Global Passive Income Visas: A Comprehensive Guide

What is passive income visa?

A passive income visa is one of the most common types of income visas. Broadly speaking, it refers to a long-term residence visa granted to applicants who do not invest or work but qualify because they have stable passive income, bank savings, or net assets.

Generally, passive income visas across various countries have the following characteristics:

1. Stable Passive Income Requirement: The income source must be stable passive income such as rent, dividends, interest from deposits or bonds, pensions, etc. Work income or business operations are generally not considered. This rule is strictly enforced in retirement visas in some Latin American countries and passive income visa programs in European countries.

Some programs, like Malaysia’s My Second Home, the Philippines’ SRRV, and similar visas in some Latin American countries, do not require proof of income but need a stable, non-revocable deposit in a local bank to support your overseas life.

Alternatively, like Chile’s retirement visa or South Africa’s permanent residency, you can qualify by proving your net assets.

Only in a few countries—France, Cyprus, Uruguay, Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mauritius—can active income be considered. These countries do not care if your income source is passive income, remote work income, self-employment income, or salary income. As long as you earn the required income while living locally, you qualify for their economic independence visas.

financially independence visas in countries like France and Uruguay are somewhat similar to a combination of passive income visas, digital nomad visas, self-employment visas, and even work visas.

If you are not familiar with digital nomad visas and self-employment visas, these are two types of active income visas.

Digital nomad visas are provided to those who can work entirely remotely using a computer and the internet. We have also created a guide on digital nomad visas if you are interested.

Self-employment visas are popular in developed European countries and require the applicant to be self-employed (freelancer or business owner) and have some economic ties with the destination country (local clients or products). We can summarize these visas in detail another time.

2. Not be a burden on society: To ensure that you do not compete for local opportunities and benefits, you must provide sufficient proof of income or financial resources.

This includes two main points:

In summary, you are going to contribute to the economy by consuming rather than taking social resources.

Most passive income residency holders can only enjoy full citizen rights, including free work and access to the social welfare system, after residing for a certain period and converting their status to permanent residency or other identities.

Some exceptions include countries like Portugal, Malaysia, the Philippines, Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, etc., where passive income residency holders can start their own business or engage in commercial activities. A few Spanish-speaking countries allow passive income visa holders to apply for a work permit after obtaining the visa, enabling them to work locally.

However, these are exceptions.

3. Conversion to Permanent Residency and Citizenship: Passive income visas can generally be converted into permanent residency and citizenship.

Most countries offering passive income visa programs provide one, two, or three-year visas, which can be continuously renewed under the original conditions. Even the shortest one-year visa can usually be continuously renewed. After meeting certain residence requirements (staying a certain number of days each year) and other basic conditions such as no criminal record and good health, you can apply for permanent residency and even citizenship.

Seven countries—South Africa, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay—offer programs where you can directly obtain permanent residency upon first application if all conditions are met.

For most of the Asian options—like Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Dubai—as well as Europe’s Irish Independent Means Visa, you can live there long-term, but the residency generally offers no path to Permanent Residency or Citizenship. It’s a dead end if your ultimate goal is a second passport.

A Complete List Of Global Passive Income Visas:

Currently, the globally stable passive income visa programs include the following:

Europe:

The program with the lowest published income requirement in Europe is the Bulgarian Retirement Visa. It asks for a monthly pension that’s no less than the minimum monthly salary in Bulgaria, which is approximately $644 USD in 2025. But—and this is a big “but”—the bureaucratic process can be non-transparent and quite slow. The most reliable way to secure this visa in reality is often by purchasing a property in the country to prove your commitment and financial stability.

We have referred to the term Minimum Wage, the income required for many passive income programs is actually pegged directly to a country’s minimum wage. For example, Colombia’s retirement visa requires three times the local minimum wage, and French VLS-T Visiteur’s official requirement is an income no less than the French minimum wage standard.

