General residence routes — non-lucrative and passive-income options

Stamp 4 permission

Long-term residence permission allowing unrestricted work in Ireland.

D7 visa (passive income / retirement)

Residence visa for non-EU nationals with stable passive income (pensions, rental income, dividends).

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)

Residence visa for financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals not planning to work in Spain.

Elective Residence Visa (Residenza Elettiva)

Visa for retirees and independently wealthy individuals who can support themselves in Italy without working.

C Permit — Settlement (Niederlassungsbewilligung)

Swiss permanent residence permit — unrestricted work rights, no employer sponsorship, granted after 5–10 years of continuous B permit residence.

Visitor temporary residence permit

Cyprus temporary residence route for visitors and dependants who are not allowed to work in Cyprus.

Temporary Resident Visa

Mexican visa for people intending to stay more than 180 days and up to 4 years, usually based on economic solvency, family or other qualifying grounds.

MERCOSUR residence agreement (VITEM XIII)

Treaty-based residence for nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states, with a path from temporary to indefinite residence.

Residence for retirees and pensioners

Residence authorization for retired immigrants and recipients of a pension who can transfer a qualifying monthly income to Brazil, under CNIg Resolution 40/2019.

MERCOSUR Temporary Residence (by nationality)

Temporary residence for nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states based on nationality alone, without needing a job offer or investment.

Rentista (Fixed-Income) Temporary Residence

Temporary residence for foreign nationals who support themselves with regular income from assets or other lawful external sources, not from personal work.

Permanent Legal Residence (Residencia Permanente)

General permanent residence for any foreign national intending to settle in Uruguay, processed by the Direccion Nacional de Migracion.

MERCOSUR Permanent Residence

Permanent residence for nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states under the regional residence agreement, with reduced documentation.

Retiree and Pensioner Residence Benefit (Law 16.340)

Benefit for foreign retirees and pensioners who obtain permanent residence, tied to a minimum foreign income and a qualifying property or government-securities investment under Law 16.340.

Retired Persons' Visa

Visa for foreigners who wish to retire in South Africa, based on proof of a minimum monthly income or net worth.

Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens (50+)

Long-validity residence permit for non-citizens aged 50 and over who can demonstrate a qualifying regular income transferred to Mauritius.

Class K Permit (Ordinary Residents)

Residence permit for a foreign national aged 35 or over with an assured income from sources outside Kenya, who undertakes not to take up employment.

Permanent Residence

Permanent residence in Kenya under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, including a route after long lawful residence on work permits.

Permanent Residence (Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, APRC)

Permanent residence for foreign nationals who have legally resided in Taiwan continuously for five years, granted by the National Immigration Agency under the Immigration Act.

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)

A long-stay social visit pass programme for foreigners meeting financial criteria, offered in Platinum, Gold, Silver and SEZ/SFZ categories.

Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa

A 10-year BOI-administered visa for high-potential foreigners across four categories, with a digital work permit and tax and re-entry benefits.

Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Retirement / Long Stay)

A long-stay retirement visa for applicants aged 50 and over with the required savings or pension income; employment of any kind is prohibited.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card

Lifelong multiple-entry status for foreign nationals of Indian origin and their eligible relatives.

Real Estate Residence (Property Owner)

Residence linked to owning real estate in Qatar designated areas. Listed among Qatar official visa categories as the Real Estate Visa.

Permanent Residency (Law No. 10 of 2018)

A distinct permanent-residence status created by Law No. 10 of 2018 and granted by a dedicated Ministry of Interior committee. It is not Qatari citizenship.

Turkey Short-Term Residence Permit

Flexible residence permit covering property owners, business connections, tourism, study programmes, medical treatment and investment, issued by the Presidency of Migration Management.

Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit

Indefinite residence permit for foreigners who have lived continuously in Türkiye for at least eight years on valid residence permits.

Second Home Visa

Long-stay visa for self-funded foreigners and retirees who can show substantial funds or qualifying property in Indonesia.

