Every residence permit sets conditions. Some ask for a degree and a sponsor, others only for proof that you can pay your way. We counted eight kinds of condition across every route open to any nationality, then ranked them from fewest to most. Ties are broken by processing time. Founder visas are left out because their main test, the business plan, is not something a count can capture; they are listed in our no-job-offer guide.
The 15 Lowest-Hurdle Residence Routes
| # | Programme | Conditions | What it asks for | Gov. fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long-Stay Visitor VisaFrance | 0 | None in our structured data | $107 | 1–2 months |
| 2 | Golden VisaUnited Arab Emirates | 0 | None in our structured data | $1,000 | 1–3 months |
| 3 | Thailand Privilege (Membership Visa)Thailand | 0 | None in our structured data | $19,100 | 1–3 months |
| 4 | Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (Business and Work)Thailand | 1 | job offer | $147 | 0–1 months |
| 5 | Destination Thailand VisaThailand | 1 | savings or investment floor | $335 | 0–1 months |
| 6 | Global Talent StreamCanada | 1 | job offer | $175 | 1 month |
| 7 | Orientation Year (Zoekjaar)Netherlands | 1 | degree | $215 | 1–2 months |
| 8 | Personalised Employment PassSingapore | 1 | salary or income floor | $254 | 1–2 months |
| 9 | Overseas Networks & Expertise PassSingapore | 1 | salary or income floor | $254 | 1–2 months |
| 10 | Standard Work Visa (Employer-Sponsored)United Arab Emirates | 1 | job offer | $300 | 1–2 months |
| 11 | Virtual Work Residence VisaUnited Arab Emirates | 1 | salary or income floor | $300 | 1–2 months |
| 12 | Elective Residence VisaItaly | 1 | salary or income floor | $125 | 1–3 months |
| 13 | Non-Lucrative VisaSpain | 1 | savings or investment floor | $130 | 1–3 months |
| 14 | High Potential Individual VisaUnited Kingdom | 1 | degree | $820 | 1–3 months |
| 15 | L Permit (Short-Term Residents) for Third-State NationalsSwitzerland | 1 | job offer | $106 | 2–4 months |
What is the easiest residency to get?
Easy Routes That Lead to Permanent Residence
A permit that is easy to get but never leads anywhere is a long visit, not a move. These are the lowest-hurdle routes that lead to permanent residence within about five years. For every route ranked by years to permanent residence, see our fast-track permanent residency guide.
| Programme | Hurdles | Permanent residence | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-Stay Visitor VisaFrance | None in our structured data | About 5 years | 1–2 months |
| Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (Business and Work)Thailand | job offer | About 3 years | 0–1 months |
| Orientation Year (Zoekjaar)Netherlands | degree | About 5 years | 1–2 months |
| Personalised Employment PassSingapore | salary or income floor | About 2 years | 1–2 months |
| Overseas Networks & Expertise PassSingapore | salary or income floor | About 2 years | 1–2 months |
| Elective Residence VisaItaly | salary or income floor | About 5 years | 1–3 months |
| Non-Lucrative VisaSpain | savings or investment floor | About 5 years | 1–3 months |
| Subordinate Work Visa (Decreto Flussi)Italy | job offer | About 5 years | 2–6 months |
Passive-income and remote-work visas show up here because they test money rather than careers. If you are choosing between Italy's two versions, our Italy comparison explains the one condition that decides it.
The Easiest Route in Each Country
If you have a destination in mind, this is its lowest-hurdle route open to any nationality.
| Country | Easiest route | Hurdles |
|---|---|---|
| France | Long-Stay Visitor Visa | None in our structured data |
| United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa | None in our structured data |
| Thailand | Thailand Privilege (Membership Visa) | None in our structured data |
| Canada | Global Talent Stream | job offer |
| Netherlands | Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) | degree |
| Singapore | Personalised Employment Pass | salary or income floor |
| Italy | Elective Residence Visa | salary or income floor |
| Spain | Non-Lucrative Visa | savings or investment floor |
| United Kingdom | High Potential Individual Visa | degree |
| Switzerland | L Permit (Short-Term Residents) for Third-State Nationals | job offer |
| Portugal | D7 Passive Income Visa | savings or investment floor |
| Germany | Research Visa (§18d AufenthG) | degree, job offer |
| United States | J-1 Research Scholar | degree, job offer |
| New Zealand | Accredited Employer Work Visa | job offer, work experience |
| Ireland | General Employment Permit | job offer, salary or income floor |
| Australia | Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) | degree, job offer, language test, work experience |
What This Ranking Leaves Out
Counting conditions does not measure how hard each one is. A modest income floor and a high one both count once, and so do a short and a long experience requirement. Fees, document requirements and consulate appointment waits are not counted at all.
Use the ranking to build a shortlist, then open each programme page for the actual thresholds. If a job offer is the condition you cannot meet, our list of routes without a job offer goes into each alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest country to get residency in?
On the number of formal conditions in our structured data, the easiest route open to any nationality in Transita's data is the Long-Stay Visitor Visa in France, with no recorded hurdles. Fewer conditions is not the same as cheaper: some easy routes ask for a large fee or proof of funds instead.
Which easy residency routes lead to permanent residence?
Long-Stay Visitor Visa (France) and Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (Business and Work) (Thailand) are among the lowest-hurdle routes that lead to permanent residence within about five years.
Can I get residency abroad without a degree or job offer?
Yes. Passive-income, remote-work and some founder routes set neither condition. They usually test your income or savings instead, and many do not allow local employment.
How is ease measured on this page?
We count the formal conditions each route sets in our data: a degree, a job offer, a language test, a salary or income floor, a savings or investment floor, work experience, an age cap, and a points score. The route with the fewest ranks first. Fees and paperwork are not counted.
Related guides
Easy only counts if it fits your life
Transita matches your income, work situation and family against every route here and flags the conditions you would still need to meet. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.
Build my workspaceofficial sources: VLS-TS visiteur · france-visas.gouv.fr·Golden Residence · u.ae·Privilege Entry Visa · thailandprivilege.co.th·Non-B · mfa.go.th·DTV · thaievisa.go.th·GTS · canada.ca·Zoekjaar Highly Educated Persons · ind.nl·PEP · mom.gov.sg·ONE Pass · mom.gov.sg·Work Residence Visa · u.ae·Remote Work Residence · gdrfad.gov.ae·Residenza Elettiva · consboston.esteri.it·NLV · exteriores.gob.es·HPI · gov.uk·L Permit (Third-State) · sem.admin.ch