Moving beyond Bulgaria retirement visa, another strong contender in the low-cost tier is Albania’s Residence Permit for Pensioners. To qualify, your annual pension needs to be at least 1.2 million Lek, which translates to about $10,000 to $13,000 USD per year.

Alright, let’s move up just a notch into our next category: The $1,000 to $2,000 Per Month Tier. Here, we have three more great European options, but each comes with a few things you need to watch out for.

First up is Latvia’s Residence Permit for Pensioners. The income requirement is very attractive, sitting at around $1,100 per month. But here’s the catch, and it’s a big one: you must be 65 or older, and you must be able to enter Latvia visa-free, which unfortunately excludes many nationalities from even applying.

Next, we have Portugal’s D7 Visa. Officially, the passive income requirement is incredibly low—only about €870 per month. However, you need to be very careful about the local consulate’s interpretation. Depending heavily on your personal profile, many consulates are now requiring applicants to show a much higher, much more secure amount, usually landing somewhere between €2,500 and €3,500 per month to ensure approval.

And finally, there’s the France VLS-T Visiteur. As we touched on earlier, this income is tied to the local minimum wage, putting the official requirement around €1,398 to €1,430 per month. But, just like Portugal, the consulates here often want to see a much higher, more convincing amount of funds, typically requiring you to prove between €2,500 and €3,500 per month.

Now we enter the programs with higher or more complicated demands:

The Cyprus Temporary Residency, popularly known as the “Pink Slip”: This requires a minimum annual income of €24,000. And on top of that, you have to deposit the equivalent of one full year’s income as security in a local bank, plus you need to either purchase or long-term rent a property.

For the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa, or NLV. The official income you need is currently around €2,400 per month.

Now, here’s a super flexible hack , and it’s key to the NLV: instead of proving that required monthly income over time, you can actually meet the entire financial requirement right away by showing a lump sum of savings that covers two full years of that required income.

Luxembourg Residence Permit for Private Reasons requires €2,500 per month. But the real gatekeeper is proving a strong economic connection to Europe, such as investments, employment, immediate family, or a European-issued annuity.

Finally, let’s look at the highest-hurdle passive income programs in Europe:

Italian Elective Residence Visa is the one we mentioned as having one of Europe’s highest rejection rates. You must prove an annual passive income of at least €31,000, and every single cent must be 100% passive—no active income allowed.

Greece’s Financially Independent Person Visa demands around €3,500 per month in passive income, or you can opt for the savings route by depositing a lump sum representing two years of total income—a cool €126,000—directly into a Greek bank.

Irish Stamp 0 Permission for Person of Independent Means has two very high hurdles: an annual passive income of at least €50,000 and you must be a retiree or have a direct Irish connection (like relatives of residents or a visiting professor).

Now, we come to the Malta Retirement Programme. This one is tricky because it doesn’t officially state a minimum income requirement. It looks affordable on paper, but beware of the high implicit cost. To qualify you must either buy or rent property in Malta, and you must pay a non-negotiable minimum annual tax of €7,500. When you factor in that guaranteed tax bill every year, it makes the effective financial requirement—the real income you need—quite substantial.

Asia:

Outside of Europe and Latin America, the focus shifts, particularly in Asia, where programs often emphasize upfront savings and deposits over proof of monthly income.

For instance, let’s look at the Philippines’ Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV).If you have a pension of $800 USD per month, you only need to deposit $10,000 USD in a local bank to apply for this visa.Even if you do not have a pension, you can still obtain the SRRV by making a deposit of just $\$20,000$ USD.

Thailand offers two tracks. The common O-A Visa requires either a local bank deposit of 800,000 Thai Baht (about $22,000 USD) or a monthly income over $1,800. The premium O-X Visa (for select Western countries) requires a higher 3 million Baht deposit but grants a fantastic 10-year long-term visa.

Moving on to Indonesia, the standard Retirement Visa requires applicants to be 55 or older and prove a monthly income of at least $1,500.

