RUE Britannia, Britannia rues the waves – of disbelief, dismay and despondency that have been rippling across the nation since Alistair Darling’s Budget Day, when he declared class war on high earners and made ridiculously optimistic forecasts about economic recovery, while cheerfully ratcheting national debt up to £1.4 trillion by 2014. It’s time to quit. And if he won’t, maybe we should. It’s not as if there’s anything to stay for, now you can buy the Best of British aka Eccles Cakes, PG Tips and Fray Bentos online and have it delivered straight to your Andalusian finca. Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that in 2006 a total of 207,000 UK citizens left the country – that’s one every three minutes. And isn’t the prospect of joining them a secretly thrilling thought? Now that anyone earning over £150,000 is to be hit with a 50 per cent income tax rate, an exodus from the City has been predicted, but where to go? You could choose a far-flung location on a whim, or close your eyes, stick a pin in a map (squinting a bit just to make sure you don’t land in the Falklands) and head to the airport. Yes, Ryanair might charge you £200,000 in excess baggage fees but that’s a small price to pay for the sweet smell of freedom. The more circumspect among you might prefer to do a little research in advance, so to help you on your way, we’ve provided a handy guide to living abroad. It’s possible you might gaze over the geopolitical garden fence and discover that the grass is, in fact, greener at home. Possible, but highly unlikely. During the 1992 election the front page of The Sun asked “Will the last person to leave Britain please turn off the light?” in the event that the then Labour leader Neil Kinnock became Prime Minister. He didn’t. But many of us are thinking the same thing now. How will history judge Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, under whose watch the country has been brought to its knees? What will future generations make of their catastrophic policies and intemperate borrowing? Where will it all end? Who cares? We’re off. NEW ZEALAND Why go? A total detox from the urban rat-race. Population: 4.3 million in a country roughly the same area as the UK. Life expectancy: 78 Tax: 33 per cent State pension: Yes, but if you haven't made sufficient contributions you can also transfer your UK pension. You need to have lived and paid taxes in NZ for a total of 10 years since you turned 20 or 5 years since you turned 50 to qualify. Property: Average prices now above £150,000 – but renting is cheap. Employment: Very limited in rural NZ, but elsewhere lots of opportunities for anyone with a skill – from plumbers to neurosurgeons. State education: Full provision for residents. Go to the cities for top quality secondary education. Healthcare: Good standard provided through a version of a national insurance scheme, but you need to pay at some points, including for adult GP consultations. Crime: Very low by UK standards; national figures are skewed by small pockets of crime in big cities. Lifestyle: A typical weekend could include kayaking, fly fishing, mountain biking or walking on some of the world's most celebrated hiking tracks. Weather: Not unlike the UK but beware the Kiwi belief that central heating is for sissies. The people – do they bite? New Zealanders are straight-talking, generous people, who hate pretentiousness. Give favours, repay favours and you won't go wrong. And remember, no whingeing from the Poms, please. Food & drink: Cheaper than the UK by about 20 per cent, but wages are low, so if you earn in NZ dollars the weekly supermarket shop will not feel cheap. Countryside: Epic – it was not for nothing that NZ was chosen as the location for Lord of the Rings. How easy to get in? NZ suffers from a brain-drain to Australia and Europe, so the authorities are actively seeking migrants. However they want quality, not quantity. If you have skills you will pass the points test for residency easily. Peter Foster USA Why go? Unless you have no money, America is a very comfortable place to live. The natives are friendly, the language is not dissimilar to that in the UK and the culture is sufficiently alien to make you feel you are definitely living in a foreign country. Population: 306 million Life expectancy: Currently just under 78 but forecast to rise to the mid 80s by 2050. Tax: 40 per cent State pension: Yes but small. Americans who don’t have a job-related “retirement plan” will be in trouble. Property: The average price of a home ranges from $251,200 (£171,846) in the Northeast to $146,700 in the South. American houses tend towards the large, three bedrooms at least, usually at the expense of small gardens. Employment: Rising unemployment (13.2 million). Foreigners must either have a job with a British-based employer or have a