The 10 best countries to retire abroad: 'They have a very high quality of life,' expert says

"More and more people are looking to retire abroad in search of a different lifestyle and lower cost of living. And while the United States doesn't have an official retirement visa program, dozens of other countries around the world do. This year, Global Citizen Solutions published its Global Retirement Report 2025, ranking 44 passive income and retirement visa programs. The report looked at 20 targeted indicators grouped into six sub-indices: procedure, citizenship and mobility, economics, tax optimization, quality of life, and safety and integration."

""The Americas dominate the availability of digital nomad retirement visas and then Europe. They have a very high quality of life that's above average," Dr. Laura Madrid Sartoretto, Research Lead at GCS' Global Intelligence Unit, tells CNBC Make It. "That's not a coincidence because one of the motivations people have when they decide to relocate abroad is looking for a place where they will have a better quality of life.""

"Overall score: 92.61 Portugal ranked as the best country to retire abroad. The European country offers non-EU citizens the D7 visa, which allows those with steady passive incomes, like pensions or rental income, to retire. Dr. Madrid Sartoretto says Portugal's retirement visa program has been a flagship one for the last 10 years. "The country started to invest in attracting investors, retirees and digital nomads. Portugal is a count"

Global Citizen Solutions evaluated 44 passive income and retirement visa programs in its Global Retirement Report 2025 using 20 indicators across six sub-indices: procedure, citizenship and mobility, economics, tax optimization, quality of life, and safety and integration. Each country received a score out of 100. Many top-ranked countries are in the Americas and Europe, where digital nomad and retirement visa availability and above-average quality of life are strong. Retirees prioritize political stability, safety, and access to healthcare, with European systems offering robust public options and affordable private care. Portugal scored 92.61 and ranked best, offering the D7 visa for non-EU citizens with steady passive income.

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