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Visa Atlas

A free, independent field guide to moving countries. Every figure links to its official government source.

Not legal advice. Visa Atlas is an encyclopedia, not an adviser. The authoritative source is always the government link on each page. For your specific case, consult a regulated professional.

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All destinations · North America

North America visas

89 immigration and residence routes across 12 North America destinations. Every route links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date. We never give legal advice.

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🇨🇦Canada· 8 routes

Country overview
  • Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

    Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience.

  • Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

    Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.

  • Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

    Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification.

  • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

    Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry.

  • Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

    Open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions.

  • Start-Up Visa (Canada)

    Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.

All 8 Canada routes

🇺🇸United States of America· 14 routes

Country overview
  • H-1B Specialty Occupation

    Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.

  • L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)

    Intracompany transfer for executives or managers moving to a US office of a related multinational employer.

  • L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)

    Intracompany transfer for employees with specialised knowledge of the employer’s products, services, or processes.

  • O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement

    Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).

  • EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)

    Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.

  • EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)

    Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.

All 14 United States routes

🇲🇽United Mexican States· 3 routes

Country overview
  • 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.

  • Visa by job offer / temporary resident with work authorisation

    Employer-initiated Mexican work route where INM authorises a visa based on a job offer.

  • Visa by family unit

    Mexican family-unity visa route for qualifying relatives of Mexican citizens or foreign residents.

🇨🇷Republic of Costa Rica· 7 routes

Country overview
  • Temporary Residence - Employed Worker

    Employer-sponsored temporary residence allowing a foreign national to work for a specific employer in Costa Rica.

  • 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.

  • Temporary Residence - Inversionista (Investor)

    Temporary residence for foreign nationals making a qualifying investment in Costa Rica.

  • Estancia - Remote Worker / Service Provider (Ley 10008)

    A one-year stay (estancia) for remote workers and service providers serving foreign clients under Costa Rica's Ley N. 10008.

  • Temporary Residence - Family Tie (Vinculo)

    Temporary residence based on a family tie (vinculo) to a Costa Rican or to a legal resident.

All 7 Costa Rica routes

🇵🇦Republic of Panama· 7 routes

Country overview
  • 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.

  • Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado)

    Permanent residence for foreign nationals making a substantial qualifying investment in Panama, created by Decreto 722 of 2020.

  • Retiree-Pensioner Residence (Jubilado / Pensionado)

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

  • Economic Solvency Residence (Solvencia Economica Propia)

    Permanent residence for foreign nationals who demonstrate their own economic solvency through a qualifying investment or deposit in Panama.

  • Employment-Based Temporary Permit

    Employer-tied temporary residence permit for foreign workers, paired with a labour permit from the labour ministry.

  • Married to a Panamanian (Casado con Panameno/a)

    Residence for the foreign spouse of a Panamanian citizen, leading to permanent residence.

All 7 Panama routes

🇸🇻Republic of El Salvador· 6 routes

Country overview
  • Temporary Residence with Work Authorisation

    For people moving to El Salvador for a job: this is the temporary residence that comes with authorisation to work, supported by an employer in the country.

  • Investor Temporary Residence

    For people investing in El Salvador: this temporary residence is for foreign investors who place a qualifying investment in a business or project in the country.

  • 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.

  • Freedom Visa (Citizenship by Investment)

    For people seeking Salvadoran citizenship through a large contribution: the Freedom Visa is a government citizenship-by-investment programme funded by a Bitcoin or USDT contribution to state development funds.

  • 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.

🇧🇿Belize· 6 routes

Country overview
  • Temporary Employment Permit (Work Permit)

    For people moving to Belize for a job: this is the Temporary Employment Permit you apply for through the Labour Department to work lawfully for an employer in the country.

  • 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.

  • Family Residence (Spouse and Dependants)

    For spouses and dependants of someone settled in Belize: this family route lets you live in the country based on your relationship to a Belizean or a resident.

  • Student Permit

    For international students: this is the permit you need to study in Belize, which you must obtain before your school year or semester begins.

🇬🇹Republic of Guatemala· 6 routes

Country overview
  • Temporary Residence - Worker (Residencia Temporal Trabajador)

    For people moving to Guatemala with a job: this is the temporary residence for migrant workers, tied to a job offer from an employer in the country.

  • 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.

  • Temporary Residence - Investor (Residencia Inversionista)

    For people investing in Guatemala: this residence is for foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment in the country, for example in a Guatemalan company or project.

