill set is needed, you'll have an easier time getting a visa.

For a working holiday visa you are required to have a ticket home and proof of sufficient funds. The cost for the visa is $165 USD.

South Korea also has a working holiday visa program, or the H-1 visa, that allows U.S. residents between 18 and 30 to live and work in Korea for up to 18 months. Applicants must currently either be a post-secondary student or have graduated from a university within the past year. There are some industries that don't qualify under this visa, like journalism, law, and medicine. You can use this year to become sponsored by a company or apply for other types of visas.

For a working holiday visa you are required to have a ticket home and proof of sufficient funds. The cost for the visa is $45 USD.

Some South American and Central American countries offer a rentista visa, which allows you apply for permanent residency if you can prove you have a continuous income of a certain amount per month, which you intend to put in an Uruguayan bank account. Currently Uruguay has no specific income requirement (in doing some research I found that anything above $1,500 USD per month is generally accepted), which makes it one of the best countries for Americans to move to. You can also apply for a work, student, entrepreneur, or retirement visa as a U.S. citizen.

Similar to Uruguay, Costa Rica offers a rentista visa with a reasonable amount of monthly income ($2,500 USD) per month for two years, or a letter from an employer saying you'll earn this minimum requirement, making Costa Rica one of the easiest places for Americans to move to. Other residency options include investing in real estate or business (at a minimum of $200,000 USD), retirement or pensionado visa, as well as a one-year work permit supported by a local employer (although this option is more difficult), or student visas are also an option.

While the permanent residency process for Ecuador is a little more difficult, the country also offers a rentista visa, with the minimum amount of $800 USD monthly income. Ecuador also offers a similar retirement visa as that in Costa Rica, as well as student, professional, and business visas. You can learn more about Ecuador's visa applications here.

Ireland also has a working holiday visa program (US-Ireland Working Holiday Agreement), but with no age limits. Applicants just need to either be enrolled in post-secondary education or have graduated within 12 months. There is also a chance you may be able to apply for citizenship by descent (check your eligibility here).

For this visa you are required to have a ticket home and proof of sufficient funds. The cost for the visa is about $265 USD.

If none of these options work for you, there's always the option of travel. And while it's not as permanent, there are many ways you can travel and still earn money. You can also enroll in a university for a master's program, teach English, or volunteer in your professional field … if you're really looking to make a move, you have options. Organizations like Global Vision International and i-to-i make it easy to find a program that suits your skills and interests.