KITAP (Permanent Stay Permit)

Indonesia's permanent stay permit, available to long-term KITAS holders such as spouses of citizens, investors and retirees.

Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)

Special resident visa for retirees, administered by the Philippine Retirement Authority, offering indefinite multiple-entry stay.

Quota Immigrant Visa (Section 13)

The Philippines' numerically limited immigrant visa, capped per nationality each year, for applicants who can contribute to the country.

Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

Residence card that lets eligible visa holders live in Vietnam for a multi-year period without repeated visa renewals.

Permanent Residence Card

Vietnam's permanent residence status for qualifying long-term residents, including certain family of Vietnamese citizens and contributors.

Visa M (Migrante)

The Migrant (M) visa - the establishment-intent category whose continuous holding accrues toward a Resident (R) visa in Colombia.

Visa R (Residente)

The Resident (R) visa - Colombia's permanent-residence category, granting an open work permit and the right to settle.

Temporary Residence - Pensionado (Pensioner)

Temporary residence for retirees who receive a guaranteed lifetime pension from a recognised source.

Temporary Residence - Rentista (Person of Independent Means)

Temporary residence for people of independent means who can show stable monthly income for a sustained period.

Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente)

Costa Rican permanent residence, typically reached after a qualifying period of temporary residence or directly through a first-degree tie to a Costa Rican.

Friendly Nations Residence Permit (Naciones Amigas)

Residence for nationals of designated friendly nations who demonstrate economic or professional ties to Panama, now via a two-step permit.

Retiree-Pensioner Residence (Jubilado / Pensionado)

Permanent residence for retirees and pensioners receiving a guaranteed lifetime pension, a long-standing Panama route.

Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente)

Panamanian permanent residence, reached after the qualifying period of a provisional or temporary permit.

Permanent Residence (Nigeria)

Nigeria's permanent-residence visa group for highly skilled immigrants, investors, retirees and spouses of citizens or permanent residents, granting long-term residence beyond the renewable CERPAC.

Residence Permit via Real Estate (Egypt)

A renewable residence permit granted to foreigners who own qualifying property in Egypt, with the validity period scaling by the value of the property; renewable but never permanent.

Residence Permit via Bank Deposit (Egypt)

A renewable residence permit for foreigners who place a qualifying deposit in an Egyptian state-owned bank, with the validity period scaling by the size of the deposit; renewable but never permanent.

Indefinite Residence Status (Ghana)

Ghana's permanent-residence equivalent, granting a foreign national the right to reside indefinitely after a qualifying period of lawful residence, issued by the Ghana Immigration Service.

Right of Abode (Ghana)

A residence status for the African diaspora and former Ghanaians, granting the right to live in Ghana indefinitely, enter without a visa and work without a work permit.

Golden Residency

Bahrain long-term renewable residence for property owners, retirees, talented individuals and long-term residents, issued by the NPRA. It is renewable residence, not permanent residence or citizenship.

Short-Term Residence Permit (real-estate owners)

A short-term residence permit for foreign nationals who own Georgian real estate valued above an official threshold.

Permanent Residence Permit

Georgia's settlement permit, generally available after holding temporary residence permits for around ten years, or sooner for certain family members of Georgian citizens.

Long-Term Residence / Permanent Stay (Croatia)

Croatia's settlement status for third-country nationals after generally five years of uninterrupted lawful stay.

National Permanent Residence / EC Long-Term Residence (Hungary)

Hungary's settlement statuses: national permanent residence and the EU long-term residence card, generally after a qualifying period of lawful residence.

Temporary Residence via Real-Estate Ownership

Temporary residence based on owning real estate in Serbia, available since the 2024 broadening of temporary-residence grounds.

Permanent Residence (Serbia)

Serbia's settlement status, available after three years of continuous temporary residence following the February 2024 reform.

St Kitts and Nevis Permanent Residence

For people who want to settle long-term in St Kitts and Nevis through the ordinary residence rules - for example after a qualifying period of living there, or through marriage to a citizen - rather than through investment.

