Countries Where It Is Easiest to Get Permanent Residence [2026]: Compared by Money, Years and Work

October 19, 2026

Taiga Sato

Which countries make permanent residence easy to obtain depends on what you qualify on. If you have a pension or investment funds, some countries grant permanent residence from the start, such as Panama (pension visa and investor visa) and Paraguay (an investment route launched in April 2026). With more modest funds, candidates are countries where you obtain it after living there for a few years, such as Panama's Friendly Nations visa (permanent residence after two years of temporary residence; open only to citizens of listed countries) and Portugal (apply after five years of residence). If you want to qualify through work, the skilled-migration countries of Australia, Canada and New Zealand are the options, but they have age and English requirements. By contrast, Thailand has a quota of 100 people per nationality per year, and Malaysia's long-stay visa (MM2H) does not lead to permanent residence. Permanent residence is not citizenship, so obtaining it does not cost Japanese nationals their Japanese nationality. This article compares the conditions, timelines and costs of permanent residence in major countries and explains the difference between "easy to obtain" and "easy to keep." The original guide was written for Japanese nationals; where eligibility depends on your nationality, we point this out so that the comparison is also useful to readers of other nationalities.

*Amounts and rules are as of October 9, 2026. This article is an English version of our Japanese guide, adapted for foreign residents of Japan and international investors.

To check candidate countries for yourself by selecting your age, funds, pension, English level, work style and how you plan to live, try our permanent residence eligibility checker.

Contents

Conclusion: comparison of countries where permanent residence is easy to obtain
Four factors decide how easy permanent residence is
Permanent residence from the start with money: Panama, Paraguay
Permanent residence after a few years: Panama's Friendly Nations visa, Portugal, Greece
Permanent residence through work: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong
Countries where permanent residence is hard to obtain: Thailand, Malaysia
Vanuatu permanent residence: keep your current nationality
"Easy to obtain" is not "easy to keep": check the residence obligations
FAQ
Summary

Conclusion: comparison of countries where permanent residence is easy to obtain

Country	Route	Main conditions	When permanent residence is granted	Language requirement
Panama	Pension (Pensionado)	Lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 per month	From the start	None
Panama	Investment (Qualified Investor)	New real estate of US$300,000 or more, etc. Must be held for 5 years	From the start	None
Panama	Friendly Nations visa (listed nationalities only, including Japan)	Real estate of US$200,000 or more, fixed deposit of US$200,000 (3 years), or local employment	After 2 years of temporary residence	None
Paraguay	Investment (Investor Pass, launched April 2026)	Real estate or securities of US$200,000, tourism of US$150,000, etc.	From the start	None
Paraguay	General	Temporary residence (in principle 2 years, extendable), then review of income etc.	After temporary residence ends	None
Portugal	D7 (pension / passive income), etc.	Passive income of at least EUR 920 per month, etc.	After 5 years of residence	Portuguese at about A2 level
Greece	Pension / passive income (FIP), etc.	At least EUR 3,500 per month, etc.	After 5 years of residence (EU long-term resident)	Greek (about B1)
Australia	Skilled Independent (189), etc.	Under 45, English, occupation and points assessment	From the start (by invitation)	Yes
Canada	Express Entry	Points (CRS) assessment	If approved	Yes
New Zealand	Skilled migration, etc.	Age 55 or under, English, etc.	2 years after the resident visa	Yes
Singapore	Apply after working there	No minimum period; holistic assessment	Depends on assessment	None
Hong Kong	Employment or investment visa	7 years of continuous residence	After 7 years	None
Thailand	Employment, investment, etc.	Three consecutive years of extensions on the same type of visa; quota of 100 people per nationality per year	Depends on assessment (in practice 1–3 years)	No formal rule, but the interview is in Thai
Malaysia	MM2H	A long-stay visa that does not lead to permanent residence	—	—

As a rough guide: if you want permanent residence quickly and reliably with money, look at Panama and Paraguay; if you will live on a pension and can take a few years, Panama's Friendly Nations visa (if your nationality is on the list) or Portugal; if you are young, speak English and will work there, Australia, Canada or New Zealand. However, the obligation to keep living in the country after obtaining permanent residence varies greatly by country, so "easy to obtain" and "easy to keep" need to be considered separately.

