Easiest and hardest European countries to obtain a temporary residence permit

A tourist visum is valid for 90 days in the whole Shengen area. Travelers from countries without visa requirement, get their passport stamped upon entry and face the same limitations. 

However, to retire in Europe or to obtain a temporary residence permit for studying, working locally or as a digital nomad, the EU member states have vastly different requirements.

Ranking criteria are the entry requirements and the transparency of the procedure for obtaining a long stay visum and temporary residence permit.

The video below ranks all 27 countries of the EU. Note that Ireland and Cyprus are not included in the Shengen area. This is useful to know for travelers aiming to leave the Shengen area for the 90+ days 'cooling period' before re-entry. Also note that these rules don't apply to EU citizens (or non-EU residence with an EU dual citizenship). They can register as a resident anywhere in the EU.

As usual the list is presented ordered 27 to 1, to keep you watching. The 16 'easy' countries all have a retirement visum for people living only on passive income.

Spoiler alert; You find the list in regular order (ranked from easiest to hardest) below:

1. Portugal
2. Greece
3. Bulgaria
4. France
5. Cyprus
6. Malta
7. Spain
8. Croatia
9. Luxemburg
10. Hungary
11. Latvia
12. Romania
13. Estonia
14. Italy
15. Austria
16. Ireland
17. Czechia
18. Germany
19. The Netherlands
20. Slovenia
21. Lithuania
22. Slovankia
23. Poland
24. Belgium
25. Finland
26. Sweden
27. Denmark