Easiest countries to get permanent residency in 2026: Europe and 45 countries compared
Permanent residence comes at once for an investment in Paraguay, Cyprus and Malta and by skills in Canada and Australia. Without money the fastest route is 2-3 years in Azerbaijan, Paraguay, Serbia or in Germany with an EU Blue Card.
In short
- Easiest in Europe: Cyprus and Malta at once for an investment, Germany from 21 months with an EU Blue Card, Serbia after 3 years with no language test.
- At once worldwide: by investment in Paraguay from $70,000; by skills in Canada and Australia.
- After 2-3 years in the country: Azerbaijan, Paraguay, Serbia, Thailand.
- EU standard - 5 years: Spain, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, France.
- Longest: Turkey 8 years, Georgia and Japan 10 years without special grounds.
- Fees - from $40 in Kazakhstan to $1,440 in the US; the main cost is living in the country.
In detail
The easiest countries to get permanent residency in 2026 are those that grant it at once: by investing from $70,000 in Paraguay or by skills in Canada and Australia. In Europe, Cyprus and Malta grant permanent residence for an investment straight away, and Germany does it after 21 months for EU Blue Card holders. Without capital the fastest route is 2-3 years of temporary residence in Azerbaijan, Serbia, Armenia or Argentina, while most EU countries ask for 5 years. Below: how permanent residence differs from a temporary permit and from citizenship, and 45 countries grouped by timeline, with the main condition and a link to a detailed guide.
Easiest countries to get permanent residency in Europe
The fastest in Europe are Cyprus and Malta, which grant permanent residence for an investment at once, and Germany, where an EU Blue Card holder applies after 21 months. For the rest of the EU the standard is 5 years of legal residence: that is the rule in Spain, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, France, Austria and Latvia.
After 5 years you can choose national permanent residence or EU long-term resident status. The second makes it easier to move to another EU country, but Poland asks for Polish for it and Spain for proof of income. Spain grants national permanent residence without language or income requirements.
Montenegro and Serbia are outside the EU but also grant permanent residence, after 5 and 3 years respectively, and Serbia asks for no language or exam.
| Country in Europe | Time to permanent residence | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | about 2 months | property from $340,000 |
| Malta | at once | from $120,000 in fees and contributions plus a home |
| Germany | from 21 months | EU Blue Card and intermediate German |
| Serbia | 3 years | any residence permit, no language test |
| Hungary | 3 years | national residence card: home, income, insurance and an exam on Hungarian culture in Hungarian |
| Spain | 5 years | legal residence without long absences, no language needed |
| Portugal | 5 years | any residence permit; the golden visa from $280,000 (€250,000) in cultural projects or $560,000 (€500,000) in funds |
| Bulgaria | 5 years | income from $700 a month, no language exam |
| Montenegro | 5 years | residence through property, business or work |
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Permanent residence, a residence permit and citizenship: the difference
A residence permit is a temporary right to live in a country on a specific basis, permanent residence is an open-ended right to live and work without a basis, and citizenship means a passport and political rights. Permanent status usually follows several years of temporary residence, and citizenship follows several years of permanent residence.
| What we compare | Residence permit | Permanent residence | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validity | 1-5 years, renewed with the basis confirmed each time | open-ended; the card is replaced every 5-10 years | for life |
| Right to work | depends on the basis: often for one employer only or no work at all | freely, like citizens, except public service | without limits |
| Voting and passport | no | no passport; in some countries you can vote in local elections | a passport and all elections |
| How it can be lost | not renewed, the basis is gone, long life abroad | long absence, a serious crime or deception when applying; EU long-term resident status ends after 12 months in a row outside the EU | almost never: only by the person's own choice or for fraud during naturalisation |
| Family | family members are added to the same basis and depend on the main applicant | each family member has their own open-ended status | children of citizens are citizens by birth |
Permanent residency abroad: 45 countries by timeline
Permanent residence at once or without years in the country
| Country | Time to permanent residence | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Paraguay | at once | investment from $70,000 |
| Cyprus | about 2 months | property from $340,000 |
| Malta | at once | from $120,000 in fees and contributions plus a home |
| Singapore | 9-12 months | investment from $7.9 million |
| Canada | at once through selection or after a year of work | points for age, education, language and experience |
| Australia | at once, decision in about 4 months | an in-demand occupation or recognition in your field |
| USA | no residence period required | family, an employer or investment from $800,000 |
| Kazakhstan | through selection, no residence period | points, a Kazakh language test and ~$13,000 in the bank |
| Belarus | at once for citizens of Russia and ethnic Belarusians | others after 5 years of temporary residence |