However, the government recently introduced the ‘Silver Hair Visa‘—a fantastic, newer option. This one is for those 60 and over, and while it requires meeting higher financial thresholds, it grants you a five-year stay permit right upfront.

Malaysia My Second Home program, or MM2H is quite a niche program, historically attracting a lot of East Asian clients.

It’s definitely for the high-net-worth individual, as it requires a significant local investment:

You’re looking at a substantial deposit—anywhere from $150,000 up to $1 million, plus you must purchase property in exchange for that high financial commitment, you secure a long-term residency permit valid for 10 to 20 years.

Cambodia Retirement Visa was once the world’s easiest—you could get it with virtually no proof! However, starting December 2024, the official requirement is now proof of income between $1,000 and $1,500 per month.

Sri Lanka Dream Home Program is a lesser-known but accessible option. It requires a $15,000 deposit in Sri Lanka and a monthly transfer of $1,500 to secure residency.

Dubai Retirement Visa is the highest-hurdle program in Asia. You must be 55+, and your monthly income must hit $4,100, or you must deposit $275,000 in a UAE bank. 

Latin America:

Passive income residency programs in Latin America generally split into two types: the Pensionado Visa (what we commonly call the retirement visa) and the Rentista Visa (the general passive income visa).

The region’s lowest requirement is the Nicaragua Retirement Visa, which you can apply for with a monthly income of just $600. There are three other programs sit below the $1,000 mark:

The Peru Retirement Visa requires a $1,000 monthly pension income and offers the huge benefit of being a Permanent Residency visa from the start.

The Costa Rica and Panama Retirement Visas both require $1,000 per month. But here’s a pro tip: If you buy a property in Panama valued over $100,000, your income requirement drops to just $750!

Most Latin American programs are clustered right at the The $1,000 to $2,000 Per Month Tier:

Nicaragua’s Rentista Visa asks for $1,250 per month.

The Colombia Retirement Visa is extremely competitive, coming in between $1,000 and $1,100.

Moving down the continent, Chile’s Retirement and Rentista Visas both hover around $1,500.

In Central America, El Salvador’s Retirement Visa is $1,095, while the Rentista is slightly higher at $1,460.

Guatemala is easy to remember, with both Retirement and Rentista visas asking for a flat $1,250 per month.

Argentina offers a flexible range, with both visas requiring between $1,400 and $2,000.

Ecuador is another solid choice, where both visas require around $1,410.

“Here’s one to highlight: Uruguay. If you can prove a monthly income of just $1,500, you become eligible to apply for Permanent Residency directly. That’s a huge benefit.

Honduras and the Dominican Republic’s Retirement Visas both require $1,500.

Brazil Retirement, Belize QRP Program, and the Dominican Republic’s Rentista Visa all require a flat $2,000 per month.

Seven programs are above the $2,000 mark:

Costa Rica’s Rentista Visa requires $2,500 per month. Here’s a great loophole: You can bypass this income requirement entirely by depositing a lump sum of $60,000 in a local bank.

The Honduras Rentista Visa is also around $2,500 monthly.

Aruba has two highly-priced programs: the Retiree Residency Permit demands about $27,778 annually, and the Interest Earner Residence Permit is a whopping $55,556 annually.

Colombia’s Rentista Visa requires between $3,300 and $3,600 per month.

Mexico’s Residence Permit for Economic Solvency is the region’s most expensive visa! For Temporary Residency, you need $4,100 monthly, and for Permanent Residency, it jumps to $7,300 per month. That is why most people opt to prove their financial stability through assets instead: $75,000 in an account for Temporary Residency, or $300,000 for Permanent Residency.

Africa:

As one of the most popular countries in Africa, Mauritius offers a retirement visa called the ‘Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens.’This program requires applicants to demonstrate a minimum monthly income of at least $2,000, and it provides numerous tax benefits.

South Africa Retirement Visa requires about 37,000 Rand, or $2,000 to $2,100 per month. eyond the Retirement Visa, South Africa also offers a permanent residence program known as the 27(f) Visa.

