EU Residency Guide >> 27 different ways to move to Europe

Do you want EU residency? Here are 27 different ways to become a resident of Europe – some are surprisingly simple! We’ll also look at Europe’s easiest country for permanent residency (PR) without investment. Remember, a European residence permit is often a pathway to EU citizenship and an EU passport.

EU Residency – Income Visas

Does your business allow you to work from anywhere? Do you have a steady income from existing investments or a pension? You may qualify for an EU Income Visa.

Spain

• Visa Name: Non-Lucrative Visa
• Required Income (2022): €27,792.96
• Income Types Allowed: Passive income e.g. pension, annuity, investment income, rental income.
• Working Allowed: No
• Health Insurance Requirement:Spanish Private Health Insurance

– For more details: Spanish Non-lucrative Visa Guide.

Portugal

• Visa Name: D7 Passive Income Visa
• Required Income (2022): €8,460
• Income Types Allowed: Passive income e.g. pension, annuity, investment income, rental income.
• Working Allowed: Yes, local employment, freelancing, and remote work are all allowed while living in Portugal.
• Health Insurance Requirement: Insurance certificate until registered with the Portugal Health Service.

– For more details: Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa Guide.

Ireland

• Visa Name: Stamp 0 – Person of Independent Means
• Required Income (2022): €50,000 (Plus up to €100,000 savings.)
• Income Types Allowed: Passive income e.g. pension, annuity, investment income, rental income.
• Working Allowed: No
• Health Insurance Requirement: Private Irish Or Expat Health Insurance.

– For more details: Ireland Stamp 0 – Person of Independent Means Visa Guide.

Cyprus

• Visa Name: Pink Slip – Temporary Residence Permit
• Required Income (2022): €10,000 (Plus a rental agreement or home purchase.)
• Income Types Allowed: Any stable income.
• Working Allowed: No
• Health Insurance Requirement: Private Cypriot Or Expat Health Insurance.

– For more details: Cyprus Pink Slip Guide.

Austria

• Visa Name: Independent Means
• Required Income (2022): €12,365
• Income Types Allowed: Austrian or foreign pensions, profits from enterprises abroad, or income from assets, savings, or company shares.
• Working Allowed: No
• Health Insurance Requirement: Private Austrian Or Expat Health Insurance.

– For more details: Austria Independent Means Guide.

France

• Visa Name: Type-D visa (Carte de Sejour) or VLS-TS
• Required Income (2022): €15,600 (€43,800 if you have no accommodation organized).
• Income Types Allowed: All
• Working Allowed: No
• Health Insurance Requirement: Private French or Expat Health Insurance.

– For more details: France Type-D visa (Carte de Sejour) or VLS-TS Guide.

Greece

• Visa Name: Financially Independent Persons Visa, Greece (FIP)
• Required Income (2022): €24,000
• Income Types Allowed: Passive Income only.
• Working Allowed: Only for foreign employers or clients.
• Health Insurance Requirement: Private Greek or Expat Health Insurance.

– For more details: Greece Financially Independent Persons Visa (FIP) Guide.

Italy

• Visa Name: Elective Residence Visa
• Required Income (2022): €31,000 + rental agreement or proof pr accommodation.
• Income Types Allowed: Passive Income only.
• Working Allowed: No (although the restriction on remote work is unclear.)
• Health Insurance Requirement: Private Italian or Expat Health Insurance.

– For more details: Italy Elective Residence Visa

EU Start-up Visas

Are you on fire with an entrepreneurial spirit? Do you have a fantastic idea for a business? EU countries are looking for you to make a difference in their economies. They’ll offer you a residence permit (and lots of support) to bring your ideas to life in their country. Here are some examples.

Sweden

Sweden welcomes those planning to run or invest in a business. You must show you have the required skills and experience to run the company. Additionally, you must show sufficient funds to support yourself and your family.

More Details: Sweden Permit for Highly Quali­fied Persons

Austria

Austria welcomes qualifying start-up founders. The program has a sliding points scale with several factors assessed. Funding, capital, innovation, and membership of accelerators or incubators are all considered in the assessment.

