Of the respondents, 66% said they felt at home within a year, India and Malaysia ranked second and third with 63% and 61%, respectively.
The survey of 21,950 expatriates from 198 countries was conducted between March and May 2015 in partnership with YouGov.
Those moving to Mexico said they felt at home even sooner – within six months or immediately.
Other countries featured in the top 10 for ‘feeling at home within a year’ were Taiwan, Oman, Russia, Spain, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Important factors
Key milestones were deemed to be making friends and building a social life, followed by understanding the local culture and etiquette – both seen as vital to making strong connections with expats’ host countries.
Language is a key barrier with 44% of those moving to Mexico acknowledging that learning the local language helped them settle in more successfully.
Age was also a factor; 35% of those over 55 years of age said they felt at home within six months or less, compared with 33% of 18 to 34 year olds and 29% of 35 to 54 year olds.
With all criteria collectively taken into consideration, Singapore was voted the top destination for expats overall, according to the HSBC survey.
Unique challenges
Dean Blackburn, head of HSBC Expat, said: “Painting a picture of expat life across a broad range of criteria, the annual Expat Explorer survey is an insightful and comprehensive resource for all current and prospective expats.
“Not only can expats find out how the country they live in performs compared to other destinations, but they can also share the real life experiences of their peers.
“The survey findings help those who plan to move or already live abroad, and help us to better understand our expat customers and the unique challenges they face.”
