South Asia Residence and Investment Options Compared
A longer stay in South Asia usually depends on what you will do there and who can support the application. An employer, university, spouse, documented family connection, approved investment, or independent retirement income can provide a starting point. A tourist visa rarely answers the separate questions about work and long-term residence.
The South Asia guide compares work, study, family, retirement, and investment options. The amounts below are in the named currency and are not complete relocation budgets. Visa fees, professional help, living costs, and investment expenses may be additional.
Work and study
| Destination | Work and study options | Detail that matters |
|---|---|---|
| India | Work: Skilled employment; Study: Full-time university study | The usual employment salary rule is above INR 1,625,000 a year; specific exceptions apply. Students should confirm institutional and foreigner-registration requirements. |
| Nepal | Work: Employer-supported Working Visa; Study: Study Visa | Work needs a labor permit, agency recommendation, and Home Ministry agreement. Study needs the education ministry’s recommendation. |
| Sri Lanka | Work: Private-sector employment residence; Study: University student residence | The employer or university supplies official support. The Health Protection Plan is part of the process. |
| Pakistan | Work: Employer-supported work; Study: Student Visa | The employer or institution must support the correct online application and required official clearance. |
| Bangladesh | Work: Employment visa and work permit; Study: Student Visa | A visa and work permit serve different purposes. Student applicants need institutional and financial evidence. |
| Maldives | Work: Work e-Visa | A valid Work Permit Entry Pass is needed before arrival; the employer must obtain the digital visa within 15 days after arrival. |
| Bhutan | Work: Approved employment; Study: Approved study or exchange | The institution files the student application under the 2026 guidelines. A short business visit does not authorize ordinary work. |
These routes support an approved activity. They do not promise that graduation or several years of employment will produce permanent residence. Changing a job, institution, or activity may require a new approval.
Investment and business
| Destination | Route | Financial starting point | What approval means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Investor Residence Visa | USD $100,000 for five years; USD $200,000 for a ten-year arrangement | The initial endorsement is five years. The higher investment supports a letter for the additional extension. Use permitted investments and the designated bank accounts. |
| Maldives | Corporate Resident Visa | USD $250,000 in a five-year licensed-bank deposit or a government-approved project; alternatively USD $1,000,000 invested during the preceding three financial years | Confirm the actual visa term, approved investment, and current ONEGov checklist before committing money. |
| Nepal | Business Investor Visa | Project-specific investment approval | A registered company alone is insufficient. The agency recommendation and investment acceptance support the visa. |
| Nepal | Industrial Investor Residential Visa | Immigration lists USD $100,000; industry guidance says more than USD $100,000 at one time | Resolve the amount and transfer wording with both agencies. The industrial project, recommendation, and Home Ministry approval matter as well. |
| Bangladesh | Private Investor Visa | Confirm the current capital and remittance rules for the project | BIDA or the relevant authority must support the investment. An active job can require a separate work permit. |
None of these five routes grants citizenship. A bank deposit, shareholding, or property purchase also needs to satisfy the immigration program’s particular rules. Do not treat general investment-promotion material as a visa approval.
India has published an investor Permanent Residency Status scheme, but applicants need to confirm whether applications are being accepted and which procedure applies. Bhutan’s short Business Guest process and Pakistan’s business-visit facilities are also kept separate from settled investor residence.
Family connections and documented origin
For a foreign spouse of an Indian citizen, the family Entry Visa can be relevant alongside the existing OCI card. OCI has its own eligibility and exclusions and is not Indian citizenship.
Sri Lanka’s spouse permanent-residence route requires a marriage to a Sri Lankan citizen lasting more than five years. A separate route supports documented former Sri Lankan citizens. These grants allow lawful work or business subject to other laws. The residence card lasts up to ten years and must be renewed; the main-applicant fee is USD $1,000 plus the LKR 1,000 card charge. Broader descent and dependent categories need their own evidence review.
Pakistan’s Origin Card and Bangladesh’s No Visa Required endorsement can be useful for diaspora families. Both need documented connections and nationality checks. Neither should be described as a citizenship grant. A Western passport alone does not settle every exclusion when a person has another nationality or relevant family history.
Nepal’s NRN cardholder visa requires the applicant to already hold a valid card. Cardholders still need immigration permission. In Maldives, a Marriage Visa depends on a legally registered marriage with a Maldivian citizen and the required application process.
Independent income and remote work
Nepal’s nonworking retirement route uses proof of retirement or age 60 or older, a USD $20,000 bank balance, and regular annual income of at least USD $20,000. It also needs government approval and personal clearances. Savings alone are not a substitute for the recurring-income evidence.
Sri Lanka’s existing Digital Nomad Visa addresses foreign remote work. It does not authorize ordinary local employment. Its older Dream Home program is now labeled for existing holders’ renewals only, so it is not included as a new retirement option.