Financially Independent Person Visa
A residence permit for foreign nationals able to support themselves from passive income or savings without taking up employment in the host country.
A financially independent person visa is a residence permit for foreign nationals who can support themselves from passive income, savings or investments and do not intend to take up employment in the host country. In several jurisdictions this status is called a 'non-lucrative' or 'passive income' visa.
The key condition is proof of stable means of subsistence for the applicant and their family; health insurance, accommodation and a clean criminal record are usually required as well. The income level or amount of savings needed, the validity period and renewal rules depend on the country and are defined by the specific programme.
The category is close to retirement and digital-nomad visas but is not tied to age or remote work: what matters is financial self-sufficiency. Long-term residence on such a visa can affect tax residency and open a route to permanent status.
“The whole idea is that you do not touch the local labour market: income must be passive and arrive from abroad. Picking up work for a local client quietly breaks the basis, and the threshold grows with each dependant.”
Levan Pogosov — LawyerFAQ
How does it differ from a digital nomad visa?
A digital nomad visa is built around active remote work or foreign clients, whereas a financially independent person visa assumes you live on passive income or savings. The evidence each route asks for differs accordingly.
What income do I have to demonstrate?
Programmes typically expect regular, documented foreign income or funds held on account, with a minimum that varies by country and rises with each dependant. Take the figures from the programme rules currently in force.
Which sources of income are accepted?
Stable receipts are usually favoured: dividends, interest, rent and pensions, and less often proceeds from asset sales. The list of eligible sources and the proof required are set by the host country.
May I work or run a business while holding this status?
Local employment is generally off limits, since the route is designed to keep you off the domestic labour market. Whether remote work for a foreign employer is permitted depends on the country.
Will the country become my tax jurisdiction?
A residence permit does not by itself make you a tax resident, but the minimum-stay conditions attached to this route often do under local rules. The tests and thresholds come from domestic law and any applicable double taxation treaty.