British workers considering a move overseas in 2027 are increasingly likely to weigh career prospects alongside climate, cost of living, language and the practicalities of securing the right to work abroad.
An estimated 246,000 British nationals left the UK to live overseas for at least 12 months in 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics, highlighting the scale of international mobility among British workers.
Research from international employment specialist Agility EOR identifies Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Australia as destinations that could prove particularly attractive to British workers next year, although each offers a different combination of professional opportunity and lifestyle.
Portugal
Portugal offers a combination of warmer weather, coastal living and established international communities that has helped make it a popular destination for British workers and other expatriates.
Portuguese is the country’s official language, although English is widely spoken, particularly in business and areas with large international populations.
The country has also developed a growing technology sector. More than 120 foreign companies have established digital-sector operations in Portugal over the past decade, potentially broadening opportunities for professionals seeking to combine an overseas lifestyle with access to international employers.
For British workers, the attraction therefore extends beyond the country’s climate and quality of life to an increasingly developed professional ecosystem.
Ireland
Ireland provides a different proposition for workers who want an international move without a major cultural or geographic break from the UK.
The country is English-speaking and closely integrated with Britain, while the Common Travel Area allows British citizens to live and work in Ireland without requiring a visa, residence permit or employment permit.
That makes Ireland one of the least administratively complex destinations for British workers seeking to establish themselves abroad.
Its proximity to the UK may also allow employees to maintain relatively close family and professional links while gaining access to a different labour market.
Spain
Spain remains a popular destination for Britons attracted by warmer weather, outdoor living and a slower pace of life.
The country also has one of Europe’s largest established British communities, with 281,584 UK-born residents recorded at the beginning of 2025.
For remote workers, Spain offers an additional route into the labour market through its international remote worker scheme, which can allow eligible employees to continue working for an overseas employer while living in the country.
Language is a greater consideration than in Ireland or Australia. For some workers, however, learning Spanish may form part of the attraction of relocating rather than simply representing an additional barrier.
Australia
Australia offers the most substantial geographical and lifestyle change among the four destinations, but its shared language, established British community and demand for skilled workers continue to make it an attractive option.
The longstanding migration links between the two countries remain significant. England was Australia’s second-largest overseas birthplace, with 970,950 England-born residents recorded in June 2025.
The route into Australia’s labour market is more restrictive than in Ireland, however. Skilled migration operates through a points-based system in which occupation, qualifications, professional experience and age can all influence eligibility.
British workers can alternatively seek employer sponsorship through routes including the Skills in Demand and Employer Nomination Scheme visas. These pathways are based on having an eligible job offer and meeting minimum salary requirements rather than securing a points-based invitation.
Career prospects become increasingly important
Scott Winter, co-founder of Agility EOR, said the motivations behind international relocation were changing as workers considered the practical implications of building careers abroad.
He said: “People still want many of the same things from a move overseas: a better quality of life, warmer weather, new experiences and the opportunity to earn a good living. But increasingly, the question is not simply ‘where would I like to live?’ but ‘where can I realistically build my career?’ Language is part of that decision too, whether someone wants the familiarity of an English-speaking country or sees learning a new language as part of the experience.
“Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Australia offer very different propositions, but all combine lifestyle appeal with opportunities for people who want to build their careers overseas. We expect international mobility to become an increasingly important part of workforce planning in 2027.”
The four destinations illustrate the increasingly varied calculations facing British workers considering an international move.
Ireland offers the simplest administrative transition, Portugal combines lifestyle appeal with a growing digital economy, Spain provides established British communities alongside opportunities for remote workers, while Australia offers a more distant but potentially larger career and lifestyle shift.
For employers, meanwhile, the growth in international mobility is likely to make the ability to recruit and retain workers across borders an increasingly important consideration in workforce planning.
The choice of destination is consequently becoming less about where workers would most like to live and more about where they can realistically establish both a life and a career.
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