The easiest countries to get residency include Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Panama. These nations all offer immigration pathways that include permanent residency and can lead to citizenship.
Nations with straightforward, long-term visa options and simple processes tend to be among the easiest to get residency. Our list expands 16 of the easiest countries to get residency, the visa options available, and how permanent residency and citizenship can be acquired.
Easiest Countries to Get Residency: Key Takeaways
What makes a country easy to get residency?
The easiest countries to get residency share similar traits that make them accessible:
- Clear financial thresholds or income requirements
- Fast processing times with transparent timelines
- Low physical presence requirements for maintenance
- Multiple visa options
- Simple rules and straightforward documentation requirements
- Pathways to permanent residency and citizenship
These factors play a decisive role in our list, and each country chosen is emblematic of them.
The 16 Easiest Countries to Get Residency
01/ Portugal
- Visa Options: Portugal D7 Visa for retirees and passive income earners, the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, and the Portugal Golden Visa for investors.
- Financial Requirements: €920 per month for the D7 Visa, €3,680 monthly income for the Digital Nomad Visa, €200,000 minimum investment for the Golden Visa.
- Visa processing time: D7 Visa (2-3 months), D8 Visa (2-3 months), Golden Visa (18+ months)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 5 years of legal residence, and citizenship after 10 years.
Portugal is considered the easiest country to get residency because of its visa options. The D7 Visa has clear requirements, and a processing time of up to 60 days. This makes it an extremely appealing option for retirees and passive income earners who meet the threshold. Portugal ranked 1st in the Global Retirement Index, further demonstrating the country’s strength as a relocation option.
The Digital Nomad Visa provides applicants who can demonstrate an income of €3,680 with residence in the country. The visa lasts for 1 year and is renewable for up to five years in total. A benefit for all residents of Portugal is the universal healthcare system that is ranked among the best in the world.
The Golden Visa has a starting cost of €200,000, and a range of options for investment. This includes arts and cultural projects, business, private equity, venture capital, job creation, or scientific research.
All these three visas provide foreigners with a temporary residence permit that can be converted to permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship after 5 years.
02/ Spain
- Visa Options: The Non-Lucrative Visa Spain for retirees and passive income earners, and the Spain Digital Nomad Visa.
- Financial Requirements: €28,800 per year for the Non-Lucrative Visa, €34,200 per year for the Digital Nomad Visa.
- Visa processing time: 1-3 months
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 5 years of legal residence, and citizenship after 10 years.
Spain is a top-contender for the easiest country to get residency thanks to its immigration friendly policies and visa options. The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa allows passive income earners to acquire renewable temporary residence that can be converted to permanent after 5 years.
The country ranks 1st in the Global Intelligence Unit’s Digital Nomad Report which rates the nations based on quality of life, tax optimization, mobility, and more. Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa requires a monthly income of €2,850 and provides applicants with a stay of one year. After a year, a temporary residence permit is applied for which can be renewed to last up to 5 years.
03/ Greece
- Visa Options: The Greece Digital Nomad Visa, the FIP Visa Greece for financially independent people, and the Greece Golden Visa for investors.
- Financial Requirements: €3,500 per month for the Digital Nomad Visa, €3,500 per month of passive income for the FIP Visa, and a minimum investment of €250,000 for the Golden Visa.
- Visa processing time: Greece FIP Visa (10 days), Greece Digital Nomad Visa (1-3 months), Greece Golden Visa (12 months)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 5 years of legal residence or granted immediately through the Golden Visa, and citizenship after 7 years.
Greece has several appealing options that can grant temporary residency with a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship. The Greek Golden Visa provides applicants with permanent residency immediately upon successful application. Investment options include real estate, business, shares, bonds, and bank deposits.
The Global Residency and Citizenship by Investment report by the Global Intelligence Unit ranks Greece in 1st place for RCBI. This is because of the programs’ relative affordability starting at €250,000, its EU access, and the flexibility provided in terms of residency requirements.
