Passive Income Residency — Cross-Country Comparison
Definition
Passive income residency — residence permits for individuals who can support themselves from passive income sources (pensions, dividends, rental income, royalties, interest) without working locally. This is NOT remote work — active work (even for foreign employers) is typically prohibited. Programs like Portugal D7, Spain NLV, Italy Elective Residence, and Greece FIP are the SAME type: prove passive income, no local work, renewable residence leading to permanent residency and citizenship.
Income thresholds range from €920/mo (Portugal D7 — lowest in Western Europe) to €50,000/yr (Ireland Stamp 0). This is the most popular pathway for retirees, investors with dividend income, and financially-independent individuals seeking EU residence.
Current State
32 countries in the wiki offer passive income residence. Western Europe dominates: Portugal (D7), Spain (NLV), Italy (Elective), Greece (FIP), France (VLS-TS Visiteur) are the headline programs. Latin America offers alternatives at lower cost: Costa Rica Rentista, Panama Friendly Nations CD route, Ecuador Rentista. Ireland's Stamp 0 exists but requires €50,000/yr + lump sum. Germany, Netherlands, and most Nordic countries do NOT offer this route.
Cross-Country Comparison
| Country | Official Program | Key Threshold | Duration | Citizenship Path | Community Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| portugal | D7 Visa (Passive Income) | ≥€920/mo passive income; +50% spouse, +30% child; savings ~€11,000 | 2 yr → 3 yr; PR after 5 yr | 10 yr (7 EU/CPLP); A2 Portuguese | Works well — lowest EU threshold |
| spain | Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) | ≥400% IPREM (~€2,400/mo; €28,800/yr); +100% IPREM/dependent | 1 yr → 2 yr; PR after 5 yr | 10 yr; DELE A2 + CCSE | Works well — strict "no work" rule |
| italy | Elective Residence Visa | ≥€31,000/yr passive income; +~20% spouse; Italian accommodation; no work | 1 yr, renewable; PR after 5 yr | 10 yr; B1 Italian | Mixed — consular expectations exceed minimum |
| greece | Financially Independent Person (FIP) | ≥€2,000/mo passive income; +20%/dependent | 2 yr, renewable | 7 yr (183 days/yr presence) | Works well |
| france | VLS-TS Visiteur (Long-Stay Visitor) | ≥€1,843/mo (SMIC gross annual); remote work banned since Apr 2026 | 1 yr, renewable; PR after 5 yr | 5 yr; B1 French | Works well — zero work tolerance |
| ireland | Stamp 0 | ≥€50,000/yr income + significant lump sum savings; private health insurance; no work | 1 yr, renewable | 5 yr → naturalization | Mixed — high bar; discretionary |
| malta | Ordinary Residence (sufficient resources) | Proof of stable foreign income/savings | 1 yr, renewable | 7 yr; Maltese/English | Mixed — not a structured program |
| costa-rica | Residencia Temporal — Rentista | ≥$2,500/mo income for 2 yr, or $60,000 bank deposit | 2 yr → PR after 3 yr | 5–7 yr | Works well — high bar for LatAm |
| panama | Friendly Nations Visa (CD route) | $200,000 fixed-term deposit (3 yr); 50+ qualifying nationalities | 2 yr provisional → PR | 7 yr total (2+5) | Works well |
| mexico | Residente Temporal (Solvencia Económica) | ~$4,400/mo income OR ~$74,000 savings (varies by consulate) | 1 yr → 3 yr; PR after 4 yr | 5 yr residence → citizenship | Works well |
| colombia | Type M — Rentista | Subsumed under investment/pension routes; no distinct category | 1–3 yr | 5 yr (Ibero-American 1 yr) | Mixed — ill-defined |
| argentina | Rentista | ~$1,500/mo passive income (5× minimum wage) | 1 yr, renewable | 2 yr continuous residence | Works well |
| chile | Residencia Temporal — Rentista | ~$1,000–1,500/mo passive income | 1 yr → PR after 2 yr | 5 yr residence | Works well |
| brazil | Retirement Visa (Aposentado) | ~$2,000/mo pension | 1 yr → PR after 4 yr | 1 yr PR → citizenship (Portuguese required) | Works well |
| ecuador | Visa de Residencia — Rentista | ≥$1,410/mo (3× min wage) passive income from abroad | 2 yr → PR after 3 yr | 3 yr residence | Works well |
| dominican-republic | Residencia por Inversión — Rentista | $2,000/mo passive income from abroad | 1 yr → PR after 5 yr | 2 yr (marriage), 5 yr (residence) | Works well |
| guatemala | Residencia de Rentista (Permanent) | $1,250/mo passive income + $300/dependent | Permanent | 5 yr | Works well |
| belize | Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) | Age 40+; $2,000/mo foreign income; 30 days/yr presence | 1 yr, renewable | 5 yr residence | Works well |
| austria | Settlement Permit — Gainful Employment Excepted | Financial self-sufficiency; NO work; VERY limited quotas | 1 yr → PR after 5 yr | 10 yr (6 yr continuous in Austria); B1 German | Problematic — near-impossible quotas |
Not available in: Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, UAE, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and ~50 others.