Would you like to receive money to move to Italy or Spain? Here are the cities that need new residents and are therefore willing to offer busloads of money.
Across Europe, cities with ever-shrinking populations have come up with a radical solution to attract new residents: they offer money to whoever moves to their city, reports Euronews .
Many rural areas face an aging population as young people move to cities or choose not to have children. To overcome this, some local governments encourage foreigners to settle with resettlement support and cash.
From Spain to Italy, here are the places in Europe that are paying people to move there:
Albinen, Switzerland
Located in the Swiss Alps, Albinen is home to less than 250 residents. To replenish the population, the small settlement offers families over 50,000 euros if they move there. Adults under 45 receive €25,300 for moving, plus €10,120 per child. Only Swiss citizens or foreigners who have lived in Switzerland long enough to obtain a C residence permit can participate in the program. Applicants must live in an apartment worth at least 202,310 euros and have lived in Albinen for 10 years.
According to the local council, they receive up to 100 inquiries a day, so if you're thinking of applying, be prepared to be patient.
Ponga, Spain
Ponga is a town of 600 people in the north-west of Spain. The city pays Britons £2,600 each to move there. An additional £2,600 is given for every child born there. With its UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve in the heart of the Cantabrian Mountains, the city is a hiker's paradise. It is only an hour's drive from the beach. In order for the British to take advantage of the offer, they must commit to staying in Ponga for at least five years.
Rubia, Spain
The Spanish village of Rubia in Galicia pays foreigners up to 150 euros a month if they settle there. The program targets families in hopes of increasing enrollment in local schools. Rubia is located in northwestern Spain, 2.5 hours east of Santiago de Compostela.
Calabria, Italy
In Calabria, the southwestern region of Italy, those who would like to move here can earn up to 28,000 euros. The village has about 2,000 inhabitants. The aim of the initiative is to fight against depopulation. Applicants must be 40 years of age or younger and move to the region within 90 days of their application being accepted. In addition, they must start a business or find work in a sector where more workers are needed.
Sardinia, Italy
The Italian island of Sardinia is offering €15,000 to move there. Known for its sandy beaches, blue skies and turquoise waters, the Mediterranean idyll is facing a shrinking rural population as young locals move abroad for work. To combat emigration, the government allocated more than 45 million euros for resettlement support. The condition for eligibility for support is to move to a Sardinian settlement with a population of less than 3,000 people. The money must also be used for the purchase or renovation of a home.
Ireland
Ireland is offering generous sums of money to those willing to move to one of the country's remote islands. The initiative is part of the government's policy to increase the population of the 30 settlements cut off by the tide. As part of the project, the Government of Ireland will pay more than €80,000 to new residents of the communities. Prospective residents must purchase property on one of the islands.
Featured Image: Ponga/Spain/ Photo: Expedia.com
