If you are thinking about a fresh start abroad, the latest expat survey has a clear favourite. According to the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, Panama has been named the best country for expats for the third year in a row, topping a list of 31 destinations.
Why Panama keeps winning
The survey asked nearly 8,000 expats across 162 nationalities how happy they were with life abroad. Panama led the Working Abroad and Personal Finance indices, and ranked second for both Ease of Settling In and Expat Essentials. In short: expats there feel their money goes further and settling in is easy.
The top countries for expats in 2026
According to the same report, the top of the ranking looks like this:
- Panama (1st)
- Mexico
- Thailand
- UAE
- Brazil
- Spain
- Singapore
- Portugal
What every expat discovers
Moving to a top-ranked country is wonderful — but almost every expat runs into the same small problem in their first weeks: the TV from home is gone. Local packages show local channels, and streaming apps are geo-blocked outside your home country.
That is exactly why so many expats set up an IPTV subscription before or just after they land. One login brings back the channels from home, international sport and a full on-demand library — on the TV you already own.
Before you book the ticket
If Panama (or Mexico, Thailand, Spain or Portugal) is on your list, add one more item to your moving checklist: sort out your TV. Read our guide on watching your home country’s channels abroad, then run a free 24-hour test to confirm your must-have channels work.
Follow the news from your country, live
Missing the evening news, the morning shows or the big match back home? With an IPTV subscription the channels from your country come straight to your screen, wherever you live.
See the full worldwide line-up on our Channels & Coverage page, then start a free 24-hour test and check your own channels in minutes.