All destinations · South America
88 immigration and residence routes across 13 South America destinations. Every route links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date. We never give legal advice.
Residence authorization for work (VITEM V)
Residence authorization for foreign nationals coming to Brazil to work, generally initiated by a Brazilian employer.
Residence authorization for investment
Residence authorization for foreign nationals making a qualifying investment in Brazil, including real-estate investment under CNIg Resolution 36/2018.
Digital nomad residence (VITEM XIV)
Residence authorization and VITEM XIV temporary visa for remote workers employed by or contracting with employers outside Brazil.
Family reunion residence (VITEM XI)
Residence authorization for family members of Brazilian nationals or of immigrants who hold residence in Brazil, under Interministerial Ordinance 12/2018.
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.
Temporary Residence as a Migrant Worker
Temporary residence for foreign nationals hired under an employment relationship to carry out lawful paid work in Argentina.
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.
Inversionista (Investor) Temporary Residence
Temporary residence for foreign nationals who make a productive, commercial or service investment of interest to Argentina, with funds of lawful origin.
Digital Nomad Transitory Residence
Transitory residence for foreign nationals who work remotely for employers or clients based abroad while staying in Argentina.
Temporary Residence by Family Reunification
Temporary residence for the spouse, parents and children of an Argentine citizen or of a temporary or permanent resident.
Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities
Temporary residence subcategory for foreigners coming to Chile to perform lawful paid work under a contract, service contract or job offer.
Temporary Residence - Job Offer Pathway
Temporary residence pathway for foreigners with a formal Chilean job offer who need to enter Chile and file the employment contract after arrival.
Temporary Residence - Investors and Related Personnel
Temporary residence subcategory for investors making a qualifying investment in Chile and for related executive or specialist personnel.
Temporary Residence - Family Reunification
Temporary residence subcategory for close family members of Chilean citizens or holders of Residencia Definitiva.
Temporary Residence - Students
Temporary residence subcategory for foreigners studying at education establishments recognised by the Chilean State.
Permanent Legal Residence (Residencia Permanente)
General permanent residence for any foreign national intending to settle in Uruguay, processed by the Direccion Nacional de Migracion.
Temporary Legal Residence (Residencia Temporaria)
Temporary residence for any foreign national settling in Uruguay for work, study or other legally established reasons, granted for 6 months to 2 years and renewable.
MERCOSUR Permanent Residence
Permanent residence for nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states under the regional residence agreement, with reduced documentation.
Permanent Residence by Uruguayan Family Link
Permanent residence for foreign nationals who are the child, spouse, registered partner or sibling of a Uruguayan.
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.
Visa V (Visitante)
The Visitor (V) visa for temporary stays in Colombia where the holder has no intention of establishing domicile in the country.
Visa V Nomadas Digitales
The digital-nomad subcategory of the Visa V, for remote workers and digital entrepreneurs serving foreign companies or clients from Colombia.
Visa M (Migrante)
The Migrant (M) visa - the establishment-intent category whose continuous holding accrues toward a Resident (R) visa in Colombia.
Visa M Inversionista / Socio o Propietario
The Migrant (M) visa for foreign investors and business owners or partners in a Colombian company.
Visa M Conyuge o Companero de Nacional
The Migrant (M) visa for the spouse or permanent partner of a Colombian national.
Visa R (Residente)
The Resident (R) visa - Colombia's permanent-residence category, granting an open work permit and the right to settle.
Temporary Residence - Work (Relacion de Dependencia)
For people moving to Ecuador with a job offer: this is the employer-tied temporary residence visa for working under an employment contract for an Ecuadorian employer.
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.
Temporary Residence - Investor (Inversionista)
For people investing in Ecuador: this route grants temporary residence to those who place a qualifying investment - for example in real estate or a certificate of deposit - of lawful origin.
Temporary Residence - Professional (Profesional)
For degree-holders and qualified tradespeople: this route grants temporary residence to professionals, technicians, technologists or artisans who can certify their qualification.
Temporary Residence - Digital Nomad (Visa Nomada)
For remote workers: this route lets you live in Ecuador while working for a foreign employer or your own foreign company under a contract sourced outside Ecuador.
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 for Investors (SUACE)
For investors: the SUACE route is Paraguay's fast lane - it grants permanent residence directly, without first going through temporary residence, for foreign investors who register a qualifying business.
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.
Worker Resident (Trabajador Residente)
For people moving to Peru with a job: this is the employer-tied residence category for foreign nationals working under a registered employment contract for an employer in Peru.
