Residence permits: 16 countries compared
Countries with a general residence permit open to foreigners who show they can support themselves.
Sorted by the monthly income asked for, lowest first; countries without a fixed amount come after.
Programme details are shown in English.
| Country | Programme | Income a month | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | Settlement permit – gainful employment excepted | $3,040 | 1 year; 3 years after 2 years of continuous residence and integration module 1 |
 Mexico | Temporary Resident visa by economic solvency (Residente Temporal) | $4,500 | Visa valid 180 days for entry; then a residence card for 1 year, renewable for up to 4 years in total |
 Armenia | Temporary residence status (1-year card) | Not fixed | Up to 1 year, extendable |
| Armenia | Permanent residence status (5-year card) | Not fixed | 5 years, extendable by 5 years |
 Australia | National Innovation visa (subclass 858) | Not fixed | Permanent |
 Bahamas | Annual Permit to Reside / Home Owner Resident Permit | Not fixed | 1 year, renewable |
 Belize | Permanent residence | Not fixed | permanent |
 Ecuador | Permanent Residence after 21 months of temporary residence | Not fixed | Permanent |
 Nepal | Non-tourist visa | Not fixed | Extendable only at the Department of Immigration, up to 1 year at a time (business visas excepted) |
 Netherlands | Orientation year for highly educated persons | Not fixed | 1 year, cannot be extended |
 New Zealand | Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | Not fixed | — |
 North Macedonia | Temporary residence for property owners | Not fixed | — |
 Qatar | Invest Qatar Residency Program for entrepreneurs and executives | Not fixed | — |
 Senegal | Foreigner identity card (residence card) | Not fixed | — |
 Serbia | Temporary residence based on property ownership | Not fixed | For the requested period, up to 3 years |
 Sweden | Residence permit to look for work or start a business | Not fixed | Up to 9 months |
 Uruguay | Legal permanent residence (Residencia Legal Permanente) | Not fixed | Permanent; lost only after 3 years living outside Uruguay |
| Uruguay | Legal temporary residence (Residencia Legal Temporaria) | Not fixed | From 180 days up to 2 years; extension must be requested within 90 days before expiry |
Questions
Which country asks for the least income?
In our data, Austria asks for the least: about $3,040 a month.
How many countries are on this list?
16 countries, each with at least one route of this kind that we have checked against official sources.
Other routes
- Digital nomad visas
- Work permits
- Student visas
- Freelancer and self-employed visas
- Retirement visas
- Passive income visas
- Investment and golden visas
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.