Dominica Permanent Residence

For people who want to settle long-term in Dominica through the ordinary residence rules, rather than through investment - for example after a qualifying period of lawful residence.

Grenada Permanent Residence

For people who want to settle long-term in Grenada through the ordinary residence rules - for example after several years of living there, or through marriage to a citizen - rather than through investment.

Saint Lucia Permanent Residence

For people who want to settle long-term in Saint Lucia through the ordinary residence rules - typically after several years of continuous residence - rather than through investment.

Barbados Immigrant Status

If you want to settle in Barbados long term, immigrant status is the route that gives you the right to live there on a lasting basis, usually after qualifying residence or through a close Barbadian connection.

Special Entry and Reside Permit (SERP)

If you are a high-net-worth individual who wants the right to live in Barbados, the Special Entry and Reside Permit (SERP) is the long-stay permit built around significant means or investment in the island.

Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence

If you can invest substantially in The Bahamas - typically in real estate - economic permanent residence gives you the right to live there permanently, without the right to work.

Bahamas Annual Residence Permit

If you want to live in The Bahamas without working there - for example as a retiree or person of means - the annual residence permit lets you reside for a year at a time, renewably.

Bahamas Homeowner Residence Card

If you own a home in The Bahamas, the homeowner residence card gives you and your immediate family a smoother right to come and go and reside while you keep that property.

Residence by Investment - Pensionado (Retiree)

If you receive a pension from abroad, the pensionado route gives you Dominican residence quickly - and it puts you on the fast track to permanent residence from your first card.

Residence by Investment - Rentista (Annuitant)

If you have steady income from abroad - including remote work - the rentista route is the Dominican Republic's practical home for you, and it leads quickly to permanent residence.

Ordinary Temporary Residence (RT-9)

If your reason for living in the Dominican Republic does not fit a work or investment category, ordinary RT-9 temporary residence is the general route - renewed yearly on the way to permanent residence.

Permanent Residence (RP-1)

Permanent residence (RP-1) is the Dominican Republic's settled-status card - reached fast through the investment classes, or after the required years of renewed temporary residence on the ordinary route.

Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means

If you have substantial means and want to live in the Cayman Islands without working, this long-validity certificate lets you reside there - but it does not give you permanent residence.

Certificate of Permanent Residence for Persons of Independent Means

If you make a very large real-estate investment in the Cayman Islands, this is the one independent-means route that actually grants permanent residence - but it is rare, expensive and quota-limited.

Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card)

For you if you want to settle in China long term: the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card - nicknamed the Five-Star Card - is China's actual permanent residence document, issued by the National Immigration Administration once your permanent-residence application is approved.

Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit

If you have a long-stay (type D) visa and a qualifying ground to live in Bulgaria, this annually-renewable permit is the residence card you build your settlement on.

Permanent Residence (Bulgaria)

If you have lived in Bulgaria continuously for five years, this is your settlement status - secure residence and a stepping stone toward citizenship.

EU Long-Term Residence (Romania)

If you have lived in Romania continuously for five years, this is your settlement status - a long-term right to stay with EU-wide mobility benefits.

My Dream Home Visa Programme (retirement / long-stay residence)

For you if you are an older applicant who wants to retire or live long term in Sri Lanka: the My Dream Home programme grants a renewable residence visa to people who can support themselves from abroad.

Residence Visa (Approved-Project / BOI Professional)

For you if you are a professional whose services are needed on a government-approved or Board of Investment project: this residence visa lets you (and your dependents) live in Sri Lanka for the life of the project.

Temporary Residence - Pensioner (Jubilado)

For retirees with a foreign pension: this is the popular route to settle in Ecuador - and because Ecuador uses the US dollar, US-pension retirees carry no currency-exchange risk.

Temporary Residence - Rentista (Independent Income)

For people with steady passive income: this route lets you settle in Ecuador on recurring income from lawful sources such as rentals or investments, without needing an Ecuadorian job.

Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente)

For temporary residents ready to settle: after roughly 21 months of temporary residence you can apply for Ecuadorian permanent residence - but be careful about long absences once you hold it.

Residence for Ethnic Armenians (by descent)

If you are of Armenian descent, you can qualify for residence on the basis of your ancestry, with a faster path toward permanent residence and citizenship.

Permanent Residence (Armenia)

If you have held temporary residence in Armenia for the qualifying period, the five-year permanent residence card is your settlement status.

Residence by Real-Estate Ownership

If you own qualifying property in Albania, you can obtain residence on the basis of that ownership while you keep the property.

Permanent Residence (Albania)

If you have lived in Albania continuously for five years, this is your settlement status - a long-validity permanent residence permit.

Temporary Residence (Residencia Temporal, Law 6984/2022)

For most people moving to Paraguay: under the 2022 migration law this is now the usual first step - temporary residence for up to two years, which later converts to permanent residence.

Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente, 10-year card)

For people already settled in Paraguay: this is the indefinite permanent residence you reach by converting from temporary residence, with a resident card renewed every 10 years.

Temporary Residence - Pensioner (Pensionado / Jubilado)

For retirees: this category lets you settle in Paraguay on a certified pension or retirement income, starting as temporary residence and later converting to permanent residence.

Temporary Residence - Independent Means (Renta Propia)

For people with stable passive income: this category lets you settle in Paraguay on your own recurring foreign income, beginning as temporary residence and converting to permanent residence later.

Long-stay Visa (Visa D)

For anyone planning to live in Morocco for more than 90 days: the long-stay Visa D is the entry visa you obtain before travelling, and it is the step that comes before you register for a residence card once you arrive.

Self-funded Residence Card (retirees and people of independent means)

For retirees and people who can support themselves without working in Morocco: this residence card (carte de sejour) lets you live in the country on the strength of your own income or savings, without needing a local employer.

Permanent Residence Card (carte de residence, 10-year)

For long-term foreign residents of Morocco: the carte de residence is the longer, typically ten-year card you can apply for after years of continuous, regular residence, giving you a far more settled status than the renewable carte de sejour.

Temporary Resident Permit

For foreign nationals living in Rwanda on a basis such as assured income, family or another approved reason: the temporary resident permit is the general, renewable residence permit, applied for online through IremboGov.

Permanent Residence Permit

For foreign nationals who have built a long, lawful stay in Rwanda: the permanent residence permit gives durable, long-term residence beyond the renewable temporary permits, applied for through the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration.

Residence Permit

For non-citizens who want to live in Botswana beyond a visit: the residence permit is the general permit that lets immigrants, and certain other categories, reside in the country, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on gov.bw.

Permanent Residence

For non-citizens with a long, lawful stay in Botswana: permanent residence is the discretionary, durable status you can apply for after years in the country, going beyond the renewable work and residence permits.

Temporary Residence Permit

For you if you are staying in Kazakhstan for more than the short visa-free window: the temporary residence permit is the document that lets you live there for a defined purpose such as work, study, family or business.

Permanent Residence Permit

For you if you want to settle in Kazakhstan long term: the permanent residence permit confirms your right to live there indefinitely, and a central requirement is showing that you can financially support yourself.

ER Retirement Visa (E-class retirement sub-class)

For you if you are retired and aged 55 or over: the ER is the E-class retirement sub-class that lets you live in Cambodia long term by renewing the visa - though it does not lead to permanent residence.

Residence through Qualifying Property Purchase

For you if you are buying qualifying property in Uzbekistan: this route ties a residence permit to a property purchase at or above a set value, which varies by region.

Residence Permit (long-term, vid na zhitelstvo)

For you if you want to live in Uzbekistan long term: the residence permit (vid na zhitelstvo) gives you a settled legal basis with rights close to those of a citizen, short of voting.

