Americans unhappy with election outcomes often say they’re going to pick up sticks and move to another country. Canada is usually top of the list. After all, it’s right next door, and aside from a few eccentricities and pronunciations, it’s quite like the United States.
Unfortunately, so is its immigration policy. Like the US, Canada is currently cracking down on easy residency. It’s slashed immigration targets by 25% and introduced a cap on study and work permits. Canada doesn’t have a retirement or independent means visa. So, unless you qualify as an entrepreneur or skilled worker, you’re looking at a maximum of six months at a time in the country.
The good news is that there are much easier places to get residency, sometimes within a matter of days. Here are six countries where you can settle down quickly and easily.
The World’s Best Retirement Havens for 2025
The World’s Best Retirement Havens for 2025
20 Countries Compared, Contrasted, Ranked, and Rated. You don’t have to be rich to enjoy a pampered retirement, you just need to know where to go. With our 34th Annual Global Retirement Index, our experts hand you a detailed roadmap. Details—and a Special Offer—Here
By submitting your email address, you will receive a free subscription to IL Postcards and special offers from International Living and our affiliates. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we encourage you to read more about our Privacy Policy.
Panama
Panama grants a Pensionado visa to anyone who earns at least $1,000 a month in foreign-sourced income. You can also get immediate permanent residency by buying a house worth at least $300,000 or putting the same amount into a Panamanian bank or local stocks.
Costa Rica
Like its southern neighbor, Costa Rica will give you a pensionado visa for monthly income of at least $1,000. And it doesn’t tax foreign income, just like Panama.
Mexico
America’s southern neighbor, Mexico, is more willing to give Americans residency than the other way around. As long as you earn at least $3,100 or have savings of $47,500, you can stay for up to four years. After that, you can apply for permanent residency.
Ecuador
Investing at least $45,000 in real estate, a bank deposit, or a business will give you temporary residency in Ecuador. You can make that permanent after 21 months.
Cyprus
Non-EU citizens who get at least €2,000 a month in passive income from outside Cyprus are welcome to settle in this Mediterranean gem. Digital nomads can do the same if they earn €3,500 a month. Foreign income is tax-free.
Montenegro
You can live in this delightful Balkan country by buying a home or forming a company, even if it doesn’t really do anything. You get a one-year residency permit, which is renewable as long as you keep the investment.
So, let’s say you want to move to one of these places ASAP. What do you need to have ready to hand to apply successfully?
A passport valid for at least six months, plus passport-size photographs.
A completed application, typically by downloading from the country’s embassy website.
Proof of your income, including bank statements, pay slips, tax returns, a letter from an employer, or contracts with clients.
Details of your accommodation in the country.
Health insurance covering the time before you qualify for the national system.
A criminal record check, typically in the form of an FBI clearance statement. You’ll also need a criminal record check from any country where you’ve lived during the last five years.
A medical exam report showing that you are free of communicable diseases.
Proof of relationships for any spouse or dependents.
All the above, translated into the country’s language by a certified translator, and apostilled at the country’s embassy or consulate.
Some of these things you can stockpile ahead of time, but proof of income, criminal record checks, and medical exams will need to be relatively recent.
In terms of processing times, Central American countries are generally faster than those in Europe. That’s not always the case, however, and it’s always a good idea to use an immigration consultant or attorney who’s been recommended by someone else.
Fortunately, I keep track of exactly such resources in my consultation service at Global Citizen!
Consult with Me, One-on-One
My Mission: To Make Your Life Simpler, Safer, and Freer … Not More Complicated
Stop overcomplicating, second-guessing, or giving in to “information paralysis” … Let’s sit down together (online), and I’ll help you create a custom blueprint for your international goals… second passports, tax, travel, retirement, estate, business, and more…
The World’s Best Retirement Havens for 2025
The World’s Best Retirement Havens for 2025
20 Countries Compared, Contrasted, Ranked, and Rated. You don’t have to be rich to enjoy a pampered retirement, you just need to know where to go. With our 34th Annual Global Retirement Index, our experts hand you a detailed roadmap. Details—and a Special Offer—Here
By submitting your email address, you will receive a free subscription to IL Postcards and special offers from International Living and our affiliates. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we encourage you to read more about our Privacy Policy.