The FIP Visa suits retirees and passive income earners who would like to enjoy the benefits of living in Europe. The Digital Nomad Visa and the FIP Visa can both lead to permanent residency and eventually citizenship after 7 years of legal residence. The Greek Flat Tax is a significant benefit for retirees who transfer their tax-residency to the country, paying only 7% on their foreign income.
04/ Panama
- Visa Options: The Panama Friendly Nations Visa and the Panama Qualified Investor Visa for high-net-worth individuals, as well as the Pensionado Visa Panama for retirees.
- Financial Requirements: $1000 per month for the Pensionado Visa, $200,000 investment for the Friendly Nations Visa, and $300,000 minimum investment for the Qualified Investor Visa.
- Visa processing time: Qualified Investor Visa (1-3 months), Pensionado Visa (1-3 months), Panama Friendly Nations Visa (2-4 months)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 2 years of legal residence or granted immediately through the Pensionado Visa and the Qualified Investor Visa, and citizenship after 5 years of residence.
Panama is an immigration-friendly country, with several visa options for getting residency in the nation. The first option is the Friendly Nations Visa, which can only be applied for if the individual is from the pre-approved list of countries. These countries include the US, Canada, the UK, and Brazil, among others.
The Qualified Investor Visa is the second option, and this is a residency by investment program. Individuals will need to invest at least $300,000 in Panama to qualify. The options include real estate, Panamanian stocks, and a fixed-term bank deposit. Permanent residence is granted on the successful completion of the application.
Finally, the Pensionado Visa which is best for retirees. The Visa requires a passive income of at least $1000 per month which can be sourced from pensions, investments, and rentals. Panama ranks 19th in the Global Retirement Index, indicating its strength as an option for retirees.
05/ Mexico
- Visa Options: The Temporary Resident Visa for stays between 180 days and 4 years, and the Permanent Residency Visa for stays over 5 years.
- Financial Requirements: Savings or investments of $51,860 maintained over 12 months or a monthly income of $3,111 for temporary, savings or investments of $292,859 maintained over 12 months or a monthly income of $7,322 for permanent.
- Visa processing time: 1 to 3 months
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 4 years of legal residence or granted immediately through the Permanent Residency Visa, and citizenship after 5 years.
Mexico is one of the easiest countries to get residency for Americans thanks to its proximity and its visa options. The Temporary Resident Visa allows foreign nationals to live, work, and study in Mexico and lasts for a period of one year. The Visa is renewable for up to four years after which, individuals may apply for permanent residency.
The Permanent Residency Visa has higher financial thresholds, but it grants permanent residency right away. This residence does not need to be renewed, which helps simplify the process for expats. The Visa is best suited for retirees, and it enables access to the Mexican healthcare system.
06/ Costa Rica
- Visa Option: The Costa Rica Investor Visa for high-net-worth individuals.
- Financial Requirements: $100,000 starting cost for the Investor Visa.
- Visa processing time: 4 to 8 months
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 3 years of legal residence, and citizenship after 7 years.
The Costa Rica Investor Visa, also known as the Inversionista Visa or Golden Visa, is a residency by investment program with a starting cost of $100,000. The options for investment include real estate, shares, venture capital, reforestation (the cheapest option), sustainable tourism, and national interest projects.
Costa Rican citizenship can be applied for after 7 years of continuous residence. Some of the other benefits of the program are familial inclusion of a spouse and children, foreign-earned income is exempt from taxation, and the physical presence requirement is only one day per year.
07/ Malta
- Visa Options: The Malta Digital Nomad Visa, the Malta Retirement Program, and the Malta Residency by Investment program.
- Financial Requirements: €42,000 per year for the Digital Nomad Visa, €220,000 real estate purchase or €8,750 rental per year plus a minimum tax of €7,500 per year for the Retirement Program, starting cost of €14,000 rental per year or purchase from €375,000 for the Residency by Investment program.
- Visa processing time: Malta Digital Nomad Visa (4-8 months), Malta Retirement Program (3-4 months), Malta Residency by Investment (12 months)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 5 years of legal residence, granted immediately with the Investment program, and citizenship after 7 years.
