Residency Abroad for $5,000?

A small but growing percentage of the people I meet in my consulting service at International Living want a Plan B to leave the US in place without moving to the second country right away. With a few exceptions, that means making a qualifying investment, a.k.a. a “golden visa.”

Most countries are changing their golden visas to focus on investors and people with desirable skill profiles. You can still get a visa through passive investment, but they’re more expensive. For example, you can get Portuguese residency for as little as a €100,000 investment in a Portuguese startup, while a passive investment golden visa will cost you €500,000.

That’s pretty steep! Fortunately, however, there are 11 countries where you can get immediate long-term residency for less than $100,000 through passive investment.

Armenia Permanent Residence: $5,000

Armenia will give you permanent residence if you are “engaged in business activities.” Unlike other business-based visas, you just say that that’s what you’re doing without having to submit a business plan. No physical presence is required. After three years of residency, you become eligible for Armenian citizenship. Plus, Armenia permits dual citizenship.

Thailand Privilege Residence: $26,000

Thailand Privilege’s Gold tier, priced at approximately $26,000, grants a five-year visa. A cheaper Bronze tier at $19,00 is available until March 31, 2026. Physical presence is not required. However, Thailand Privilege has no path to permanent residency or citizenship.

Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency: $30,000

Nicaragua grants immediate permanent residency to those who invest $30,000 in real estate, a new local business, or government-approved forestry and agricultural projects. There is no formal physical presence requirement. Citizenship is available after approximately four years, but the country recently eliminated dual citizenship.

Ecuador Investor Visa: $48,200

Ecuador’s Inversionista visa requires an investment of $48,200 in bank deposits, real estate, or passive equity in local companies. The initial permit is valid for two years. After two years, you can apply for permanent status. Citizenship follows after another two years. Ecuador permits dual citizenship. There is no minimum presence requirement, but to get permanent residency or citizenship, absences cannot exceed 180 days per year.

Egypt Residence by Investment: $50,000

Egypt offers renewable residence permits to foreigners who acquire real estate or make a term deposit in a state-owned bank for at least $50,000 for a one-year permit through either route. The permit is renewable indefinitely if the investment is maintained. No physical presence is required. The program offers no path to permanent residency or citizenship.

Azerbaijan Investor Residence: $58,800

Azerbaijan’s investor residence program grants residence to foreigners who invest at least approximately $58,800 in real estate, a bank term deposit, or government securities. Physical presence is not required, but citizenship is possible after five years of continuous residence. Azerbaijan does not permit dual citizenship.

Latvia Golden Visa: $64,500

Latvia’s golden visa offers the cheapest path to EU residence through passive investment: €50,000 equity in a Latvian company with up to 50 employees and under €10 million in annual turnover, plus a mandatory €10,000 state duty upon approval, bringing the total to $64,500 including fees. The company must pay at least €40,000 in corporate taxes annually to maintain the permit, so the enterprise needs to be operational and profitable. The permit is valid for five years and requires that you enter Latvia at least once every 12 months. Permanent residency is available after five years. Citizenship follows after ten years total. Latvia allows dual citizenship to citizens of NATO states, including the US and Canada.

Philippines SIRV and FIV: $75,000

The Philippines offers two passive investor residence programs at the same $75,000 threshold. The Special Investor’s Residence Visa (SIRV) requires a $75,000 investment in securities listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange. The Foreign Investor Visa (FIV) accepts a broader range of qualifying investments. Both grant permanent residency. Physical presence is not required. Citizenship is available after ten years of continuous residence. The Philippines permits dual citizenship.

Sri Lanka Investor Visas: $75,000

Sri Lanka’s cheapest residence permit is $75,000 invested in a condo outside city centres, or in public equities, both of which grant a five-year visa. Physical presence is not required. Sri Lanka only offers permanent residency under the bank deposit-to-investment scheme, which requires a $200,000 deposit followed by conversion into an approved investment project within two years. This is the only route that leads to citizenship, available after five years. Sri Lanka allows dual citizenship.

Cape Verde Green Card: $94,000

Cape Verde offers permanent residency through real estate investment starting at approximately $94,000 in areas with below-average GDP per capita. (In wealthier areas, the minimum rises to €120,000.) Physical presence is not required, but after five years of habitual residence, you can apply for citizenship. Cape Verde permits dual citizenship.

Cambodia My 2nd Home: $100,000

Cambodia’s M2H program grants a ten-year renewable visa to applicants who invest at least $100,000 in real estate projects. No physical presence is required. After maintaining the investment for five years, holders become eligible for Cambodian citizenship. Cambodia permits dual citizenship.

If you’re looking for a “Break Glass in Emergency” residency abroad, these countries can help you achieve it. So can I: Drop me a line and let’s discuss your goals and how you can achieve them.