Where your Social Security check clears a retirement visa's income bar
The average retired worker's check rises 3.6% to $2,170 a month in January 2027. That meets the published income minimum of a retirement route in 13 countries. Enter your own check to see where yours does, with the official source for every route.
All 33 retirement routes checked against official government sources · July 2026 · how we verify
where the average retired worker's check, $2,170 a month, clears the published income bar of a retirement visa. Next up: South Africa, $81 a month short.
Your check clears the income bar
13 routesThe check meets the route's published monthly minimum. Governments still check health cover, records and documents, and each makes its own decision. Tap a route for its details and official source.
- Cyprus
Category F Residence Permit
Low bar: ~€9,568/yr passive income (+€4,613 per dependent). Immediate PR-type status; visit once every 2 years. Foreign pensions taxed at a favorable flat 5% option.
Citizenship in ~7 yrsOfficial source →
$897/mo
+$1,273 to spare
- Costa Rica
Pensionado Visa
$1,000/mo lifetime pension (covers the whole family). PR after 3 years, citizenship after 7. Foreign income untaxed. Must convert income through a local bank.
Citizenship in ~7 yrsOfficial source →
$1,000/mo
+$1,170 to spare
- Panama
Pensionado Visa
$1,000/mo lifetime pension (+$250 per dependent), or $750/mo if you bought property in Panama worth over $100,000; a couple may combine two pensions. Permanent residency immediately + famous retiree discounts (25–50% off). Territorial tax; foreign income exempt.
Citizenship in ~5 yrsOfficial source →
$1,000/mo
+$1,170 to spare
- Peru
Rentista visa
Rentista ('persona de renta permanente') requires min. US$1,000/mo from a pension/social security, received via a recognized Peruvian financial institution (Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN). Since Aug 2021 consulates abroad no longer process it — most applicants change status in-country at Migraciones. Citizenship possible after ~2 years of residency.
Citizenship in ~2 yrsOfficial source →
$1,000/mo
+$1,170 to spare
- Portugal
D7 Passive Income / Retirement Visa
Low bar: ~€920/mo passive income (+50% spouse, +30% per child). PR after 5 years; 2026 reform moved citizenship to ~10 years. ~183 days/yr presence; worldwide income taxable once resident.
Citizenship in ~10 yrsOfficial source →
$1,035/mo
+$1,135 to spare
- Guatemala
Rentista / Pensionado residency
Rentista/Pensionado residency (via IGM) requires min. US$1,250/mo from a foreign-source pension, rentals, or investments (+US$300/mo per dependent); US Social Security qualifies. Provides an immediate path to permanent residency; income must be re-proven every 5 years. Citizenship generally requires ~5 years residency (Central American nationals get a faster track).
Path to permanent residencyOfficial source →
$1,250/mo
+$920 to spare
- Ecuador
Pensioner (Jubilado) Visa
$1,446/mo pension (+$250/mo per dependent); most US Social Security recipients qualify. PR after 21 months. USD economy; citizenship after ~3 years.
Citizenship in ~3 yrsOfficial source →
$1,446/mo
+$724 to spare
- Dominican Republic
Pensionado residency
Pensionado residency requires a pension of min. US$1,500/mo (+US$250/mo per dependent) from a government or private source. The Rentista (passive-income) variant requires US$2,000/mo. Grants fast-track residency renewable indefinitely; eligible to apply for citizenship after ~2 years. The DR has no dedicated digital-nomad visa.
Citizenship in ~2 yrsOfficial source →
$1,500/mo
+$670 to spare
- Honduras
Pensionado residency
Pensionado requires min. US$1,500/mo from a guaranteed pension, received into a local bank account. The Rentista (non-pension passive income) variant requires US$2,500/mo. Permit valid 4 years, renewable indefinitely; eligible for citizenship after 3 years (Spanish + civics exam). Foreign-source income is not taxed.