Four factors decide how easy permanent residence is

Permanent residence is easier to compare when you look at the following four factors.

Money: the investment amount, or the pension and income thresholds
Years: whether permanent residence is granted from the start, or how many years you must live there before applying
Age, language and occupation: skilled-migration countries have strict requirements on age, English and occupation
Uncertainty of the review: whether it is granted once you meet the criteria, or decided by quotas or a holistic assessment

Permanent residence is a status that lets you live and work in a country indefinitely; it is not citizenship. Under Japan's Nationality Act, a Japanese national who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Japanese nationality, but obtaining permanent residence does not cause loss of Japanese nationality. Whether to go on to citizenship is a separate decision; the differences are explained in Differences between permanent residence, citizenship and visas and List of countries that allow dual citizenship. Readers of other nationalities should check their own country's rules on acquiring a foreign nationality.

Permanent residence from the start with money: Panama, Paraguay

Panama: the pension visa and investor visa grant permanent residence from the start

Panama's pension visa (Pensionado) can be applied for with a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 per month (at least US$750 per month if you own real estate worth more than US$100,000, plus US$250 per month for each dependant), and the permit has no expiry date (National Immigration Service of Panama). For recipients of a public pension, such as a Japanese public pension, this route's conditions are relatively easy to meet.

The investment route (Qualified Investor) requires one of the following, held for five years: new or first-sale real estate of US$300,000 or more, existing real estate of US$500,000 or more, securities of US$500,000 or more, or a fixed deposit of US$750,000 or more (US$500,000 at a state-owned bank). Both routes grant permanent residence from the start.

Paraguay: a route to direct permanent residence through investment began in April 2026

In April 2026, Paraguay launched the "Investor Pass," which grants permanent residence directly in return for investment. According to the local newspaper ABC Color (April 21, 2026), the conditions include an investment of US$200,000 in real estate or securities (property for the investor's or family's own residence does not qualify) or US$150,000 in tourism. There is also a category for investment in job-creating businesses.

In the general route without investment, under the 2022 Migration Law (Law No. 6984), you first obtain temporary residence (up to two years, extendable for the same period) and then apply for permanent residence. Following a resolution of the immigration authority in May 2026 (reported in July), applicants switching from temporary to permanent residence are now strictly required to submit documents showing actual income and activities.

The costs for Panama and Paraguay are covered in How much does overseas permanent residence or citizenship cost?, and Panama's detailed conditions in Guide to Panama permanent residence and citizenship.

Reference: the Philippines' retiree visa (SRRV) is not permanent residence but allows indefinite stay

According to the Philippine Retirement Authority, since September 2025 the SRRV requires a deposit of US$15,000 for applicants aged 50 or over with a pension and US$30,000 for those without, and US$25,000 / US$50,000 for those aged 40–49 (the pension must be at least US$800 per month for a single applicant). It allows indefinite stay and multiple entry, but legally it is a "special non-immigrant visa," and the deposit must be maintained.

Permanent residence after a few years: Panama's Friendly Nations visa, Portugal, Greece

Panama's Friendly Nations visa: permanent residence after two years of temporary residence

This visa is available only to citizens of countries on Panama's "Friendly Nations" list. Japan is on the list (confirmed in the list in the Executive Decree of August 31, 2026); if you hold another nationality, check whether your country is listed. With one of the following—purchase of real estate worth US$200,000 or more, a fixed deposit of US$200,000 (3 years), or an employment contract with a local company—you receive a two-year temporary residence permit and can then apply for permanent residence (National Immigration Service of Panama).