Malta has English as an official language, is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in the world, and offers multiple options for residence. The Digital Nomad Visa is valid for 1 year and is renewable for up to 4 years. The Visa requires a minimum yearly income of €42,000 and can include dependents with a higher salary requirement.
The Retirement Program requires either a real estate purchase with a minimum value of €220,000, or a yearly rental that is over €8,750. Additionally, retirees will need to pay a minimum tax of €7,500 per year. To offset this, Malta does not have inheritance, wealth, or estate tax.
Malta’s Residency by Investment program, also known as the Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP), is perfectly suited for high-net-worth individuals seeking permanent residence in the EU. The program has no physical stay requirements. However, like the other programs, it does not lead to citizenship.
08/ Estonia
- Visa Options: The Estonian Digital Nomad Visa, and Estonia’s Startup Visa.
- Financial Requirements: €4,500 per month for the Digital Nomad Visa, €800 per month of financial means for the Startup Visa.
- Visa processing time: Estonia’s Startup Visa (15-60 days), Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa (30-days)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 5 years of legal residence, and citizenship after 8 years.
Estonia has a few options for residence, the most accessible of which is the Digital Nomad Visa. The Visa is valid for up to one year, and it requires a minimum monthly income of €4,500. The country has highly developed tech infrastructure and is developing its tech industry.
The Startup Visa allows individuals to live and work in Estonia while they create a business in the tech sector. Applicants must be able to show that they can support themselves with at least €800 per month. The business must be innovative and have a minimum viable product or prototype.
09/ Argentina
- Visa Option: The Argentina Rentista Visa, and the Argentina Investor Visa.
- Financial Requirements: $1,500 to $2,000 per month for the Rentista Visa (5 times the Argentine minimum wage), $7000 minimum for the Investor Visa.
- Visa processing time: Argentina Passive Income Visa (2-6 months), Argentina Investor Visa (1-5 months)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency and citizenship can be applied for after 2 years of legal residence.
The Rentista Visa is an excellent option for retirees and passive income earners. It requires that expats generate 5 times the Argentine minimum wage per month in passive income which usually equates to between $1,500 and $2,000.
The visa lasts for 1 year and is renewable for up to 3 years. After 2 years of legal residence, immigrants may apply for permanent residence and citizenship in the country. Argentina has one of the fastest citizenship by naturalization timelines in the world.
The Investor Visa has three options for Investment: real estate, business, and financial investments. Real estate requires a minimum investment of $150,000, business requires around $15,000, and financial investment requires around $7,000.
10/ Belize
- Visa Option: The Qualified Retirement Program.
- Financial Requirements: $2,000 per month or $24,000 annually for the Qualified Retirement Program.
- Visa processing time: 1-4 months
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 1 year of legal residence. Citizenship can be applied for after 5 years of permanent residency.
Belize offers the Qualified Retirement Program as its easiest way to get residency. After just one year of legal residence, immigrants can apply for permanent residence in the country. Additionally, the income threshold of $2,000 is relatively low, especially when compared with other countries.
Citizenship in Belize can be acquired through naturalization after 5 years of permanent residency. Additionally, you must be at least 45 years of age to be eligible for this Visa.
11/ New Zealand
- Visa Option: The New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa.
- Financial Requirements: A minimum investment of NZD $5 million (~$3 million) is required in the Growth category, and a minimum of NZD $10 million (~$6 million) is required for the Balanced category.
- Visa processing time: 3-6 months
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 2 years of legal residence, and citizenship can be applied for after 5 years.
New Zealand is one of the world’s safest countries, ranking 3rd in the world on the Global Peace Index. The Active Investor Plus Visa allows foreign investors to acquire residency in the country through qualifying investments. The investment can either be in the Growth category with a lower minimum, or the Balanced category with lower risk.
New Zealand is an English-speaking country, making it easier for expats to integrate. Once investors have qualified for permanent residency after 2 years, they may then be eligible for citizenship after 5 years.
12/ Australia
- Visa Options: The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189), and the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190).
