Whereas Spain stays a extremely standard vacation spot, curiosity amongst Brits in shifting there could have waned, analysis suggests.
Spain has lengthy been a go-to spot for thousands and thousands of British sunseekers. (Picture: Getty)
Searches for Spain amongst potential British expats have plunged as focus turns to a different sunny European nation, analysis suggests. Spain has lengthy been among the many hottest locations for UK holidaymakers, and Britons constantly rank among the many prime international resident populations.
The rise of low-budget air journey means flights to the continent might be cheaper and faster than a practice journey to some elements of Britain, which has helped gas a proliferation of Britons upping sticks to the nation. The southern and japanese Mediterranean coast is especially standard amongst them, with enormous communities of expatriate Brits in locations like Alicante on the Costa Blanca and Malaga on the Costa del Sol.
Nonetheless, analysis by consultants at worldwide elimination firm 1st Transfer Worldwide means that whereas Spain stays a extremely standard vacation spot, curiosity in shifting there could have waned.
They analysed UK Google search information to disclose which nations are seeing the largest rises and falls in emigration-related curiosity, evaluating searches between September 2023 and August 2024, to September 2024 to August 2025.
It discovered that whereas Spain nonetheless ranks eighth amongst nations with the very best variety of relocation searches from September 2024 to August 2025, it additionally featured within the prime 10 with the steepest year-on-year drop, down 28%. The agency claims the discovering suggests emigration might drop over 2026 and the approaching years.
In the meantime, their figures additionally point out neighbour Portugal (which ranked sixth in essentially the most searched locations) could change into Brits’ new various to Spain, with searches rising 4% year-on-year.
Google searches worldwide throughout the date ranges examined have been used to establish essentially the most fascinating nations to maneuver to, based on Google Advertisements Key phrase Planner. The search phrases ‘To migrate to [COUNTRY], Dwelling in [COUNTRY]’ and ‘Transfer to [COUNTRY]’ have been used.
Nonetheless, it is price noting that the figures replicate web searches for a restricted set of phrases and usually are not primarily based on official migration figures.
Mike Harvey, managing director at 1st Transfer Worldwide, advised numerous components, together with new taxes designed to curb overtourism and sort out the Spanish housing disaster, could also be behind the shift.
He stated: “Spain’s lengthy been a UK favorite for retirees and Brits on the lookout for a hotter, calmer tempo of life, and for now that continues to be true.
“Nonetheless, mass tourism and the choice to impose taxes on international property patrons have affected affordability, making it extra advanced for retirees and long-term residents to maneuver to Spain.
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“Whereas these measures goal to handle housing shortages, they could even have unintended penalties for worldwide patrons and people looking for a versatile way of life overseas.
“Spain’s curiosity amongst Brits has begun to dip, and neighbour Portugal could take Spain’s crown within the coming years. Portugal’s already firmly amongst Brits’ prime 10 expat hotspots, and it’s creeping up the ladder with emigration searches rising by 18.90% yr on yr.”
The ten nations declining essentially the most for Brits to maneuver to (primarily based on % change in searches between Sep 2023 – Aug 2024 and Sep 2024 – Aug 2025) embody:
- Rwanda (-71.7%)
- Iceland (-56.2%)
- El Salvador (-36.6%)
- Saudi Arabia (-33.3%)
- Jordan (-32.1%)
- Ghana (-31.7%)
- Turkey (-31.3%)
- Kenya (-28.2%)
- Spain (-28.1%)
- Canada (-28.0%)
The highest 10 most fascinating nations to maneuver to (primarily based on complete relocation searches from September 2024 to August 2025) have been:
- Canada (269,220)
- Australia (207,900)
- Eire (179,400)
- New Zealand (177,700)
- Japan (172,880)
- Portugal (170,030)
- Costa Rica (127,880)
- Spain (127,670)
- Netherlands (127,100)
- Thailand (126,960)
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