Retirement visas in 2026, ranked by income requirement

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.

$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.

$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.

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.

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.

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).

$1,446/mo pension (+$250/mo per dependent); most US Social Security recipients qualify. PR after 21 months. USD economy; citizenship after ~3 years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

~€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.

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.

~€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.

~€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.

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.

~$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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.