A Reddit post by an Indian expatriate leaving the Netherlands after five years has reignited discussions about why many NRIs hesitate to return home despite challenges abroad.
A Reddit post by an Indian professional preparing to leave the Netherlands after five years has gone viral, triggering a passionate debate about migration choices and the realities of returning to India. The user, who worked in SAP, finance, and project management, said they were forced to leave due to residence permit issues, but made it clear they had no plans to move back to India, reported businesstoday.in.
The poster’s remarks struck a chord with many, especially their blunt assessment of life back home:
“Indian cities are unliveable and offer very little for me in terms of cultural and hobby pursuits. Salaries outside of tech are low.”
The user dismissed the usual arguments about family ties and convenience, sparking widespread responses from others in similar situations.
Several commenters offered relocation advice. One Redditor cautioned about the language barriers in non-English-speaking countries:
The viral post highlights growing frustration among NRIs torn between Western restrictions and India’s urban struggles
“Many European countries will have a language barrier when it comes to permanent residence or citizenship. Best go for English-speaking countries if you don’t want to invest time in learning a language. Australia, Canada, and the UK have many SAP and finance opportunities.”
Others suggested that the UK could be an ideal next step, citing similar work culture and good opportunities. “Based on your skills, UK could be a good move. Lots of SAP and finance-related roles, decent work-life balance, and culturally not very different from the Netherlands,” one user wrote.
However, not everyone shared the optimism. Another commenter warned that Canada’s quality of life has deteriorated, despite its popularity with migrants:
“India is where all the jobs are being outsourced to. Very difficult to find Netherlands-level work-life balance outside Europe. How about getting a Canadian PR and moving there? QoL there has deteriorated though.”
Migration dilemmas of modern NRIs
The discussion mirrors a growing sentiment across NRI communities — one where returning to India feels impractical, yet staying in Europe or North America brings new challenges like visa restrictions, high living costs, and cultural fatigue.
As global migration patterns shift, young Indian professionals are increasingly redefining what “a better life” means — prioritizing work-life balance, cultural engagement, and social stability over mere financial gain.
