15 Easiest Countries to Get a Residence Permit

A residence permit lets you live in a foreign country for an extended time, often up to 5 years.

To keep your resident status, you’ll need to renew your permit regularly — and in many cases, actually spend a minimum number of days in the country.

As a resident, you can usually re-enter the country anytime, even when the borders are shut to tourists. Plus, you often get access to healthcare and the ability to purchase property.

Depending on where you’re a resident, you might even get visa-free access to other countries. Take the EU, for example, if you have a residence permit from one member state, you can freely travel across most of Europe without needing a visa.

To obtain a residence permit, you need to fulfil some conditions: starting a business, entering a university, or marrying a citizen of the country. Some countries also offer the opportunity to obtain residence permits by investment.

Here’s what can make your journey to residency a whole lot smoother.

1. No requirement to look for a job or a university. The most common way to obtain a residence permit in almost every country is through work and study, but this does not suit all potential applicants. You don’t have to go that route. Passive income visas open the door to residency without the need to find a job or enroll in school.

2. No requirement to live in the new country. Residency doesn’t always mean relocation. If you want the benefits without the move, some investment programs let you keep your current lifestyle. Take Italy’s Golden Visa and get the perks. There is no need to reside in Italy after obtaining the Golden Visa.

3. No significant costs. While investment programs can be pricey, plenty of countries offer budget-friendly options, like permits for financially independent individuals or Digital Nomad Visas.

4. No fuss. Becoming a resident of a new country can be a lengthy and tiresome process. If you’re applying as an investor or digital nomad, expert help is often available to walk you through every step.

Malta gives permanent residence by investment. You’ll get permanent residency and you can choose between two housing options to suit your lifestyle.

The first one is to rent a property for at least €14,000 per annum. You will also pay an administrative fee of €50,000, a contribution fee of €60,000, and donate €2,000 to charity.

Another option is to buy real estate for at least €375,000. Additional expenses also include an administrative fee of €50,000 and a charitable donation of €2,000. But the contribution fee will be lower than if renting a property — €30,000.

Malta permanent residence is a life-long status, but a residence card is subject to renewal once in 5 years.

As a Maltese permanent resident, you’re free to live, work, study, or run a business in Malta. Plus, you can explore all 29 Schengen countries without ever needing a visa.

Individual cost calculation for permanent residence in Malta

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Portugal offers a variety of visas to help you make the country your new home, whether you’re a remote worker, entrepreneur, retiree, or investor.

The D7 Visa for financially independent persons is given to those whose passive income. If you earn passive income above Portugal’s minimum wage of €870 a month, you might qualify for the D7 Visa. It’s designed for financially independent individuals who want to settle down in Portugal.

To keep your D7 status, you’ll need to rent or buy a home in Portugal. There’s no minimum price tag. Just be sure to spend at least 183 days a year in the country.

You can work remotely from Portugal with the Digital Nomad Visa. There’s no requirement to invest, but you’ll need to show a monthly income of at least €3,480 and prove you’ve secured long-term accommodation.

Living in Portugal as a digital nomad comes with plenty of perks, but to qualify, you’ll need to:

• be a non-EU/EEA citizen over 18 years old;

• prove remote employment or self-employment income of at least €3,480 per month;

• show savings of at least €10,440 in your bank account;

• rent or own a home in Portugal for a minimum of 12 months;

• have no criminal record and valid health insurance.

Wealthy people often choose the Portugal Golden Visa, which allows a person to obtain a residence permit by investment. Here are your five paths:

• purchase of investment fund units — €500,000+;

• supporting arts and restoring cultural heritage — €250,000+;

• investment in research activities — €500,000+;

• business investment with the creation of 5 jobs— €500,000+;

• opening a company with the creation of at least 10 jobs.

With the Golden Visa, you only need to spend 7 days a year in Portugal and you can renew your residency every two years with ease.

Greece offers one of the most beneficial ways to obtain the country’s residency by investment.

Investors usually choose the purchase of a property. Greece set an investment threshold of €800,000 for purchasing real estate in Attica and Thessaloniki, as well as on Mykonos, Santorini, and other islands with populations exceeding 3,100 residents. The investment requirement is €400,000 for properties in less popular regions.

Two specific categories of properties will continue to have a lower minimum investment of €250,000, regardless of the location:

1. Architectural monuments needing restoration, which must be completed within 5 years.

2. Properties being converted into residential units, with the renovation completed before the submission of a Golden Visa application.

There’s a new rule: you can now only buy one newly built property and it has to be at least 120 square metres to qualify for a residence permit. That means no more permits for studio flats or smaller homes. This restriction doesn’t apply if you’re investing in restored or converted properties.

There are also other options, such as:

• purchase shares in mutual or alternative investment funds — €350,000+;

• opening a bank deposit — €500,000.

The residence permit is issued for 5 years.

