Visas That Lead to Permanent Residency: Where to Start a New Life in 2025

Moving abroad isn’t just a change of address. It means choosing a country, a legal status, and a visa that lets you stay not just a year or two, but for the long term.

These days, more countries are promoting routes that may lead to permanent residency — from digital‑nomad permits to Golden Visa–style investments.

Temporary vs. Permanent Residency: What “Life Without an Expiration Date” Really Means

These two statuses are often confused, though the difference between them is fundamental — and understanding this difference determines your relocation strategy.

A temporary residence permit is usually issued for 1–2 years. When it expires, it must be renewed: gathering documents, undergoing checks on income and insurance, confirming housing and the basis for residence. A temporary residence gives you the ability to live, work or study, but the status remains dependent — on an employer, studies, marriage or another visa category. In some countries, a temporary residence can be renewed indefinitely, but it does not guarantee an automatic transition to permanent residency.

A permanent residence permit is the next step. It is typically issued for 5 years with the option of renewal without having to go through the entire procedure again — it is enough to notify the immigration authorities and replace the resident card. After two periods of permanent residence, in many countries you can apply for citizenship.

Advantages of permanent residency:

• More social benefits — access to public healthcare, education, and benefits nearly on par with citizens.
  
  

• Independence of status — permanent residency isn’t tied to an employer, studies or marriage, which gives freedom of choice.
  
  

• Simplified renewal — no need to collect the full set of documents again.
  
  

• More stability — the right to live in the country without time limits or the need to maintain a specific basis for your stay.
  
  

Note that you can often get loans and buy real estate even with temporary residency (and in some countries even with a regular visa), but it is permanent residence permit that gives long-term confidence: you become a full-fledged resident, protected by the country’s laws and social guarantees.

 

Visas That Open the Path to Permanent Residency

The path to permanent residency starts with choosing the right basis for entry. In different countries, programs have different names, but the principle is the same — you must show a clear benefit to the host country — e.g., you work, invest, study, reunite with family, or run a legitimate business.

The main types of visas that in most countries can become the first step toward permanent residency:

Visas for Remote Workers and Freelancers

Programs for specialists working online have appeared in many countries around the world. Their goal is to attract financially self-sufficient professionals who bring income into the country without taking local jobs. The requirements usually include:

• Confirmed stable income of $2,000–4,000 per month;
  
  

• Having valid health insurance and rented housing;
  
  

• No local employment contract (you work for clients/employers outside the country).

Such visas are often issued for 1–2 years with the possibility of extension and a subsequent transition to a residence permit, and then to permanent residency.

Examples:

• Portugal — Digital Nomad Visa: Issued for 1 year with the possibility of extension up to 5 years. After that, you can apply for permanent residency provided you have resided at least 183 days each year in the country and are a tax resident.
  
  

• Spain — Digital Nomad Visa: An initial residence permit for 1 year, with an extension for another 2 years, and after 5 years — the possibility of permanent residency.
  
  

• Greece — Digital Nomad Residence Permit: Grants a residence permit for up to 2 years, but not in all cases does it allow a transition to permanent status — it’s important to clarify specific regional conditions.
  
  

Investment Visas

These are programs for those ready to invest funds into the host country’s economy — in real estate, business, or government funds. The required investment amount ranges from $100,000 to $1 million depending on the country.

Main advantages:

• The opportunity to immediately obtain a residence permit for the whole family.
  
  

• A simplified path to permanent residency in 3–7 years.
  
  

• Tax incentives and often no requirements on physical presence in the country.
  
  

Investment visas remain one of the most direct paths to long-term status.

Examples:

• Greece — Golden Visa: Purchase of real estate from €250,000, a residence permit with renewal rights, and application for permanent residency after 7 years.
  
  

• Portugal — Golden Visa (new format): Investment from €250,000 in funds or culture, path to PR after 5 years with a minimum stay of 7 days per year.
  
  

• UAE — Golden Visa: Investment from 2 million AED (~$545,000), long-term residency for 10 years with the possibility of renewal, effectively an analog of permanent residency.
  
  

Family Visas

If you have a spouse, children, or close relatives living abroad, a family visa allows you to reunite and legally live together. It is issued on the basis of marriage, the birth of a child, or confirmed kinship.

In most countries, family visas grant the right to work, access to health insurance, and a subsequent transition to permanent residency after a few years of living together. This path is especially popular for those planning to emigrate without large financial investments.

Examples:

• Germany: A spouse of a citizen or permanent resident receives a residence permit for 3 years, after which they can obtain PR upon proof of living together and integration.
  
  

• Canada: The Family Sponsorship program offers immediate permanent resident status for spouses and children.
  
  

• France: After 3 years on a family residence permit, you can apply for a “Carte de résident” (equivalent to permanent residence permit).

 

Study Visas

A student visa is not just an opportunity to get an education, but a real tool for building a long-term future. In many countries, graduates get the right to stay for a few years after graduation to work in their field and obtain a residence permit. After that, the path is standard: official employment, paying taxes, integration — and after a few years you can apply for permanent residency.

