Clear, current guides to the visa programmes that make retirement abroad possible. Written for Indians, not Americans.
Visa programmes for retirees are more varied and nuanced than most guides suggest. The right one depends on your income structure, your assets, how much time you want to spend in the country, whether citizenship eventually matters, and what you're prepared to invest. Here's a clear breakdown of what's actually available to Indians.
The most underrated retirement visa available to Indians. There's no investment requirement. You need to show stable passive income, roughly EU1,040 per month for a single applicant, more for a couple. That covers pension, rental income, dividends, interest income. The visa is renewable and leads to permanent residency after 5 years, then citizenship. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 months from application. It's slow. But the result is EU residency for essentially the cost of your normal income.
The NHR tax regime was abolished for new residents from January 2024. A new regime called IFICI exists but applies to specific professional categories, not general retirees. For Indians with large Indian portfolios, the post-NHR picture's significant. Talk to a tax advisor who understands both India and Portugal before assuming what applies.
Investment-based residency. Currently the qualifying route is EU500K in approved investment funds (direct real estate in Lisbon and Porto is no longer eligible since 2023). You get residency with a minimum stay requirement of just 7 days per year, which suits those who want the option without the commitment. Leads to citizenship in 5 years. Processing: 6 to 18 months. The backlog is real.
For retirees who don't need to work and can show sufficient income. The threshold is roughly EU2,400 per month for the principal applicant. No investment required. Leads to permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 10. Needs to be renewed annually for the first few years. Processing is typically 2 to 4 months from the Spanish consulate in India.
Introduced in 2022, the LTR Wealthy Pensioner category requires a minimum pension or passive income of USD 80,000 per year, or USD 40,000 with a USD 250,000 investment in Thai government bonds or real estate. Valid for 10 years, renewable. No path to citizenship. But for those who want a high-quality, tax-efficient base in Southeast Asia, this is a serious option. Processing is 30 to 60 days from the Board of Investment.
Malaysia's MM2H was restructured into four categories. The offshore income requirement has been abolished. Current fixed deposit requirements (USD-denominated): Silver (5-year pass) USD 150,000, Gold (15 years) USD 500,000, Platinum (20 years) USD 1,000,000. SEZ/SFZ zones have lower thresholds. No path to citizenship under any category. These figures change - verify at motac.gov.my before applying.
The UAE Retirement Visa is available to those who are 55 or older and can meet one of three conditions: property worth AED 2 million, financial savings of AED 1 million, or a monthly income of AED 20,000 from a pension. Valid for 5 years and renewable indefinitely as long as the conditions are maintained. No path to citizenship. Proximity to India is its primary advantage.
Greece raised its Golden Visa thresholds in 2024. The current minimum is EUR 400,000 in most areas and EUR 800,000 in high-demand zones including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini. The old EUR 250K threshold no longer applies for most buyers. No minimum stay requirement. Leads to permanent residency. Citizenship eligibility after 7 years of actual residence. Flat 7% tax on foreign income for 15 years available separately. Processing 3 to 5 months.
Use the Golden Visa Matrix on our homepage to compare options side by side. Or get in touch and we'll help you find the right match for your situation.
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