More Details: Austria Red-White-Red Program

France

The “Passeport Talent” (“Talent Passport”) is targeted at start-up founders, investors, and employees. You’ll also need to show sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependents. France also has Business Investor and Selected Companies programs that offer accelerated residency.

More Details: France Talent Passport / Skilled France Visa

For more information, see our article on Startup Visas around the world.

EU Remote Work Visas and EU Digital Nomad Visas

Estonia

Estonia has a residence permit targeted at Digital Nomads. You’ll need to show that you have a location-independent income of at least €3,504 per month before tax. Your clients also need to be from outside of Estonia.

This visa is perfect for:

• Digital nomads.
• Freelancers.
• Remote workers employed by non-Estonian companies.

The visa is valid for a year and costs €80 for a short stay (Type C), or €100 for a long stay (Type D). Estonia’s Digital Nation program means you can apply online for many Estonia residence permits and visas.

Croatia

Remote workers, digital nomads, and freelancers can all apply to live in Croatia. Just show an income of at least €2,370 per month, and you can stay for up to two years. See details from the Croatian Ministry of the Interior here.

Czech Republic

The famous Zivno visa is a little complex but is a great option for many. You can find out more about Moving to the Czech Republic using this visa in our guide.

Greece

The Greece Digital Nomad Visa gives you a year in Greece, which you can extend. You’ll need an income of €3,500 per month from non-Greek companies or clients. The visa covers freelancers and remote workers.

For more information, see our EU Freelancer and Digital Nomad Visa Guide and our Best Remote Work Visa Countries.

European Student Visas

Many countries in Europe offer excellent student visa programs. Some of the world’s finest educational institutions welcome international students. And many EU countries provide a post-study work visa that allows you to stay on after your studies to find work. These visas are an excellent pathway to EU permanent residency and European citizenship.

Top EU and EEA Student Visa programs

• Finland
• France
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Spain
• Sweden

Please see our article on Student Visas for more details on study options for EU residency.

EU Residency by Investment (RBI)

Are you looking for a way to invest some of your hard-earned money in the strong economies of Europe? You could get an impressive return on your investment, as well as a pathway to citizenship. European residency by Investment (RBI) programs are some of the best-run and most transparent globally.

Here are some of the most attractive European Investment Visa programs.

Portugal Golden Visa

Five years to qualify for a Portuguese Passport.

• Investment Option 1: Real Estate €280,000 to €500,000 (Depending on type and location)
• Investment Option 2: Capital Transfer €1.5 million
• Investment Option 3: Business Investment €400,000 to €500,000 (Depending on location)
• Investment Option 4: Portuguese arts or national heritage€250,000

More Details: Portugal Golden Visa Guide

Spain Golden Visa

Ten years to qualify for a Spanish Passport.

• Investment Option: Real Estate €500,000

More Details: Spain Golden Visa Guide

Ireland Investor Program (IIP) – PROGRAM SUSPENDED

Note: This program was suspended in 2023.

• Investment Option 1: Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) €2,000,000
• Investment Option 2: Approved Investment Fund €1,000,000
• Investment Option 3: Business Investment €1,000,000
• Donation Option: €500,000

More Details: Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (IIP).

Bulgaria Investor Program

• Investment amount 1: €512,000 (Five-year qualification for citizenship.)
• Investment amount 2: €1,024,000 (Two-year qualification for citizenship.)

Investment Options: Bulgarian stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), private equity, venture capital, or REITs or a combination.

More Details: Bulgaria Investor Program

Latvia RBI

Ten years to qualify for a Latvian passport.

• Investment Option 1: Five-Year Fixed Deposit €280,000 + €25,000 fee.
• Investment Option 2: Latvian Company Shares €50,000 + €15,000 fee.
• Investment Option 3: Interest-Free Bonds €250,000 + €38,000 fee.

Any of these options allow you to apply to live in Latvia. And the visa is a pathway to Latvia PR and citizenship.

Please visit the Latvia investment visa site for more information.

Malta RBI

Maltese citizenship qualification after three years.

Malta’s residency by investment program is one of the oldest in Europe.