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.
Investor (Inversionista)
For people investing in Peru: this category grants residence to foreign nationals who form, invest in or manage a Peruvian company with a qualifying capital investment.
Resident Family Member (Familiar Residente)
For close family of a Peruvian or of a foreign resident: this category lets you live in Peru as part of the family unit, based on your relationship to your sponsoring relative.
Digital Nomad (Nomada Digital)
For remote workers: Peru has created a digital-nomad residence category in law for people who telework for a company based abroad - but heads-up, it is not yet usable, so check the official page before planning around it.
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.
Visitor Visa
Visitor visa application route using Guyana Immigration Support Services, with a visa-on-arrival request letter among the listed evidence.
Visitor Visa Extension
Extension of stay route for visitors in Guyana, with a three-month extension framework and listed extension fees.
Business Visa
Business visa route for business people in Guyana, supported by the e-services checklist and Ministry business visa form.
Business Visa Extension
Business visa extension route using the official e-services checklist for business registration, tax, NIS, sponsor and passport evidence.
Employment Visa
Employer-backed employment visa route for foreign workers in Guyana, using the official e-services checklist and live employment visa-on-arrival requirements.
Employment Visa Extension
Extension of stay or work permit route for existing employment visa holders, filed with employer and compliance evidence.
Multiple Visa for Business and Investment
One-year renewable multiple-entry visa for people carrying out investment and business activities that require periodic entry and exit from Bolivia.
Short-Term Work Stay (Permanencia Transitoria)
Short-term work permanence for foreign nationals carrying out remunerated or lucrative activity in Bolivia for up to 180 days.
Temporary Work Residence (Permanencia Temporal)
One-, two- or three-year temporary permanence for foreign nationals carrying out remunerated or lucrative work in Bolivia.
Temporary Student Residence (Permanencia Temporal)
Temporary student permanence for foreign nationals studying in Bolivia at school or higher-education level.
Temporary Family Residence (Permanencia Temporal)
Temporary family permanence for foreign nationals with qualifying family, dependency, affinity or marriage links in Bolivia.
Temporary Humanitarian Residence (Permanencia Temporal)
Exceptional temporary permanence for protection, trafficking, medical-accompaniment and certain post-release situations in Bolivia.
Entry Fee and Visa-Free Tourism or Family Visit
Tourism and family-visit entry framework for nationals covered by Suriname visa abolition, with a government entry-fee voucher requirement.
Business, Internship and Work-Related Visit Visa
Short-stay visa route for business, internship and work-related travel purposes that are not covered by ordinary visa-free tourism or family visits.
One Stop Unit Foreign Worker Work and Residence Procedure
Coordinated company route for short-stay visas, work permits and residence permits for foreign employees, including oil, gas and specialist deployments.
Work Permit for Foreign Workers
Employer-led work-permit route for employing a non-Surinamese worker, administered by the Ministry of Labour work-permit unit.
Residence Permit for People of Surinamese Origin
Residence route for people of Surinamese origin and qualifying family members, including fixed-term residence up to two years and indefinite-stay filing.
Residence Permit for Other Foreigners and MKV Cases
General residence-permit framework for non-Surinamese-origin foreigners, including MKV rules for visa-required long stays over three months.
Electronic Tourist Visa
Electronic tourist visa for recreation, health or non-profit activities in Venezuela.
Electronic Transeunte Business Visa
Electronic Venezuelan business authorization for invited missions, technical assistance and similar short assignments.
Labor Visa
Employer-authorized Venezuelan labor visa for foreign workers and qualifying family members.
Business Visa
Consular Venezuelan business visa for non-migrant commercial, financial or other legal lucrative business activity.
Student or Internship Visa
Venezuelan student/internship visa for higher, technical, university, specialization or internship activity.
Investor Visa
Authority-check pathway for Venezuelan investment-related visa planning where current category authorization must be confirmed before filing.
Short-Stay Overseas Visa
Short-stay visa check and filing route for visits to French Guiana as overseas France rather than the Schengen area.
Long-Stay Overseas Visa
Long-stay visa and residence-entry route for people moving to French Guiana for more than a short visit.
Talent Passport / Qualified Work
French qualified-work residence route to check for French Guiana through France-Visas and Service-Public.
Private and Family Life Residence
French private-life and family residence route to check for family members moving to French Guiana.
Visa Atlas covers 13 South America destinations and 88 immigration and residence routes between them. Every route links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
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.