Lists

Visa routes with a clear path to permanent residency

Skilled-worker and founder visas that convert to indefinite or permanent status. The fastest routes to landing somewhere for good.

01 BR Brazil · VITEM XV Rentista (Retiree / Passive-Income) Self-funded retirees and passive-income earners. 12 months 02 CN China (Mainland) · Z Visa (Standard Work) Standard route for foreign nationals taking up paid employment in Mainland China. 12 months 03 CN China (Mainland) · Foreign Worker's Work Permit (Class A/B/C) All foreign workers — categorised by points system administered by SAFEA. 12 months 04 CN China (Mainland) · Q1 / Q2 Family Visa Family members of Chinese citizens (Q1: long-term, Q2: short-term). 12 months 05 EG Egypt · Work Permit (Ta'asheera al-'Amal) Non-Egyptian workers sponsored by Egyptian employers. 12 months 06 EG Egypt · Investor Residence Foreign investors in Egyptian enterprises. 12 months 07 EG Egypt · Family-Reunification Residence Family members of Egyptian nationals and legal residents. 12 months 08 EG Egypt · Retirement Visa Self-funded retirees with stable passive income. 12 months 09 EG Egypt · Family / Spouse Residence Permit Spouses and children of Egyptian citizens or residents. 12 months 10 FR France · VLS-TS Visitor (long-stay visa acting as residence permit) Self-funded movers (retirees, passive-income earners) not working in France. 12 months 11 IT Italy · Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa Highly qualified non-EU remote workers and self-employed professionals. 12 months 12 IT Italy · Student Visa with Post-Study Permit (Attesa Occupazione) Non-EU graduates of Italian universities and technical institutes. 12 months 13 MX Mexico · Temporary Resident — Financial Solvency (Solvencia Económica) Remote workers, retirees, passive-income earners meeting financial-solvency thresholds. 12 months 14 MX Mexico · Temporary Resident — Employment (Oferta de Trabajo) Non-Mexican workers sponsored by a Mexican employer. 12 months 15 MX Mexico · Investor Temporary Resident Investors in qualifying Mexican companies or real-estate assets. 12 months 16 MX Mexico · Residente Temporal (Temporary Resident Visa) Self-funded movers, remote workers, and families. 12 months 17 MX Mexico · Digital Nomad Pathway (via Residente Temporal – Economic Solvency) Remote workers earning abroad. 12 months 18 MX Mexico · Investor / Entrepreneur Visa Foreigners investing in Mexican companies or real estate. 12 months 19 MA Morocco · Carte de Séjour (Residence Card) Non-Moroccan nationals intending to reside in Morocco for more than 90 days. 12 months 20 MA Morocco · Self-Employed Work Visa / Independent Professional Non-Moroccan freelancers, consultants, and sole traders. 12 months 21 MA Morocco · Family-Reunification Visa Spouses and dependent children of Moroccan citizens and legal residents. 12 months 22 MA Morocco · Long-Stay Residence Card (Carte d'Immatriculation) Non-Moroccans staying more than 90 days for any purpose. 12 months 23 MA Morocco · Retirement Residence (via Long-Stay Card) Foreign retirees with pension income. 12 months 24 SG Singapore · EntrePass Foreign entrepreneurs starting or operating an innovative business in Singapore. 12 months 25 ES Spain · Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) Non-EEA remote workers employed by or contracting with companies outside Spain. 12 months 26 ES Spain · Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV / Residencia No Lucrativa) Self-funded non-EEA movers (retirees, passive-income earners) not working in Spain. 12 months 27 ES Spain · Work Visa (Cuenta Ajena) Non-EEA workers hired for standard employment in Spain. 12 months 28 BR Brazil · VITEM XI — Employment Work Visa Non-Brazilian workers sponsored by Brazilian employers. 24 months 29 BR Brazil · VITEM XIV Investor Visa Foreign investors in Brazilian businesses or real estate. 24 months 30 BR Brazil · Family Reunification Residence Family members of Brazilian citizens and residents. 24 months

Methodology on the methodology page. Each row links to the country brief with full source attribution.

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