Citizenship in ~3 yrsOfficial source →
$1,500/mo
+$670 to spare
- Colombia
M-Pensionado (Retirement) Visa
Lifetime pension of at least 3x the Colombian minimum monthly wage: COP 5,252,715 a month in 2026 (about $1,657 at Colombia's official exchange rate on 16 Oct 2026). Up to 3 years, renewable; R-visa after 5 years, citizenship in ~8–10 years total. Very low cost of living.
Citizenship in ~10 yrsOfficial source →
$1,657/mo
+$513 to spare
- France
Long-stay visitor visa (VLS-TS «visiteur»)
France's passive-income route: prove stable resources at about the French minimum wage (~€1,478/mo net) plus private health cover, and sign that you won't work for a French employer. Renewable yearly with no cap, and a 2026 rule now allows remote work for a foreign employer. Long-term residence and naturalisation open after about five years.
Citizenship in ~5 yrsOfficial source →
$1,663/mo
+$507 to spare
- Thailand
Non-Immigrant O-A Retirement Visa
Age 50+: 65,000 baht a month in pension income (about $1,945 at the European Central Bank rate on 16 Oct 2026) OR 800,000 baht (about $24,000) in a Thai bank, or a combination. Renewable annually; health insurance with 3,000,000 baht of cover is mandatory. Not a PR route; spouse needs a separate visa.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
$1,945/mo
+$225 to spare
- Belize
Qualified Retirement Program (QRP)
Qualified Retirement Program (QRP), run by the Belize Tourism Board: age 40+, proof of US$2,000/mo (US$24,000/yr) from a source outside Belize in an approved currency. Requires only 30 consecutive days/year in-country. Grants QRP resident status (duty-free import perks) but is NOT a path to permanent residency/citizenship — those need the separate standard residency track.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
$2,000/mo
+$170 to spare
Close
1 routeWithin 10% of the bar. Social Security pays a fixed dollar amount, so a bar set in another currency moves against it with the exchange rate.
- South Africa
Retired Person's Visa
The Retired Person's Visa requires guaranteed income of ZAR 37,000/month (about $2,251 at the European Central Bank rate on 16 Oct 2026), OR a capital/asset sum, or a combination. No minimum age currently. Income must be passive (pension, annuity, rental, dividends) — active salary/consulting does NOT qualify. Valid 4 years, renewable, and a recognized stepping-stone to permanent residence. CAVEAT: an April-2026 Revised White Paper proposes a minimum age of 55 and higher thresholds — not yet law but pending.
Path to permanent residencyOfficial source →
$2,251/mo
$81 short
Out of reach on the check alone
7 routesHow far the check falls short, and the savings alternative where a route offers one.
- Spain
Non-Lucrative Visa
~€2,400/mo passive income (+€600/mo per dependent); no working. PR after 5 years, citizenship after 10 (2 for Ibero-Americans). 183+ days/yr makes you a Spanish tax resident.
Citizenship in ~10 yrsOfficial source →
$2,701/mo
$531 short
- New Zealand
Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa
The Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa requires ALL of: age 66+; NZD 750,000 (about $425,000 at the European Central Bank rate on 16 Oct 2026) invested in acceptable NZ investments for the 2-year term (NOT a home/boat/car); an additional NZD 500,000 (about $283,000) in maintenance funds; AND annual income of NZD 60,000+ (about $2,832 a month). Valid up to 2 years; reapplication for further 2-year terms is possible but it does NOT lead to permanent residence. A partner may be included; dependent children may NOT accompany.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
$2,832/mo
$662 short + deposit
- Italy
Elective Residence Visa
~€31k/yr passive income per applicant (consular practice; a couple usually shows €62k); working prohibited. PR after 5 years, citizenship after 10. A 7% flat tax exists for retirees in some southern towns.
Citizenship in ~10 yrsOfficial source →
$2,907/mo
$737 short
- Greece
Financially Independent Person (FIP) Visa
~€3,500/mo passive income (+20% spouse, +15% per child). PR after 5 years, citizenship after 7. A 7% flat tax on foreign income for 15 years for foreign retirees.
