Safest Countries to Move to in 2026 and How to Get In

In 2023, Singapore recorded 0.07 intentional homicides per 100,000 people. The world average was 5.2. That is a gap of more than 70 times (World Bank, from UNODC data, 2026).

Numbers like that matter when you are tired of checking the locks twice, or texting your children to ask if they got home.

The short answer: The 2026 Global Peace Index, released on 15 June 2026, names the ten most peaceful countries as Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Singapore, Finland and Japan (Vision of Humanity, 2026). Iceland has been first for 19 years in a row. For most people, the realistic way into any of them is a skilled job offer. Austria also has a points-based job-seeker visa for very highly qualified people. Ranking high on safety does not make a country easy to enter. Switzerland, for example, caps skilled permits for non-EU workers at 8,500 in 2026.

What "safest" actually means here

The Global Peace Index (GPI) is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace. It ranks 163 countries using 23 indicators in three areas: safety and security in society, ongoing conflict, and militarisation (IEP, Global Peace Index 2026, 2026).

So the GPI measures peace, not only street crime. It also counts things like military spending and wars a country is involved in. That is why Norway ranks 1st on the "Societal Safety and Security" part of the index but 33rd overall. Denmark is 5th on safety and security and 11th overall (IEP, Global Peace Index 2026, 2026).

If your main fear is crime on your street, look at both lists. And look at homicide data too.

Why homicide rates help, and where they mislead

Homicide is the crime most countries count in a similar way. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) collects the national figures. But small countries swing a lot. Iceland's rate went from 0.28 per 100,000 in 2019 to 1.29 in 2023 (World Bank, from UNODC data, 2026). In a small country, a handful of cases moves the number.

National averages also hide local reality. Our guide on how to read crime data for your own city shows how to compare the district you live in now with the one you would move to.

The 2026 top 10 at a glance

All GPI figures are from the 2026 index. Homicide rates are the latest year available in UN data, per 100,000 people. Visa rules are as of October 2026.

Sources: Vision of Humanity, 2026; World Bank, from UNODC data, 2026.

Notice something? The two most peaceful countries have the highest homicide rates in this table. All ten are still far below the world average. Small differences at this level mean very little in daily life.

How to get into each country

These are the main routes for a non-EU citizen without family ties. There are others, such as study, family and investor routes. Check every rule with the official source before you apply.

1. Iceland

You need an employer in Iceland. The employer must first ask for help to find someone in Iceland or the wider EEA. Your skills must come from university, technical or artistic training recognised in Iceland. The permit is usually granted for one year, but can last up to four years (Ísland.is, 2026). Since 8 July 2026, work permits are processed by the Directorate of Immigration (Directorate of Immigration, 2026). Permanent residence generally needs four years of living there (Ísland.is, 2026). We do not have an Iceland guide yet.

2. New Zealand

Most people start on the Accredited Employer Work Visa. You need a full-time job of at least 30 hours a week with an accredited employer, paid at the market rate. You also need two years of relevant experience or a qualification at level 4 or above. The fee starts at NZD $1,540 (Immigration New Zealand, 2026). For residence, the Skilled Migrant Category visa needs 6 points, a skilled job or job offer with an accredited employer, and an age of 55 or younger (Immigration New Zealand, 2026). See our New Zealand guide.

3. Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the hardest top-10 countries to enter. Non-EU workers must be highly qualified, usually with a degree and several years of experience. The employer must prove no suitable person was found in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA (State Secretariat for Migration, 2026). For 2026, the quota is 8,500 permits: 4,500 B residence permits and 4,000 L short-stay permits (Swiss Federal Council, 2025). See our Switzerland guide.

4. Slovenia

The first step is to find an employer. Then you apply for a single residence and work permit, at a Slovenian embassy or in Slovenia. The first permit lasts up to two years. Extensions can last up to three. The EU Blue Card also runs through this system (Employment Service of Slovenia, 2026). We do not have a Slovenia guide yet.

5. Ireland

The Critical Skills Employment Permit needs a two-year job offer. The minimum salary is €40,904 for roles on the critical skills list that need a degree, or €68,911 for other eligible roles. When the permit ends, you can apply for Stamp 4, which lets you work without a permit (Department of Enterprise, 2026). The General Employment Permit covers more jobs, generally from €36,605 a year (Department of Enterprise, 2026). See our Ireland guide.

6. Austria

The Red-White-Red Card is points-based. Skilled workers in shortage jobs need 55 of 90 points and a binding job offer (Migration.gv.at, 2026). Very highly qualified people who score 70 of 100 points can get a six-month job-seeker visa instead (Migration.gv.at, 2026). Few top-10 countries let you enter before you have a job. See our Austria guide.

7. Portugal

Portugal changed its rules fast. Law No. 61/2025 of 22 October 2025 ended the old general job-seeker visa (Diário da República, 2025). The replacement is only for people with specialised technical skills, and consulates cannot accept it until a separate regulation sets out the details (Portuguese Foreign Ministry, 2025). The main route now is a residence visa based on a work contract or written job offer (EU Immigration Portal, 2026). Since 19 May 2026, citizenship needs 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities (Ministry of Justice, 2026). See our Portugal guide.

8. Singapore

The Employment Pass needs a salary of at least S$5,600 a month, or S$6,200 in financial services. The bar rises with age. From 1 January 2027, new applications need at least S$6,000, or S$6,600 in financial services. You must also score 40 points on the COMPASS test (Ministry of Manpower, 2026). See our Singapore guide.

