Compare 44 countries · 69 programs
World CitizenVisa and citizenship rankings by value, cost and speed
The rankings
Visa and citizenship rankings in three lists
Explore programs with verified comparisons. Open any program for the eligibility rules, fees and sources we’ve checked.
- 1Costa RicaStay for Remote Workers and Service Providers15 days
- 2United KingdomGlobal Talent Visa21 days
- 3United KingdomInnovator Founder Visa21 days
- 4SingaporeOverseas Networks & Expertise Pass28 days
- 5EstoniaDigital Nomad Long-stay Visa30 days
- 6HungaryWhite Card30 days
- 7SingaporeEntrePass42 days
- 8GreeceGolden Visa — Listed Property Restoration2 months
- 9NetherlandsStart-up Residence Permit3 months
- 10ItalyDigital Nomad Visa — Self-employed4 months
How the visa and citizenship rankings work
Value: what the status is worth
A score out of 100 from six weighted parts: how far the passport you can end up with takes you, how soon you can naturalise, the right to work, bring family and use public healthcare, the stay rule, tax on foreign income, and recent rule changes.
Value rankingCost: what you pay and do not get back
Five years of government fees, non-refundable contributions, due diligence, compulsory extras and renewals for one applicant, in US dollars. Property or fund investments you can recover are shown beside it, not added in.
Cost rankingSpeed: how long until a decision
The processing time the government publishes. Where it publishes none, the median of reported cases is used and the row says so. Years to permanent residence and citizenship are shown as tags on every row.
Speed rankingRead the full rules, weights and data sources on the methodology page. Figures last reviewed 2026-11-15.
Who the visa and citizenship rankings are for
Useful if you
- work remotely and want a country that lets you stay a year or more legally
- want a second residency or passport as a plan B and need to compare cost and time
- have a parent or grandparent from another country and want to know what descent can give you
- are retiring abroad on a pension or savings and need the income threshold
Not the right tool if you
- need a tourist visa for a short trip
- are applying for asylum or refugee protection: contact UNHCR or a legal aid service
- need advice on your personal case: speak to a licensed immigration lawyer
Visa and citizenship rankings: FAQ
What do the visa and citizenship rankings compare?
Each row is one official program in one country: a digital nomad visa, a golden visa, a citizenship by investment program, a retirement visa, a startup visa or citizenship by descent. The value ranking scores what the status gives you, the cost ranking adds up what you pay and do not get back over five years, and the speed ranking shows how long the government takes to decide.
How is the value score calculated?
Six parts, weighted out of 100: passport reach 25, path to citizenship 25, rights to work, family and public healthcare 20, how little time you must spend there 15, tax on foreign income 10 and recent rule changes 5. A program is ranked only when checked facts cover at least 70% of the weight. The methodology page shows every formula.
Why does the cost ranking leave out property and fund investments?
Money you invest in property, a fund or a bank deposit can come back when you sell or withdraw it, so it is listed beside the cost as "invested" instead of inside it. The five-year cost counts government fees, non-refundable contributions, due diligence, compulsory extras and renewals for one applicant.
Where do the figures come from?
From the government page or law for each program wherever one exists. When only a law firm or news report gives a figure, the program page shows that, and processing times taken from reported cases are flagged in the speed ranking. Every program page lists its sources and the date each figure was checked.
Is this legal or immigration advice?
No. Rules, fees and processing times change, sometimes with little notice. Use the rankings to shortlist programs, then confirm the current rules on the official page linked from each program before you apply or pay anyone.
Can I compare two countries directly?
Yes. Pick two countries in the box at the top or on the compare page. For each program type, you see both countries side by side with the better value score, five-year cost and decision time marked.