Citizenship in ~7 yrsOfficial source →
$3,939/mo
$1,769 short
- United Arab Emirates
Retirement Visa (5-year)
Income of at least AED 180,000 a year (AED 15,000 a month, about $4,084 at the central bank's fixed rate of 3.6725 dirhams to the dollar), or AED 240,000 a year to apply in Dubai (about $5,446 a month). The alternative: own property worth at least AED 1 million and hold at least AED 1 million in savings. You must be 55+ and have worked at least 15 years. Renewable. No path to Emirati citizenship for foreign retirees.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
$4,084/mo
$1,914 short
- Mexico
Temporary Resident Visa (Retirement)
~$4,329/mo income (680 UMA-days/mo × MXN 117.31, 6 mo) OR ~$72,965 savings (11,460 UMA-days × MXN 117.31, 12 mo); 2026 UMA per DOF 9 Jan 2026. Each dependent adds 220 UMA-days/mo (~$1,662). Renewable to 4 years then PR; citizenship after 5. The savings route suits retirees who have assets but not a high monthly income stream.
Citizenship in ~5 yrsOfficial source →
$4,329/mo
$2,159 short · or $72,965 saved
- Andorra
Passive (Non-Lucrative) Residence Permit
Since Law 2/2026 (February 2026), invest at least €1,000,000 in Andorran assets (property, company shares, bonds or funds, life insurance, or an unpaid deposit with the Andorran Financial Authority), cut to €400,000 if it goes into the national Housing Fund; property must cost over €800,000 a unit. On top comes a non-refundable €50,000 payment to the Andorran Financial Authority (+€12,000 per dependent), so the cheapest route needs about €450,000 (about $506,000 at the European Central Bank rate on 16 Oct 2026). Yearly income must also exceed 300% of the minimum wage: about €4,706 a month from July 2026 (about $5,296), plus 100% of the minimum wage per dependent. Live in Andorra at least 90 days a year. Renewable; citizenship after 20 years.
Citizenship in ~20 yrsOfficial source →
$5,296/mo
$3,126 short + deposit
No fixed income minimum
12 routesNever counted above: as we track them, these routes set no fixed monthly amount for a check to clear. They judge your means case by case, or test a deposit, an investment, a minimum tax or a points score instead. Tap a route for the details.
- Bolivia
Specific Purpose Residence Visa (Retiree)
Bolivia offers one of the lowest cost-of-living retirement destinations. No published income minimum: applicants file a sworn declaration of solvency with supporting documents, judged case by case; guides cite about $300 to $500 a month. 1-year visa, renewable. Permanent residency after 2 years; citizenship after 3 years of continuous residence. Very affordable but limited infrastructure outside cities.
