Ranked
Countries where Americans can get residency without a job offer
Ranked by how many published residence routes a US citizen can start without an employer sponsoring them.
All 15 countries on this site are ranked. The measure: Documented routes that do not require a job offer from a local employer. Reviewed September 4, 2026.
Thailand leads on this measure at 8 of 9. 0 of them can lead to permanent residence. Read the Thailand guide for the figures behind it and the source beside each one.
| # | Country | Open routes | Centre rent | Net salary | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand | 8 of 9 | $475 | $485 | 0 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 2 | Portugal | 7 of 8 | $1,200 | $2,077 | 6 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 3 | Australia | 6 of 8 | $1,675 | $4,996 | 4 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 4 | Ireland | 6 of 8 | $2,263 | $4,059 | 2 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 5 | Italy | 6 of 7 | $1,200 | $2,690 | 5 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 6 | the UK | 6 of 7 | $2,370 | $3,566 | 3 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 7 | Canada | 5 of 6 | $1,433 | $3,210 | 3 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 8 | Japan | 5 of 6 | $1,280 | $1,985 | 3 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 9 | Mexico | 5 of 6 | $765 | $1,010 | 3 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 10 | the Netherlands | 5 of 7 | $1,640 | $3,950 | 2 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 11 | New Zealand | 5 of 8 | $1,112 | $3,392 | 2 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 12 | Norway | 5 of 6 | $1,642 | $4,912 | 2 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 13 | Spain | 5 of 6 | $1,390 | $2,620 | 4 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 14 | Germany | 4 of 6 | $645 | $3,400 | 2 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
| 15 | Sweden | 4 of 6 | $1,206 | $3,475 | 2 of them can lead to permanent residence. |
What this ranking does not settle
Not needing an employer is not the same as being easy. Most of these routes ask for proof of income, savings or an investment instead, and the thresholds are on each country’s visa page.
Nothing on this page is a new figure. Each one is taken from that country's guide, where it sits beside the official source it came from and the date that source was read. If a number here matters to a decision, follow it through to the country page and check the source yourself.
Straight to a country
- Moving to Thailand · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Portugal · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Australia · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Ireland · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Italy · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to the UK · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Canada · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Japan · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Mexico · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to the Netherlands · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to New Zealand · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Norway · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Spain · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Germany · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Sweden · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
The other rankings
- The cheapest countries to move to from the US — Overall price level including rent, US national average = 100
- Digital nomad visas for Americans, compared — A published residence route of type "digital nomad"
- The best countries to retire to on a US income — A published retirement route, ordered by overall price level (US = 100)
- What healthcare costs Americans abroad, country by country — Typical monthly private insurance premium, US dollars
- Every country, compared — the full table, all measures at once
- Cost of living calculator — put your own take-home pay through it
Top of this ranking
The three countries this list opens on, with the full guide behind each.
