Most lists of retirement visas mix programmes that closed years ago with ones that never existed in the form described. This one covers only the destinations Transita tracks, with figures pulled from the same catalogue that powers our visa pages.
The passive income visas we track
| Visa | Government fee | Processing | Money floor recorded | Published income floor | Permanent residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal: D7 Passive Income Visa | $250 | 2–6 months | $11,000 | Not recorded | PR after 5 years |
| Spain: Non-Lucrative Visa | $130 | 1–3 months | $32,000 | Not recorded | PR after 5 years |
| France: Long-Stay Visitor Visa | $107 | 1–2 months | Not recorded | Not recorded | PR after 5 years |
| Italy: Elective Residence Visa | $125 | 1–3 months | Not recorded | EUR 31,000/yr (≈ $35,526/yr) | PR after 5 years |
| Thailand: Thailand Privilege (Membership Visa) | $19,100 | 1–3 months | Not recorded | Not recorded | No PR route |
"Money floor recorded" is the yearly income or funds figure in our catalogue, in US dollars. France ties its Long-Stay Visitor requirement to the French minimum wage rather than a fixed sum, so we do not record a single figure for it.
Europe: four routes, one rule
- Portugal D7. The lowest bar, about $11,000 a year for one person. 2–6 months processing, first permit 2 years, pr after 5 years. Full detail in our D7 guide.
- Spain Non-Lucrative Visa. About $32,000 a year, full private health insurance, 1–3 months. The document checklist is where most applicants lose time.
- France Long-Stay Visitor. Resources at least equal to the French minimum wage, $107 fee, 1–2 months. You may not work in France on it.
- Italy Elective Residence. The highest European bar at EUR 31,000/yr (≈ $35,526/yr), passive income only. Our Italy comparison explains the no-work trap.
Ireland runs its own version, Stamp 0, at EUR 50,000 a year per person with no access to State benefits. See the Stamp 0 guide.
Outside Europe
Thailand Privilege works differently. You buy a membership instead of proving income: our catalogue records $19,100 for the entry tier, which buys a 5-year multiple-entry visa with no income, employment or age test. It does not lead to permanent residence.
New Zealand has two retirement routes, both built on investment: NZD 750,000 for the 66-and-over visitor route, NZD 1 million for the parent resident route. Our New Zealand retirement guide has the full conditions.
The UAE has no retirement visa in our catalogue, but its Golden Visa gives 10-year residence to investors, for a $1,000 fee. See golden visa programmes in 2026.
Which of these do you actually qualify for?
Transita checks your income, savings and age against every route on this page and ranks them. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.
Build my workspaceThe best country depends on what you need
- Lowest income bar: Portugal. Portugal also scores 92/100 on safety and 78/100 on cost of living in our data (higher is cheaper).
- Healthcare: Spain scores 95/100, the highest healthcare score of the retirement-visa countries. Our healthcare and safety ranking breaks it down.
- Tax: it depends on your pension and your treaty. See tax-friendly countries for retirees.
- Still earning a little: passive income visas forbid it. Read remote work and early retirement visas instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries offer retirement visas in 2026?
Among the destinations we cover: Portugal (D7), Spain (Non-Lucrative Visa), France (Long-Stay Visitor), Italy (Elective Residence), Thailand (Privilege membership visa), Ireland (Stamp 0) and New Zealand (Temporary Retirement Visitor and Parent Retirement Resident visas).
What is a passive income visa?
A residence permit for people who live on income they do not work for: pensions, rents, dividends, interest. The country checks that the income is stable and big enough, and in exchange you agree not to work locally. Retirement visas are the same thing under a different name.
Which retirement visa needs the least income?
Portugal's D7, at about $11,000 a year in our catalogue for one person. Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa is next at about $32,000, and Italy's Elective Residence asks for EUR 31,000/yr (≈ $35,526/yr).
Is there a minimum age for a retirement visa?
Usually not. The European passive-income visas test money, not age, so a 45-year-old living on investments qualifies the same way a pensioner does. New Zealand's Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa is the exception, at 66 or older.
What about Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica or Greece?
They all run retirement or independent-means programmes, but Transita does not cover them, so we do not publish figures for them. This guide sticks to the countries where we track the official rules.
official sources: D7 · vistos.mne.gov.pt·NLV · exteriores.gob.es·VLS-TS visiteur · france-visas.gouv.fr·Residenza Elettiva · consboston.esteri.it·Privilege Entry Visa · thailandprivilege.co.th·Golden Residence · u.ae