Residence permit costs in 2026: 51 countries in one table
Income and investment thresholds for residence permits in 51 countries: remote work, passive income, business and investment, from official programme terms.
- The income threshold for a remote worker permit runs from $1,500 a month (Brazil, Digital nomad residence permit) to $60,000 a year (Indonesia (Bali), Remote Worker).
- A passive income permit starts at PAB 850 a month (Panama, Retired annuitant on a deposit).
- Among investment programmes, the lowest amount is THB 900,000 (Thailand, Thailand Privilege Card).
- In 5 of 51 countries an ordinary applicant can't get a residence permit: only citizenship by investment, employment, study, family or ancestry.
We put the money requirements for residence permits in the 51 countries of the Pactors catalogue into tables: how much you need to earn, keep in the bank or invest to get a residence permit. The figures come from programme terms checked against government sources. Each row leads to the programme, where the source is given.
The tables only include programmes open to an ordinary applicant: no family ties, marriage, ancestry, employer or study required. 37 countries name the threshold in money. Dollars are a guide at the rate of 10.10.2026; annual income is converted to monthly.
Remote work residence permits: the income you need
A digital nomad visa requires a steady income from abroad. Below is the threshold for one applicant; countries add an amount for a spouse and children.
| Country | Programme | Threshold | ≈ in dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Digital nomad residence permit | $1,500 a month | ≈ $1,500 a month |
| Estonia | Long-stay visa for remote work — the digital nomad visa | €70 a day | ≈ $2,350 a month |
| Kazakhstan | Neo Nomad Visa | $3,000 a month | ≈ $3,000 a month |
| Costa Rica | Remote worker visa | $3,000 a month | ≈ $3,000 a month |
| Panama | Remote worker visa | PAB 3,000 a month | ≈ $3,000 a month |
| Hungary | Digital nomad card | €3,000 a month | ≈ $3,360 a month |
| United Arab Emirates | Remote Work Visa | $3,500 a month | ≈ $3,500 a month |
| Greece | Digital nomad visa | €3,500 a month | ≈ $3,920 a month |
| Cyprus | Digital Nomad Visa | €3,500 a month | ≈ $3,920 a month |
| Croatia | Digital nomad residence permit | €3,622.50 a month | ≈ $4,060 a month |
| Portugal | Digital nomad | €3,680 a month | ≈ $4,120 a month |
| Romania | Digital nomad | €3,700 a month | ≈ $4,150 a month |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Remote Worker | $60,000 a year | ≈ $5,000 a month |
| Thailand | Digital nomad visa | THB 500,000 | ≈ $15,000 |
Passive income residence permits: pension, rent, dividends
These programmes don't give the right to work in the country, but they don't need an employer either. Income is shown through a pension, rent, interest or dividends; at the end of the table are programmes that ask for a bank balance instead of income.
| Country | Programme | Threshold | ≈ in dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | Retired annuitant on a deposit | PAB 850 a month | ≈ $850 a month |
| Cyprus | Residential immigration permit | €9,568 a year | ≈ $895 a month |
| Costa Rica | Temporary residence for pensioners | $1,000 a month | ≈ $1,000 a month |
| Panama | Pensioner permanent residence | PAB 1,000 a month | ≈ $1,000 a month |
| Portugal | D7 passive income visa | €920 a month | ≈ $1,030 a month |
| Argentina | Residencia Rentista | $1,500 a month | ≈ $1,500 a month |
| Uruguay | Permanent residence for pensioners | $1,500 a month | ≈ $1,500 a month |
| Thailand | Long-stay retirement visa | THB 65,000 a month | ≈ $1,940 a month |
| Vanuatu | Residence visa | VUV 250,000 a month | ≈ $2,080 a month |
| Greece | Financially independent residence permit | €2,000 a month | ≈ $2,240 a month |
| Cyprus | Residence permit for the financially independent | €24,000 a year | ≈ $2,240 a month |
| Costa Rica | Annuitant residence permit | $2,500 a month | ≈ $2,500 a month |
| Spain | Non-lucrative residence permit | €2,400 a month | ≈ $2,690 a month |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Visa for the elderly | $3,000 a month | ≈ $3,000 a month |
| France | VLS-TS Visiteur | €3,000 a month | ≈ $3,360 a month |
| Mexico | Temporary resident visa on financial means grounds | MXN 79,800 a month | ≈ $4,350 a month |
| United Arab Emirates | Retirement Visa | AED 240,000 a year | ≈ $5,450 a month |
| Austria | Financially independent person | €5,096 a month | ≈ $5,710 a month |
| Thailand | LTR Visa | $80,000 a year | ≈ $6,670 a month |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Second home visa for the elderly | $50,000 | ≈ $50,000 |
| Thailand | Retirement visa | THB 3,000,000 | ≈ $89,000 |
Residence through a business or a sole trader
Here the threshold is share capital, an investment in a company or income from it. The amounts mean different things, so compare the terms on the programme page.
