Digital Nomad Visa 2026: 10 Countries for Freelancers

Freelancers need a legal way to live and work abroad. Find out which countries offer visas for remote workers in 2026 and what requirements applicants must meet

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A laptop, a stable internet connection and clients in another time zone: that is almost all a freelancer needs to live anywhere. Almost, because there is also the legal side. A tourist in the Schengen Area can stay only 90 days in any 180. That is why a growing number of countries are introducing digital nomad visas, which allow people to live abroad for longer and work for foreign clients. We have picked ten countries where such a program is available in 2026 and compared how much you need to earn, how long the permit lasts and what happens with taxes.

Read also: 5 countries that topped the global ranking for digital nomads in 2026.

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What is a digital nomad visa and who needs one?

A digital nomad visa is a long-stay permit for people who work remotely for a foreign employer or for clients abroad. The local labor market stays closed: as a rule, you cannot take on work from companies in the host country. Applicants are usually asked to prove a stable income, show contracts or invoices, and have health insurance and housing.

A word on taxes, since this is where people go wrong most often. The visa does not exempt you from tax on its own. In most countries you become a tax resident after 183 days in a year, and your worldwide income may then be taxable, so run the numbers before you move.

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Spain: from €2,849 a month and a permit of up to five years

Spain's visa for international remote workers has been available since 2022 and remains one of the most convenient in Europe. This year you need to prove €2,849 in gross monthly income, which is 200% of the country's minimum wage. At least 80% of that income must come from outside Spain, and you also need a degree or three years of professional experience in your field.

Applications are filed at a consulate or, once you are already in the country, through the UGE office. The permit is issued for up to three years and can be renewed, for a total of up to five. Employees may qualify for the Beckham regime: 24% on Spanish income up to €600,000 and, for the most part, no tax on foreign income. Self-employed freelancers generally do not qualify and pay as autónomos with standard contributions.

Portugal: what the D8 visa requires in 2026

Portugal's D8 is designed for remote workers, and the formula is simple: income of at least four minimum wages. In 2026 the national minimum wage is €920, so the threshold is €3,680 a month, averaged over the last three months. You also need savings of about €11,040 in your account, equal to one year's minimum wage.

Families pay a supplement: +50% of the amount for a spouse and +30% for each child. You can apply for a temporary stay visa of up to one year or a residence visa, and then collect a two-year permit from AIMA once in Portugal. The bar rises along with the minimum wage: €970 is expected for 2027, which means about €3,880. If your income is passive, look at the D7 visa, where the threshold is much lower.

The best countries for digital nomads according to Travel + Leisure are linked here.

Greece: €3,500 a month and a visa only through a consulate

In Greece, much depends on where you apply. Since 5 February 2026, Law 5275/2026 has been in force: initial applications for a digital nomad permit are no longer accepted from within the country, so a type D visa has to be obtained at a Greek consulate. After arrival, it is exchanged for a residence permit.

The financial bar is €3,500 net per month. It rises by 20% for a spouse and by 15% for each child. The consular fee is €75 and the visa is valid for up to 12 months. You will also need health insurance, a criminal record certificate and proof of accommodation. Anyone who actually lives in Greece will almost certainly become a tax resident there, so it is best to work out your income in advance.

Italy: a permit for highly qualified workers from €24,789 a year

The Italian option existed on paper for a long time, but in 2026 it is fully operational: consulates accept applications, and within eight days of arrival you must report to the Questura police office for a residence permit. The program is aimed at highly qualified professionals. By law, income of at least €24,789 a year is required, but in practice consulates often ask for up to €28,000, so go by the requirements of yours.

You also need to prove at least six months of remote work experience and have insurance and housing in Italy. The permit extends to family members. A freelancer will need an Italian VAT number (partita IVA): without it, you cannot issue invoices or pay contributions and taxes.

We write about the countries where you can live comfortably on 500 euros and how to prepare for the move here.

Malta: the Nomad Residence Permit for those earning from €3,500

Malta's Nomad Residence Permit is issued by Residency Malta Agency, and applications are filed online. You must prove gross income of at least €3,500 a month (€42,000 a year) from outside Malta, and have health insurance and rented or purchased housing on the island. The government fee is €300.

The first permit is granted for one year and can then be renewed, for up to four years in total. The program does not by itself lead to permanent residence or citizenship. Whether you pay tax in Malta depends on your status: if you spend fewer than 183 days on the island and have no strong ties there, you may not become a tax resident.

