4 ms·

Ask HN: Is it possible to immigrate after 40? Are the doors closed?

6 points by akudha 6y ago

Specifically looking at Australia or Western Europe. Is it possible at all? Or is it too late? I don't have a "nice" passport, so I don't qualify for special immigration programs. So, what now?

shams93 6y ago
Being 48 it feels like nothing is possible over 40 the discrimination is absolutely intense.
- akudha 6y ago
  Over 35 is bad. Over 40 is screwed, pretty much. Most countries work on point system, and it is all downhill after 40. Especially if one is single, because you lost family points.
  - 2rsf 6y ago
    Point system In western Europe? AFAIK not in Scandinavia, Germany, The Netherlands, or Britain.
    - quantumofalpha 6y ago
      UK actually has something they call point system for work visas, but it is nearly a joke, pointless bureaucracy. Job on shortage occupation (SWE), 25k+ salary (a pittance in London) and certified knowledge of some basic English is all you need to get in. What is not a joke is that it's not PR and you get only 60 days to pack your stuff and get out if you get fired. Permanent residency is only after 5 years.
      - 2rsf 6y ago
        Sweden doesn't call it a point system, simply requirements. You need a job offer that was published on a public place so locals and Europeans can apply first, a union's agreement, minimum salary and insurance requirements. Jobs on shortage get exempt from need to apply outside of Sweden.
elmerfud 6y ago
You don't say where your home country is or where your current citizenship is. Is always possible to immigrate but depending on where you're coming from it can be more difficult. Also, your financial situation can come into play as well. A number of countries offer retirement visas starting as young as mid-50s but most of those require some sort of proof of income.
- akudha 6y ago
  My home country is India. I haven't heard of retirement visas, googling now. But mid 50s is more than a decade away for me, so that might not work, for now at least.
  - elmerfud 6y ago
    Right now with the current covid situation the Visas are difficult everywhere. I think a year and a half ago you would have had little difficulty of finding visas to allow you to go to the countries that you want and establish some sort of residency to get on the path towards citizenship in those countries. Now the world is on a global lockdown of unprecedented scale and even as countries are at herd immunity levels there is no discussion of changing their Visa or immigration policies that were temporary. It may be years before those policies are reversed.
quantumofalpha 6y ago
Find a job, get hired, spend the necessary time in the country and enjoy your new first world PR/passport. Works for most countries even at 40+, no? Point-based immigration systems don't matter when you've got a job waiting for you and relocating on a work visa. Only real problem is ageism in software industry - it does get harder finding jobs with age. But not impossible if you're technically sharp, demand for experienced software engineers is pretty strong everywhere. If you're not relocating to work, I suppose you have significant savings then? Western countries are much more expensive places to live in than India. For a 6 figures investment into real estate or own startup you can buy residency rights outright in quite a few countries, e.g. Portugal, Spain, Malta, Estonia, even the US (EB-5 visa). Age usually doesn't matter, only money.
helph67 6y ago
This link may provide some help regarding immigration to Australia. https://www.visasavenue.com/australia-immigration/australia-immigration-rule-changes/ https://www.visasavenue.com/australia-immigration/australia-... Covid-19 may have altered the normal flow of immigration. Currently Australia is trying to ensure its own citizens are able to return back home.
2rsf 6y ago
Try Sweden, I immigrated after 40 and so are many of my colleagues. I suppose that age discrimination exists but I haven't seen any yet in the big corps. Find a job through LinkedIn or similar, the company will take care of a permit for you, in most cases the process is really fast- usually weeks or very few months in the worst case. After 4 years- permanent residency, after 5 you get a nice Swedish passport. The language is easy to learn, cost of living is surprisingly not high if you avoid city centers and so far there are not special requirement for permits except for having a job.

6 points by akudha 6y ago

Specifically looking at Australia or Western Europe. Is it possible at all? Or is it too late? I don't have a "nice" passport, so I don't qualify for special immigration programs. So, what now?

shams93 6y ago

Being 48 it feels like nothing is possible over 40 the discrimination is absolutely intense.

akudha 6y ago
Over 35 is bad. Over 40 is screwed, pretty much. Most countries work on point system, and it is all downhill after 40. Especially if one is single, because you lost family points.
- 2rsf 6y ago
  Point system In western Europe? AFAIK not in Scandinavia, Germany, The Netherlands, or Britain.
  - quantumofalpha 6y ago
    UK actually has something they call point system for work visas, but it is nearly a joke, pointless bureaucracy. Job on shortage occupation (SWE), 25k+ salary (a pittance in London) and certified knowledge of some basic English is all you need to get in. What is not a joke is that it's not PR and you get only 60 days to pack your stuff and get out if you get fired. Permanent residency is only after 5 years.
    - 2rsf 6y ago
      Sweden doesn't call it a point system, simply requirements. You need a job offer that was published on a public place so locals and Europeans can apply first, a union's agreement, minimum salary and insurance requirements. Jobs on shortage get exempt from need to apply outside of Sweden.

elmerfud 6y ago

You don't say where your home country is or where your current citizenship is. Is always possible to immigrate but depending on where you're coming from it can be more difficult. Also, your financial situation can come into play as well. A number of countries offer retirement visas starting as young as mid-50s but most of those require some sort of proof of income.

akudha 6y ago
My home country is India. I haven't heard of retirement visas, googling now. But mid 50s is more than a decade away for me, so that might not work, for now at least.
- elmerfud 6y ago
  Right now with the current covid situation the Visas are difficult everywhere. I think a year and a half ago you would have had little difficulty of finding visas to allow you to go to the countries that you want and establish some sort of residency to get on the path towards citizenship in those countries. Now the world is on a global lockdown of unprecedented scale and even as countries are at herd immunity levels there is no discussion of changing their Visa or immigration policies that were temporary. It may be years before those policies are reversed.

quantumofalpha 6y ago

Find a job, get hired, spend the necessary time in the country and enjoy your new first world PR/passport. Works for most countries even at 40+, no? Point-based immigration systems don't matter when you've got a job waiting for you and relocating on a work visa. Only real problem is ageism in software industry - it does get harder finding jobs with age. But not impossible if you're technically sharp, demand for experienced software engineers is pretty strong everywhere. If you're not relocating to work, I suppose you have significant savings then? Western countries are much more expensive places to live in than India. For a 6 figures investment into real estate or own startup you can buy residency rights outright in quite a few countries, e.g. Portugal, Spain, Malta, Estonia, even the US (EB-5 visa). Age usually doesn't matter, only money.

helph67 6y ago

This link may provide some help regarding immigration to Australia. https://www.visasavenue.com/australia-immigration/australia-immigration-rule-changes/ https://www.visasavenue.com/australia-immigration/australia-... Covid-19 may have altered the normal flow of immigration. Currently Australia is trying to ensure its own citizens are able to return back home.

2rsf 6y ago

Try Sweden, I immigrated after 40 and so are many of my colleagues. I suppose that age discrimination exists but I haven't seen any yet in the big corps. Find a job through LinkedIn or similar, the company will take care of a permit for you, in most cases the process is really fast- usually weeks or very few months in the worst case. After 4 years- permanent residency, after 5 you get a nice Swedish passport. The language is easy to learn, cost of living is surprisingly not high if you avoid city centers and so far there are not special requirement for permits except for having a job.