Hungary. Whether you’re an investor, an entrepreneur, or a digital nomad, there’s a path to living in Hungary legally and long-term. From making investments to launching a business or working remotely, you can choose the route that best fits your lifestyle and goals.

The Hungary Golden Visa allows you to obtain residence in Hungary by contributing to the country’s development. Applicants must meet one of the following qualifying investment conditions:

1. Invest at least €250,000 in a government-approved real estate fund.

2. Donate €1,000,000 to a public-interest trust supporting culture or education.

Business residency. You can apply for a residence permit by starting a company in Hungary — a Kft. Key conditions include minimum authorised capital of €7,700.

Why Hungary? Low, predictable taxes: 9% corporate income tax — lowest in the EU. Hungary also has tax treaties that can cut or eliminate dividend withholding taxes.

The Digital Nomad Visa, or White Card, gives you residency in Hungary without needing to start a business. To qualify, you must:

• work remotely or run a non-Hungarian company;

• earn at least €3,000 a month;

• have accommodation, insurance, and a clean record.

🇨🇾 Cyprus is one of the most flexible countries for residency with over 15 different routes. Whether you’re a digital nomad, a retiree, a volunteer, or a startup founder, there’s likely a program for you.

The easiest way is an Autonomous visitor permit. If you’re a non-EU citizen with a stable income of at least €2,000 a month from outside Cyprus, you’re good to go.

If you’re a remote worker from outside the EU/EEA, Cyprus has you covered. You can apply as a digital nomad as long as you work for a company based abroad and earn at least €3,500 a month after taxes.

One more way to obtain a Cyprus residence permit is to invest in local real estate or business. You can get a residence permit by putting €300,000 or more into local real estate or a Cypriot business.

Mexico gives residence permits under the economic solvency ground. To be eligible, you need to:

• provide a document proving monthly income of $5,400+ for the last 6 months;

• or provide a document proving a balance in liquid assets of $208,000+ for the last 12 months, as well as bank statements showing this minimum balance each month.

Thinking about a second home in Mexico? If your property is worth over $455,000, you could qualify for a residence permit. You can also invest $227,000 or more in a Mexican corporation’s capital stock to secure residency.

Antigua and Barbuda gives you two main residency paths: the Tax Residency Program and the Nomad Digital Residence Program.

Under the Tax Residency Program, you can get permanent residency and reside in the country for an unlimited time. The requirements are:

• buy or rent real estate;

• spend at least 30 days a year in the country;

• pay a tax of $20,000 per annum;

• have an annual income of at least $100,000.

The residence permit under the Nomad Digital Residence Program is issued for remote workers. You can stay for 2 years under this program if you earn $50,000+ per year and work for a company outside Antigua and Barbuda.

Many wealthy applicants go straight for citizenship. It opens the door to visa-free travel to 150 countries, a 10-year US B‑1/B‑2 Visitor Visa, and tax residency perks. Choose from four investment options:

• non-refundable contribution of $230,000+;

• real estate purchase for $300,000+;

• contribution to a university of $260,000+;

• business investment of $400,000+.

Belize’s residency program is designed for retirees and people over 45 years old. If you’re receiving at least $2,000 a month in guaranteed income, Belize welcomes you under its QRP residence visa. It is perfect for retirees who want to enjoy the tropics stress-free.

Nicaragua grants permanent, not temporary, residency right away. Invest $35,000 in the local economy, and you’ll be eligible for a 5-year residency, with a clear path to citizenship afterward.

Want to stay under the temporary program instead? You’ll need to spend at least 180 days per year in the country.

Argentina makes it incredibly simple to obtain residency, especially if you’re connected by birth or family. Any foreign person that was born on its territory becomes an Argentinian citizen. Thus, their parents can get residence permits by family reunification.

Other ways to obtain Argentina residency include the following paths:

• nationality — it is given to nationals of MERCOSUR Member or Associate States;

• being a member of the catholic or non-catholic clergy;

• investment of 1,500,000+ in Argentine pesos;

• economic solvency — if a person is a pensioner.

Malaysia offers The Malaysia My Second Home, MM2H, program. If you’re dreaming of a long-term stay in Malaysia, the program might be your ticket in. To qualify, here’s what you’ll need:

• be over 35;

• have a monthly income of RM40,000+ or $9,300+;

• have RM1,500,000+ or $350,000+ in liquid assets — this money can be later used for making a deposit;

• make a fixed deposit of RM1,000,000+ or $235,000+ upon approval.

Under the MM2H program, a person obtains a 10-year multiple-entry visa.

Thailand has the Thailand Elite Residence Program that is perfect if you want flexibility and prestige. Depending on your commitment, you can get up to 20 years of residency.

There are four options:

1. Gold Membership: a 5-year visa given for the one-time fee of THB 900,000, or $24,807, without the right to include family members.

2. Platinum Membership: a 5-year visa awarded to foreigners for investing THB 1,500,000, or $41,344. Plus THB 1,000,000, or $27,563, for each family member.