Portugal: apply for permanent residence after five years

In Portugal, you can live there on a D7 visa for people living on a pension or passive income (passive income of at least EUR 920 per month) or a similar visa, and apply for permanent residence after five years of legal residence. There is a Portuguese language requirement of about A2 level. With D7 and similar visas, you must not be outside Portugal for more than six consecutive months or eight months in total during the permit period. See Portugal residence visa types and conditions for details.

Greece: the golden visa is not permanent residence

Greece's golden visa (real estate of EUR 250,000–800,000) is a residence status renewed every five years; it is not permanent residence. The status of "EU long-term resident," which is effectively permanent residence, requires five years of continuous residence plus Greek (about B1) and knowledge of Greek history and culture. Because the golden visa has no residence obligation, you cannot meet the five-year requirement unless you actually live in Greece. See Greece visa types and permanent residence conditions for details.

Permanent residence through work: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong

Country	Main route	Main conditions
Australia	Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190)	Under 45, English (equivalent to IELTS 6 in each band or higher), an occupation on the list, 65 points or more (actual invitations often require higher scores). Permanent visa from the start
Canada	Express Entry	Invitation based on points (CRS) for age, education, English, etc. The September 2026 cut-off for the Canadian Experience Class was 518 points. Proof of funds (CAD 15,263 for a single applicant) is required for categories such as the Federal Skilled Worker program but not for the Canadian Experience Class
New Zealand	Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), Green List	Age 55 or under, English (IELTS 6.5, etc.). Obtain a resident visa, then a permanent resident visa after two years
Singapore	Apply from an Employment Pass (EP)	No published minimum period; holistic assessment. 35,264 people were granted permanent residence in 2024
Hong Kong	Employment, talent or investment visas	After 7 years of continuous residence you can apply for permanent resident status

In skilled-migration countries, the permanent residence assessment is clear once you meet the conditions, and life after obtaining it tends to be stable. On the other hand, the age, English and occupation requirements are strict, making this a difficult route for people in their late 40s or older or who are not confident in English. Each country's detailed conditions are explained in Australia relocation and permanent residence conditions, Canada permanent residence: conditions and costs, New Zealand permanent residence: conditions and costs, Singapore relocation and permanent residence conditions and Hong Kong relocation: conditions and costs.

Countries where permanent residence is hard to obtain: Thailand, Malaysia

Thailand: a quota of 100 people per nationality per year

Thai permanent residence requires three consecutive years of extensions on the same type of visa (such as employment), and a quota of 100 people per nationality per year is set by an annual announcement, so your chances also depend on how many applicants share your nationality. The employment category requires a salary of at least THB 80,000 per month for two years or more, and the investment category requires an investment of at least THB 10 million, among other conditions. There is no retiree category, and Thailand Privilege (formerly Thailand Elite) does not lead to permanent residence. See Thailand relocation: conditions and costs for details.

Malaysia: MM2H does not become permanent residence

Malaysia's MM2H is a long-stay visa of 5–20 years, not permanent residence. Under the rules in force since 2024, MM2H participants cannot apply for permanent residence. Malaysian permanent residence has conditions such as five or more years of residence, and the investment category requires, among other things, a fixed deposit of US$2 million kept for five years. MM2H conditions are explained in Malaysia MM2H: conditions and costs.

Vanuatu permanent residence: keep your current nationality

Vanuatu in the South Pacific also has a permanent residence program that Japanese nationals can hold while keeping their Japanese nationality. Acquiring Vanuatu nationality (citizenship) causes loss of Japanese nationality, but with permanent residence Japanese nationality is unaffected. Applications are made through a government-registered agent.

Vanuatu's Department of Immigration describes a category for people who have lived there for 12 months or more, among others, and a category for investors. Detailed conditions may change, so check the latest guidance before applying. For an overview of the program see What is Vanuatu permanent residence?, and for local life see Moving to Vanuatu: safety, prices, taxes and visas.

