Easiest places to move in Europe on visa friction

Cities in Europe 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. Izmir, Turkey

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

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

  2. 2. Belgrade, Serbia

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $1,135/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $1,135/mo all-in.

  3. 3. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $960/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $960/mo all-in.

  4. 4. Tirana, Albania

    Visa: Very Easy · No wait · $820/mo

    Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $820/mo all-in.

  5. 5. Chișinău, Moldova

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

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

  6. 6. Budva, Montenegro

    Visa: Easy · ~1 wks · $1,250/mo

    Easy visa process (~1 weeks) and about $1,250/mo all-in.

  7. 7. Skopje, North Macedonia

    Visa: Easy · ~1 wks · $890/mo

    Easy visa process (~1 weeks) and about $890/mo all-in.

  8. 8. Saranda, Albania

    Visa: Easy · ~2 wks · $830/mo

    Easy visa process (~2 weeks) and about $830/mo all-in.

  9. 9. Antalya, Turkey

    Visa: Easy · ~2 wks · $990/mo

    Easy visa process (~2 weeks) and about $990/mo all-in.

  10. 10. Istanbul, Turkey

    Visa: Easy · ~2 wks · $1,150/mo

    Easy visa process (~2 weeks) and about $1,150/mo all-in.

  11. 11. Ohrid, North Macedonia

    Visa: Easy · ~4 wks · $750/mo

    Easy visa process (~4 weeks) and about $750/mo all-in.

  12. 12. Budapest, Hungary

    Visa: Easy · ~3 wks · $1,340/mo

    Easy visa process (~3 weeks) and about $1,340/mo all-in.

Frequently asked questions

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

Izmir, Turkey tops this list. Very Easy visa process (no formal wait) and about $810/mo all-in. Belgrade and Sarajevo 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. 40 catalog cities in Europe qualified for this list; the top 12 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 in Europe?

Izmir runs about $810/month all-in for one person — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and everyday extras. See the Izmir city guide for the full cost breakdown, visa options and FAQ.