3. Diamond Membership: a 15-year visa issued for a fee of THB 2,500,000, or $68,906, plus THB 1,500,000, or $41,304, for each family member;

4. Reserve Membership: an invitation-only visa issued for 20 years. Participants pay THB 5,000,000, or $137,812, plus THB 2,000,000, or $55,142, for each family member.

Cambodia’s residence permit can be obtained for a year. To become its holder, you need to obtain a tourist or business visa on arrival in the airports of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. It can be extended later.

Then you need to go to a special travel agency, choose the suitable extension option and pay the required fee. It is $285 for a 12-month residence permit. With it, you can reside anywhere in Cambodia and leave and enter the country as often as you want.

In Turkey, obtaining a tourist residence permit for a year is possible. To be considered, you must provide proof of their travel plans, for example, plane tickets, hotel reservations, etc.

Another way to get a residency is to invest in real estate. The minimum property value is $200,000.

However, it is possible to get a registration required for a residence permit only in the regions approved by the Turkish authorities.

The residence permit by investment is given for 1 year and can be extended.

Some people decide to obtain Turkish citizenship. It allows one to enter over 120 countries without visas and get an E‑2 business visa to the USA.

There are 5 options for getting a Turkish passport by investment:

• purchase of a real estate for $400,000+;

• business investment of $500,000+;

• bank deposit of $500,000+;

• purchase of government bonds for $500,000+;

• purchase of units in an investment fund for $500,000+.

The United Arab Emirates. Whether you’re a property investor, entrepreneur, or remote worker, there’s a path to UAE residency that fits your lifestyle.

UAE grants residence permits by investment in real estate. Depending on the sum of investment, it can be obtained for either 2 or 10 years:

1. The 10-year Golden Visa requires AED 2,000,000+ or $545,000.

2. The 2-year visa costs AED 750,000+ or $204,000.

Real estate can only be bought in the UAE freehold zones.

Starting a company in the UAE? If your business is worth at least AED 500,000 or $136,000+, you can apply for a 5-year residency visa — a smart option for founders and entrepreneurs.

The UAE also gives residency permits to freelancers and remote workers. They need to get a special licence and prove their monthly income is $5,000 or more.

Vanuatu might be your ideal destination, offering both permanent residency and citizenship, often in just a matter of days.

Vanuatu permanent residency can be obtained by an individual who is able to prove to have assets of $350,000+. The whole process of preparing a residence card in the country can take as little as 5 days.

Vanuatu citizenship is available right away. To get it, you need to make a non-refundable contribution of $130,000+.

As a Vanuatu citizen, you get all the benefits of permanent residency plus:

1. Visa-free travel to 100+ countries, including Singapore and Hong Kong.

2. A streamlined path to tax efficiency and global mobility.

Besides, international business companies registered in Vanuatu don’t pay corporate tax for 20 years, replacing it with a fee of $300 a year.

Participating in an investment program is one of the easiest ways to become a resident in a foreign country. Among the most popular programs are those of European countries and the UAE.

We have compared residency investment programs by the two most important parameters: required investments and how fast a program participant can get a residence permit.

Residence by investment programs in Europe and the Middle East

Country

Malta

Required investments

€182,000+

Timeframe

6+ months

Country

UAE

Required investments

AED 750,000+

Timeframe

2+ months

Country

Portugal

Required investments

€250,000+

Timeframe

12+ months

Country

Greece

Required investments

€250,000+

Timeframe

4+ months

Country

Hungary

Required investments

€250,000+

Timeframe

5+ months

Country

Italy

Required investments

€250,000+

Timeframe

4+ months

Country

Cyprus

Required investments

€300,000+

Timeframe

9+ months

Country

Required investments

Timeframe

Malta

€182,000+

6+ months

UAE

AED 750,000+

2+ months

Portugal

€250,000+

12+ months

Greece

€250,000+

4+ months

Hungary

€250,000+

5+ months

Italy

€250,000+

4+ months

Cyprus

€300,000+

9+ months

1. The easiest country for obtaining a residence permit in Europe is Portugal. Whether you’re retired, financially independent, starting a business, or looking to invest, there’s a visa for you: a D7 visa for financially independent persons, a Digital Nomad Visa, and the Golden Visa for investors.

2. Argentina offers the easiest way to obtain a residence permit in the Americas. It is given to a foreign mother who gave birth to a child on Argentina territory. There are many other ways to become a country resident, too. For example, if you are a citizen of MERCOSUR Member or Associate States, a member of a catholic or non-catholic clergy, or an investor in the Argentinian economy.

3. Cambodia’s residence permit is the easiest one to be obtained in Asia. The two things you need to do are get a visa upon arrival and then go to the travel agency to extend it. The fee is $285 for a 12-month stay.

4. To obtain residency in the Middle or Near East, consider the UAE. It grants residency to real estate owners.

5. Vanuatu is the easiest country to get a residence permit in Oceania. The document is issued within 5 days. The requirement is to have assets of $350,000+.