Guide
South Asia Residence Options
What could support your move to South Asia?
A longer stay in South Asia usually needs a specific basis, such as a supported job, university admission, a family connection, or an approved investment. The permission you receive determines how you can live and work there.
About this guide
Planning a move starts with what your everyday life would look like. Taking a local job, joining family, studying, running a business, and living from independent income lead to different choices.
This guide compares selected routes across South Asia and the commitments behind them. Use the tables to find a relevant starting point, then read the regional report.
Pathways compared
28
Countries covered
7
Employer-supported work
India Work Visa
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Employment Residency | A qualifying employer in India can support a foreign professional’s application to live there for the approved job. | Yes | Depends on the role, nationality, and assignment | Temporary stay and work in the approved position, subject to the employer and visa conditions. |
Nepal Work Visa
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Employment Residency | A qualifying employer in Nepal can support a foreign professional’s application to live there for the approved job. | Yes | Linked to the approved employment and work documents | Temporary stay and work in the approved position, subject to the employer and visa conditions. |
Sri Lanka Work Visa
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Employment Residency | A qualifying employer in Sri Lanka can support a foreign professional’s application to live there for the approved job. | Yes | One year or the period recommended by the authority; renewable | Temporary stay and work in the approved position, subject to the employer and visa conditions. |
Pakistan Work Visa
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Employment Residency | A qualifying employer in Pakistan can support a foreign professional’s application to live there for the approved job. | Yes | Category-specific; check the actual grant | Temporary stay and work in the approved position, subject to the employer and visa conditions. |
Bangladesh Work Visa
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Employment Residency | A qualifying employer in Bangladesh can support a foreign professional’s application to live there for the approved job. | Yes | Employment visa and extensions tied to the work permission | Temporary stay and work in the approved position, subject to the employer and visa conditions. |
Maldives Work Visa
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Employment Residency | A qualifying employer in Maldives can support a foreign professional’s application to live there for the approved job. | Yes | Linked to the Work Permit; renewals up to one year | Temporary stay and work in the approved position, subject to the employer and visa conditions. |
Bhutan Work Visa
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Employment Residency | A qualifying employer in Bhutan can support a foreign professional’s application to live there for the approved job. | Yes | Up to one year under the published employment guidance | Temporary stay and work in the approved position, subject to the employer and visa conditions. |
No pathways match that filter.
Higher-education study
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India Student Visa
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Study Residency | Yes for an eligible higher-education course | Accepted financial support for study and living costs | Course-related; check the issued visa |
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Nepal Student Visa
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Study Residency | Yes for an eligible higher-education course | Accepted financial support for study and living costs | Up to one year, according to the recommendation or study period |
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Sri Lanka Student Visa
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Study Residency | Yes for an eligible higher-education course | Accepted financial support for study and living costs | One year or the period recommended by the ministry or institution |
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Pakistan Student Visa
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Study Residency | Yes for an eligible higher-education course | Accepted financial support for study and living costs | Up to two years; actual grant and renewal rules apply |
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Bangladesh Student Visa
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Study Residency | Yes for an eligible higher-education course | Accepted financial support for study and living costs | As granted by the issuing authority |
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Bhutan Student Visa
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Study Residency | Yes for an eligible higher-education course | Accepted financial support for study and living costs | The approved study period |
No pathways match that filter.
