Digital Nomad Visa Countries: Where to Apply in 2026
A country-by-country comparison of digital nomad visas: the income you need, how long you can stay, the tax perks, and which popular countries have no nomad visa at all.
Dozens of countries now compete for remote workers, but the income bars, length of stay, and tax treatment vary enormously. Here is how the main options compare.
What to compare in any country
- The income or savings bar: monthly income, or a lump sum in the bank.
- How long you can stay: a few months, a year, or several.
- Whether it leads to residency: most do not.
- Tax treatment: some offer breaks, others tax you quickly.
Europe
Figures are approximate for 2026 and several are tied to local wages, so they shift yearly. Confirm before applying.
| Country | Income (approx, 2026) | Max stay | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | ~2,850 EUR / month | Up to 5 years | Counts toward residency; optional ~24% flat tax |
| Portugal (D8) | ~3,680 EUR / month | Renewable | Counts toward residency and citizenship |
| Italy | ~28,000 EUR / year | 1 year, renewable | Up to 50% income-tax reduction |
| Greece | 3,500 EUR / month | Up to 2 years | Tax break if you move tax residency |
| Croatia | ~3,620 EUR / month | Up to 18 months | No path to residency |
| Estonia | 4,500 EUR / month | Up to 1 year | No path to residency |
| Romania | ~5,400 EUR / month | Up to 2 years | One of the highest bars in the EU |
| Hungary (White Card) | 3,000 EUR / month net | Up to 2 years | No path to residency |
- Income (approx, 2026)
- ~2,850 EUR / month
- Max stay
- Up to 5 years
- Notable
- Counts toward residency; optional ~24% flat tax
- Income (approx, 2026)
- ~3,680 EUR / month
- Max stay
- Renewable
- Notable
- Counts toward residency and citizenship
- Income (approx, 2026)
- ~28,000 EUR / year
- Max stay
- 1 year, renewable
- Notable
- Up to 50% income-tax reduction
- Greece
- Income (approx, 2026)
- 3,500 EUR / month
- Max stay
- Up to 2 years
- Notable
- Tax break if you move tax residency
- Croatia
- Income (approx, 2026)
- ~3,620 EUR / month
- Max stay
- Up to 18 months
- Notable
- No path to residency
- Estonia
- Income (approx, 2026)
- 4,500 EUR / month
- Max stay
- Up to 1 year
- Notable
- No path to residency
- Romania
- Income (approx, 2026)
- ~5,400 EUR / month
- Max stay
- Up to 2 years
- Notable
- One of the highest bars in the EU
- Hungary (White Card)
- Income (approx, 2026)
- 3,000 EUR / month net
- Max stay
- Up to 2 years
- Notable
- No path to residency
Rest of the world
| Country | Income / savings (approx, 2026) | Max stay | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand (DTV) | ~500,000 THB in savings | 5-year visa, 180 days per entry | Savings test, not monthly income |
| Japan | ~10M JPY / year | 6 months, not renewable | High bar, eligible nationalities only |
| Philippines | Sufficient foreign income | Up to 1 year, renewable | New in 2025, confirm details |
| Indonesia (E33G) | ~60,000 USD / year | Up to 1 year | May be taxed from arrival |
| Malaysia (DE Rantau) | From ~24,000 USD / year | Up to 2 years | Lower bar for tech workers |
| Costa Rica | ~3,000 USD / month | Up to 2 years | Foreign income tax-exempt |
| Colombia | ~1,300 to 1,400 USD / month | Up to 2 years | One of the lowest bars |
| Brazil | ~1,500 USD / month or 18,000 savings | Up to 2 years | Income or savings accepted |
- Thailand (DTV)
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- ~500,000 THB in savings
- Max stay
- 5-year visa, 180 days per entry
- Notable
- Savings test, not monthly income
- Japan
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- ~10M JPY / year
- Max stay
- 6 months, not renewable
- Notable
- High bar, eligible nationalities only
- Philippines
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- Sufficient foreign income
- Max stay
- Up to 1 year, renewable
- Notable
- New in 2025, confirm details
- Indonesia (E33G)
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- ~60,000 USD / year
- Max stay
- Up to 1 year
- Notable
- May be taxed from arrival
- Malaysia (DE Rantau)
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- From ~24,000 USD / year
- Max stay
- Up to 2 years
- Notable
- Lower bar for tech workers
- Costa Rica
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- ~3,000 USD / month
- Max stay
- Up to 2 years
- Notable
- Foreign income tax-exempt
- Colombia
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- ~1,300 to 1,400 USD / month
- Max stay
- Up to 2 years
- Notable
- One of the lowest bars
- Brazil
- Income / savings (approx, 2026)
- ~1,500 USD / month or 18,000 savings
- Max stay
- Up to 2 years
- Notable
- Income or savings accepted
Countries with no digital nomad visa
These come up in searches, but none has a dedicated nomad visa in 2026:
- United Kingdom: none. Look at Global Talent or Skilled Worker routes.