  • Temporary Residence - Digital Nomad (Residencia Nomada Digital)

    For remote workers: Guatemala has created a digital nomad residence for people who work remotely for clients or an employer based abroad, letting you live in the country while you keep your foreign income.

  • Temporary Residence - Family (Residencia por motivos Familiares)

    For close family of a Guatemalan or of a resident: this residence lets you live in Guatemala based on your family relationship, such as being a spouse, child or parent.

  • 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.

🇭🇳Republic of Honduras· 10 routes

Country overview
  • Consular Tourist Visa

    Honduras visitor visa route handled by Honduran consulates, with single-entry and multiple-entry fee bands published by INM.

  • Consulted Visa

    Pre-authorised Honduran visa route where INM validates entry before a consulate can issue the visa.

  • Stay Extension

    INM extension for non-residents to extend Honduras/CA-4 stay time up to 120 days, with a USD 20 per month fee.

  • Rentist, Pensioner or Investor Residence

    Honduras residence categories for rentistas, pensioners and investors, with published income and investment thresholds.

  • Family Residence

    Honduras residence quality for dependants of foreign residents and close relatives of Honduran citizens by birth.

  • Special Permanence Permit for Contract Employees

    Employer-supported Honduras Special Permanence Permit for foreign workers employed under contract by a private company.

All 10 Honduras routes

🇧🇲Bermuda (British Overseas Territory)· 7 routes

Country overview
  • Bermuda Entry Visa / MRV Requirement

    Bermuda entry route for visa-controlled nationals who must hold a valid UK, US or Canadian multi re-entry visa before travel.

  • Standard Work Permit

    Employer-led Bermuda work-permit route for hiring a foreign national where no suitably qualified Bermudian, spouse of Bermudian, Belonger spouse or PRC holder is available.

  • Short Term and Periodic Work Permits

    Bermuda employer-led work permits for short assignments up to six months or repeat visits of no more than 30 days per visit.

  • Global Entrepreneur, New Business, Fintech and Family Office Work Permits

    Bermuda business-focused work-permit routes for global entrepreneurs, new exempted companies, fintech companies and family offices.

  • Residence Permit

    Bermuda residence-permission route covering annual residence, residence and seeking employment, school or college attendance, renewals and spouse or PRC-holder letters.

  • Economic Investment Certificate and Residential Certificate

    Bermuda high-net-worth investment route that can support residency rights through an Economic Investment Certificate and Residential Certificate.

All 7 Bermuda routes

🇬🇱Greenland (self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)· 10 routes

Country overview
  • Visa to Greenland

    Official short-stay visa handling for visa-required travellers visiting Greenland for up to 90 days.

  • Work in Greenland

    SIRI residence and work permit route for applicants offered a job in Greenland.

  • Fast Track Greenland

    SIRI Fast Track route for applicants applying to work for an approved company in Greenland.

  • Sideline Employment in Greenland

    SIRI route for applicants who need a Greenland work permit for sideline employment.

  • Family Reunification in Greenland

    SIRI route for spouses, partners, parents or other family members applying for family reunification in Greenland.

  • Accompanying Family in Greenland

    SIRI route for family members accompanying a person who is in Greenland to work or study.

All 10 Greenland routes

🇳🇮Republic of Nicaragua· 5 routes

Country overview
  • Entry Visa and Consular Visa

    Nicaragua short-stay entry route for travellers who are visa-exempt or who need consular visa handling under the current nationality category list.

  • Temporary Residence

    Nicaragua temporary residence handling for foreign nationals who need to stay beyond short-visit entry.

  • Work Residence

    Nicaragua work-linked residence handling for foreign nationals taking local employment or contract work.

  • Student Residence

    Nicaragua study-linked residence handling for foreign nationals studying at a recognised institution.

  • Permanent Residence

    Nicaragua permanent residence handling for applicants moving from temporary or qualifying residence into longer-term status.

Frequently asked questions

How many North America destinations does Visa Atlas cover?+−

Visa Atlas covers 12 North America destinations and 89 immigration and residence routes between them. Every route links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.

Is Visa Atlas official, and is this legal advice?+−

No. Visa Atlas is a free, independent encyclopaedia. The authoritative source is always the government link on each page, and we never give legal advice — for your specific case, consult a regulated adviser.