The Cheapest Relocation Options for Russian nationals (Visa, Citizenship, Nomad)

Every way Russian nationals can legally relocate, cheapest first. They can already live and work in 4 countries visa-free. The cheapest digital nomad visa is Albania at $883/mo. The cheapest passport open to Russian nationals is Sao Tome and Principe from $90,000. Residency by investment starts at $15,000 (Philippines).

Move freely, no visa needed $0

The strongest option of all. Under freedom-of-movement and residence agreements, Russian nationals have the outright right to live, work and run a business in these 4 countries with no visa or permit.

Country	Your right	Friendliness
Kyrgyzstan	Freedom of movement (EAEU)	72
Kazakhstan	Freedom of movement (EAEU)	67
Armenia	Freedom of movement (EAEU)	62
Belarus	Freedom of movement (EAEU)	60

EAEU citizens can work without a permit and reside across member states.

Digital nomad visas 52

Countries with a dedicated remote-work visa, cheapest income requirement first. These are open on income, not nationality, so any of Russian nationals who meets the threshold can apply. Full breakdown on the nomad visa comparison.

Country	Min income / mo	Friendliness
AlbaniaUnique Permit (Type D visa)	$883/mo	62
ColombiaDigital Nomad Visa (Visa V Nómada Digital)	$1,313/mo	56
EcuadorVisa Nómada (Temporary Residence Visa for Remote Workers - Rentista Trabajador Nómada)	$1,446/mo	55
El SalvadorVisa Digital Nómada (Digital Nomad Visa)	$1,460/mo	71
MauritiusPremium Travel Visa	$1,500/mo	74
BrazilDigital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV)	$1,500/mo	56
Cabo VerdeRemote Working Program	$1,615/mo	59
MalaysiaDE Rantau Nomad Pass	$2,000/mo	77
GeorgiaRemotely from Georgia Program (Remote Work Visa / Visa-Free Residence for Remote Workers)	$2,000/mo	75
GuatemalaResidencia Temporal para Nómadas Digitales	$2,000/mo	73
NamibiaDigital Nomad Visa	$2,000/mo	71
PhilippinesDigital Nomad Visa	$2,000/mo	58
ItalyEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Visa / Digital Nomad and Remote Worker Visa	$2,066/mo	46
SpainEU/SchengenInternational Teleworker Visa (Digital Nomad Visa, Startups Law)	$2,500/mo	47
BulgariaEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Residence Permit	$2,790/mo	62
MoldovaDigital Nomad Visa	$2,970/mo	71
PanamaShort-Stay Visa for Remote Workers	$3,000/mo	74
Costa RicaDigital Nomad Visa (Estancia de Nómada Digital)	$3,000/mo	69
TurkeyDigital Nomad Visa / Short-Term Residence	$3,000/mo	54
CzechiaEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Program (Long-Term Visa/Permit - Zaměstnání/Self-Employment)	$3,100/mo	58
South AfricaRemote Work Visitor's Visa	$3,210/mo	50
HungaryEU/SchengenWhite Card (Residence Permit for Digital Nomads)	$3,300/mo	66
TaiwanDigital Nomad Visa (or Employment Gold Card as nomad-adjacent alternative)	$3,333/mo	64
United Arab EmiratesVirtual Working Programme (Residence Visa for Working Outside UAE)	$3,500/mo	90
SloveniaEU/SchengenTemporary Residence Permit for Digital Nomads (DNV)	$3,650/mo	54
GreeceEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Visa / Digital Nomad Residence Permit	$3,800/mo	56
CyprusEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Visa	$3,815/mo	64
CroatiaEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Residence Permit (D Visa)	$3,949/mo	59
PortugalEU/SchengenD8 Digital Nomad Visa (Autorização de Residência para Atividade Profissional Remota)	$3,975/mo	50
MaltaEU/SchengenNomad Residence Permit	$4,005/mo	57
BarbadosWelcome Stamp	$4,167/mo	65
MexicoTemporary Resident Visa	$4,400/mo	58
AndorraResidència per a nòmada digital	$4,589/mo	69
LatviaEU/SchengenRemote Work Visa (Type D)	$4,834/mo	61
EstoniaEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Visa (Type D Long-Stay Visa / Visa for Teleworking)	$4,860/mo	65
IndonesiaE33G Visa (Rumah Kedua Pekerja Jarak Jauh / Second Home Visa for Remote Workers)	$5,000/mo	63
South KoreaDigital Nomad (Workcation) Visa - F-1-D	$5,500/mo	51
JapanDesignated activities (Digital Nomad)	$5,556/mo	48
RomaniaEU/SchengenDigital Nomad Visa (Long-Stay D Visa)	$6,000/mo	68
LithuaniaEU/SchengenNational Visa Type D (Remote Work)	$6,255/mo	61
IcelandEU/SchengenLong-term Visa for Remote Workers	$7,800/mo	53
The BahamasBEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay)	no set minimum	81
BhutanDigital Nomad Visa (Gelephu Mindfulness City)	no set minimum	70
SeychellesWorkcation Permit (Unofficial designation; formal permit category unclear)	no set minimum	70
MontenegroTemporary Residence Permit for Digital Nomads	no set minimum	69
ThailandDestination Thailand Visa (DTV) - Workcation Category	no set minimum	66
UruguayResidencia Provisoria - Nómadas Digitales (Provisional Residence for Digital Nomads)	no set minimum	66
KenyaClass N Permit (Digital Nomads)	no set minimum	66
Sri LankaDigital Nomad Visa	no set minimum	61
CuracaoDigital Nomad Visa (@Home in Curacao)	no set minimum	57
ArgentinaVisa Nómada Digital	no set minimum	55
ChileTemporary Residency Visa (Residencia Temporal) / Rentista Category	no set minimum	55

