Australia is officially one of the most expat-friendly countries in 2026

When people dream about life in Australia, there’s a high chance they picture sunrise ocean swims, flawless flat whites and barefoot strolls home to a backyard barbie. It might not be everyone’s reality, but it isn’t too far off for many thousands of migrants who swarm to our sunny shores each year. Yet beyond this vision of wellness and work-life balance, Australia shines as one of the best places to move to for employment and social opportunities.

A new global study by international insurance provider William Russell has ranked the world's most welcoming countries for expats in 2026. Rather than simply looking at how easy it is to secure a visa, the research took into consideration real expat experiences, current migrant populations, foreign-born employment rates, local attitudes towards immigrants and safety levels. By combining these factors, the result provides a better picture of which destinations are genuinely welcoming for newcomers – not just on arrival, but over the long term.

Overall, smaller, developed nations dominate the top ten most welcoming countries ranking, with Iceland, Luxembourg and New Zealand leading the pack. Australia follows at number four, boasting one of the world’s biggest migrant populations of 30.4 per cent – almost double the global average – alongside one of the strongest foreign-born employment rates at 77.5 per cent.

While Australia scores highly on social and employment integration, it falls behind dramatically in visa openness. With a visa score of just 34 – meaning very few nationalities can enter the country without a prearranged visa – Australia ranks the lowest of any top-ten nation, trailing far behind Iceland and Luxembourg, which both boast scores of 93.

So, while being named the world’s fourth-most welcoming country for expats sounds great, we’ve still got work to do. Aussies considering a stint abroad can check out the full breakdown of potential destinations here.

The 10 most welcoming countries for expats

1. Iceland
2. Luxembourg
3. New Zealand
4. Australia
5. Switzerland
6. Ireland
7. Colombia
8. Czech Republic
9. Portugal
10. Austria

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

RECOMMENDED:

Three Aussie capitals have been named in the world’s 10 most liveable cities

How Aussies can do Euro summer on a budget this year