Finishing work and heading off to a glorious new life as a retiree in Europe is the dream for many, but just how easy is it to do in reality? We compare the rules in 9 countries in Europe.

Whether it's for adventure, joining family members or just seeking out better weather - moving to Europe is a popular option for many retirees.

But from Sweden to Switzerland and from France to Spain there are big differences in how easy each country makes it for people wanting to move there to retire.

This article refers to people who are already retired when they move, the situation is different for people who move to these countries and then retire.

France

France is one of the more generous countries in Europe for retirees, and it has long been a popular destination for pensioners - especially Brits - due to its combination of a high quality of living, warm weather (in the south) and excellent healthcare.

Visa - if you're from a non-EU country such as the UK, USA or Canada you will need a visa and for most retirees the most appropriate option will be a long-stay visitor visa.

EXPLAINED: What type of French visa do I need?

In order to get this type of visa you will need to prove that you can support yourself financially and will not become a burden to the French state - the guideline amount used for this is French minimum wage, known as the SMIC. At present this is €1,747 per month gross. You will therefore need a pension or other income of at least this amount. If you don't have a pension, you can provide evidence of having at least €20,947 in savings - equivalent to a year's worth of minimum wage. These are guideline amounts and applications from people on lower incomes will be considered in certain circumstances - eg people who have a French home that they own outright.

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You will also need to give an undertaking that you will not work in France, and provide evidence of health insurance (for Brits, the GHIC is sufficient for this).

Once in France, you will need to apply for a carte de séjour residency card, which must be renewed annually for your first five years, after which you can switch to a long-term card.

One important thing to note is that you cannot work on a visitor visa. Traditionally it was common for Brits to semi-retire to France - they might quit the day job and move to France to set up a gite or B&B, for example. However if you intend to run a business you will need a different type of visa, and will need to register as a small business.

It's also usually not possible to 'retire' to France and carry on working remotely for a few days for your company back home, although there are some exceptions.

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Reader question: Can I bring an ageing parent to France?

Healthcare - if you're coming to France on a visitor visa, you will need to show proof of health insurance (which for Brits can include a GHIC or EHIC card). However, once you have been resident in France for three months you are entitled to register in the public health system and get a carte vitale, which means the state refunds some or