The unique feature of this program is that it does not require you to provide proof of income or savings.

Instead, you are eligible to apply if your net worth can be demonstrated to be no less than ZAR 12 million (approximately $650,000), and you commit to a once-off donation of ZAR 120,000 (approximately $6,500) upon receiving permanent residency.

Oceania:

Now let’s switch gears and talk about two passive income visas in the Pacific that almost nobody knows about.

First, the Fiji Residence Permit on Assured Income. For this one, you basically need to move $44,000 USD into the country—either by putting it in a local bank or buying property. Hit that capital threshold, and you’re good to go.

Then there’s the Vanuatu Self-Funded Resident Visa. This asks for a minimum of $2,000 USD in passive income every month.

Honestly though, this specific visa isn’t nearly as cost-effective as just buying Vanuatu citizenship or permanent residency outright, which is why you barely hear anyone talking about it!

All the currency units above are converted based on the exchange rate as of July 26, 2024. Please check the current exchange rates for real-time conversions.

Some countries have variable income requirements that change annually. For example, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile do not have fixed standards, and visa officers have considerable discretion. The figures provided here are the upper limits of the current floating standards in these countries.

Furthermore, all the amounts provided are the minimum requirements for a single applicant. If your spouse, children, or parents want to accompany you, the income requirements will proportionally increase, typically between 20% and 100%.

If you are interested in a specific visa, you can click on the red links to learn more details about each visa program.

Income Resource:

Most countries running a retirement visa program demand you provide a guaranteed, lifelong pension. Likewise, most general passive income visas insist that your funds must be passive.

However, we found nine countries that are far more flexible, placing almost zero restrictions on the source of your income, as long as it originates outside their country. This includes Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Dubai, Vanuatu, Mauritius, Cyprus, Mexico, and Uruguay. For these “golden ticket” programs, you can use passive income, investment returns, or even remote work income to meet the requirements.

Then you have countries with mixed rules, like the Brazil and Costa Rica retirement visas . While passive income (like dividends or rental income) can sometimes be used to supplement the requirement, the primary source must be a verifiable pension.

Restrictions To Applicants:

Another major factor that dictates eligibility is the applicant’s background. Many retirement visas impose strict age requirements.

You generally need to be 55 or older to apply for retirement visas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Aruba, Malta, and Dubai.

Thailand and Mauritius are slightly more relaxed at 50 or older.

Belize’s QRP program has one of the lowest limits at just 40 years old.

Some are higher, like Latvia, which requires you to be 65 or older.

Argentina uses the traditional retirement ages: 60 for men and 55 for women.

There are also a number of countries—such as Albania, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, Vanuatu, and Fiji—that have officially published age restrictions for their visa applications.

However, in actual practice, these age limits are often not strictly enforced.

In contrast, the Philippines’ SRRV program strictly adheres to different deposit requirements based on the applicant’s age.

Beyond age, nationality and source of funds can also be a roadblock:

In Thailand, the premium, long-term O-X visa is only available to nationals from a select list of countries.

Belize’s QRP program is restricted to citizens of Commonwealth countries, the US, the EU, South America, and certain Asia-Pacific countries like China, Japan, and Korea.

For Aruba’s retirement visa, you must prove your funds come from a bank system in a member country of the OECD, Mercosur, or the Caribbean Community.

Latvia requires applicants for the retirement visa to be able to enter the country visa-free.

Finally, we have the programs that demand pre-existing ties. The Irish Independent Means Visa has no age limit but is restricted to retirees or those with a direct Irish connection, such as relatives of Irish residents or visiting professors. And Luxembourg’s ‘Residence Permit for Private Reasons’ used to be a popular pathway for economically independent individuals from China, the United States, and Russia to gain entry into the country.

However, starting May 12, 2023, applicants for this visa must now demonstrate strong economic ties to Europe.

This can include factors such as making an investment in Europe, having employment there, possessing immediate family members in the EU, or receiving an annuity issued by a European institution, among others.