Introduction: A new wave of global movers
For decades, international moving companies have catered mostly to corporate relocations, students, and young professionals chasing career opportunities. But a quieter, yet rapidly expanding wave of movers is now reshaping the market: retirees.
From the sunny coastlines of Spain to the lush valleys of Costa Rica and the bustling streets of Bangkok, retirees are increasingly packing up and starting new chapters abroad. What used to be a niche lifestyle choice is becoming mainstream, driven by longer life expectancy, better healthcare mobility, and a desire to make retirement savings stretch further.
For international moving companies, this demographic shift is more than a curiosity; it’s an opportunity. Retirees aren’t just moving across borders; they’re bringing unique needs, higher expectations for service, and a willingness to invest in peace of mind. To capture this market, movers need to understand where retirees are going, why they’re leaving, and how to tailor services for them.
In this article, the following subjects will be discussed:
Retiring: Then vs Now
The Bigger Picture: Retirement is Going Global
What Motivates Retirees to Move Abroad
The Current Top 10 Retiree Destinations
The New Retiree Personas Movers Will Meet
How To Communicate With Retirees (Gen X)
Looking Ahead: The Future of Retiree Relocations
Retiring: Then vs Now
Fifty years ago, retiring abroad was seen as a luxury for the wealthy or unusually adventurous. Most people expected to stay close to where they had worked, with healthcare, family, and familiar routines nearby. Relocating overseas was rare and often considered risky.
Today, it has become far more normalized and accessible. Affordable travel, digital communication, and international healthcare make distance less daunting, while many countries now offer retiree visas and expat-friendly communities. What was once unconventional is now a practical choice for those looking to stretch pensions, enjoy better healthcare, or embrace a sunnier lifestyle.
For movers, this shift means retirement relocation is no longer an exception; it’s part of the new norm.
The Bigger Picture: Retirement is Going Global
Global migration is at record highs, and while working-age movers dominate those statistics, retirees represent a growing slice. The reasons are simple:
Rising costs at home: Many retirees find their pensions stretched thin in expensive markets like the US, UK, or Northern Europe.
Longevity: People are living longer, healthier lives, and they want those extra years to be rewarding, not financially stressful.
Mobility and mindset: Post-pandemic, retirees are more open to trying new lifestyles abroad, especially after extended “trial stays” in popular destinations.
This is not just a trickle of adventurous individuals. In some destinations, retirees form visible communities that reshape local housing, healthcare, and services. That scale creates an ecosystem that movers can tap into if they position themselves as trusted partners or through established platforms like Relocately.
What Motivates Retirees to Move Abroad
Understanding motivations is key to tailoring services and messaging. Retirees typically relocate for a combination of reasons:
Stretching their retirement savings: In many destinations, a fixed pension goes 30–50% further than in the US or Northern Europe. Housing and healthcare costs are usually the biggest savings drivers.
Healthcare quality and affordability: Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, and Thailand all rank highly for accessible healthcare. For retirees, knowing they can afford ongoing treatment or emergencies is critical.
Lifestyle and climate: Warm weather, walkable cities, access to culture, and a slower pace of life are powerful motivators. Many retirees also want to join established expat communities where integration is easier.
Policy and taxes: Visa rules and pension taxation matter. Portugal’s NHR program may have ended, but its earlier success shows how tax-friendly policies can sway retiree migration. Similarly, the UK’s “frozen pensions” issue affects where British retirees choose to settle.
The Current Top 10 Retiree Destinations
1. Panama 🇵🇦
Panama is often ranked as one of the world’s best retirement destinations, thanks to its generous Pensionado program.
Reason for popularity:
Residency with discounts,
stable infrastructure,
U.S. dollar use, and
duty-free exemptions on importing household goods.
Prime origins: Mainly retirees from the U.S. and Canada.
Good to know: Because of Panamas proximity to the US, Panama is a very popular destination among US retirees, therefor focusing on this lane will result in a high quantity of leads that relocate entire households and need help with customs clearance, storage, and white-glove packing for heirlooms or furniture.
