Where to move & work if over 50.
Posted by fabfrankie401@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Hi. I'm a bit over 50. I work in the medical field in rehabilitation. I want to move from the us mainly due to our health care system. I was looking at Portugal but would also consider a non-European country. Many places don't seem to take older folks as workers. Any leads?
satedrabbit@reddit
At 50+, the points based systems are out. 3 down (Canada/Australia/New Zealand) and I guess the US as well.
191 countries to go:
1: Which languages do you speak fluently? (healthcare-level fluent)
2: Which degree do you hold? (not asking about experience)
fabfrankie401@reddit (OP)
Oof. No languages fluently although I speak a few languages extremely little like French and Korean! Mainly just some nouns in Korean. And have a MHA.
satedrabbit@reddit
An MHA might be tricky, compared to a physiotherapist, psychologist or occupational therapist. Still...
Remaining English-speaking:
Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Burundi, Cameroon, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Israel, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, UAE, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
That has taken us from 195 -> 63 potential destinations. A more manageable number, but still too many to deep-dive into & some of the 63 are probably not on your wish list.
Split them into two groups: The ones you want to move to and the ones you do not want to move to.
For the ones you want to move to, start researching possible pathways for an MHA (whether you need authorization, job boards, if relevant jobs are gated by citizenship etc.).
fabfrankie401@reddit (OP)
Wow. This is a crazy helpful response. Planning to visit Belize as soon as possible and see what it's like.
pinheadzombie@reddit
I live in Belize. It's great. My wife and I work online. Live in Hopkins. Stay away from San Pedro (expensive tourist trap).
fabfrankie401@reddit (OP)
Mind if I ask if you're inland? Or near the beach?
pinheadzombie@reddit
Hopkins is a coastal village on the mainland. Lots of beachfront. My house is a 3 or 4 minute walk to the beach. Join the Facebook group Hopkins Belize Beach Group
FinestTreesInDa7Seas@reddit
That's not true about Canada in OP's situation. Yes some of the immigration pathways give a strong advantage to younger people, but that doesn't disqualify someone aged 50+, especially if they're a health care worker.
/u/fabfrankie401 look into the Provincial Nominee Programs available in Canada. Several Canadian provinces have a PNP immigration path that fast tracks health care workers into permanent residency.
These PNP paths add 600 points to your CRS score, which basically launches you into the threshold of guaranteed permanent residency invitation.
Domminii@reddit
Ever thought of Canada...?
We seem to be taking in healthcare workers from the US hand over fist at the minute.
Plus there's lots of opportunities too.
idranej@reddit
Yep, this. Check out Tod Maffin and his Healthcare Infusion.
Mammoth_List_2904@reddit
Getting the job is one thing. Qualifying for PR is an entirely different animal. It will not happen for a person over 45 barring exceptional circumstances.
Domminii@reddit
Nope.
My bestie works in Healthcare as do many of my friends, since Trump hacked everyone off up here our government has made deliberate inroads to steal US doctors, nurses and Healthcare staff.
Plus we have a shortage.
Where I live has had a shortage that's so bad the local hospitals are often on divert because of a lack of staff.
Independent_Drink714@reddit
Don't Portuguese (and all EU member countries) employers have to prove that the position cannot be filled by a suitable candidate from any of the EU member countries before it can offer a non EU candidate a contract? And that's before a work visa can be applied for. Do you have the kind of unique and desirable skills, experience and qualifications to get a job offer and "visa sponsorship"? What about working remotely? Would you/could you qualify for a Digital Nomad Visa for any country? Can you afford to retire, at least for some years, and qualify for a non working visa for any country?
SaltyPiglette@reddit
Digital nomad visas would require him to have remote income before he apllies for the visa.
However, it woikd be fairly easy for a European country to prove they don't have enough doctors sicne they just don't have enough doctors anywhere.
Independent_Drink714@reddit
Yes, indeed. However, medical qualifications, of any sort, require homoglating in order to be able to work in any EU country. That takes about as long as finding a remote job in, say, telehealth, or building up a remote client base to be self-employed. Not even doctors can move to another country easily if they want to work as a medical professional.
Michaelreidhooper@reddit
Consider Puerto Rico, a US territory, an island with a vibrant latino culture with great weather and beautiful people. Most people speak some English. everything is transacted in US dollar. Culture is thriving inspired by Bad Bunny, beaches are fabulous, snowbirds flock here every winter.
fabfrankie401@reddit (OP)
I love Puerto Rico! Was there earlier this year
TheMedinas@reddit
I’m not currently working but moved down to Australia, I’m sure finding a job wouldn’t be an issue.
freebiscuit2002@reddit
It's not so much the country, but employers. Like it or not, conventional wisdom is that you are approaching the end of your working life.
Which employers in which foreign country do you envisage investing in you as a new employee, when - optimistically - you have maybe a decade of productive work left?
Impressive_Let_1081@reddit
For non-European options, you might look into countries like Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, where there's demand for healthcare professionals and a more inclusive approach to older workers. Rehabilitation roles are often in demand, especially in areas with aging populations.
Tardislass@reddit
Are you retired are soon to be? Because ageism is much worse in Europe and overseas. I Europe 50 year old are looked up as being close to retirement and will likely not get hired except in top roles.
My advice is to keep working hard and save so if you do want a retirement visa you can get it. Of course ancestry is another route. Also look at how healthcare works in different countries. For many you can’t just move over and automatically get free insurance
fabfrankie401@reddit (OP)
Not planning on retirement anytime soon. I was thinking it might be advantageous to move somewhere where there are many expats to help that community.
Professional-Yak1392@reddit
Portugal sounds like a good fit for rehab skills. Don't worry 'bout age; experience is often valued here. You'll need to check work visa options like the D7. Make sure your CV is tailored for Europe. Some job sites in local languages can really help. Good luck!
ContextRules@reddit
Many will take older workers with transferable qualifications. They will also take older student if you want to invest and gain a qualification. It was far far easier for me to get a job once I was in the country.
HVP2019@reddit
Sure, immigration to some countries becomes very difficult for specific category of immigrants who are older. For example older immigrants will less likely obtain work related visas in countries like Canada or Australia.
That said, there are countries that make it easier to immigrate for older people for example some countries have retirement visa or not lucrative type visas.
But mostly legal immigration, settling abroad, finding employment can be difficult for any person of any age.
We have no idea where you are from to suggest that Portugal is better for you than other countries and what countries would be an improvement for you.
There are 180+ countries, each with more than one pathway to legal immigration, so there are many options, so it can be a lot of work navigating which one are to focus on.