US company prove they couldn’t find an American to do the job. Education: A mixed bag but not great. As in the UK, primary schools tend to be much better than high schools, many of which now have metal detectors at the entrance. School catchment areas are tightly “zoned” and state housing is limited, which often means that affluent areas have good schools. Health care: Virtually everyone has health insurance, which is expensive, as state health care is limited to the very poor. A family of five in New York can expect to pay $18,000 a year for health insurance. Crime: Rates vary enormously across the states and within them. Hotspots such as New Orleans (32.5 murders per 100,000 people) push up the statistics considerably. Gun crime is high. New England has by far the lowest crime rates, both violent and property crimes. States in the South tend to be the worst. Lifestyle: In a country this large, there is something for everyone. Weather: Tends towards extremes. California has all round balmy sunshine, Midwest states like the Dakotas are freezing cold in winter, blisteringly hot in the summer. In general, weather conditions in spring and autumn tend to be pleasant, summer and winter tend to go over the top. The people – do they bite? Considering the level of provocation, it is amazing how well-disposed Americans continue to be towards the British. Of course, a lot of it has to do with the accent. Americans are pretty civilised towards each other, too. Food & drink: Food, once cheap, has shot up in price largely due to increased fuel prices. Wine is expensive, beer cheap. Restaurants are relatively cheap compared to the UK but remember to factor in the 16-20 per cent tip. Countryside: There’s a good reason why so many Americans don’t have passports. Their country has everything in terms of geographical features and attractions. Much of it is in private hands and out of bounds, but the national parks, such as Yosemite and Yellowstone, contain some of the most stunning scenery in America. How easy is it to get in? Without a visa, foreigners are limited to just 90 days a year inside the US. To live here legally, you need to either work for a British company sponsoring your stay or for an American one that has to go through many bureaucratic hoops before they can offer you a job. Tom Leonard ITALY Why go? Roman ruins, Renaissance treasures and some of the world's most beautiful cities. The food can be sublime. Population: 60 million, including nearly three million foreign residents. Life expectancy: 77 years for a man; 83 for a woman Tax: For earnings up to 70,000 euros, the tax rate is 39 per cent. After that it rises to 45 per cent. Tax evasion is rife, though. State pension: Workers used to retire on 100 per cent of their final wage, but it's being pared back. Property: Ruined farmhouses are plentiful, but renovating them is expensive. Renting is widespread but not cheap. For a decent two-bedroom apartment in central Rome, expect to pay at least 2,500 euros a month. Employment: Unemployment will reach nine per cent this year and rise to nearly 11 per cent in 2010. There are still jobs for foreign professionals, but many posts require proficiency in Italian. Education: The standard varies, with the best education provided by the elite classico and scientifico secondary schools. Health care: State-run hospitals are clean, well-run and capable. Crime: It has fallen in the last decade. City centres are generally safe at night. Lifestyle: La dolce vita – art, opera, shopping and pasta. Weather: Winters are short, summers are long. The people – do they bite? Italians are, on the whole, friendly and warm towards foreigners, and they love children. Football is a religion and a guaranteed conversation starter with strangers. Food & drink: For food, transport and rent, Italy is now often as expensive as Britain. Countryside: Beautiful and varied, ranging from the classic Tuscan landscape of wheat fields and poplar trees to the saw-toothed ridges of the Dolomites in the north and the simmering volcanoes in the south. How easy is to get in? As EU members, Britons have the right to work and live in Italy. Nick Squires AUSTRALIA Why go? Head Down Under if you value working to live and enjoy life, rather than living to work. Population: 21.7 million Life expectancy: 79 years (men), 84 years (women). Tax: Highest rate is 45 per cent. State pension: Means tested pension of up to about A$200 (£96.39) per week for a single person or about $350 (£168.68) per week for a couple. Residency of 10 years minimum required. Property: Sydney is the most expensive with average house prices of around A$570,000 (£274,708), apartments from A$400,000 (£192,777), but harbour or beach properties in excess of A$10m. Rental prices high in the inner cities. Employment: Jobless rate (5.7 per cent) set to