Ten countries people most often move to on a residence permit: what the status is based on, how long it lasts, whether a tax resident's foreign income is taxed and when you can apply for permanent status.

Country	Basis and minimum	First permit	Tax on foreign income	Permanent residence
Paraguay	no income or investment	up to 2 years	not taxed	after 2 years
Serbia	work, own company, property, family	up to 3 years	taxed	after 3 years
Armenia	work, business, family, roots	up to 1 year	taxed	after 3 years
Kazakhstan	points and ~$13,000 in the bank per person	10-year card	taxed	the card is already permanent status
Georgia	work with a permit, business, property from $150,000	up to 1 year	not taxed	after 10 years
Argentina	income from $1,300 a month for retirees and people with passive income	temporary, renewable	taxed from the 13th month	citizenship can be requested after 2 years
Mexico	income from $4,630 a month	1-4 years	taxed	after 4 years
Bulgaria	pension from $700 a month, remote work, business	1 year	taxed	after 5 years
Montenegro	property from $170,000 or own company	up to 1 year	taxed	after 5 years
Spain	income from $2,700 a month, no right to work	1 year	taxed	after 5 years

Amounts in US dollars at today's rate. We will calculate the total for your family with fees, translations and support in the chat.

Where it is easiest to get a residence permit in 2026

With no income or investment - Paraguay: income is checked only when moving to permanent status after 2 years.
With passive income - Argentina from $1,300 a month, Spain from $2,700, Mexico from $4,630.
Through your own company - Serbia, Montenegro and Georgia.
The fastest decision - Armenia: 30 days.
The longest document - Kazakhstan: a 10-year card straight away, but entry is by points.

An easy entry does not mean an easy life: some permits do not allow work for a local employer, and some countries tax foreign income from the first year. We check this before filing, not after the move.

If what you need is not residence but frequent business trips around the Asia-Pacific, look at the APEC business travel card: for entrepreneurs from member economies it replaces separate visas for short business trips and opens fast-track lanes at airports.

Residence permits for Russian citizens in 2026

All countries in the table accept Russian citizens on general terms. Serbia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Argentina are entered visa-free, and documents are filed locally. The European Union requires a visa first.

Two popular routes have closed: the Spanish golden visa on 3 April 2025 and all investment grounds in Latvia for Russian citizens on 15 September 2026.

Residence by marriage and for family: by country

Who can join a spouse or relative, what the sponsor must show, documents, marriage checks, timelines and fees in dollars:

How to get residency: every route by country

Detailed country guides: every ground for a residence permit in one table, amounts in dollars, fees, timelines, common refusals and the path to permanent residence.

FAQ

What is the difference between residence and permanent residence?

A residence permit is issued for a term and renewed while the grounds hold: work, study, business, investment. Permanent residence is open-ended or very long, usually allows work without a separate permit and depends less on those grounds.

Where is it easiest to get a residence permit in 2026?

With no income or investment, in Paraguay: income is checked only after 2 years, when moving to permanent status. With passive income, in Argentina from $1,300 a month; through your own company, in Serbia and Montenegro; and the fastest decision is in Armenia, within 30 days.

Do I have to live in the country to keep the permit?

Almost always yes, and the absence limit is written into the law. The exception is some investment programmes where a few days a year suffice. Long unexplained absence leads to cancellation.

Does a residence permit let me work?

Not every one. Work and business permits do, while passive-income status often bans working for local employers outright. Check before applying, not after you move.

Will a residence permit make me a tax resident?

Not by itself: tax residency follows days of presence and your centre of vital interests. But an actual move usually changes it, so plan the timing in advance.

Can I bring my family?

Yes, nearly all programmes cover a spouse and minor children, some also parents. You need to show housing and income for everyone.

Where do Russian citizens get residence permits in 2026?

In Serbia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Spain, on general terms. The Spanish golden visa and Latvia's investment grounds for Russian citizens are closed.

Which residence permit leads to permanent residence fastest?

Paraguay grants permanent status after 2 years, or at once for an investment from $70,000. Serbia and Armenia after 3 years, Mexico after 4 years.

Which country would you like residence in?

Tell us about your income, work and family - we compare residence through business, a startup or a nomad visa in different countries and prepare the documents for your choice.

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Residence permits abroad: where it is easiest in 2026

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Popular residence permits compared in 2026

Where it is easiest to get a residence permit in 2026

Residence permits for Russian citizens in 2026

Residence by marriage and for family: by country

How to get residency: every route by country

FAQ

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