Citizenship by investment 7

Programs that grant a second passport and currently accept Russian nationals, cheapest route first. Programs that exclude Russian nationals are omitted. See all on the citizenship page.

Country	Program	From
Sao Tome and Principe	Sao Tome and Principe Citizenship by Investment	$90,000
North Macedonia	Naturalisation in the economic interest of the Republic (marketed as CBI)contested	$216,000
Antigua and Barbuda	Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP)contested	$230,000
Egypt	Egyptian Citizenship in Exchange for Investment	$250,000
Turkey	Turkish Citizenship by Investment (Law 5901 Art.12; Reg. Art.20)	$400,000
Jordan	Investor Citizenship Program (restructured Jul 2025)	$705,000
Cambodia	Khmer nationality by investment/donation (Law on Nationality + Sub-Decree 225)	$1M

Golden visas: residency by investment 59

Residency (not a passport) in exchange for an investment, open to Russian nationals, cheapest first. See all on the golden visa page.

Country	Program	From
Philippines	Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) & SRRV retiree visa	$15,000
Nicaragua	Investor Residency	$30,000
Egypt	Residency by Investment (real estate / deposit)	$35,000
Colombia	Migrant (M) Investor Visa	$44,000
Cambodia	My Second Home (CM2H)	$50,000
Mauritius	Occupation/Residence Permit by Investment	$50,000
LatviaEU/Schengen	Residence Permit by Investment	$54,500
SlovakiaEU/Schengen	PR by Real Estate / Business Investment	$55,000
Guatemala	Investor Visa	$60,000
Paraguay	Permanent Residency for Investors (SUACE / Investor Pass)	$70,000
Mexico	Residency by Economic Solvency / Investment	$74,000
Cape Verde	Residency by Property Investment	$88,000
Brazil	VIPER Investor Permanent Residence	$92,000
Costa Rica	Investor Residency (Inversionista)	$100,000
Kenya	Class G Investor Permit	$100,000
Rwanda	Investor Permit / Citizenship by Investment	$100,000
Azerbaijan	Residence by Investment	$120,000
Vietnam	Vietnam Golden Visa (proposed)pending	$120,000
United Arab Emirates	UAE Golden Residency (Golden Visa)	$136,000
Malaysia	Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)	$150,000
Anguilla	Anguilla Residency by Investment (ARBI)	$150,000
Montserrat	Permit of Economic Residence	$150,000
Montenegro	Temporary Residence by Property Ownership	$163,000
Japan	Business Manager Visa	$187,000
Panama	Qualified Investor Visa + Friendly Nations Visa	$200,000
PortugalEU/Schengen	Residency Permit for Investment Activity (ARI / Golden Visa)	$220,000
Namibia	Investor work/residence permits (no formal golden visa)contested	$225,000
Thailand	Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa	$250,000
Palau	Palau Economic Investment Program	$250,000
Isle of Man	Innovator Founder Visa (Tier 1 Investor suspended)	$255,000
Guernsey	Investor / Entrepreneur Residency	$260,000
South Africa	Financially Independent Permit / Business Visa	$281,000
South Korea	Investment Residency (F-2, Public Business / Real Estate)	$300,000
Kazakhstan	Kazakhstan Golden Visa (10-year investment residency)	$300,000
CyprusEU/Schengen	Immigration Permit for Investors (PR by investment)	$327,000
Bahrain	Golden Residency Visa	$345,000
Indonesia	Golden Visa (Visa Emas)	$350,000
RomaniaEU/Schengen	Romania Golden Visa (proposed)pending	$435,000
SwitzerlandEU/Schengen	Residence via Lump-Sum Taxation (forfait fiscal)	$490,000
Chile	Chile Investor Visa	$500,000
Oman	Investor Residency (10-year Golden Residency)	$520,000
Uruguay	Legal residence + investment tax-residency routes	$525,000
LuxembourgEU/Schengen	Residence Permit for Investors	$545,000
Monaco	Residence Permit (means-based)	$545,000
San Marino	Economic Residence by Investment	$545,000
BulgariaEU/Schengen	Bulgaria Golden Visa (fund investment)	$560,000
Cayman Islands	Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means / Permanent Residence	$640,000
Kuwait	Investor Residency (10/15-year)	$650,000
United States	EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program	$800,000
Canada	Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (federal IIP terminated 2014)	$880,000
Seychelles	Investor Permanent Residence (no conventional golden visa)contested	$1M
Bahamas	Economic Permanent Residence (real estate)	$1M
Saudi Arabia	Premium Residency	$1.1M
Jersey	High Value Residency	$2.2M
Bermuda	Economic Investment Certificate + Residential Certificate	$2.5M
New Zealand	Active Investor Plus Visa	$3M
CzechiaEU/Schengen	Czech Investment Visa	$3.3M
Hong Kong	New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)	$3.9M
Singapore	Global Investor Programme (GIP)	$7.4M