• Real Estate Purchase: €300,000 to €350,000 (depending on location) plus €70,000 fees.
• Rental Property: €10,000 to €12,000 (depending on location) per annum plus €100,000 fees.

More Details: Malta PR Program

Greece Golden Visa

Seven years to qualify for Greek citizenship.

• Investment Option 1: Real Estate €250,000
• Investment Option 2: Greek Company Shares €400,000
• Investment Option 3: Greek Bank Fixed Deposit €400,000
• Investment Option 4: Greek Government Bonds €400,000
• Property Lease Option: Sign a ten-year lease for at least €250,000

More Details: Greece Residency by Investment guide.

Cyprus RBI

Seven years to qualify for Cyprus citizenship.

• Investment Option 1: Real Estate €300,000
• Investment Option 2: Cypriot Company Shares €300,000
• Investment Option 3: Approved Cypriot Investment Fund €300,000

More Details: List of certified Cyprus RBI Service Providers to assist with your application.

Italy Investor Visa

Tens years to qualify for Italian citizenship.

• Investment Option 1: €2 million in Italian government bonds.
• Investment Option 2: €500,000 in an Italian limited company.
• Investment Option 3: €250,000 in an innovative Italian start-up.
• Investment Option 4: €1 million in a philanthropic initiative.

More details: Italian Investor Visa

For information on other investment visas, please visit our Investment Visa Page. The article also has information on the best Citizenship by Investment programs in Europe and worldwide.

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is an EU-wide work permit. It is available to highly skilled professionals.

You’ll need a qualifying job offer from a European firm in your profession. The salary must be 1.2 to 1.5 times the average national salary of the country where the company is located. In 2022 some examples are:

• Austria: €67,000
• Bulgaria: €11,000
• Germany: €56,000
• Italy: €26,000
• Spain: €34,000

EU Residency for Skilled Migrants (Work Permits)

Many EU countries offer work permits to skilled migrants, and these programs exist alongside the EU Blue Card. Remember, each country has different requirements for its skilled migration work visa program. In general, you’ll need an offer of employment for a qualifying job.

Some EU countries that have EU Work permits for skilled migrants include:

• Austria
• Germany
• Ireland
• The Netherlands

Find out more with our detailed guide to Skilled Migration Visas and Work Permits.

The easiest way to get Permanent Residency (PR) in Europe

The simplest way to move to the EU is through your family. And the easiest country to get PR in Europe will be one you have a family link to.

Many EU countries offer a direct and simple ancestry path to EU residency and citizenship, stretching back to your grandparents and beyond. Check out the Easiest country to get European citizenship to see if you qualify.

You may also be eligible for PR in the EU if your spouse or partner is an EU resident. Children and other relatives (including parents and parents-in-law) can also use family ties to EU citizens to get permanent residence in many EU countries.

Don’t despair if your family doesn’t open the door for you. Here are 18 other ways that you might use to move to the EU. And most of them can lead to EU PR.

Interested in countries outside the EU? See our article The Easiest Countries in the World to Move To.

The SCHENGEN area and SCHENGEN Visa

Twenty-five countries are full signatories of the SCHENGEN treaty. These countries have special immigration agreements with each other.

The SCHENGEN visa is for short-term visits to the region of less than 90-days. Any member country can issue the visa, and you can then travel freely around any of the member states.

You have restricted rights if you have a residence permit or permanent residence status from a SCHENGEN member state. You can generally travel (without working) within the region for up to 90 days without needing a visa or permit.

However, your rights to live and work only apply to the country that issued your residency/work permit. So, if you have a Spanish autonomo work permit, you cannot move to Germany and work there. Similarly, a Portugal D7 visa does not allow you to live in Spain.

The SCHENGEN states are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• The Czech Republic (Czechia)
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Are you excited about EU Residency?

The European Union is home to 450 million people and had a GDP of around €14.5 trillion in 2021. Happily, EU ancestry or a lucky birth are not the only ways participate in this unique project. We hope this article gives you what you need to come and join us.

If you want to become a European citizen with an EU passport, check out the Easiest EU Citizenship – EU residency is often a great place to start.