rise to almost 8 per cent by 2010. Education: Excellent, 8th on a global scale. Health care: Australia's version of the NHS, Medicare, co-exists with a private health system. Crime: Property offences are declining while assaults and sexual assaults continue to rise. Lifestyle: Outdoors, either eating and drinking or exercising. Aussies are early risers and pavements are busy by 5am, with joggers, cyclists and dog walkers. Most finish work by 6pm. Contrary to myth, a varied and stimulating cultural life is on offer. Weather: Australia is very dry and experiencing a long-running drought. Summer temperatures can reach 50C and winter ones can fall below zero, depending on location. The people – do they bite? Aussies are friendly, hardworking, obsessed with sport and hugely competitive. They are fiercely proud of their country. Food & drink: High quality fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. Some of the best Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese in the world. Excellent wine and beer. Countryside: Pristine beaches, lush rainforest, red desert, vineyards, snow-capped mountains, convict relics, aboriginal sacred sites, rolling mountains, huge harbours, the Great Barrier Reef. How easy is to get in? Hard, but not impossible. If you are under 30, speak fluent English, have a skill on the skilled occupations list and have worked or studied in Australia. Marrying an Australian helps. Bonnie Malkin GERMANY Why go? Feels reassuringly British, but things work better Population: 83 million Life expectancy: 76 for men; 82 for women Tax: From 0-45 percent, with an additional 5.5 percent (of income tax) Solidarity Charge (nominally for rebuilding the East). State pension: Mandatory contributions, at 19.5 per cent of gross salary, shared equally between employer and employee. Pension pay outs, beginning at 65, aimed to be 70 percent of net monthly salary. Property: Prices vary hugely, with the most expensive cities being Hamburg and Munich. Berlin is still relatively cheap although prices have been pushed up by foreign investors. In the former east, a country house with a few acres can be picked up in Brandenburg for only tens of thousands of euros. Employment: Unemployment now at 8.6 per cent, expected to hit four million, up from 3.4 million now. German often needed. Hierarchical working practices may seem frustrating. Education: High standards are slipping. School age begins at six. Crucial exams come early – at 10 or 12 – and decide whether students go to more or less academic institutions. Health care: State health plans around 14 per cent of gross income. Generally excellent with a high ratio of doctors to patients. Crime: Major cities are extremely safe, and instances of violent crime generate big headlines. There were 734 murders in 2007, with a 97 per cent clear-up rate. Lifestyle: It's not all beer and football. Weather: Berlin can be as rainy as London, but is much colder in winter. Summers are warmer. Milder in the south. The people – do they bite? Germans are seen as humourless. The casual visitor may be tempted to agree, especially in the more austere north. Food & drink: Hearty sausages and good, cheap beer. No place for vegetarians. Countryside: Mountains, lowlands, vineyards, forests and lakes… Germany has it all. How easy is it to get in? Very – it's in the EU. Harry de Quetteville FRANCE Why Go? Higher quality of life, better climate, better food and drink, more space. Population: 65 million Life expectancy: 78 for men; 84 for women. Tax: France is making efforts to shed its heavy tax image. The right-wing government has brought down the maximum income tax rate to 40 per cent and an overall tax and social charges ceiling of 50 per cent. Self-employed can expect to hand over from 40-50 per cent of their profits. State pension: Your state pension entitlement is not affected, should you decide to move before or during your retirement, provided you inform the pension service. If you are sent abroad by your employer, you can remain in your UK company pension scheme for up to five years. Property: Costs roughly a third less than in the UK. It is difficult to buy a livable-in property for less than 100,000 euros (just under £100,000), but prices vary hugely. Prices climbed rapidly in the past decade but fell by 2.5 per cent last year adn are expected to remain stable over the next two years. If you don't plan to keep a property for at least five years, renting is the best option. Employment: Due to its stricter lending rules and more generous social system, France has been less hard-hit by the financial crisis. However, the jobless rate is expected to reach 10 per cent this year with more than two million unemployed. But English speakers are still in high demand. Education: High standard with less of a gap between the state and private