9. Finland

The specialist residence permit needs a job in expert work and a gross salary of at least €3,937 a month in 2026. You also need a higher education degree, or the same expertise gained through work experience. A fast-track service aims to decide in two weeks (Finnish Immigration Service, 2026). See our Finland guide.

10. Japan

Most people start on a standard work visa with a Japanese employer. If you score 70 points or more on the Highly Skilled Professional system, you get extra rights, including a five-year stay (Immigration Services Agency, 2026). Permanent residence normally needs 10 years. With 70 points it can come after three years, and with 80 points after one year (Immigration Services Agency, 2026). Read our Japan points fast-track guide and the Japan guide.

Two more worth a look

Denmark ranks 11th overall and Norway 33rd, but both sit in the top five on safety and security alone. If crime is your main worry, see our Denmark and Norway guides.

Practical steps

1. Name your fear. Is it street crime, political violence, war, or a threat to you personally? Each points to a different list and route.
2. Check your own data. Compare your current district with the city you would live in, not just national averages.
3. Match the route to your profile. Most top-10 countries want a skilled job offer first. Austria's job-seeker visa is the main exception for very highly qualified people.
4. Price the move. Use our visa costs tool before you commit to one country.
5. Shortlist two or three countries. Your best option may be ranked 12th, not 1st, if the visa fits you.
6. Apply only through official channels. No real employer or government sells a job offer. Read our guide to avoiding immigration scams.

The emotional side: "I just want to stop being afraid"

Fear is tiring in a way that is hard to explain. It shapes where you park, when you walk, and what you let your children do.

Wanting safety is a normal, healthy reason to move.

But be fair to the place you are leaving. Most countries people leave also have safe towns, honest police officers and kind neighbours. Danger is often about one city, one street, one job, or a system that does not protect you. Leaving is not a judgement on your country or your people.

Ask yourself a few honest questions:

• What exactly would feel different on my first normal Tuesday in a safer country?
• Who am I most afraid for: myself, my partner or my children?
• Would a move inside my own country solve part of this, faster and cheaper?
• What am I willing to give up for safety: language, family nearby, career level?
• Will I feel safe in a country where I may face racism or loneliness?

Also expect your body to take time. The fear may not switch off when the plane lands. It can take many quiet evenings to trust your new street. That is normal, and support helps.

If personal safety as a minority matters to you, our guide to the safest countries for LGBTQ+ migrants covers that in more detail.

Common mistakes

• Choosing by rank alone. The gap between 3rd and 13th is small. The gap between a visa you qualify for and one you do not is huge.
• Reading the GPI as a crime index. It includes military and conflict measures. Look at the safety and security list too.
• Trusting national averages. A safe country still has rough areas. A dangerous country still has calm ones.
• Ignoring rule changes. Portugal and Iceland both changed key rules in the last year. Check dates on every source.
• Paying for a "guaranteed" job. In Switzerland, Singapore and others, the employer must do real work to hire you. Anyone selling a shortcut is likely lying.
• Using a work visa when you face a direct threat. If someone has threatened you by name, a slow skilled route may not protect you in time.

When to get a licensed lawyer or adviser

Get regulated, licensed help if:

• You face a personal, targeted threat. You may need protection, not a work visa. Start with our guide on asylum or skilled migration and our article on leaving a dangerous city.
• You have a past refusal, overstay or criminal record anywhere.
• Your employer has never sponsored a foreign worker before, especially in Switzerland or Iceland.
• You are moving with children under a custody arrangement.
• You plan to rely on a route that changed recently, like Portugal's.

Check that any adviser is registered with the official regulator in the destination country.

Frequently asked questions

What is the safest country to move to in 2026?

On the 2026 Global Peace Index, Iceland is the most peaceful country for the 19th year in a row. On the narrower "Societal Safety and Security" measure, Norway ranks first, followed by Finland, Iceland, Japan and Denmark. The best choice for you depends on which visa you can actually get.

Which safe country is easiest to move to without a job offer?

Among the top 10, Austria stands out. Very highly qualified people who score 70 of 100 points can get a six-month job-seeker visa. Most other top-10 countries, including New Zealand, expect a job offer first.

Is Switzerland realistic for non-EU citizens?

It is possible but hard. You must be highly qualified, and your employer must prove no one suitable was found in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA. There is also a yearly cap of 8,500 permits for 2026. Quotas were not fully used in recent years, so the cap is not always the main barrier.

Is Japan safe for foreigners, and can I stay long term?

Japan's homicide rate was 0.2 per 100,000 in 2023, against a world average of 5.2. Long-term status usually starts with a work visa. Highly skilled people with 80 points can apply for permanent residence after one year.

Do homicide rates tell the whole story?

No. They are one of the most comparable crime numbers, but small countries swing a lot from year to year. They also miss theft, harassment and how safe you feel at night. Use them alongside local data for the exact area you would live in.

Can I list safety as my reason on a visa application?

For a work or study visa, the main test is whether you meet the visa rules, not why you want to move. Wanting a safer life is a normal motive. If you face a specific threat, speak to a licensed lawyer about protection routes.

A calmer life is a real goal

You do not need to justify wanting to feel safe. Start with the facts. Then pick the country whose visa you can actually get. Our free migration assessment can help you see which routes fit your profile.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change often, so check official sources or a licensed adviser before you act.