Family and documented origin
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India Diaspora Card
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Ancestry Other | Foreign citizens with a qualifying Indian-origin, minor-child, or spouse connection | No ordinary stay limit; a valid foreign passport is always required | Multiple-entry India travel and ordinary foreigner-registration relief |
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India Citizen Spouse Entry Visa
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Family Residency | A foreign spouse of an Indian citizen can seek an Entry Visa to join that spouse in India. | As granted by the mission | Family stay for the period and entries granted on the visa. |
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Nepal NRN Cardholder Visa
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Ancestry Residency | A foreign passport holder with a valid Non-Resident Nepali card can seek the associated Nepal visa and extensions. | Extensions up to one year; within card validity | The NRN visa is free while the supporting card is valid, with the actual stay and extension set by Immigration. |
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Sri Lanka Spouse Permanent Residence
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Family Residency | A foreign spouse whose marriage to a Sri Lankan citizen has lasted more than five years can apply for Sri Lanka’s Permanent Residence Visa. | Permanent residence with a renewable card valid up to ten years | Approved permanent residence includes permission to remain and undertake lawful work or business, subject to other laws. The renewable card is valid for up to ten years. |
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Sri Lanka Former Citizen Permanent Residence
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Ancestry Residency | A former Sri Lankan citizen whose citizenship ceased under the specified provisions of the Citizenship Act can apply for a Permanent Residence Visa. | Permanent residence with a renewable card valid up to ten years | Approved permanent residence includes permission to remain and undertake lawful work or business, subject to other laws. The renewable card is valid for up to ten years. |
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Pakistan Origin Card
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Ancestry Residency | Certain foreign nationals with documented Pakistani origin or a qualifying family connection can apply for a Pakistan Origin Card. | For the issued card’s validity | Visa-free entry and stay under the card’s validity, with facilities relating to banking, property, and business subject to law. |
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Bangladesh No Visa Required
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Ancestry Residency | Eligible foreign citizens of Bangladeshi origin, and qualifying spouses and children, can seek a No Visa Required endorsement in their foreign passport. | Linked to the endorsed passport and applicable conditions | Multiple-entry travel and stay under the endorsed passport and immigration rules. |
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Maldives Marriage Visa
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Family Residency | A foreign spouse in a legally registered marriage with a Maldivian citizen can seek a Marriage Visa. | As issued under the marriage category | Residence with the Maldivian spouse for the period granted and subsequent approved renewals. |
No pathways match that filter.
Investment and business
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Nepal Business Investor Visa
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Entrepreneur Residency | Sector and approval dependent; visa-fee bands are not minimum capital | One month to one year, or five years as approved | Multiple-entry stay for the approved business. The category permits grants from one month to one year or five years, depending on the approval. |
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Nepal Investor Residential Visa
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Investment Residency | USD $100,000 threshold; industry guidance says more than this amount | One year at a time in the industry department’s guidance | Residential permission under the investor category; the industry department describes grants for one year at a time. |
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Sri Lanka Investor Residence
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Investment Residency | USD $100,000 for five years; USD $200,000 for ten-year arrangement | Five years initially; additional five-year arrangement at USD $200,000 | Residence to manage the qualifying investment. The published levels are USD $100,000 for five years and USD $200,000 for a ten-year arrangement, initially endorsed for five years. |
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Bangladesh Private Investor Visa
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Entrepreneur Residency | Confirm current project-specific capital and remittance rules | As granted and extended for the qualifying investment | Stay under the approved investor visa and its extension conditions for the qualifying business. |
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Maldives Corporate Resident Visa
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Investment Residency | USD $250,000 deposit or approved project; alternative USD $1,000,000 investment | Confirm the term of the actual Corporate Resident grant | Residence under the approved Corporate Resident Visa, subject to continued compliance with its conditions. |
No pathways match that filter.
Retirement and foreign remote work
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Nepal Retirement Residential Visa
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Retirement Residency | A retired foreign applicant, or one age 60 or older, can seek residential permission to live in Nepal without running a business. | USD $20,000 per year, plus USD $20,000 bank balance | Check the approved term; annual renewal requirements | Nonworking residential stay if approved. The published fees and renewal documents operate on an annual basis; check the actual visa expiry. |
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Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa
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Digital Nomad Residency | Remote employees, freelancers, or foreign business owners serving clients abroad | USD $2,000 | 1 year (renewable) | One-year renewable residence for qualifying foreign remote work; no local employment |
No pathways match that filter.