Residential Visa (long-stay, proof of income)

For you if you want to live in Nepal long term without doing business: the Residential Visa is a long-stay route that requires proof of income - but please read the honesty note, because it is not a settled-status or citizenship pathway.

Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Visa

For you if you are of Nepali origin and hold an NRN identity card: the NRN Visa is a long-stay route for the Nepali diaspora, and recent law changes have made it more generous - including free issuance.

Residence by Property Ownership (Montenegro)

If you own real estate in Montenegro, this route can grant you temporary residence based on that property.

Permanent Residence (Montenegro)

If you have lived in Montenegro continuously for five years, this is your settlement status - secure residence and a stepping stone toward citizenship.

Permanent Residence (Moldova)

If you have lived in Moldova continuously for the qualifying period, this is your settlement status - secure, longer-term residence.

Permanent Residence (Slovenia)

If you have lived in Slovenia continuously for about five years, this is your settlement status - secure residence with EU-wide mobility benefits.

Rentista (Independent Means / Passive Income)

For people with a pension or steady passive income: this category lets you settle in Peru on a permanent pension or recurring income, without needing a Peruvian job.

Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente)

For residents ready to settle: after three consecutive years of legal residence in a qualifying category you can change to permanent resident in Peru, with settled status.

Rentista Temporary Residence (Stable Foreign Income)

For people with steady foreign income: this temporary residence lets you live in El Salvador on stable income from abroad, declaring that you will not take paid work in the country.

Pensionado Temporary Residence (Retiree)

For retirees: this temporary residence lets you settle in El Salvador on a certified pension - and because the country uses the US dollar, a US pension carries no exchange-rate risk.

Permanent Residence (Residencia Definitiva)

For people settling in El Salvador: residencia definitiva is the permanent residence that lets you live and work without a permit - and you can be absent for up to two years without losing it.

Annual Residence for Five Years (Renewable)

For long-settled foreigners and property owners: this renewable five-year residence permit gives a longer, more stable stay than the annual permit - but it is renewable, not a permanent-residence card.

Self-Funded ("Workless") Residency with Bank Deposit

For people who can support themselves in Jordan without working: this residency is based on your own funds (a bank deposit), with the deposit rules recently eased for long-term property owners.

Residence Permit on Assured Income

For retirees and people with steady passive income aged 45 and over: this lets you live in Fiji on assured income from outside the country, without taking a Fiji job.

Permanent Residence

For people putting down long-term roots in Fiji: this is the settled residence status that, under reforms now underway, is becoming the key stepping-stone toward Fiji citizenship.

Permanent Residence via Employment

For people who have worked in Jamaica for several years: this PICA route lets long-term workers settle permanently rather than keep renewing temporary status.

Permanent Residence for Retirees

For retirees settling in Jamaica: this PICA route lets retired foreign nationals live in Jamaica permanently on pension or other independent income.

Unconditional Landing

For people with a Jamaican connection: this PICA stamp lets you live, work and study in Jamaica without a work permit or student visa - by descent, naturalisation or as a CARICOM skilled national.

Residence Permit Class C (students, retirees, researchers, missionaries)

For foreigners living in Tanzania for a reason other than local employment or running a business - students, retirees, researchers, missionaries, volunteers and similar - the Class C residence permit is the catch-all residence route for your situation.

Long-tenure Residence (high-value investors, discretionary)

For investors whose contribution to Tanzania is of great economic value: there is no standard permanent-residence category, but the Commissioner General of Immigration can, at discretion, grant much longer-tenure residence than the usual short renewable permits.

Permanent Residence Permit

For you if you have lived in Azerbaijan on temporary residence and want to settle for good: the permanent residence permit confirms your right to live there long term, generally available after about two years of qualifying temporary residence.

Residence after Five Years (Permanent Residence)

For people who have lived in Trinidad and Tobago for five years: this is how you apply for residence under the Immigration Act - there is no investment shortcut, it is earned through time spent in the country.

