Easy-to-get Residencies

Updated September 9th, 2024: Stay hustle-free for a longer period, long-term, and even permanently in one place. Establish a home base you can return to, and get comfortable for a while without the hustle of moving around.

The following list introduces some countries with easy-to-get long-stay visas and residencies.

Please note, the terms visa and residency are often used synonymously in the different programs.

🌱 Health insurance for your residency application

#1 🇲🇽 Mexico

Mexico has a great climate, beautiful beaches, diverse culture, and welcoming people. Many digital nomads choose to stay in places like Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun.

Additionally, Mexico offers several visa options for digital nomads, including a temporary resident (TR) visa that allows you to stay (or not) in Mexico for up to 4 years and turn this TR into a permanent residency later.

Tourist visa

The Mexican tourist visa is nothing special in theory, but it is one of the rare visas that allows everyone to stay in Mexico for up to 180 days. The length of the tourist visa is not guaranteed when doing a visa on arrival, but in the majority of cases, people were granted a 6-months stay. The tourist visa is free and can be renewed through a visa run to neighboring countries, such as Belize, Guatemala, or visit Colombia.

Temporary residency

• Who can apply? Everyone.
• Type: Temporary residency valid for one year.
  After one year, you can apply for an extension which gives you a 4-year temporary residency. After this period, you can apply for permanent residency, which could lead to citizenship if you wanted.
• Financial requirements: There are 3 options.
  1. You show a minimum monthly income of $2,595, or
  2. You show a total amount of $43,000 in your bank account, or
  3. You own a property in Mexico with a minimum value of $346,000
• Documents: Police clearance certificate, health certificates, or medical reports, including a negative COVID-19 test result, and proof of a Mexican address, which can be a hotel or your Airbnb.
• Fee: $295.
• Income tax: The income tax on foreign income is $0.
  Tax depends on income generated in Mexico and ranges between 1.92 % to 35 %.
• Health insurance: Not requested.

• Note: If you have a temporary residency, you can automatically move your direct family members (blood relatives and married spouse) to Mexico.

Conclusion on Mexico

Mexico is a great country if you want to stay for 6 months (tourist visa) and then move on. You can also do unofficial visa runs to Belize or neighboring countries and get a new 6-month tourist visa.

If you want to stay longer in Mexico, purchase property, or open a business, it makes sense to apply for temporary residency. Having a temporary residency in Mexico doesn't require you to stay or live in Mexico. You can use it as a plan B, an option.

#2 🇪🇨 Ecuador

Ecuador is a relatively affordable country. The cost of living is generally lower than in the United States and in many European countries. The climate is mild and the landscape varies from green valleys to the rocky Andes, and exotic island life on the Galapagos islands.

Ecuador offers several "residency visas" with different requirements. When holding a bachelor's degree or an even higher educational degree, you can apply for a professional residency visa. If you don't have a degree in higher education, you can apply for the new rentista residency visa, which is supposed to become the new unofficial digital nomad visa.

Professional residency visa

• Who can apply? Everyone with a University degree.
• Type: Temporary residency, valid for two years.
  After two years, you can apply for permanent residency.
• Financial requirements: Minimum monthly income of $425.
• Documents: Bachelor, or higher degree from a university, recognized by the Ecuadorian government (SENESCYT), university transcript of results, mode of study letter, proof that the course was taken in-person, police clearance certificate, proof of private health insurance, certificate of migration.
• Fee: $450.
• Income tax: The income tax on foreign income is $0.
• Health insurance: Requirements vary depending on the immigration office. When applying in Quito or any other place in Ecuador except Azogues, no health insurance is needed.
  When applying in Azogues, proof of local health insurance is needed. If proof of health insurance is requested, the insurance must cover the length of the applicant's staying in Ecuador and the insurance provider must be a local Ecuadorian insurance provider.
• Note: This was the typical residency visa working expats or digital nomads would choose. You don’t need to work in your studied field, nor are there any other work obligations tied to this visa.

Rentista residency visa

• Who can apply? Everyone with a monthly minimum income of $425.
• Type: Temporary residency, valid for two years.
  After two years, you can apply for permanent residency.
• Financial requirements: Minimum monthly income of $425.
• Documents: Proof of recurring monthly income of $425 minimum, police clearance certificate, proof of private health insurance, and certificate of migration.
• Fee: $450.
• Income tax: The income tax on foreign income is $0.
• Health insurance: Requirements vary depending on the immigration office. When applying in Quito or any other place in Ecuador except Azogues, no health insurance is needed.
  When applying for residency in the Azogues office, proof of health insurance is needed. If proof of health insurance is requested, the insurance must cover the length of the applicant's staying in Ecuador and the insurance provider must be a local Ecuadorian insurance provider.
• Note: This residency might become the new digital nomad residency visa. However, regulations and requirements might change as it is relatively new (2022).

Conclusion on Ecuador

Ecuador ranks #2 in our list, due to its low financial requirements and diversity of visas. In addition to the 2 above-mentioned visas, the country offers retirement and other visas.

Ecuador is not a digital nomad hotspot. It is a great home base for people who want to live in Latin America or explore Latin America while having a home base in the region.

Cuenca is a small, charming colonial town in the mountains which becomes more and more popular among foreign retirees as well as digital nomads.

