17 popular expat destinations: retirement visas, digital nomad options, PR routes and healthcare entitlement for UK nationals.
| Country | Retirement / Passive income visa | Digital nomad visa | Min. income / asset requirement | Route to PR / citizenship | NHS / state healthcare | Visa fee (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Available D7 Passive Income Visa |
Available Digital Nomad Visa (NHR2.0) |
€760/mo passive income (D7). €3,040/mo (nomad) | PR after 5 years. Citizenship at 5 years (residency required) | SNS (state) after registration. S1 accepted for UK pensioners | ~€538 (D7 application) |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Available Non-Lucrative Residence Visa |
Available Digital Nomad Visa (Startup Act) |
NLV: €2,400/mo. DNV: €2,646/mo (200% SMI) | PR after 5 years. Citizenship: 10 years (2 for some nationalities) | State healthcare after registration (empadronamiento). S1 accepted. | ~€80–120 (visa) + NIE fee |
| 🇫🇷 France | Available Long-stay visitor visa (VLS-T) |
No No specific DNV; use auto-entrepreneur |
Self-sufficiency required. No set minimum (embassy discretion) | PR (CTS) after 5 years. Citizenship: 5 years | CPAM healthcare after 3 months established residence. S1 accepted. | ~€99 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Available Elective Residence Visa |
Available Digital Nomad Visa (2024 launch) |
Elective: €31,000/yr pension/passive. DNV: €28,000/yr | PR (permesso di soggiorno) after 5 years. Citizenship: 10 years | SSN (state) after registration. Private top-up common in south Italy. | ~€116 (permesso fee) |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Available Golden Visa (investment); Retiree Income Transfer |
Available Digital Nomad Visa |
DNV: €3,500/mo. Golden Visa: €250k–500k property investment | PR after 5 years. Citizenship: 7 years | EOPYY (state) after contribution period. Private insurance recommended initially. | ~€150–500 (visa type) |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Available Category F (retired/non-working) |
Available Digital Nomad Visa |
Cat F: €2,000/mo provable income. DNV: €3,500/mo | PR after 5 years. Citizenship: 7 years (residency) | GESY (state) for residents contributing. Expat private insurance common. | ~€70 |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | Available Global Residence Programme (GRP) |
No No specific DNV |
GRP: €100k property purchase or €75k rent/yr. Min. €15k remittance | PR after 5 years. Citizenship: 1-year investment (Malta Individual Investor Programme — review ongoing) | State healthcare for residents. Private supplement common. | €6,000 (GRP application fee) |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Available Non-Immigrant O-A (retirement) |
Available LTR Visa (Long-Term Resident) |
O-A: THB 800k in Thai bank or THB 65k/mo pension. LTR: $80k/yr income | No PR route for most nationalities. 10-year LTR visa available for qualifying income. | No state entitlement for foreigners. Private health insurance mandatory for O-A visa. | THB 2,000–10,000 (~£45–230) |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Limited MM2H (My Second Home) — paused |
Available DE Rantau (Digital Nomad) Visa |
MM2H: RM40,000/mo offshore income + RM1.5M liquid assets. DE Rantau: RM24,000+/yr | PR possible after long-term residence but very restrictive. No direct citizenship route for expats. | No state entitlement. Private health insurance essential. | RM5,000 (MM2H); RM1,000 (DE Rantau) |
| 🇦🇪 UAE / Dubai | Available Golden Visa (5yr or 10yr); Retirement Visa |
Available Freelancer/Remote Worker Visa |
Golden Visa: AED 2M investment or property. Retirement Visa: 55+ with AED 1M+ savings/pension or property | No standard PR or citizenship route. Visas renewable indefinitely. | No state healthcare for residents. Private insurance mandatory (employer-sponsored or self-purchased). | AED 2,800–3,500 (~£600–750) |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | Available Pensionado Visa (excellent benefits) |
Available Short-Stay/Tourist visa; no specific DNV |
Pensionado: $1,000/mo pension income. Friendly Nations Visa: bank account + employment | PR (Pensionado is permanent). Citizenship: 5 years with PR | Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) for contributors. Private insurance strongly recommended for expats. | $250–350 (Pensionado application) |
| 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Available Pensionado + Rentista visas |
No No specific DNV; 90-day tourist allowed for nomads |
Pensionado: $1,000/mo pension. Rentista: $2,500/mo stable income for 2+ years | PR after 3 years. Citizenship: 7 years | CCSS (Caja) for registered residents. Good hospitals in San José. Private supplement recommended. | ~$200 (application) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Available Retirement Annuity Visa |
No No specific DNV; permit required |
R37,000/mo provable income (pension/investments/net worth) | PR after 5 years. Citizenship: 10 years (minimum) | State hospitals available. Private medical aid (Discovery, Momentum) essential for quality care. | R1,520 (~£65) |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | Available Retired Non-Citizen Permit; Premium Visa |
Available Premium Visa (short-stay, renewable) |
Premium Visa: $2,000/mo bank statement. Retired Non-Citizen: $1,500/mo | PR (Occupation Permit or Residency Permit) after 3 years. Citizenship: 15+ years | State healthcare available but limited. Private clinics recommended. | $100–500 (~£80–400) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Available Contributory Parent 143; Investor Retirement 405 (closed); 400-series |
