Which Countries Welcome Immigrants Most? How to Read the Data
21 June 2026 · 5 min read
It's tempting to ask which country is 'best' for immigrants and expect one ranking. But 'welcoming' is really three different questions, and a country can score high on one and low on another.
Three things 'welcoming' actually means
- Policy & rights, how the law treats immigrants (measured by MIPEX). Sweden, Finland and Portugal score highest; the Gulf states lowest.
- Expat welcome, how welcomed newcomers feel day to day (InterNations Expat Insider). Portugal, Spain and the UAE rank high; Germany, Finland and Sweden rank surprisingly low.
- Integration outcomes, whether immigrants actually find work (OECD employment data). Portugal, New Zealand and Japan do well here.
Why they disagree
Strong legal rights don't guarantee that newcomers feel welcome, Germany has solid policy but ranks near the bottom on perceived friendliness. And a place can feel welcoming yet offer weak formal rights, common in the Gulf. The honest answer is to look at all three for your destination, not a single league table.
Read the confidence, not just the score
Some of these measures are precise (MIPEX is a published 0-100 score); others are rankings we normalise to a range. That's why our destination guides show each dimension as a band with its source and year, never a fake exact number.
This article is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. Figures change often, always confirm the current rules on the official government source. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.