Citizenship in ~3 yrsOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Cambodia
Retirement Visa (ER Extension)
Cambodia issues long-stay ER (retired) extensions on an ordinary visa for those 55+. No formal income requirement, but proof of pension or savings expected. Renewable annually. No formal path to PR or citizenship for retirees.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Japan
Designated Activities Visa (Retiree)
Not a formal retirement visa — Japan uses Designated Activities status for retirees in select regions. Requires ¥30M+ in assets (about $190,000 at the European Central Bank rate on 16 Oct 2026) and stable pension/annuity income. Limited availability; consult the local immigration bureau. Renewable annually.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
$190,000 deposit
- Malaysia
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) — Silver
No income test: MM2H dropped its offshore-income requirement in every category in 2024. Silver (age 25+) asks a USD 150,000 fixed deposit plus buying a home worth RM600,000 or more, which can't be sold for 10 years; up to half the deposit can be withdrawn after approval for the home, education or medical costs. Applicants 50+ can use the special economic zone category instead: a USD 32,000 deposit, but the home must be in Forest City, Johor. Stay 90 days a year. A renewable 5-year pass, not PR.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
$150,000 deposit
- Malta
Malta Retirement Programme (MRP)
15% flat tax on pension income remitted to Malta; minimum annual tax €7,500 (+€500/dependent). Pension must form ≥75% of chargeable income — no minimum pension amount stated, so US Social Security may qualify. Must not be employed (limited exception for non-executive directorships). Property required: buy ≥€275K (or ≥€220K in Gozo/South Malta) or rent ≥€9,600/yr. Average 90 days/yr in Malta; not more than 183 days in any other country. Open to all nationalities except Maltese citizens; extended to non-EU nationals in 2020 (L.N. 69/2020). Application only through an Authorised Registered Mandatary (ARM); €2,500 non-refundable admin fee.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Malta
Global Residence Programme (GRP)
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals only. 15% flat tax on foreign income remitted to Malta; minimum annual tax €15,000/family — no employment restriction, any income type qualifies. Distinct from MRP: GRP requires no pension income, has a higher minimum tax, and no minimum stay requirement. Property required: buy ≥€275K (or ≥€220K in Gozo/South Malta) or rent ≥€9,600/yr. Must not spend >183 days in any other country. €6,000 non-refundable admin fee. Malta has tax treaties with 70+ countries including the US.
Temporary residencyOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Nicaragua
Retiree temporary residence (Jubilado)
Nicaragua repealed its 2009 retiree law (Ley 694) in August 2024 (Ley 1210, Art. 38); until then it required a pension of at least US$1,000 a month (US$600 in the original 2009 text). Retirees now apply to the migration authority for temporary residence as jubilados, granted for 3 months to a year and renewable (Ley 761 as reformed by Ley 1228). There is no fixed income minimum: the migration regulation asks for a certificate of your pension's source and monthly amount, judged case by case. The regulation lets you later ask to switch to permanent residence; naturalisation needs seven years after permanent residence and giving up your other nationality.
Path to permanent residencyOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Paraguay
Residency by independent means
Since Law 6984/22 there is NO statutory minimum income or bank deposit for residency; applicants show 'real and regular' lawful income — practitioners advise demonstrating ~US$1,300/mo (plus extra per dependent). Temporary residency (renewable) converts to permanent after ~21-24 months; citizenship after 3 years of permanent residency. Territorial tax = 0% on foreign income; no minimum physical-presence requirement.
Citizenship in ~3 yrsOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Philippines
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
Deposit-based: SRRV Smile needs a $20,000 deposit (age 35+) for indefinite, permanent, multiple-entry residency with no renewals. A Classic variant ($10k deposit + $800/mo pension) also exists.
Path to permanent residencyOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
$20,000 deposit
- South Korea
F-2 Points-Based Residency
Points-based residency for high earners and retirees. Requires meeting a point threshold across income (KRW 40M+ annual), age, education, and Korean language. F-5 PR after 3 years on F-2. Not a dedicated retirement visa but the practical path for retirees with income.
Citizenship in ~7 yrsOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Switzerland
Lump-Sum Taxation Residence Permit (Forfait Fiscal)
For non-EU/EFTA nationals who will not work in Switzerland. Taxed on living expenses rather than worldwide income — minimum annual expenditure ~CHF 400K–1M depending on canton. High wealth threshold; not a mass-market visa. PR after 10 years, citizenship after 12.
Citizenship in ~12 yrsOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
- Turkey
Short-term residence permit (retirement)
Turkey has no dedicated 'retirement visa'; retirees use the short-term residence permit on an income basis. There is no fixed income minimum for it: officials judge 'sufficient and regular' means case by case, and regular monthly foreign-currency income into a Turkish bank of about the net minimum wage (~28,075 TRY/mo in 2026, about $567 at the European Central Bank rate on 16 Oct 2026) is the usual benchmark; a lump-sum balance without monthly inflow is NOT accepted. Note post-2022 tightening: some districts (parts of Antalya/Izmir) are closed to new foreign residents, so approval is province-dependent. Valid 1-2 yrs, renewable; long-term residence after 8 yrs, citizenship after 5. 183+ days = tax residency.