Visa-free tourism 51

Where a Russian passport gets you in visa-free, grouped by how long you can stay. Useful for scouting a base before you commit to a longer route above.

180 days or more 3

Country	Visa-free stay	Friendliness
Georgia	360 days	75
El Salvador	180 days	71
Peru	180 days	60

90 days or more 34

Country	Visa-free stay	Friendliness
Georgia	360 days	75
El Salvador	180 days	71
Peru	180 days	60
Fiji	120 days	64
United Arab Emirates	90 days	90
The Bahamas	90 days	81
Saudi Arabia	90 days	76
Panama	90 days	74
Mauritius	90 days	74
Guatemala	90 days	73
Moldova	90 days	71
Paraguay	90 days	71
Namibia	90 days	71
Seychelles	90 days	70
Uruguay	90 days	66
Botswana	90 days	66
Barbados	90 days	65
Nicaragua	90 days	64
Bolivia	90 days	63
Honduras	90 days	62
Azerbaijan	90 days	59
Maldives	90 days	59
Jamaica	90 days	57
Trinidad and Tobago	90 days	57
Brazil	90 days	56
Colombia	90 days	56
Guyana	90 days	56
Argentina	90 days	55
Chile	90 days	55
Ecuador	90 days	55
Malawi	90 days	53
Morocco	90 days	52
South Africa	90 days	50
Tunisia	90 days	48

30 days or more 51

Country	Visa-free stay	Friendliness
Georgia	360 days	75
El Salvador	180 days	71
Peru	180 days	60
Fiji	120 days	64
United Arab Emirates	90 days	90
The Bahamas	90 days	81
Saudi Arabia	90 days	76
Panama	90 days	74
Mauritius	90 days	74
Guatemala	90 days	73
Moldova	90 days	71
Paraguay	90 days	71
Namibia	90 days	71
Seychelles	90 days	70
Uruguay	90 days	66
Botswana	90 days	66
Barbados	90 days	65
Nicaragua	90 days	64
Bolivia	90 days	63
Honduras	90 days	62
Azerbaijan	90 days	59
Maldives	90 days	59
Jamaica	90 days	57
Trinidad and Tobago	90 days	57
Brazil	90 days	56
Colombia	90 days	56
Guyana	90 days	56
Argentina	90 days	55
Chile	90 days	55
Ecuador	90 days	55
Malawi	90 days	53
Morocco	90 days	52
South Africa	90 days	50
Tunisia	90 days	48
Thailand	60 days	66
Cabo Verde	60 days	59
Turkey	60 days	54
Vietnam	45 days	60
Malaysia	30 days	77
Macau	30 days	75
Montenegro	30 days	69
Costa Rica	30 days	69
Bosnia and Herzegovina	30 days	63
Laos	30 days	63
Jordan	30 days	61
Mongolia	30 days	60
Serbia	30 days	59
Philippines	30 days	58
Angola	30 days	57
China	30 days	55
Mozambique	30 days	45

Cheapest-route figures are the lowest qualifying investment or income, converted to USD. Programs change often and eligibility can depend on more than nationality. Confirm with an official source before acting. The Friendliness column is our Solopreneur Friendliness score (higher is better), not a measure of how easy a country is to enter.

Sources

Visa-free access: passport-index-dataset.
Citizenship and golden-visa costs and nationality restrictions: SoloOutpost program research.
Nomad visa, tax and cost data: cited per country on each country profile.