2. Portugal 🇵🇹
Portugal continues to draw retirees with its Mediterranean lifestyle, friendly culture, and affordable healthcare.
Reason for popularity:
Safety and sunshine
Thriving expat hubs like the Algarve
Retirement-focused communities such as Cascais
Prime origins: Retirees mostly from the UK, Germany, France, and increasingly the U.S.
Good to know: The coastline of Portugal is among the top destinations for retirees worldwide, a lot of older retirees like to use these destinations to escape the winter, often needing a partial household move.
3. Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Costa Rica is famous for its “Pura Vida” lifestyle and straightforward Pensionado visa.
Reason for popularity:
Political stability
Strong healthcare access
Eco-friendly and rural living options
Prime origins: Primarily retirees from North America.
Good to know: Expect shipments of household goods plus outdoor or eco-living equipment. Clients may also require assistance with enrolling in the Caja public healthcare system, and just like Panama and Mexico this is a top destination for US retirees.
4. Mexico 🇲🇽
Mexico remains the number-one retirement spot for Americans and Canadians.
Reason for popularity:
Affordable living
Cultural richness
Quality healthcare
Close to the US
Prime origins: Mostly U.S. and Canadian retirees.
Good to know: Mexico, together with Panama and Costa Rica, is a top-tier destination for US retirees. Relocations are often full households rather than trial stays. Services in demand include customs paperwork, pet relocation, and flexible storage.
5. France 🇫🇷
France is ideal for retirees who want lifestyle, culture, and excellent healthcare.
Reason for popularity:
Countryside charm
Gastronomy and culture
Wide array of destinations
One of the best healthcare systems worldwide
Prime origins: Retirees mainly from the UK, U.S., and Northern Europe.
Good to know: Just like the Portuguese coast, the south of France is a popular destination for retirees, mainly from the UK and Northern Europe, but growing in popularity with US retirees. Likewise, to Portugal, the shipments tend to be smaller.
6. Spain 🇪🇸
Spain remains a classic retirement destination with its sunshine and Mediterranean lifestyle.
Reason for popularity:
Affordable housing
Excellent healthcare for the elderly
Long-stay residency via the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV).
Prime origins: Mostly retirees from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, and North America.
Good to know: The Costa Del Sol, Costa Brava, and Costa Blanca are all top-tier retiree destinations, with places like Benidorm being jampacked with retirees. These people live in apartments so focus on the part-household shipments.
7. Thailand 🇹🇭
Thailand attracts retirees who want affordability and adventure, paired with top private healthcare.
Reason for popularity:
Low cost of living
Cultural vibrancy
The new Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa for pensioners
Prime origins: Retirees from the U.S., Europe, and Australia.
Good to know: Gaining popularity over the past decade, Thailand is slowly becoming a go to spot to retire, with mainly US or Australian retirees choosing a life in Thailand, full-household moves aren’t uncommon.
8. Malaysia 🇲🇾
Malaysia is an affordable, modern, and English-friendly hub for retirees.
Reason for popularity:
The MM2H program
Low cost of living
Strongly improved infrastructure
Prime origins: Retirees mainly from the UK, Australia, and other parts of Asia.
Good to know: Just like Thailand, Malaysia has grown in popularity; partial household shipments are most common. Storage and seasonal shipping services are often required for those splitting time between Malaysia and their home country.
9. Greece 🇬🇷
Greece is gaining momentum among retirees seeking Mediterranean living at lower costs.
Reason for popularity:
Attractive climate
Easy lifestyle
Accessible residency programs
Prime origins: Primarily retirees from Northern Europe and the UK.
Good to know: Greece is seen as the perfect destination for a winter escapade, just like Portugal. Retirees tend to move here during the winter period. Being popular among Northern Europeans and the UK, partial household moves are most common.
10. Vietnam 🇻🇳
Vietnam is an emerging retirement destination, appealing to adventurous expats.
