For many people considering moving abroad, the language barrier is one of the biggest hurdles.
You may feel like you can’t, don’t have the time, or just don’t want to learn a new language, but the fear of not being able to communicate in your second homeland can be unpleasant.
Fortunately, there are many destinations around the world where English is widely spoken, so mastering a new language doesn’t have to be a prerequisite for a new adventure abroad.
Here are some top options for destinations where you can meet English-speaking locals and find an easy route to life abroad…
Belize
Belize was once a British colony, so the official language is English. In fact, it is the only officially English-speaking country in Central America.
Approximately 83% of the country speaks English as a first language, but many also speak Creole and Spanish.
Rental and legal agreements are concluded in English. There are staff members who can speak English at all times at the clinic. Media and news are delivered in English. The average person you come into contact with, whether it’s a cashier or a government employee, speaks English.
This ease of language is a big reason why many American and Canadian expatriates choose to immigrate to Belize.
Additionally, the people are kind, open-minded and diverse, and the country has an excellent residency program.
Additionally, Belize offers Caribbean living at a much lower cost than other parts of the region. A good starting point for costs here is around $1,500 per month.
When it comes to residency options, things are simple. Applicants age 40 or older who have a Qualified Retirement Program (QRP) and can prove that their monthly income from external sources (such as pensions or Social Security) is $2,000 are eligible.
Alternatively, you can travel to Belize and stay for 12 months to continually renew your tourist visa. You can then submit an application for a permanent residence permit.
For many foreigners, the laid-back lifestyle and “live and let live” attitude of the locals here is a big selling point.
Malta
Malta, a former British colony, has two official languages: English and Maltese. Approximately 88% of the population can speak English fluently and laws are written in both languages, so there should be no problem understanding or being understood by the locals.
Residency options here include citizenship by investment, permanent residence programs, family visas, and habitual residence programs.
The general housing system is the most popular. The main requirements are proof of a net worth of his €14,000 for singles and €23,000 for couples, a stay of at least 183 days per calendar year in Malta, and proof of domestic address. Real estate purchase or rental agreement.
Once he has been a legal resident of Malta for five years, he can apply for permanent residence.
Malta also offers excellent healthcare, natural beauty, a wonderful climate (daytime temperatures are around 23 degrees year-round), a rich history, a large expat community, and friendly locals.
On the downside, Malta is small and popular, so beaches are often crowded and traffic jams can occur, especially in the capital, Valletta.
Philippines
Located approximately 500 miles off the southeast coast of China and northeast of Borneo, the Philippines is a breathtaking archipelago of more than 7,000 islands.
It was colonized by the Spanish in 1521 and continues to influence the architecture, names, food, and more today. In fact, Spanish has been the official language of the Philippines for over three centuries and remained the lingua franca until the 21st century. Currently, Filipino and English are the official languages.
The Philippines was a colony of the United States from her 1898 to 1946 and is now considered one of the largest English-speaking countries in the world, so English has official status. English is the language of business and law and is spoken by more than half of the country’s population, approximately 118 million people in total.
The Philippine Pension Commission offers several options to those wishing to immigrate to the Philippines. The most popular and well-known of these is the Special Resident Retirement Visa.
To qualify, applicants must be 50 years of age or older, receive a monthly pension of $800 ($1,000 per month for married couples), and have at least $10,000 deposited into a Philippine bank account. There is a need. If she is unable to provide proof of her monthly pension, she can deposit $20,000 into a local bank account instead.
The Philippines also offers world-class healthcare, with the world’s only overseas veterans hospital, Manila regional office and outpatient clinic. In addition to world-class beaches, a tropical climate, and a low cost of living, couples can live very comfortably for as little as $2,000 a month. And it becomes a great option for retiring abroad.
These are just some of the options for retiring abroad without learning a new language. However, in reality, there are areas in many countries where it is easy to get by in English.
In Europe, think Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, and France. These areas have large English-speaking locals, large numbers of international immigrants, and healthy tourism industries. If you combine both, you’ll be able to get by in English just fine.
In Mexico, Lake Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto del Carmen, Cancun, Guadalajara and San Miguel de Allende are suitable for English-only speakers, as are Panama’s expat havens Boquete and Coronado. It is the same.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to learn as much of the local language as possible wherever you go. Locals will appreciate it and it will expand your social circle, but fluency is by no means a must before packing your bags to go to pastures new.
