Are you interested in starting a new life away from home? If that thought has crossed your mind, then you’d be interested in this. Antikythera, a picturesque island in Greece with a population of about 20 people, wants to pay people to move there.

Many people often fantasise about retiring of vaycaying on an idyllic island. However, only very few actually get the opportunity. Now, this Greek island needs new residents to come live on its beautiful and historic shores.

This is similar to the towns in Molise, Italy that recently launched a special program to entice new residents to live there. Quite like in Molise, Antikythera has suffered from underpopulation for the last several years.

This is why the local diocese of the Greek Orthodox Church is currently sponsoring some families to move to the island. According to Lonely Planet, they’re still looking for more potential residents.

Anyone chosen to be part of the program will receive some land, a house, and a monthly stipend of about $565 for the first three years they live there. However, residents on the island are mostly looking to welcome more Greek citizens.

Despite its natural beauty, including crystal clear waters and quaint harbour towns, Antikythera’s population is officially listed at 20.

Antikythera is much like the rest of Greece, which is in need of young families to keep the population and economy healthy. Local businesses supported by local people are the best way to keep Antikythera alive as well since it’s not a popular place for tourists to travel.

The island is very hard to get to, although there is a ferry to the harbour town of Potamos, which runs between Antikythera and Crete, according to Lonely Planet. The weather, however, can greatly affect how often the ferry runs.

But besides the lack of tourism (which could be a huge plus, depending on who you talk to), the island is quite self-sustaining. It has its own power station and its own source of water. It is also a hotspot for geologists and climate scientists.

Furthermore, its historical significance is immeasurable. Antikythera is the site of the discovery of the world’s oldest analogue computer. The Antikythera Mechanism is a mechanical gear used to predict astronomical positions. It’s also the site where researchers found skeletons from an ancient shipwreck.

According to the Los Angeles Times, four families are already in the process of moving to Antikythera. The island may approve more candidates in the future. Nevertheless, the selection and approval process may take the government a very long time — even up to five years.

But perhaps waiting is a small price to pay for starting a new life in a Greek paradise.