sector. All private schools receive state subsidies. Free maternelle or infant system for 3-6-year-olds is unrivalled. The top Grandes Ecoles are very well-considered but underfunded universities are poor. Health care: Considered to be the best in the world. This is available if you have a job and are paying into the French system. However, new rules mean those without French salaries and below the official retirement age need private insurance for the first five years. Crime: Violent crime and thefts against property rising. Lifestyle: Great food and drink and general quality of life. Weather: A warmer climate, depending on how far South you go. Areas south of the Loire are said to enjoy consistently finer weather than above that line. The people – do they bite? Welcoming to those who make an effort to integrate. Get ready to shake hands and kiss a lot – an integral part of everyday French life. Use the polite vous form and respect people's titles, such as Monsieur le maire. Food & drink: Cheaper and of higher quality than in the UK Countryside: All manner of landscapes, from the Alps to the Rivieria, from the Loire to the wild Breton coast. How easy is it to get in? British citizens need a valid passport, and then have up to 3 months to apply for a EU resident permit, valid for five years. Henry Samuel SINGAPORE Why go? Clean, safe and superbly organised and cosmopolitan. Population: 4.5 million Life expectancy: 79.29 for men; 84.68 for women - the fourth longest in the world. Tax: 14-20 per cent State pension: All Singaporeans contribute to a compulsory state savings scheme that they can withdraw from after turning 55. Property: After rising for several years, prices started to slide last year. It is still not exactly cheap - in 2008 it was the 9th most expensive market in the world - it could be £1,000 a square foot for a dowtown apartment but a quarter of that in the suburbs, where you can get a three-bedroom flat for £325,000. Employment: Unemployment is 2.3 per cent. Education: Students top the world in science and maths. The downside, critics say, is an ultra-competitive hot-house atmosphere that emphasises rote learning above creative thinking. Health care: The World Health Organisation rates it one of the best systems in the world. Crime: The list of crimes in Singapore is long and the punishments severe. Few of the state's compliant citizens are willing to risk fines for spitting, lashes for vandalism, imprisonment for political dissent or death for drug smuggling. Lifestyle: With its kaleidoscope of buzzing bars and cocktail lounges, Singapore likes nothing better than a party. Weather: Either hot and sunny, hot and humid or hot and raining hard. The people - do they bite? Opinions differ between expats who enjoy Singapore's slick and trendy sense of order and others spooked by the conformity and apparent lack of independent thought. Food & drink: The best bit about Singapore. Chinatown and Little India have many delicacies, many of them cheap. Countryside: There are nature parks and beaches. How easy is it to get in? No visa is required for British visitors. Permanent resident status is available for people offered jobs in Singapore or investors and entrepreneurs. Tom Bell CANADA Why go? The Canadian dollar goes a long way. Big skies and open roads. Population: 33 million. Life expectancy: 78 for men; 82.7 for women. Tax: A top rate of 29 per cent on earnings over $126,264. State Pension: You can have your UK pension paid into your Canadian bank account but the amount will be frozen from the date you move. Property: House prices are 30-50 per cent lower than the UK. Employment: Unemployment is 8 per cent – the highest rate in seven years. Education: Canada spends a hefty 7 per cent of GDP on education. State schools are good. About 8 per cent of students are in prviate schools, some of which try to replicate British public schools. Health care: State-funded universal healthcare Crime: The crime rate has been in decline since 1991. Lifestyle: A great mix of the North American work ethic and the European social sensibility. Weather: Very cold winters but high temperatures in the (short) summer. The people do they bite? Canadians have a reputation for being some of the friendliest people in the world. Food & drink: Restaurants cheaper than London. Countryside: The Rockies offer some of the world's best skiing, and some of the most extraordinary landscapes. The Pacific islands have amazing wildlife and fishing. How easy is it to get in? Up to 144,600 visas available to fill skilled vacancies in 2009. Melissa WhitworthTime to bail out of Britain?
After the worst budget in memory, it may be time to leave the country. Here, our correspondents guide you through the options abroad.
Friday, 24 April 2009
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