Methodology & data sources

Transparency is the core of our E-E-A-T. This page documents where the data for our 49 country profiles comes from, how we verify it, and the important limits of every figure.

How each country is researched

• Primary source first. Every profile starts from the country's own official government immigration page (the immigration ministry, consulate, or the official program portal). That page is linked on each country page and named in the "data quality" note.
• Cross-checked. Each figure is checked against at least one reputable second source (an official consulate page, a global immigration law firm such as Fragomen, or an established relocation/tax resource).
• No fabrication. Where a value cannot be verified — a fee, a processing time, a family rule — we write "N/A" and say why, rather than guess. Income thresholds and fees are never invented.
• Discontinued programs excluded. Programs that have closed (Antigua's Nomad Digital Residence, the Cayman Global Citizen Concierge Programme, Bermuda's Work From Bermuda) are left out, even though aggregators still list some of them.

What the figures mean (and their limits)

• Income requirements are moving targets. Several are set as a multiple of the local minimum or average wage (Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Colombia, Ecuador, Romania, Latvia, Montenegro) and are recalculated each year, so the exact number drifts.
• USD/month is an approximation. Where a country sets its bar in local currency, we add an approximate USD/month figure used only for ranking and the eligibility checker. The authoritative figure is the local-currency one on the official page.
• Gross vs net varies. Some countries specify gross income, some net. We note it where the official source is clear; when in doubt, prove the higher figure and confirm with the consulate.
• Tax notes are general. The tax field is the most volatile and personal. It is general information, not tax advice — actual liability depends on tax residency (usually 183+ days), where income arises, citizenship and treaties.

Data sources

Figures are a dated snapshot as of June 2026. The official source for each country is linked on its page.

The eligibility checker & rankings

The eligibility checker compares your monthly income to each visa's approximate USD/month income threshold; visas with no monthly income test always appear. The rankings (lowest income, cheapest fee, longest stay) are transparent calculations over the same data — the "approx max stay" and fee tiers are parsed conservatively from each country's stated rules and are for sorting only, never a guarantee.

Limitations

Visa rules change frequently and vary by nationality and consulate. Figures may lag the underlying source or contain errors. Always verify against the official government source before relying on them, and treat nothing here as legal, immigration or tax advice. See our disclaimer.