Permanent residence after 2-3 years
| Country | Time to permanent residence | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Azerbaijan | 2 years | temporary residence through work, business, family or investment from $120,000 |
| Paraguay without investment | 2 years | a temporary permit with proof of income |
| Sweden | 2 years | your own business and ~$20,000 to live on |
| Germany | from 21 months | EU Blue Card and intermediate German |
| Serbia | 3 years | any residence permit: work, sole trader, property, family |
| Thailand | 3 years | yearly extensions of a work or family visa, a quota of 100 people per country a year |
| Vietnam | 3 years | mainly families of Vietnamese citizens |
| China | 3-5 years | 3 years for investors, 4 for work, 5 through marriage |
| United Kingdom | 3 years | a talent or founder visa; 5 years on other visas |
| South Korea | 3 years | points-based status; 5 years on others |
| Armenia | 3 years | temporary residence through work, study or family; at once for ethnic Armenians and close relatives of citizens |
| Argentina | 3 years | temporary residence as a person of independent means, a retiree, an investor or through work; no language or exam |
| Brazil | 2 years through work | at once for spouses and parents of Brazilians, after 4 years for property investors |
| Hungary | 3 years | national residence card: home, income, insurance and an exam on Hungarian culture in Hungarian |
| New Zealand | 2 years after a resident visa | 184 days in the country in each of the two years |
Permanent residence after 4-5 years
| Country | Time to permanent residence | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 4 years | a temporary permit based on income or savings, issued in 1-3 months |
| Spain | 5 years | legal residence without long absences, no language needed |
| Poland | 5 years | stable income and Polish for long-term resident status |
| Portugal | 5 years | any residence permit; the golden visa from $280,000 (€250,000) in cultural projects or $560,000 (€500,000) in funds |
| Croatia | 5 years | work or family; time as a digital nomad does not count |
| France | 5 years | a talent passport for 4 years from the start |
| Montenegro | 5 years | residence through property, business or work |
| Latvia | 5 years | an investment from $68,000 in a company |
| Austria | 5 years | a settlement permit, intermediate German and income from $1,500 a month |
| Italy | 5 years | income from $8,000 a year and basic Italian |
| Czech Republic | 5 years | continuous residence and a basic Czech exam |
| Bulgaria | 5 years | income from $700 a month, no language exam |
| Lithuania | 5 years | exams in Lithuanian and the basics of the constitution; at once for people of Lithuanian descent |
| Estonia | 5 years | intermediate Estonian, a steady income and insurance |
| Greece | 5 years | income of at least the annual minimum wage, insurance, Greek language and history |
| Netherlands | 5 years | a civic integration diploma and income from $1,900 a month |
Permanent residence after 6 years or more
| Country | Time to permanent residence | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | 6 years | 4 years with income from $46,000 a year |
| Hong Kong | 7 years | investment from $3.9 million |
| Turkey | 8 years | continuous residence on a permit |
| Georgia | 10 years | 5 years for investors from $300,000 and spouses of citizens |
| Japan | 10 years | 1-3 years for professionals with points |
| Malaysia | rarely granted | long-stay visas exist, permanent status goes to very few |
The timelines are the legal minimums. The real path is longer by the processing time: from a few weeks in Azerbaijan and Serbia to a year or more in the US and Thailand. Investment thresholds are converted to dollars at the rate on the date the pages were checked.
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Where permanent residence is granted at once
Without years of living in the country, permanent status comes in three ways: by investment, by skills and through family.
- By investment. Paraguay is the cheapest: from $70,000, with permanent residence at once. In the EU, Cyprus with property from $340,000 and a decision in about 2 months, and Malta, where a home is needed on top of the fees. At the other end, Singapore with a threshold from $7.9 million.
- By skills. Canada selects professionals by points for age, education, language and experience and grants permanent status at once. Australia does the same for in-demand occupations and outstanding talent; a decision takes about 4 months.
- Through family. Spouses, children and parents of US citizens get a green card without a quota, in about a year. In Belarus, citizens of Russia, relatives of citizens and ethnic Belarusians get permanent residence without the 5-year wait.
- Through selection. Kazakhstan issues a 10-year permanent resident card after a test, an interview and proof of about $13,000 in the bank; investors and in-demand professionals go through without the money threshold.
At once does not mean without checks. Everywhere the source of money, criminal record certificates and medical documents are reviewed, and for investment routes also the origin of capital over several years.
Where permanent residence comes after 2-3 years in the country
This is the most common route for people without large capital. First you get a temporary permit through work, self-employment, property, study or family, and after 2-3 years you apply for permanent status.
- Azerbaijan - 2 years of continuous temporary residence, with trips abroad of no more than 90 days in 180. A commission checks your Azerbaijani.
