· NextMigrate Team
Can I Retire in Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand?
If you have made it here, you have already noticed that retiring in Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand takes more than a plane ticket. This page sets out what each of the four really allows today, side by side.
Imagine you are 67. Your pension is decent, and your daughter now lives in Toronto, Leeds, Brisbane or Auckland. You speak the language. Surely these are the easiest places to retire to? For most retirees, they are some of the hardest.
The short answer: As of November 2026, only New Zealand has an open retirement visa. Its Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa is for people aged 66 or older who can invest NZD $750,000, hold another NZD $500,000 to live on, and show an income of NZD $60,000 a year (Immigration New Zealand, November 2026). Canada has no retirement visa. The UK closed its retired person route in 2008. Australia's two retirement visas are closed to new applicants. For most people, what is left is a visitor stay, or a family route through an adult child who already lives there.
Retiring in the four countries at a glance
| Country | Retirement visa (checked November 2026) | Usual visitor stay | Main route through an adult child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | None | Up to 6 months (IRCC) | Super Visa, up to 5 years at a time; parent sponsorship paused (IRCC) |
| United Kingdom | Closed to new applicants in 2008 (Home Office) | Up to 6 months (GOV.UK) | Adult Dependent Relative, only if you need long-term care (GOV.UK) |
| Australia | Subclasses 405 and 410 closed to new applicants (Home Affairs) | 3, 6 or 12 months on a Visitor visa (Home Affairs) | Parent visas, including Contributory Parent and Sponsored Parent (Temporary) |
| New Zealand | Open: Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa, age 66 or older (INZ) | 3 months per visit with an NZeTA, 6 months for UK citizens (INZ) | Parent Boost Visitor Visa, Parent Resident Visa, Parent Retirement Resident Visa |
If you want to compare these four with the countries that do welcome retirees, start with our guide to the best countries to retire abroad.
Can I retire in Canada?
Not on a retirement visa, because Canada does not have one. IRCC's permanent residence programs cover work, regional, family and refugee routes, and the Self-employed persons program and Start-up Visa are paused (IRCC, November 2026).
As a visitor, you can usually stay for up to 6 months. The border officer may give you less or more (IRCC, May 2026). There is no special retiree rule for Americans or anyone else.
The Super Visa: the real route for parents
If your child or grandchild is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, the Super Visa lets you stay for 5 years at a time, with multiple entries over up to 10 years. The fee starts from CA$100 (IRCC, July 2026). The main tests are:
- Your host's income. Your child must meet the "minimum necessary income" for their family size. For a single host inviting one parent (a family of 2), that is CA$38,002 (IRCC, table updated July 29, 2025).
- Your health insurance. It must come from a Canadian insurer or an approved one, last at least 1 year from entry, and give at least $100,000 of emergency cover (IRCC, July 2026).
Since 31 March 2026, your child can meet the income test in either of the 2 tax years before you apply. If they reach at least 75% of the amount, your own income can cover the rest (IRCC notice, March 2026).
The permanent route, the Parents and Grandparents Program, is paused. IRCC is not accepting new interest to sponsor forms "until further notice" (IRCC, August 2026). We compare parent options in detail in bringing elderly parents: which countries allow it.
Can I retire in the UK?
No, not as a retiree. The UK once had a Retired Persons of Independent Means route for people over 60 with close UK ties and at least £25,000 of income. It closed to new applicants in 2008, and the last rules for it were deleted in 2022 (Home Office explanatory memorandum, HC 719, 2022). The Tier 1 Investor visa is also closed to new applicants (GOV.UK, November 2026).
Visiting for long periods
A Standard Visitor can usually stay for up to 6 months, and a visa, if you need one, costs £135. Long-term visitor visas last 2, 5 or 10 years, but each stay is still capped at 6 months. You must not "live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits" (GOV.UK, November 2026).
Adult Dependent Relative: for real care needs only
This is the only settlement route for a parent. You must show you need long-term care for everyday tasks because of illness, disability or age, and that this care is not available or affordable where you live. You apply from outside the UK, and the fee is £3,635 (GOV.UK, November 2026). Wanting to be near family is not enough.
The UK Ancestry visa, for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, is a work route: you must be able to work and plan to work (GOV.UK, November 2026).
Free eligibility check · 2 minutes
Canada, the UK or Australia: which fits you?
6 quick questions on your age, skills and English. You get a score out of 100 and a read on your chances in Canada, the UK or Australia, on screen. No sign-up.
1 of 6 · When are you planning to move?
Canada, the UK or Australia are picked for you. You can change that at question 6.
Can I retire in Australia?
Australia used to have two retirement visas: the Investor Retirement visa (subclass 405) and the Retirement visa (subclass 410). Both are closed to new applicants. Only people who already held one could get a further one, and holders on 8 May 2018 got a pathway to permanent residence from 17 November 2018 (Department of Home Affairs). The investor route is shut too: the Business Innovation and Investment Program closed permanently on 31 July 2024 (Home Affairs, November 2026).
Visitors and parent visas
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) can be granted for 3, 6 or 12 months. The Tourist stream, applied for outside Australia, costs from AUD250 (Home Affairs, November 2026). For parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents:
- Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143): permanent, from AUD49,900 over 2 instalments for a single applicant (Home Affairs, November 2026).
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): up to 3 or 5 years, costing AUD6,370 or AUD12,440 (Home Affairs, November 2026).
Visa charges in Australia usually rise each 1 July, so check the current price in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before you apply. Permanent parent visas are capped and queued. Our parent visa guide explains the waits.