Permanent Residence Permit (Iceland)

If you have lived in Iceland for four continuous years on a qualifying permit, this is your settlement status - secure residence with broad work rights.

Permanent Residence / EU Long-Term Resident Status (Lithuania)

If you have lived in Lithuania lawfully for five years, this is your settlement status - EU long-term resident rights and a stepping stone toward citizenship.

Qualified Retirement Program (QRP)

For retirees aged 40 and over with steady foreign retirement income: the QRP, run by the Belize Tourism Board, gives you residency in Belize - but heads-up, it is residency, not citizenship, and it does not normally count toward permanent residence.

Temporary Residence

For people building a life in Belize: temporary residence is the status you hold while you live in the country and work toward permanent residence through the Immigration and Nationality Department.

Permanent Residence

For people settling in Belize: permanent residence can be reached after about a year of legal residence in the country - but only if you keep your absences within strict limits during that year.

Temporary Residence - Rentista or Pensionado

For people with steady income or a pension: this residence lets you live in Guatemala on a stable foreign income (rentista) or a retirement pension (pensionado), without needing a local job.

Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente)

For residents ready to settle: after about five years of legal residence in Guatemala you can apply for permanent residence, the settled-status category issued by the IGM.

Permanent Residence Permit (PRP)

For foreign nationals who have built a long, lawful connection to Namibia: the Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) gives durable, long-term residence beyond the renewable temporary permits, applied for directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek.

Retirement Permanent Residence (substantial means)

For retirees who can support themselves from their own means: this route lets you settle in Namibia on the strength of a stable income or assets, applied for through the Ministry of Home Affairs as a permanent residence basis.

Permanent Residence / EU Long-Term Resident Status (Latvia)

If you have lived in Latvia lawfully for five years, this is your settlement status - EU long-term resident rights and a step toward citizenship.

Permanent Residence (Slovakia)

If you have lived in Slovakia lawfully for five years, this is your settlement status - secure, longer-term residence and a step toward citizenship.

Residence Visa (Self-funded ground)

For people who can support themselves in Vanuatu from certified offshore income, without local employment. You show a regular income certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu.

Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground)

For people who hold a qualifying property leasehold in Vanuatu and can show a certified income. Land in Vanuatu is held by lease, so this route is built around leasehold ownership rather than freehold.

Permanent Resident Visa

Vanuatu's longer-term residence status, for people with Ni-Vanuatu descent, a long period of lawful residence, or a serious sustained investment. It is residence, not citizenship - the citizenship route is the separate Development Support Program.

Permanent Residence

For you if you have built up several years of residence in Mongolia and want to settle for good: permanent residence confirms a long-term right to live there - but please read the honesty note, because it does not lead to citizenship.

Property-Owner Residency (long-term, up to ~10 years)

For foreign nationals who own qualifying real estate in Kuwait, who can be granted residency of up to around 10 years. As with every Kuwaiti residency, this is renewable fixed-term residence, not permanent residence.

Long-Term Pass (social, business or professional)

For you if you want a multi-year basis to stay in Brunei: the Long-Term Pass is a newer route with social, business and professional sub-categories - but please read the dated note, because it only took effect at the end of 2024.

Entry Permit (route toward permanent resident status)

For you if you are working toward settling in Brunei: the Entry Permit is the document the immigration department processes for permanent resident status, so this is the formal route toward becoming a permanent resident.

Permanent Residence (discretionary, long-term)

For you if you intend to settle in Brunei for life: permanent residence confirms a long-term right to live there - but please read the honesty note, because it is discretionary and typically takes around fifteen years.

Residence Permit B without Gainful Employment (Liechtenstein)

If you are an economically inactive EEA national who can support yourself, this lets you live in Liechtenstein - but, like the work permit, it is rationed and half is decided by lottery.

Settlement Permit C (Liechtenstein)

If you have lived in Liechtenstein on a Permit B for around five years, this is your settlement status - more secure, longer-term residence.