Residence planning

Retirement visas and pensioner residence

Choosing a retirement destination involves more than a headline income threshold. Use this directory to compare residence routes, then build a household budget that includes healthcare, housing and the treatment of each pension.

Guide reviewed 2026-10-08 · Programme snapshots shown individually below

Separate each source of retirement income

List state pensions, occupational pensions, private annuities, investment withdrawals and rental income separately. Ask the authority which documents demonstrate qualifying income and whether it must be regular, guaranteed or transferred locally. A bank balance and a pension payment may not be treated the same way by an application process.

Plan for the whole household

Check the age rules, dependant rules and health-insurance requirements for everyone moving. Compare local access to care with the coverage you can keep from your current country. Budget for translations, medical documentation and renewal appointments as well as government fees.

Review pensions before moving

Get a separate assessment of how each pension and any lump sum would be treated in the departure country and destination, including the relevant treaty. The ordinary income-tax rate in a country profile cannot determine the treatment of every pension. Keep a record of the advice and the assumptions used.

Explore programmes by country

40 directory entries across 37 countries. Closed routes, placeholder records and entries without a recorded official source are excluded. A listing does not confirm current availability or eligibility; follow the official source in each profile.

Albania →

Argentina →

Aruba →

Bahrain →

Barbados →

Belize →

Botswana →

Brazil →

Bulgaria →

Cambodia →

Colombia →

Costa Rica →

Dominican Rep. →

Ecuador →

El Salvador →

Fiji →

Guatemala →

Honduras →

Indonesia →

Laos →

Malawi →

Malaysia →

Malta →

Mauritius →

Mexico →

New Zealand →

Nicaragua →

Oman →

Panama →

Philippines →

South Africa →

Sri Lanka →

Switzerland →

Tanzania →

Thailand →

United Arab Emirates →

Zambia →

Common questions

Can I work on a retirement permit?

Check the individual programme’s work conditions before accepting employment or continuing a business. Retirement routes should not be assumed to include work rights.

Is the cheapest visa the cheapest retirement destination?

Application fees are only one part of the cost. Compare healthcare, housing, ongoing income requirements, tax and renewal costs for your household.

Sources and scope

General planning information, not personalised tax, immigration or investment advice. The programme directory reflects recorded snapshots; the guide review date does not mean every programme has been reverified.

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