There are lots of reasons why people become expats, from job opportunities to seeking better weather, and about 165,000 UK citizens choose to move overseas each year for a change of pace.
The majority of British expats relocate to countries such as Australia, Spain, Portugal, and the USA, with these destinations often hosting entire neighbourhoods where Brits have formed their own communities. However, a recent study has shown that the most welcoming destination for newcomers is one where only a handful of Brits have moved to, although the vast majority of the population speak English and it’s only three hours from the UK.
Research carried out by international health specialists William Russell, aiming to find the friendliest and most welcoming countries and cities in the world for expats in 2026, found a surprising location topped the list. While it might not have the sunny weather many Brits look for when they move abroad, it has an abundance of unspoilt natural beauty.
Iceland took the number one spot in the rankings, and despite only having around 2,000 British expats in the country, it offers one of the strongest environments for expat integration. 84.2% of expats were employed, and it has a visa openness score on-par with most EU countries.
Around 25% of the population of Iceland are migrants, and around 98% of the country speak English, giving it an overall welcoming score of 8.94 out of ten. However, living in Iceland does have disadvantages. Its cost of living is among the highest in the world, often putting it alongside pricy nations such as Switzerland and Singapore, especially in popular expat areas such as Reykjavik. Winters can also be brutal and you may only see four-hours of daylight in December.
Coming in at second place was Luxembourg, boosted by its migrant population of 51.2%, meaning expats would be joining a vibrant international community. It also scored well for quality of life, housing, and other social factors.
Another surprising entry in the rankings was New Zealand, which narrowly beat its neighbour and perennial favourite with British expats, Australia. While it has a smaller migrant population than Australia, its foreign-born employment rate is higher and Brits tend to find it easier to get a visa in New Zealand. The country allows skilled migrant applications up to age 55, while the cut off for Australia is 45.
And when it came to finding the most welcoming individual city, Zurich took the number one spot, offering a high safety score with low social friction.While it has a high cost of living, Zurich remains a popular city for expats thanks to its competitive salaries and excellent living standards.
Countries including Japan and South Korea ranked low on the list, suggesting that expats in these Asian countries might struggle to integrate into their new home. South Korea records a foreign-born employment rate of just 5.3%, while employment for Japan’s migrant population sits at only 2.8%, showing the difficulties foreigners face entering the workforce.
William Cooper, Director at William Russell, explained: “One of the biggest mistakes expats make is assuming that popular countries guarantee an easy transition.
“In reality, the first few months are when most challenges arise, such as navigating healthcare systems and securing a stable income. Preparing for those early stages is often more important than the choice of destination.”
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