Examples:

• Canada: After graduating from a university, you can obtain a work permit for 3 years, and then apply for permanent residence permit through Express Entry.
  
  

• Germany: Graduates may receive up to 18 months to seek qualified employment and transition to a work residence permit, and then permanent residence permit after 5 years.
  
  

• Australia: Graduates can obtain a Graduate Visa and later apply for permanent residence permit through the Skilled Independent program.
  
  

Work Visas and Talent Programs

One of the most reliable ways to emigrate is by obtaining a work visa. Every country is interested in qualified specialists: engineers, IT developers, doctors, scientists, teachers.

For such candidates, simplified programs are in place where the main requirement is to confirm professional skills, a diploma, and having a contract with an employer. Steady employment and a tax history become the foundation for transitioning to a residence permit, and after a few years — to permanent residency.

Examples:

• Germany — EU Blue Card: Allows obtaining permanent residency after 33 months (or 21 months with B1 language proficiency).
  
  

• Canada — Express Entry: Obtaining permanent status through a points system, often without an intermediate residence permit.
  
  

• Australia — Skilled Independent Visa: A points-based program, with a path to permanent residency in about 4 years.
  
  

Business Visas and Entrepreneurial Programs

This type of visa is suitable for those who want to launch their own business or startup abroad. Conditions differ across countries, but the essence is the same: the government is willing to provide long-term status to those who create jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to the economy.

What business visas provide:

• The right to open or buy a company.
  
  

• The ability to legally reside in the country with your family.
  
  

• The chance to move from a temporary residence permit to permanent residency after a few years of running a business.
  
  

Usually you are required to prove the availability of funds to launch the project and provide a basic business plan. In some countries (for example, Canada, the UK, France) there are separate startup visas — they focus on innovative ideas rather than just capital. The main condition is the potential benefit to the economy and support from an accredited incubator or investor.

Examples:

• Canada — Start-up Visa: For entrepreneurs with innovative ideas backed by a venture fund or accelerator. Grants immediate permanent resident status.
  
  

• UK — Innovator Founder Visa: For startups with an approved business plan, offers an option for permanent residency after 3 years.
  
  

• France — French Tech Visa: For IT entrepreneurs and investors, a simplified residence permit with transition to permanent residency after 5 years.
  
  

• Netherlands and New Zealand — Entrepreneur Visa: Requires proof of business activity and job creation.
  
  

• UAE — Golden Visa (Business Investment): 10-year residency not tied to an employer.
  
  

Business visas are not only a path to permanent residency, but also an opportunity to start from scratch in a new environment, retaining control over your business while obtaining resident status.

Important: Not every program leads to permanent residency. In some countries, visas only grant a temporary right to stay without extension — for example, Croatia issues a digital nomad visa for one year with no renewal, which breaks the continuity of residence. 

Typical Mistakes When Choosing a Country for Permanent Residency

Many applicants waste time and money not because of the paperwork, but due to choosing the wrong destination. Below are three common mistakes that hinder obtaining long-term status.

1. Focusing only on the climate and the Instagram picture.
   A country may look perfect for vacation, but be difficult for legalization. In many popular tourist destinations, there are no programs leading to permanent residency, or significant investments are required. In addition, you should consider family circumstances: although most visas allow reunification, there are programs where bringing a spouse or children is much more difficult — especially in the early stages of obtaining status. Therefore, it’s important to research not only the economic but also the social conditions of living in a country in advance.
   
   

2. Ignoring the tax system and residency rules.
   Obtaining a temporary or permanent residence permit automatically makes you a tax resident, which means you have obligations to declare your income. Different countries have different tax rates, benefits, and requirements for proving sources of funds. A mistake at this stage can lead to a refusal or fines.
   
   

3. Underestimating the actual timeline of legalization.
   Obtaining permanent residency is not a quick process. In most countries, the path from the first visa to permanent status takes from 3 to 7 years, sometimes longer. At each stage, you are required to confirm income, accommodation, language proficiency, and a clean record. A common mistake applicants make is expecting to get permanent residency “in a year or two,” not accounting for bureaucratic timelines, residency requirements, and waiting periods between applications. Before choosing a country, it’s important to understand how long you are ready to “commit” to the legalization process and whether you can maintain your status throughout all those years.
   
   

How to Choose a Country and Visa that Suit You

The main thing is not to look for the “best” visa, but to find one that matches your goals and resources. The algorithm is simple:

• Goal. Why are you moving — work, study, investments, family?
  
  

• Budget. How much are you ready to invest in the first year for the application process and living expenses?
  
  

• Term. How long do you plan to stay?
  
  

• Prospects. Which country provides a clear path from a temporary status to permanent residency?
  
  

If it’s difficult to sort out all the nuances, the experts at Terrana will select a program tailored to your situation and help prepare the documents without errors.

A New Life Begins with One Decision

Each visa is not just a stamp in your passport, but an opportunity to start a new chapter of life from scratch. The year 2025 offers many options for those who are ready to move forward: study, work, invest, travel.

And to choose the right path to permanent residency and avoid mistakes, you only need to take the first step — contact Terrana. A new life abroad begins not with the move, but with a conscious decision to start acting.