| Country | Programme | Threshold | ≈ in dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | Trade representative office | €620.20 a month | ≈ $695 a month |
| United Arab Emirates | Green Visa | AED 360,000 a year | ≈ $8,170 a month |
| Andorra | Active residence | €3,000 | ≈ $3,360 |
| Netherlands | Self-employed entrepreneur’s permit | €4,500 | ≈ $5,040 |
| Serbia | Residence permit through setting up a business | €5,000 | ≈ $5,600 |
| Portugal | D2 entrepreneur visa | €11,040 | ≈ $12,000 |
| Thailand | SMART Visa «Startup» | THB 600,000 | ≈ $18,000 |
| France | Passeport Talent | €30,000 | ≈ $34,000 |
| Austria | RWR Card for start-ups | €30,000 | ≈ $34,000 |
| Italy | Start-up founder visa | €50,000 | ≈ $56,000 |
| Ireland | Residence permit for start-up entrepreneurs | €50,000 | ≈ $56,000 |
| Estonia | Residence permit for entrepreneurs | €65,000 | ≈ $73,000 |
| South Korea | Visa for business investors | KRW 100,000,000 | ≈ $75,000 |
| Austria | RWR Card for the self-employed | €100,000 | ≈ $112,000 |
| United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa for entrepreneurs | AED 500,000 | ≈ $136,000 |
| United Arab Emirates | Green Visa Issuance — Investor/Partner | AED 1,000,000 | ≈ $272,000 |
Residence by investment: the minimum amount
The investment is property, funds, bonds or a deposit. At the top of the table are programmes that name an income level instead of an investment amount.
| Country | Programme | Threshold | ≈ in dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Issuance of a Residence Permit for the Owner of a Property | AED 10,000 a month | ≈ $2,720 a month |
| Thailand | Thailand Privilege Card | THB 900,000 | ≈ $27,000 |
| Brazil | Residence permit by investment in Brazil | BRL 150,000 | ≈ $30,000 |
| Vanuatu | Vanuatu permanent residence | $100,000 | ≈ $100,000 |
| Egypt | Residence permit through investment | $100,000 | ≈ $100,000 |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Second home residence | IDR 2,000,000,000 | ≈ $112,000 |
| Thailand | SMART Visa for investors | THB 5,000,000 | ≈ $149,000 |
| Georgia | Short-term residence permit based on property | $150,000 | ≈ $150,000 |
| Costa Rica | Investor residence permit | $150,000 | ≈ $150,000 |
| Montenegro | Residence permit through property | €150,000 | ≈ $168,000 |
| Panama | Friendly Nations permanent residence | PAB 200,000 | ≈ $200,000 |
| Portugal | Portuguese residence by investment | €250,000 | ≈ $280,000 |
| Italy | Investor visa | €250,000 | ≈ $280,000 |
| Hungary | Investor residence permit | €250,000 | ≈ $280,000 |
| Greece | Investment residence permit | €250,000 | ≈ $280,000 |
| Georgia | Investment residence permit | $300,000 | ≈ $300,000 |
| Kazakhstan | A5/A6 investor visa | $300,000 | ≈ $300,000 |
| Panama | Permanent residence by investment | PAB 300,000 | ≈ $300,000 |
| Cyprus | Permanent residence by investment | €300,000 | ≈ $336,000 |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Golden Visa | $350,000 | ≈ $350,000 |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Golden investor visa | $350,000 | ≈ $350,000 |
| Andorra | Andorran passive residence | €400,000 | ≈ $448,000 |
| United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa for property | AED 2,000,000 | ≈ $545,000 |
| United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa for public investments | AED 2,000,000 | ≈ $545,000 |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Investor KITAS | IDR 10,000,000,000 | ≈ $559,000 |
| United States | EB-5 investor visa | $800,000 | ≈ $800,000 |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Investor founder visa | $2,500,000 | ≈ $2,500,000 |
| New Zealand | Active investor visa | NZD 5,000,000 | ≈ $2,806,000 |
| Hong Kong (China) | New CIES investor visa | HKD 30,000,000 | ≈ $3,823,000 |
Other routes with a money threshold
Job search, talent programmes and a short-term permit also come with a money requirement.