- France: none, and remote work on the visitor visa was barred in 2025.
- Germany: the freelance visa is for those serving German clients, not foreign-employer nomads.
- Canada: none yet, though one has been under consultation.
- Australia: none. Remote work is tolerated only on a visitor basis.
How to choose
- Want a path to staying long term? Spain or Portugal, where the years count.
- Variable income but savings in the bank? Thailand's savings-based route.
- Lowest income bar? Colombia or Brazil.
- Chasing a tax break? Italy, Greece, or Costa Rica, but watch the 183-day residency line.
Once you have shortlisted a country, see our guide on how to get a digital nomad visa for the step-by-step process.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries have the lowest income requirement for a digital nomad visa?
Some of the most accessible are Colombia, at roughly 1,300 to 1,400 US dollars a month (pegged to 3 times the minimum wage), and Brazil, at 1,500 US dollars a month or 18,000 in savings. Thailand uses a savings test of around 500,000 baht rather than a monthly income figure, which suits people with money in the bank but variable income.
Which digital nomad visa leads to permanent residency?
Few do. Spain and Portugal stand out because the time on the visa typically counts toward the 5 years needed for permanent residence and eventually citizenship. Many others, including Croatia, Estonia, and Hungary's White Card, explicitly do not lead to residency, no matter how long you stay.
Does the UK have a digital nomad visa?
No. The UK does not offer a digital nomad visa in 2026 and has not proposed one. Remote workers usually look at the Global Talent, High Potential Individual, or Skilled Worker routes instead. A standard visitor visa allows only incidental remote work, not living in the UK as a nomad.
Do Canada, Australia, France, or Germany have digital nomad visas?
Not dedicated ones. France actually closed the door in 2025 by barring remote work on its visitor visa. Germany's freelance visa is for people serving German clients, not foreign-employer nomads. Australia has no nomad visa. Canada has none yet, though one has been under consultation, so check for updates.
Which countries offer tax breaks for digital nomads?
Several. Italy and Greece offer large income-tax reductions for those who move their tax residency there. Costa Rica and Croatia exempt foreign-earned income from local tax. Be careful though: staying more than about 183 days often makes you a tax resident, and a few countries, like Indonesia, can tax you from arrival.
Did the Philippines launch a digital nomad visa?
Yes, the Philippines created a digital nomad visa by executive order in 2025. It allows stays of up to a year, renewable, and requires proof of sufficient income earned outside the country rather than a fixed published figure. As it is new, confirm the current rules and application process before you rely on them.
Browse by destination
Where to get a Digital Nomad Visa
Serbia
Why Serbia has become a magnet for remote workers and entrepreneurs — easy residency, low taxes, and a low cost of living in the heart of the Balkans.
Spain
Why people move to Spain, which visa fits your situation, and the practical steps to make the move — from digital nomads to retirees.
Montenegro
Why entrepreneurs and remote workers eye Montenegro — easy company-based residency, the euro, low costs, and a stunning Adriatic coast inside an EU candidate country.
Cyprus
Why remote workers, retirees and investors choose Cyprus — a sunny EU island with a digital nomad visa, low taxes, and a clear residency path.
Portugal
Portugal's appeal for expats — the D7 and digital nomad visas, mild climate, and a clear path to residency and eventually citizenship.
Keep reading
Related guides
How to Get a Digital Nomad Visa
How digital nomad visas work: who qualifies, the income you need to show, and which countries make it easiest to live abroad while working remotely.
2 min readHow to Get a Work Visa: What You Need to Know
How work visas actually work — who sponsors you, the documents involved, and the realistic path from job offer to legal work abroad.
1 min readHow to Get a Business Visa
Business visitor visa or business residence visa? What each one allows, the US and Schengen rules, and the routes for founders who want to live abroad.
1 min readNo obligation
Want real help with the move?
Tell us where you are and where you want to go, and we'll get you in contact with relocation specialists. No commitment.
Get real help