Easiest places to move abroad on visa friction

Cities where the long-stay paperwork is rated easy and processing is short — ranked by visa friction first, then how liveable and affordable the landing is.

Methodology: Only cities with an easy-rated long-stay visa process qualify; ranked by processing time, then a blend of affordability, expat scene and safety.

  1. 1. Cuenca, Ecuador

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $970/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $970/mo all-in.

  2. 2. Chiang Rai, Thailand

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $690/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $690/mo all-in.

  3. 3. Batumi, Georgia

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $940/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $940/mo all-in.

  4. 4. Mendoza, Argentina

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $950/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $950/mo all-in.

  5. 5. Tbilisi, Georgia

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $850/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $850/mo all-in.

  6. 6. Salta, Argentina

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $810/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $810/mo all-in.

  7. 7. Tangier, Morocco

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $910/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $910/mo all-in.

  8. 8. Siem Reap, Cambodia

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $850/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $850/mo all-in.

  9. 9. Cancún, Mexico

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $1,380/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $1,380/mo all-in.

  10. 10. Kampot, Cambodia

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $810/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $810/mo all-in.

  11. 11. Pai, Thailand

    Visa: Easy · No wait · $810/mo

    Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $810/mo all-in.

  12. 12. Izmir, Turkey

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $810/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $810/mo all-in.

  13. 13. Pokhara, Nepal

    Visa: Easy · ~1 wks · $640/mo

    Easy visa process (~1 weeks) and about $640/mo all-in.

  14. 14. Taghazout, Morocco

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $910/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $910/mo all-in.

  15. 15. Luang Prabang, Laos

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $780/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $780/mo all-in.

Frequently asked questions

Easiest places to move abroad on visa friction — which city is #1?

Cuenca, Ecuador tops this list. Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $970/mo all-in. Chiang Rai and Batumi round out the top three.

How is this ranking calculated?

Only cities with an easy-rated long-stay visa process qualify; ranked by processing time, then a blend of affordability, expat scene and safety. 186 catalog cities qualified for this list; the top 15 are shown. Scores are catalog averages, not personalised — Jonzy re-ranks every city for your own income, passport and lifestyle when you sign in.

How much does it cost to live in the top city?

Cuenca runs about $970/month all-in for one person — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and everyday extras. See the Cuenca city guide for the full cost breakdown, visa options and FAQ.