| Country | Programme | Threshold | ≈ in dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Short-term residence permit | $547 a month | ≈ $545 a month |
| Germany | Job search card | €1,091 a month | ≈ $1,220 a month |
| Singapore | Visa for tech leaders | SGD 22,500 a month | ≈ $18,000 a month |
| Hong Kong (China) | Top talent pass | HKD 2,500,000 a year | ≈ $27,000 a month |
Fees named in the programme terms
The fee is paid separately from the threshold. If the programme terms name it as an amount, it is here.
| Country | Programme | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Residencia Rentista | $90 |
| Austria | RWR Card for the self-employed | €218 |
| Austria | RWR Card for start-ups | €218 |
| Costa Rica | Annuitant residence permit | $50 |
| Costa Rica | Temporary residence for pensioners | $50 |
| Costa Rica | Investor residence permit | $50 |
| Costa Rica | Remote worker visa | $100 |
| Cyprus | Digital Nomad Visa | €70 |
| Estonia | Long-stay visa for remote work — the digital nomad visa | €120 |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Remote Worker | IDR 7,000,000 |
| Ireland | Residence permit for start-up entrepreneurs | €350 |
| Mexico | Temporary resident visa on financial means grounds | $56 |
| Netherlands | Self-employed entrepreneur’s permit | €423 |
| New Zealand | Active investor visa | NZD 27,470 |
| Panama | Friendly Nations permanent residence | PAB 250 |
| Panama | Permanent residence by investment | PAB 250 |
| Panama | Remote worker visa | PAB 250 |
| Thailand | Digital nomad visa | THB 10,000 |
| Thailand | LTR Visa | THB 50,000 |
| Vanuatu | Residence visa | VUV 57,600 |
Where the threshold amount isn't named
9 more countries have a residence permit open to an ordinary applicant, but the terms don't name an amount: they score points, ask for "sufficient means" or tie income to a local minimum.
| Country | Programme | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Armenia | Business residence permit | AMD 105,000 |
| Poland | Permit for carrying on economic activity | — |
| Canada | The Express Entry programme | CAD 990 |
| Canada | Federal skilled workers | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | Digital nomad status | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | Category I investor visa | — |
| Australia | Skilled Independent visa | — |
| United Kingdom | Visa for business founders | — |
| Switzerland | Pensioners and the lump-sum tax | — |
| Czechia | Czech business residence permit | — |
| Czechia | Czech long-stay business visa | — |
| Vietnam | Temporary residence card | — |
Where residence needs a special ground
In 5 countries the reference found no residence permit open to an ordinary applicant. What remains is citizenship by investment, employment, study, family or ancestry:
China, Colombia, India, Israel, Sierra Leone.
How we counted
- The threshold is the minimum amount for one applicant from the official programme terms. Additions for family, insurance and document translation are not included.
- If a programme has several options, the most affordable one is shown; the rest are on the programme page.
- The cost of professional support isn't in the tables: an expert in the country's service catalogue quotes it.
If you need a residence permit for your income and family, a Pactors expert will work out the full cost: fees, translations, insurance and support.
Common questions
Which residence permit is the cheapest?
Are the threshold and the fee the same thing?
Can I get a residence permit with no income or investment?
Why are the dollar amounts approximate?
Sources
Links checked on 10 October 2026