"Easy to obtain" is not "easy to keep": check the residence obligations

How long you must stay in a country after obtaining permanent residence varies greatly. If you want to keep permanent residence while living in Japan, this "ease of keeping" matters more than ease of obtaining.

Country	Guideline for the stay needed to keep permanent residence
Panama	Can be kept with an entry of a few days once every two years
Canada	At least 730 days in every five years
New Zealand	The permanent resident visa has no expiry on its travel conditions (to obtain it, you must have held a resident visa for two years and meet one of the commitment criteria, such as staying at least 184 days in each of the last two years)
Australia	The travel facility of the permanent visa lasts five years. Renewal (Resident Return Visa) generally requires at least two years of presence in the last five
Singapore	A Re-Entry Permit (REP) is required. Being abroad without a valid REP may lead to loss of status
Hong Kong	Non-Chinese nationals lose permanent resident status if they are absent from Hong Kong continuously for more than 36 months after ceasing to be ordinarily resident (the right to land remains)

The "entry once every two years" for Panama was confirmed by our office with an agent familiar with the local system. In some countries, such as Australia and Hong Kong, you can lose your rights if you stay abroad for a long time even after obtaining permanent residence.

FAQ

In which country is permanent residence easiest to obtain?

If you have a pension, Panama's pension visa, which grants permanent residence from the start with a pension of US$1,000 or more per month, has the clearest conditions. For investors, Panama's investor visa (new real estate of US$300,000 or more, etc.) and Paraguay's Investor Pass (launched April 2026) also grant permanent residence from the start. However, you should also compare residence obligations and taxes.

What happens to my nationality if I obtain permanent residence?

Permanent residence is not nationality, so Japanese nationals do not lose Japanese nationality. If you go on to acquire that country's nationality (citizenship), Japanese nationals lose Japanese nationality under Japan's Nationality Act. If you hold another nationality, check your own country's rules.

Are there countries without a language test?

Panama, Paraguay, Singapore and Hong Kong, among others, do not require a language test for permanent residence. Australia, Canada and New Zealand have English requirements, and Portugal and Greece have local-language requirements.

Can I keep permanent residence while living in Japan?

It depends on the country. Panama can be kept with an entry once every two years, but Canada requires at least 730 days of residence in every five years, and in Australia renewal becomes difficult if you stay abroad for a long time.

Can I obtain permanent residence in my 50s or 60s?

Skilled-migration countries with age limits (under 45 for Australia, 55 or under for New Zealand) become difficult. Routes based on a pension or assets, such as Panama, Paraguay and Portugal (five years after a D7), have no upper age limit.

Summary

Compare how easy permanent residence is by four factors: money, years, age and language, and uncertainty of the review
Permanent residence from the start with money: Panama (pension of US$1,000+ per month, investment of US$300,000+, etc.) and Paraguay (Investor Pass launched April 2026)
Permanent residence after a few years: Panama's Friendly Nations visa (after two years of temporary residence; listed nationalities only), Portugal (five years), Greece (EU long-term resident after five years)
Through work: Australia, Canada and New Zealand, but with strict age, English and occupation requirements. Thailand has a quota of 100 per nationality per year, and Malaysia's MM2H does not become permanent residence
Japanese nationals do not lose Japanese nationality by obtaining permanent residence. Always check the residence obligations after obtaining it (ease of keeping)

Our office offers consultations comparing permanent residence and long-stay visas in various countries, and handles obtaining, translating and apostilling the Japanese documents needed for applications (family register certificates, criminal record certificates, pension certificates, etc.). If you would like to work out which country's permanent residence suits you based on your pension, assets, age and family situation, please use our free consultation. We never use pushy sales tactics. As Certified Administrative Scriveners, we are bound by a legal duty of confidentiality. We can assist in English and Japanese.