The 28 working expat visa routes ranked by cost, processing time, and renewal odds. Portugal D7 at 7,200 EUR landed. UAE Golden at 0 EUR, 14 days.
This guide ranks 28 expat visa routes across 19 countries. The ranking uses four working variables: all in landed cost, processing time from application to landed card, family inclusion at the headline price, and renewal odds toward permanent residence and citizenship.
Cheapest landed cost: UAE Golden Visa at 0 EUR. Fastest: Georgia visa free residence at 14 days. Easiest paperwork: Portugal D7 with 6 documents. Best path to citizenship: Portugal D7, 5 years to permanent residence.
Portugal: D7 passive income (7,200 EUR), D8 digital nomad (8,400 EUR), Golden Visa (350,000 EUR investment). Spain: digital nomad (2,800 EUR), non lucrative (3,400 EUR). Italy: elective residence (5,800 EUR), self employed (6,600 EUR). UAE: Golden Visa (0 EUR), green visa (16,000 AED). Mexico: temporary resident (1,800 EUR), permanent resident (2,800 EUR).