Can I retire in New Zealand?
Yes, if you have capital. New Zealand is the only one of the four with a visa built for retirees.
Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa
This visa lets you stay for up to 2 years. You must (Immigration New Zealand, November 2026):
- be aged 66 or older
- invest at least NZD $750,000 in acceptable investments in New Zealand for 2 years
- have at least NZD $500,000 more to live on
- have an annual income of at least NZD $60,000
- keep travel or health insurance for the whole stay.
The fee is from NZD $7,891, and your partner can be included. You cannot take a job in New Zealand. When it ends, you can apply again if you still qualify and kept your funds invested.
Parent Retirement Resident Visa
If your adult child is a New Zealand citizen or resident living there, this visa gives residence. You need at least NZD $1 million to invest for 4 years, NZD $500,000 for settlement and NZD $60,000 of annual income. The fee is from NZD $12,850, and 80% of approvals in principle take up to 14 months (INZ, November 2026).
Parent Boost Visitor Visa and Parent Resident Visa
The Parent Boost Visitor Visa allows visits over up to 5 years, from NZD $3,100. You need an income of NZD $33,663.24 a year (NZD $51,182.56 with a partner), savings of NZD $170,000 (NZD $260,000 with a partner), or a child who earns enough to sponsor you. It does not lead to residence (INZ, November 2026).
The Parent Resident Visa has 2,500 places a year, from NZD $5,810. Since 5 October 2026, about 90% of pool selections go by date order and 10% by ballot (INZ, November 2026).
Family routes compared
| Route | Length of stay | Key money test | Leads to residence? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Super Visa | 5 years at a time | Child earns CA$38,002 for a family of 2, plus insurance | No |
| UK Adult Dependent Relative | Unlimited if your child is British or settled | Child supports you without public funds | Yes, but only with proven care needs |
| Australia subclass 870 | Up to 3 or 5 years | Approved sponsor; fee AUD6,370 or AUD12,440 | No |
| Australia subclass 143 | Permanent | From AUD49,900 for one applicant | Yes |
| NZ Parent Boost Visitor | Up to 5 years | NZD $33,663.24 income or NZD $170,000 savings | No |
| NZ Parent Retirement Resident | Permanent | NZD $1 million invested plus NZD $500,000 | Yes |
Sources are cited in each country section above. For the family side of these choices, read what happens to aging parents when you migrate.
Health care as a visitor
- Canada: "Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors" (IRCC, November 2026).
- UK: Visitors and people on visas of 6 months or less pay for health care at the point of use unless exempt. Longer visas usually carry the Immigration Health Surcharge, £1,035 a year for most adults (NHS migrant health guide; GOV.UK, November 2026).
- Australia: Visitors from the UK can get medically necessary care under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (Services Australia). Plan for full private cover if your country has no agreement.
- New Zealand: Visitors pay for their own health care, and INZ recommends full medical insurance (INZ, November 2026).
Insurance gets harder to buy as you age. Get real quotes before you plan around long visits.
Dual citizens and returning citizens
The easiest way to retire in any of these countries is to already hold the passport. Then no visa test applies.
- Canadians born abroad: since 15 December 2025, people who would have been citizens if not for the old first-generation limit are Canadian and can apply for proof (IRCC, December 2025).
- Australian citizens going to New Zealand: you will normally get an Australian Resident Visa on arrival if you meet the character rules (INZ, November 2026).
- Anyone with a parent or grandparent from these countries: check citizenship by descent before paying for any visa.
Coming back after years away has its own traps; see moving back home after retiring abroad. If a UK State Pension is your main income, it is frozen in Canada, Australia and New Zealand (UK State Pension frozen countries). Americans should read US Social Security and Medicare abroad.
Who these countries do not suit
They are hard if you have a modest pension, no child living there and want permanent residence. If you are flexible, other countries have real retiree visas: see retiring in Ireland on Stamp 0, or compare income rules with the retirement visa finder. With large capital, golden visa countries may fit. Worried about age itself? Read am I too old to migrate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retire in Canada as a US citizen?
There is no retirement visa for anyone, including Americans. You can usually visit for up to 6 months at a time. If your child or grandchild is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, the Super Visa allows stays of 5 years at a time.
Can I retire in the UK as a US citizen?
Not on a retirement visa, because the retiree route closed in 2008. You can visit for up to 6 months, but you cannot live in the UK through repeated visits. The Adult Dependent Relative visa is only for people who need long-term care.
Can I retire in Australia from the UK?
Not on a new retirement visa, because subclasses 405 and 410 are closed to new applicants. If your child is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a parent visa may be possible. UK visitors can get some Medicare cover under the reciprocal agreement.
Can I retire in New Zealand from the USA?
Yes, if you meet the Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa rules. You must be 66 or older, invest NZD $750,000 for 2 years, have NZD $500,000 to live on and earn NZD $60,000 a year. It gives up to 2 years, and you can apply again.
Can I stay in these countries by doing back-to-back visits?
It is risky. The UK says you must not live there through frequent or successive visits, and New Zealand limits NZeTA visitors to 6 months in any 12 months. Border officers can refuse entry if your visits look like living there.
Your next step
None of these four makes retirement simple. But a child, a passport or your savings may open a door that a general guide cannot see. Take our free migration assessment to see which routes fit you, or read our guides to Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
This article is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules and figures change. Always confirm with the official source and a regulated adviser before you act.