Cyprus: a nomad visa with a quota and net income of €3,500

Cyprus launched its program in 2021 and runs it on a quota basis, so you may have to wait for a place. The official government page cites a cap of 500 permits, while some lawyers report an increase to 1,000 a year, so check this point before applying. The visa suits employees of foreign companies and the self-employed whose clients are entirely outside Cyprus.

Net income must be at least €3,500 a month, meaning after taxes and contributions. The permit is issued for one year and can then be extended for another two. Family members can join you but are not allowed to work in Cyprus. The application is usually filed within three months of entry. After 183 days on the island you become a tax resident, and under additional conditions even after 60.

Croatia: up to 18 months without tax on foreign income

Croatia opened its nomad permit in 2021, and it is one of the few cases where permit holders' foreign income is not taxed. Formally it is not a visa but a temporary residence permit valid for up to 18 months.

In 2026 the minimum income is €3,622.50 a month: it is tied to the country's average salary, so the figure changes every year. Instead of income, you can show savings of about €43,470. Applications are filed in Croatia or at a consulate. The downside is that once the permit ends, you must wait six months before applying again, and the time spent on it counts toward neither permanent residence nor citizenship.

Everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Croatia can be found here.

Estonia: a D visa for one year, but the figures differ

Estonia was one of the first to introduce a visa for remote workers, back in the pandemic. It is a type D visa for up to 365 days, aimed at employees of foreign companies, owners of businesses abroad and freelancers whose clients are mostly outside Estonia.

The numbers are easy to mix up here. Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cites €132 a day, roughly €3,960 a month, while the e-Residency page shows €4,500. It is therefore best to confirm the amount with the embassy or visa center right before applying. The D visa fee is €120 and health insurance is mandatory. The visa cannot be extended; you can only submit a new application, and total time on long-stay visas is capped at 548 days within 730.

European countries offering a Digital Nomad Visa are covered in the Visit World roundup.

Iceland: up to 180 days and income from a million krónur

In Iceland the conditions are clear and precisely defined. The long-term visa for remote workers is valid for 90 to 180 days. You must prove income of at least 1,000,000 ISK a month (1,300,000 if you apply with a spouse), have insurance with coverage of at least 2,000,000 ISK, and be a national of a country whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Schengen.

The processing fee is 12,200 ISK. No Icelandic ID number (kennitala) is issued, you cannot work for Icelandic employers, and a new long-term visa will not be granted if the previous one was issued less than 12 months ago. Applications are submitted on paper, by post or in the drop box of the Directorate of Immigration. After 183 days in the country, you risk becoming a tax resident.

Georgia: the new C5 visa for remote workers

In April 2026, Georgia's parliament adopted a new visa category, C5, which legalizes working for foreign clients while living in the country. It is a multiple-entry short-stay visa valid for up to five years, with a total stay of up to one year. Spouses and minor children can apply too.

The visa does not give the right to work for Georgian companies: income must come from abroad. The cost is quoted across a wide range, from $20 to $500 depending on format and processing speed, and some sources mention roughly $300. The minimum income and the full list of documents have not been officially published at the time of writing, so keep an eye on updates. There is a caveat as well: citizens of many countries can already live in Georgia visa-free for up to a year, so the C5 is most useful to those who do not get that visa-free stay. Freelancers also often register as individual entrepreneurs with small business status and pay 1% of turnover.

Georgia is launching a new visa for remote workers; details are in our earlier article.

How to choose a country among digital nomad visas?

Start with income, because it rules out the most options. The lowest thresholds are in Italy (about €2,070 a month, if you divide €24,789 a year) and Spain (€2,849). Greece, Malta and Cyprus ask for €3,500, Croatia €3,622.50, Portugal €3,680, and for Estonia plan on €4,000–4,500. The highest bar is in Iceland: a million krónur a month is noticeably above all the other amounts.

Next, look at the duration. Croatia gives up to 18 months, Cyprus up to three years with extensions, Malta up to four, Spain up to five. And decide on tax residency in advance, not on day 183.

If you plan to work from abroad, insurance is often part of the mandatory document package: Estonia, Greece and Iceland require a valid health policy, and Iceland also sets a minimum coverage. A freelancer has no employer to take care of medical treatment, so all costs fall on them. Before buying, check the policy terms against the consulate's requirements. Choose your citizenship and country on the Visit World portal to find health insurance for your move. 

As a reminder, today digital nomads can combine work and travel with practically no spending on accommodation. We have already covered how to live for free in different countries around the world: house-sitting, skill exchange, couchsurfing, grants and government programs.

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