Reason for popularity:
Very low living costs
Lively cities
Improving healthcare options
Prime origins: Retirees mainly from the U.S., Australia, and Northern Europe.
Good to know: At the bottom of the list we have Vietnam, also increasing in popularity and just like Thailand and Malaysia, people tend to move here fulltime, thus needing help with their full-household moves.
Interested in getting in contact with retirees going to these countries?
The New Retiree Personas Movers Will Meet
At Relocately we know how to target these retirees, so you as a company need to know how to convince them to move with you, and we know that not all retirees are alike. To market effectively, movers should recognize a few emerging personas:
Value-maximizers: Budget-conscious retirees focused on affordability. They often look at Mexico, Costa Rica, or Spain and value clear budgeting guidance.
Affluent lifestyle seekers: With more disposable income, they want premium healthcare, high-end neighborhoods, and concierge-style moving services. Think Thailand’s LTR visa or Portugal’s upscale enclaves.
Silver nomads: Some retirees don’t settle permanently, instead spending part of the year in different destinations. They need storage, seasonal shipping, and flexible packages. (A silver nomad is an expat over 40 living in more than one place)
Family-followers: Retirees relocating to be near children or grandchildren abroad. Their moves often involve significant sentimental shipments and a focus on community ties
How To Communicate With Retirees (Gen X)
Reaching retirees requires a slightly different approach than reaching young professionals. Here are some strategies that work:
Educational content: Blog posts and guides comparing retirement destinations, cost-of-living breakdowns, and healthcare overviews build trust and authority. Retirees want information first, then services.
Checklists and timelines: Practical guides like “How to prepare for Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa” or “What to know before retiring in Mexico” are highly shareable and useful.
Community touchpoints: Many retirees gather in Facebook groups, expat forums, or attend webinars. Movers who contribute genuinely to these communities, by answering questions and providing resources, build credibility.
Human touch: Retirees value personal connection. Offering phone consultations or assigning a dedicated “retiree move specialist” helps ease anxiety and builds loyalty.
If you want to learn more about how to reach certain generations, read our article about it here!
Looking Ahead: The Future of Retiree Relocations
What’s next for this trend? A few signals stand out:
Policy changes continue: Countries will keep tweaking visa and tax programs. Movers need to stay on top of these changes and update clients quickly.
Healthcare remains central: With rising healthcare costs in the West, retirees will continue seeking destinations with affordable, high-quality care.
Emerging destinations: Vietnam, parts of Eastern Europe, and even smaller Mediterranean islands may rise as hotspots as mainstream destinations become pricier.
Hybrid lifestyles: Expect more retirees to adopt “trial periods” before committing to permanent relocation. This creates opportunities for movers to sell both short-term and full-scale packages.
The global trend of aging: The western world is seeing more and more aging people, and thus targeting the countries who are aging the fastest can be seen as a golden opportunity, research says as follows:
Italy 🇮🇹 – One of the oldest populations worldwide, ~40% projected 60+ by 2050.
Germany 🇩🇪 – Rapidly aging, nearly 38% 60+ by 2050.
Spain 🇪🇸 – Among the fastest-aging in Europe
France 🇫🇷 – Already ~20% aged 65+, rising steadily.
Netherlands 🇳🇱 – 20% 65+ today, projected 24% by 2035.
Conclusion: A Market Movers Can’t Ignore
Retirees are no longer an afterthought in international relocation, they are becoming one of the most dynamic customer segments. They bring unique challenges, from handling sentimental belongings to navigating healthcare and visas, but they also bring loyalty, word-of-mouth referrals, and willingness to invest in peace of mind.
For international moving companies, the opportunity is clear: position yourself not just as a logistics provider, but as a trusted partner in the most important move of your clients’ lives. By understanding where retirees are going, what motivates them, and how to communicate with them, you can capture this growing market and build a reputation as the go-to mover for cross-border senior living.
Want to learn more about retiree leads and what they could mean for you?
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