- Paraguay - 2 years on a temporary permit with proof of income, no investment.
- Serbia - 3 years on any residence permit, with no language test or exam; fees about $250 per person.
- Germany - from 21 months for EU Blue Card holders with intermediate German.
- Thailand - 3 years of yearly extensions of a work or family visa, but applications are taken once a year and for no more than 100 people per country.
- United Kingdom and South Korea - 3 years for a talent visa and points-based status, 5 years for others.
The key rule in these countries is continuity. Long trips reset the clock: in Serbia permanent status is lost after more than a year abroad in a row, and Azerbaijan counts every 90 days outside the country.
How much permanent residency costs: fees and investment
| Country | State fees for permanent residence per person | Investment, if the route is by investment |
|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | ~$40 | - |
| Spain | ~$50 | - |
| Belarus | ~$60 | from $220,000 for investors |
| Azerbaijan | ~$180 | from $120,000 in property or a deposit |
| Poland | ~$200 | - |
| Georgia | ~$230 | from $300,000 for permanent residence after 5 years |
| Serbia | ~$250 | - |
| China | ~$280 | from $500,000 |
| Canada | ~$1,200 | - |
| USA | $1,440 when filing inside the country | from $800,000 |
| Thailand | ~$230 per application and $5,700 on approval | - |
| Paraguay | - | from $70,000 |
| Cyprus | - | from $340,000 |
| Portugal | - | from $280,000 |
| Singapore | - | from $7.9 million |
Fees are a small part of the budget. The main costs on the way to permanent residence are 2-5 years of living in the country, translations and apostilles, health insurance and support. For a family the fees are paid for each person, so we calculate the total for your family in the chat.
Permanent residency abroad comes faster when the path is planned from the first card
Almost everywhere permanent residence follows several years of temporary status, and those years are easy to reset. The most common mistakes: choosing a country by the investment amount without counting the years to permanent residence, staying abroad longer than allowed and losing the years, leaving a gap between cards at renewal and applying for permanent status without the language or exam. We match a country to your capital and citizenship, arrange the temporary permit and take your family through to permanent status.
The cost of support depends on the country, the basis and the family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
How to choose a country for permanent residency
- Do you have capital? Without investment the realistic options are Serbia, Azerbaijan, Paraguay, Thailand, Mexico and EU countries after 5 years. With investment: Paraguay, Cyprus, Portugal, Montenegro.
- Are you ready to live in the country? Permanent residence through years of residence requires real life there without long absences. If you do not plan to live there full time, look at countries that grant the status at once and where it is easier to keep.
- Language. No language needed: Serbia, Spain, Georgia, Vietnam, Belarus. A language or test is required in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Poland and Thailand.
- What comes next. If the goal is citizenship, count the whole path: in Serbia 3 years to permanent residence and 3 more to a passport, in Canada citizenship after 3 years in the country, in the US after 5 years with a green card.
- Taxes. Permanent residence almost always means tax residency. Where foreign income is taxed and where it is not is in the taxes by country section.
- Your citizenship. The documents and the order of filing depend on your passport and where you live now, so we confirm the right programme before you file.
Common mistakes on the way to permanent residence
- Counting the years from the date of entry rather than the date of the permit: in most countries time on visa-free tourist stays does not count.
- Leaving for long periods: long absences reset the clock or cancel a status you already have.
- Collecting certificates at the last moment: a criminal record certificate is valid for 3-6 months, and the apostille and translation take weeks.
- Choosing a country only by the timeline: fast, cheap permanent residence without readiness to live in the country is lost at the first card renewal.
- Forgetting about taxes: permanent status almost always makes you a tax resident on your worldwide income.
How Murblz helps
We match a country to your capital, plans and citizenship, calculate the path to permanent residence and citizenship in years and money, and prepare the documents for the temporary permit and then for permanent status. We file together with licensed local lawyers and make sure your years are not reset by trips abroad or gaps between cards. Mistakes cost more than support: one missing document that stalls the application, a reset clock and years lost on the wrong programme. All countries and programmes are in the residence permits abroad and residence by investment sections.
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Describe your task in the chat and we will tell you where to start.
Permanent residence by country in detail
How many years it takes, what language level, money and documents you need - in separate reviews:
- How to get permanent residence in Serbia in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Vietnam in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Kazakhstan in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Belarus in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Spain in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Thailand in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Georgia in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in China in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Poland in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in Azerbaijan in 2026
- How to get permanent residence in the US in 2026: every route to a green card
- How to get permanent residence in Canada in 2026
- How to get UK permanent residency (ILR) in 2026
- How to get New Zealand permanent residency in 2026
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