Citizenship in ~5 yrsOfficial source →
No fixed minimum
Other conditions
Have savings as well? The full finder adds deposit-based routes and every other way to move.
Run the finder with $2,170 →How we counted
The check. SSA's estimated average monthly benefit for all retired workers, payable in January 2027: $2,170 after the 3.6% raise, $2,095 before it. For a couple who both collect, SSA's average is $3,355; most routes add a set amount for a spouse, listed in each route's details. SSA's 2027 fact sheet, read 17 October 2026.
The bars. The published monthly income minimum of each of the 33 active retirement routes we track, in 32 countries, each linked to its government source and checked July 2026. A check clears a route when it is at least that minimum and the route does not also require a deposit. Routes with no fixed income minimum (in Bolivia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Nicaragua, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey) are listed but never counted, even where guides suggest an amount to show.
Currencies. Social Security pays a fixed dollar amount, while many bars are set in local currency. The two foreign-currency bars nearest the average check, Thailand's 65,000 baht and South Africa's R37,000, are converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates of 16 October 2026. Every other bar set in a foreign currency sits at least 15% away from $2,170, so the count does not hinge on the exchange rate; those routes show the catalog's own dollar figures, which can sit a few percent off today's rate.
Left out. Digital nomad visas, which ask for earned income from remote work rather than a pension, and investment and ancestry routes, which have no income test.
The table. Every route on this page in one spreadsheet, with its published minimum, the margin at $2,170 and at $2,095, and its official source: download the CSV.
Information only, not legal or financial advice. Meeting a published bar is not approval; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration adviser before you apply.
Retiring abroad on Social Security: FAQ
How many countries can you retire to on the average Social Security check?
13. SSA estimates the average retired worker's check at $2,170 a month from January 2027, after the 3.6% raise. That meets the published monthly income minimum of a retirement route in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Portugal and Thailand. Meeting the income bar is not approval: each government also checks things like health cover and records, and makes its own decision.
Did the 2027 raise add any countries?
No. Before the raise the average check was $2,095, which cleared the same 13 countries. The raise moved it closer to the next one: South Africa's bar is $2,251 a month, $81 above the new average.
Which country has the lowest retirement visa income requirement?
Of the routes we track, Cyprus's Category F Residence Permit has the lowest published bar, $897 a month. Costa Rica is next at $1,000. Some routes set no fixed income minimum at all (in Bolivia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Nicaragua, Paraguay, the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey): they judge your means case by case, or test a deposit, an investment, a minimum tax or a points score instead.
Can I retire in Thailand on Social Security?
Thailand's Non-Immigrant O-A visa, for people 50 and over, asks for 65,000 baht a month in pension income (about $1,945 at the European Central Bank rate on 16 October 2026), or 800,000 baht in a Thai bank, or a combination, plus health insurance. The average check clears the income bar, but the bar is set in baht and your check is set in dollars, so the margin moves with the exchange rate.
Will Social Security pay me if I live abroad?
Yes for US citizens in most countries. SSA says a US citizen may keep receiving payments outside the US as long as they are eligible and live in a country where SSA can send payments. The US Treasury bars payments to people living in Cuba or North Korea, and SSA generally cannot send payments to Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, with exceptions. SSA's Payments Abroad Screening Tool answers it for your country.
Does the exchange rate change my Social Security check?
No. SSA calculates benefits in US dollars and does not raise or lower them when exchange rates move. Many visa income bars are set in local currency instead, so the same check can clear a bar one year and fall short the next. That is why we show the margin for every route.
Payment rules: SSA Publication 05-10137, Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States →
Planning to retire abroad?
New country guides and rule-change alerts, including changes to retirement visas' income bars. We never file anything with any government.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.