#3 🇹🇭 Thailand

Many nomads choose to live in Thailand for the generally low cost of living, subtropical climate, delicious food, and well-established café and coworking scene.

Thailand offers a program called Long Term Residence Visa, that allows you to stay up to 10 years with an annual income tax rate of 17% when working in Thailand and tax exemption when making income abroad.

There are 4 different types of LTR visas.

• Wealthy Global Citizenzs
• Wealthy Pensioners
• Work-from-Thailand Professionals (this might be you)
• High-Skilled Professionals

You find detailed requirements for all 4 LTR visa types here.

10-year Work-from-Thailand Long Term Residency Visa

• Who can apply? Everyone, who meets financial and professional requirements.
• Type: 10-year multiple entry visas.
• Requirements: An average annual income of $80,000, or specific professional skills if annual income is less than $80,000 but more than $40,000.
• Documents: Financial statements, academic degrees, professional history, proof of employment or professional background, CV.
• Income tax: The income tax on foreign income is $0.
  For income generated in Thailand through Thai businesses or clients a 17 % income tax applies.
• Health insurance: Required.

Conclusion on Thailand

Thailand is one of the most popular digital nomad destinations with hubs in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta, and Koh Phangan. If you just want to stay for a shorter time, the multiple entry 6-months tourist visa is a good option.

The LTR-visa programs are targeted for wealthy and/or highly skilled foreigners. If the LTR visa is not for you, check out the new Digital Nomad Visa Thailand.

#4 🇲🇾 Malaysia

Malaysia is a modern and multicultural country with serves as the perfect home base in Southeast Asia. With hundreds of flight connections to all corners of the world, Kuala Lumpur is an ideal starting point for further explorations to neighboring countries.

With its Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, the country opens its doors and allows passport holders of all nations to apply for a long-term visa.

• Who can apply? Everyone.
• Type: Residency for up to 10 years.
• Requirements: Liquid assets of RM 500,000 (112,000 USD) and monthly income of $2,235. Additionally, a fixed deposit of $34,000 must be made to a Malaysian bank account.
• Documents: MM2 Application Form, valid passport, financial documents proving the above requirements, proof of health insurance, and police clearance certificate.
• Fee: $750 for the first year. From the second year onwards, an annual $242 fee.
• Income tax: The income tax on foreign income is $0.
  Income generated in Malaysia will be taxed to a maximum of 30 %.
• Health insurance: Required with a minimum cover of $27,000 for hospitalization and outpatient treatment in Malaysia.

Conclusion on Malaysia

Malaysia My Second Home residency targets wealthy foreigners. However, the assets are not tight to investments. This residency is a great option if your passport doesn't give you many options, as Malaysia allows every wealthier person to apply for its program. This residency is probably not a good fit for the average digital nomad due to the financial requirements.

#5 🇵🇦 Panama

Panama is an overlooked country, more affordable than neighboring Costa Rica but comes with better infrastructure and services than many other countries in the region. The country has a modern healthcare system, a well-connected airport, and a favorable tax policy for nomads.

Panama introduced the Friendly Nations visa, which allows individuals to live and work in Panama for 2 years (per visa). After this visa ends, it is possible to apply for permanent residency.

• Who can apply? Passport holders of the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
• Type: 2 years visa with the possibility to apply for permanent residency.
• Requirements: Deposit of $200,000 in a Panamanian bank account for 3 years at a Panamanian bank, or real estate purchase of at least $200,000, or employment offer by a Panamanian company.
• Documents: Criminal background certificate, recently issued, authenticated by a Panamanian Consulate in the issuing country and valid for 6 months, Health certificate issued by a local doctor within the last 90 days prior to submitting the application.
• Fee: $250.
• Income tax: The income tax on foreign income is $0.
  Income generated in Panama will be taxed to a maximum of 25 %.
• Health insurance: Required with a minimum coverage of $50,000 for hospitalization and $20,000 coverage for outpatient treatment. The health insurance must also cover the full duration of the visa.

Note: The visa application process can take up to 3 years. Obtaining residency with the Friendly Nations Visa does not entitle you to work in Panama right away. Usually, the work permit process takes 6 to 7 months if applying in Panama City. Or 9 to 10 months when applying in David.

Conclusion on Panama

The Panamanian residencies are tailored to attract wealthy foreigners or foreigners with Panamanian employment. These requirements make residency very limited to the majority of digital nomads.

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• Who is this for: Digital nomads, expats, and other long-term travelers who want complete health cover.
• Region of cover: Worldwide (limited cover in Canada & USA).
• Period of cover: You can stay covered for as long as you need to (the minimum is 1 year).
• Home country: Genki Native is available for people from every country (including nomads without any legal residence). You can choose to have limited or full cover in your country of citizenship.
• Genki Native Basic: Genki Native Basic covers necessary medical treatment (inpatient and outpatient treatments) at any licensed doctor or hospital up to €1,000,000 per year. That includes accidents and emergencies, as well as common illnesses and injuries.
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• Price: Genki Native Basic costs €180 per month (example price for someone aged 20-34 with no deductible). The exact price depends on your age and the benefits and deductible you choose; the price may increase based on the medical information in your application).