- Financial Requirements: Neither visa has a financial requirement.
- Visa processing time: Skilled Independent Visa (6-13 months), Skilled Nominated Visa (6.5 to 14 months)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency is granted with the visas, and citizenship can be applied for after 4 years of residence.
Australia does not have a retirement or digital nomad visa, however they do have accessible pathways to residency through employment. The Skilled Independent Visa allows foreign nationals to acquire permanent residence on acceptance and does not require a job offer. Instead, applicants must pass a points-based test based on their skills and qualifications.
The Skilled Nominated Visa does require a job offer and also grants successful applicants with permanent residence on approval. Both visa options enable immigrants to apply for citizenship after 4 years of residence, 12 months of which must have been permanent.
13/ Serbia
- Visa Options: Serbia Residency by Investment, and the Serbia Residence Permit by Company Formation.
- Financial Requirements: The residency by investment program has no minimum amount but the purchase of real estate is required, and the Residence Permit by Company Formation also has no minimum amount but requires an active company employing at least one person which can be yourself.
- Visa processing time: Serbia Residency by Investment (60 days), Serbia Residence Permit by Company Formation (6–8 weeks)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 3 years, and citizenship can be applied for after 3 more years (6 total).
Serbia’s Residency by Investment earns it a place on the list because of the lack of a minimum investment. Applicants will need to purchase property in the country and hold this investment for the duration of their stay. After three years, expats may apply for permanent residency in the country.
Serbian Citizenship can be acquired after 6 years total, 3 of which must be with permanent residence. The Serbia Residence Permit by Company Formation requires that individuals create a company within the country. Employing only yourself is enough and processing times are around 6 to 8 weeks.
14/ Latvia
- Visa Option: The Latvia Golden Visa.
- Financial Requirements: The Golden Visa has a starting cost of €50,000 for the business option.
- Visa processing time: Latvia Golden Visa (30 days to 6 months)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 5 years, and citizenship can be applied for after 10 years.
The Golden Visa has a very low starting cost of €50,000, which can make it more accessible for investors. Other options than business include €250,000 for real estate or bonds, or €280,000 for a bank deposit. The visa provides applicants with Schengen Area access.
After 5 years of maintaining the investment, applicants may apply for permanent residency. After a further 5 years, 10 total, investors may apply for Latvian citizenship. The visa has a speedy processing time of just 2 to 3 months, making it one of the fastest options in Europe.
15/ Hungary
- Visa Option: The Hungary Golden Visa.
- Financial Requirements: The Golden Visa has a starting cost of €250,000 for the real estate fund option.
- Visa processing time: Hungary Golden Visa (90 days)
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 3 years, and citizenship can be applied for after 8 years.
The Golden Visa provides applicants with a temporary residence permit that can be converted to a permanent residence permit after 3 years of continuous residence. After 8 years of residence, applicants can apply for citizenship, provided they meet the additional requirements.
Other than a government approved real estate fund for €250,000, investors may also choose to donate €1 million to a public trust supporting higher education. This option is more expensive but requires no maintenance whatsoever. A benefit of the program is that the processing time is just 90 days.
16/ Paraguay
- Visa Options: The Paraguay Investor Visa and the Paraguay Independent Means Visa.
- Financial Requirements: The Independent Means Visa has a minimum monthly income requirement of $1,300, the Investor Visa has a starting cost of $40,000 for film and creative projects.
- Visa processing time: 1-3 months
- Pathway to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Permanent residency can be applied for after 2 years and is granted immediately with the Investor Visa. Citizenship can be applied for after 3 years.
Paraguay is one of the easiest countries to get residency because of the visa options available and their low barriers to entry. With a starting cost of just $40,000, the Paraguay Investor Visa is one of the cheapest residency by investment programs available. Aside from cultural projects, investors may also choose to spend $70,000 on business ventures or company formation.
The country has speedy permanent residency and citizenship timelines which make it appealing for expats. Additionally, processing times for the Independent Means Visa and the Investor Visa are just 1 to 3 months.