No No DNV. Working Holiday Maker 417 (under 30) |
143 Visa: A$690,000–755,000 contribution. Requires an Australian sponsor (child/partner) | PR with 143 visa. Citizenship: 4 years after PR (1yr continuous) | Medicare (state): available for permanent residents and some temporary visa holders. UK-Australia reciprocal healthcare agreement. | A$47,000–50,000 (143 Visa — most expensive visa in the world) |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | No No specific retirement visa; Aufenthaltserlaubnis for sufficient income |
Available Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler) |
No fixed minimum; embassy requires proof of sufficient income/savings to not become a public charge | PR (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 5 years. Citizenship: 5 years (recent reform) | Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (state) for registered residents. Excellent quality. | ~€100 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | No No retirement visa. Employment Pass / Global Investor Programme only |
No No specific DNV |
Global Investor Programme: S$2.5M investment. Employment Pass: S$5,000+/mo salary | PR via Employment Pass or GIP. Citizenship: 2 years after PR | Subsidised state hospitals for PRs. No state entitlement for tourists/short-term pass holders. | Varies by visa type |
€760/mo (individual)
+€380/mo per dependent
Apply at Portuguese consulate in UK. Requires proof of income, clean criminal record, accommodation proof, health insurance for first year
SNS (state) after registration + NHR tax status application at Finanças. S1 accepted for UK pensioners.
NHR 2.0: flat 20% on qualifying Portuguese income; foreign pension may be taxed in UK only (check DTA Art.17)
PR: 5 years. Citizenship: 5 years. Language test required (A2 level)
Golden Visa (investment) still exists but has changed — no longer includes Lisbon/Porto residential property
€2,400/mo (individual)
+€600/mo per dependent
Apply at Spanish consulate in UK (book well in advance — long waiting lists). Requires 3 months' bank statements, income proof, criminal record check (apostilled), health insurance
Must have comprehensive private health insurance (no public coverage for NLV holders until registered and contributing). Register for tarjeta sanitaria once resident.
Worldwide income taxed in Spain. Modelo 720 foreign asset declaration. Beckham Law (flat 24%) for qualifying workers.
PR: 5 years. Citizenship: 10 years. Spanish language test required.
NLV prohibits working (not even remote working). Apply for DNV if you earn income from work activities.
Age 50+. THB 800k in Thai bank account OR THB 65,000/mo pension/income. Health insurance mandatory (min. THB 40k outpatient, THB 400k inpatient).
Initial visa from Thai embassy in UK (O visa), then convert to O-A Retirement at Thai immigration. Annual renewal required.
No state entitlement. Private health insurance mandatory. BUPA Thailand, Cigna, AIA Thailand all offer expat plans from ~£100–300/month.
2024 rule change: foreign income remitted to Thailand in the same calendar year it was earned is now taxable. Consult a Thai tax adviser.
No PR route for most. LTR Visa (10 years) available for $80k/yr income or $250k pension fund. No citizenship route for retirees.
90-day reporting requirement (in person or via TM90 form). Multiple re-entries needed if travelling. Consider LTR if eligible — more stable, fewer hoops.
$1,000/mo from pension (government or employer). Must be a lifetime pension — drawdown does not qualify. Documents apostilled and notarised.
Exceptional discounts: 20–50% off restaurants, hotels, entertainment, transportation, healthcare, and even 15% off hospital bills. Permanent residency immediately.
Private hospitals (Punta Pacifica, Hospitál Nacional) are excellent and affordable vs UK private. Medical tourism hub. No state entitlement for foreign residents.
No DTA with UK. Territorial: UK pension, rental, ISA income = 0% Panama tax. UK still taxes at source under UK rules.
Pensionado Visa = permanent residency immediately. Citizenship: 5 years, Spanish language required, must renounce UK citizenship (UK does not allow dual citizenship with Panama for naturalised citizens — verify).
English widely spoken in Panama City. Lower quality infrastructure outside capital. Currency is US dollar — no FX risk. No income tax on foreign-source income.
RM40,000/mo offshore income + RM1,500,000 liquid assets + RM1,000,000 fixed deposit in Malaysian bank. Note: requirements tightened significantly in 2021.
RM24,000/yr income from overseas clients/employer. Apply online at mdec.my. 3-month or 12-month pass available.
No state entitlement for expats. Private hospitals (IHH, KPJ network) are world-class and affordable. Medical tourism destination — dental, cardiac, orthopaedic treatments significantly cheaper than UK private.
Territorial — UK pension, ISA, rental income = 0% Malaysia tax. No CGT. No inheritance tax. Low cost of living index.
Very difficult. No standard PR route. Citizenship essentially closed to non-Malaysians by marriage. Plan for a long-term renewable visa arrangement.
MM2H was paused/revamped in 2021 and requirements became significantly stricter. Verify current status at mm2h.gov.my before planning.
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