Digital Nomad, Retirement & Investor Visas

Compare digital nomad, retirement and passive income visas by income requirement, processing time and permanent residency path. Free matcher included.

Where do you fit?

I work remotelyVisas for remote employees and freelancersI'm retiredLive abroad on a pension or social securityI live off investmentsIndependent means and self-sufficiency visasI want to investInvestor and golden visa routes

All visa types: Digital Nomad VisasRetirement VisasPassive Income VisasGolden VisasInvestor VisasFreelancer VisasOther Visas

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271 visas found

Taiwan

Asia

Other

Taiwan Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC)

Our score
1.9out of 5
Friction

Min Income

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Processing

2-13 wks

Duration

6 mo

RenewableDependents OK
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Kenya

Africa

Freelancer

Kenya Business / Self-Employment Permit

Our score
1.9out of 5
Friction

Min Income

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Processing

Not specified

Duration

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

RenewableDependents OK
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Japan

Asia

Other

Japan Specified Skilled Worker Visa (SSW)

Our score
1.9out of 5
Friction

Min Income

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Processing

4-12 wks

Duration

12 mo

Renewable
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United States

North America

Other

US O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability)

Our score
1.9out of 5
Friction

Min Income

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Processing

Not specified

Duration

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

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China

Asia

Other

China Talent Visa (R Visa)

Our score
1.9out of 5
Friction

Min Income

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Processing

1 wk

Duration

180 mo

→ PR in 5yrRenewableDependents OK
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Greece

Europe

Freelancer

Greece Independent Professional Visa (Self-Employed)

Our score
1.9out of 5
Friction

Min Income

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Processing

Not specified

Duration

24 mo

RenewableDependents OK
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France

Europe

Freelancer

France Auto-Entrepreneur / Micro-Entrepreneur Visa

Our score
1.9out of 5
Friction

Min Income

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Processing

Not specified

Duration

Not published. The official source does not publish this figure yet.

Dependents OK
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Click any question to expand the answer.

Greece, Croatia, and Spain consistently rank as the most accessible European digital nomad visas. Greece requires $3,850/month in income with a moderate difficulty rating. Spain's Digital Nomad Visa requires only $2,140/month and leads to permanent residency after 5 years. Croatia stands out for its 36-month initial duration — the longest in Europe — at $3,855/month.
Finland's Digital Nomad Visa has the lowest documented income requirement in Europe at $1,317/month. Montenegro ($1,413/month) and France ($1,975/month) are also among the most affordable. Several countries including Romania, Slovakia, and Luxembourg do not publicly specify a minimum income threshold.
In Europe, Greece, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, and Portugal's D8 all lead to permanent residency, typically after 5 years. Austria is notable for offering a PR pathway in just 2 years. Outside Europe, Colombia, Panama, and several Latin American visas also offer residency-to-PR tracks.
Many digital nomad visas allow dependents. In Europe, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria, Moldova, Montenegro, Slovenia, and North Macedonia all permit dependents. Income requirements typically increase by 25–75% per dependent adult and 25% per child, depending on the country.
Processing times vary widely. Estonia processes applications in about 4 weeks. Cyprus takes 5–7 weeks. Italy ranges from 4–12 weeks. Finland can take 8–16 weeks. Many countries — including Croatia, Greece, Spain, and Montenegro — do not publish official processing timelines.
It depends on the visa. Some have no physical presence requirement at all, which is a major differentiator for people splitting time across countries. Others require you to spend a minimum number of days per year in-country. Always check the specific visa's presence requirement before applying — it directly affects whether you can maintain the visa while traveling.
A digital nomad visa is for people earning active income remotely — from a foreign employer or clients. A passive income visa (like Portugal's D7 or Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa) is for people living off savings, dividends, rental income, or pensions without working. The key distinction is whether your income is earned (work) or unearned (investments/retirement). Mixing the two can affect eligibility depending on the country.
Several countries do not publish a formal minimum income threshold, including Romania, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Poland, Belgium, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iceland. This doesn't mean income is irrelevant — consulates typically still expect proof of sufficient funds — but there's no hard floor published officially.
For the vast majority of digital nomad and long-stay visas, yes. Most European countries require proof of comprehensive health insurance valid for the duration of your stay. Some require coverage meeting EU standards with a minimum coverage amount (Cyprus specifies inpatient and outpatient care). A few accept international policies; others require locally-authorized insurers.
Yes. Most digital nomad visas worldwide are open to all nationalities including US citizens, as long as income and documentation requirements are met. A handful of programs restrict eligibility to specific countries — Panama's Friendly Nations Visa and Japan's Digital Nomad Visa have nationality lists. For EU-based visas, the restriction is typically non-EU nationals only, meaning Americans qualify by default.
A Golden Visa grants residency through investment — typically in real estate, government bonds, or a qualifying fund — rather than through income or employment. Minimum investments typically start at $200,000–$500,000 USD. Digital nomad visas require ongoing remote income but no upfront capital investment. Golden Visas often lead to citizenship faster and carry fewer restrictions on local work.
Passive income and retirement visas are generally the best fit for FIRE practitioners. Portugal's D7 ($1,880/month), Panama's Pensionado ($1,000/month pension), and Costa Rica's Rentista visa are popular choices. The key criteria for FIRE applicants are: whether dividend and capital gains income qualifies, whether there's a local tax on foreign-source investment income, and whether the country has a territorial tax system that exempts foreign income entirely.