Digital Nomad Visas in 2026: Which Countries Offer Them and What They Require

Digital nomad visas in 2026 are no longer a novelty: from Lisbon to Tokyo, governments now offer a formal route for people who earn their living online from abroad. The catch is that every scheme sets its own income bar, length of stay and rules on tax. This guide compares eight of them using the governments’ own pages, so you can see quickly which ones are realistic for you.

A “digital nomad visa” is an informal label. Officially these routes go by names such as a telework visa, a temporary stay for digital nomads or a nomad residence permit. What they share is a simple idea: you may live in the country for a set period while working remotely for an employer or clients based elsewhere.

That simple idea hides a lot of detail. Some schemes are short-stay visas that cannot be renewed; others lead to a residence permit that can last for years. Some count gross income, others net. And a few are closed to certain nationalities altogether.

Digital nomad visas in 2026 compared

The table below summarises each scheme as described on its official page. Amounts are shown in the currency the government uses. Treat it as a starting point, not a substitute for reading the source.

Europe

Spain: telework visa

Spain’s scheme is aimed at people working remotely for companies located outside Spain. According to the Spanish consulate in Washington’s telework visa page, the applicant alone must show 200% of the monthly minimum wage (SMI), which it gives as €2,442 a month for 2026. Each family member adds to the requirement: 75% of the SMI for the first and 25% for each one after that.

The visa is valid for up to a year, or for the length of the work if shorter. People already legally in Spain can instead apply to the UGECE unit of the Ministry of Inclusion for a residence permit of up to three years, which can be renewed while the conditions are still met. The consulate also asks for a recognised degree or at least three years of professional experience, and allows work for Spanish companies only if it does not exceed 20% of your total professional activity. You normally apply at the consulate covering the place where you legally live.

Portugal: temporary stay or residence visa for remote work

Portugal offers two routes listed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa types page. A temporary stay visa covers stays of less than a year and allows multiple entries. A residence visa for remote work is valid for four months and two entries, after which the holder applies to AIMA, Portugal’s migration agency, for a residence permit.

For the temporary stay visa, the official documentation page asks for proof of average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum monthly wage. You also need an employment contract or employer declaration (or, if self-employed, a services contract or similar evidence) and a document certifying your tax residence. The page does not state the euro amount, so check the current minimum wage when you apply.

Croatia: temporary stay of digital nomads

Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior defines a digital nomad as a non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss national who works through communication technology for a company, or their own business, that is not registered in Croatia and does not work for Croatian employers. Its official digital nomads page sets the minimum at 2.5 times the previous year’s average monthly net salary, currently €3,622.50 a month, with 10% added for each family member. Alternatively, you can show €43,470 in savings for a 12-month stay or €65,205 for 18 months.

Stays run for up to 18 months. If you were granted less, you can apply for an extension of up to six months, and a fresh application is possible six months after a previous stay ends. Applications go through the online portal or a police administration. People who need a visa to enter Croatia apply through a Croatian embassy or consulate instead and then receive a long-stay D visa.

Estonia: digital nomad visa

Estonia was one of the first countries with a dedicated scheme. The official FAQ on Estonia’s digital nomad visa sets an income benchmark of €4,500 a month before tax, which you must show over the six months before you apply. You must work for a foreign-registered employer, run a foreign-registered company or freelance mainly for clients abroad.

There are two versions: a short-stay C visa for up to 90 days (state fee €90) and a long-stay D visa for up to 365 days (€120). It cannot be renewed, though you can apply for a new one within the limits on long-stay visas. Estonia is one of the few countries that spells out the tax position: stay more than 183 days in a 12-month period and you become an Estonian tax resident. Note that e-Residency is not required for the visa, despite the two often being mentioned together.

Malta: nomad residence permit

Malta’s permit is run by Residency Malta. Its official FAQ (version 14.1, April 2026) sets a minimum gross income of €42,000 a year for applications made since 1 April 2024. You must also show a guaranteed source of income for at least five months from the date you apply, a rental or purchase agreement covering the permit period and health insurance.

The permit lasts a year from when the residence card is issued and may be renewed three times, up to four years in total, at the agency’s discretion. Applications are made online, with a €300 non-refundable fee per applicant and €100 for each residence card. On tax, the FAQ says the permit does not automatically make you liable to Maltese tax and directs applicants to seek independent advice.

The income threshold gets the attention, but the rules on where you may apply and who you may work for decide whether a scheme is actually open to you.

Asia and the Middle East

Japan: designated activities (digital nomad)

Japan’s scheme, launched in 2024, has the highest bar in this list. The Immigration Services Agency’s summary sheet requires annual income of at least ¥10 million at the time of application and private medical insurance covering at least ¥10 million for injury and illness. Stays are limited to six months within a year, cannot be extended and do not come with a residence card.

The key eligibility rule is nationality: applicants must come from a country or region covered by Japan’s visa exemption arrangements for temporary visitors and by a tax convention with Japan. Japan’s national tourism organisation adds that, after a stay, you must wait six months before reapplying. Spouses and children can accompany you.

Thailand: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

Thailand’s DTV covers remote workers and freelancers as well as people coming for “soft power” activities such as Muay Thai or Thai cooking courses. The Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest’s DTV page lists a financial requirement of at least 500,000 baht, shown by bank statements, payslips or a sponsorship letter. The visa is valid for five years with stays of up to 180 days; extensions are handled by the Immigration Bureau after arrival.

Holders may not get a Thai work permit, work for companies in Thailand or freelance for Thai clients. Applications go through the official e-visa site, thaievisa.go.th. Fees and documents vary by embassy (Budapest lists €350), and the embassy in Kuala Lumpur advises applying at least 30 working days before you travel, so check the mission that covers where you live.

United Arab Emirates: Dubai virtual work residence

Dubai’s virtual work programme is a residence permit for people employed by entities outside the UAE. The GDRFA Dubai service page asks for proof of monthly income of at least US$3,500, evidence of remote employment, a passport valid for six months and health insurance. The permit runs for one year and can be extended, and the holder can sponsor family members for the same period.

You apply online through GDRFA smart services (using UAE Pass or a user account) or in person at an AMER centre. The visa fee listed is AED 200 plus VAT, with extra charges if you are already in the UAE. After approval, the initial entry visa gives you 60 days to complete the remaining residence steps.

Notes for Indian passport holders

Few official pages single out India, but several rules matter for Indian applicants:

• Malta: India is not on the list of ineligible nationalities in Residency Malta’s current FAQ, so Indian nationals can apply if they meet the other conditions. The agency says it may revise that list.
• Japan: the scheme is limited to nationals of countries covered by Japan’s visa exemption arrangements and a tax convention. Indian travellers apply for a visa even for short visits to Japan, so check carefully with the Embassy of Japan in India whether you qualify before spending money on the application.
• Visa-required routes in Europe: Croatia sends applicants who need a visa to a consulate, and Spain’s in-country route is only for people already legally in Spain. If you need a Schengen visa for short trips, expect to apply at a consulate before travelling rather than switching status after arrival.
• Where you live matters: the Spanish consulate in Washington, for example, accepts applications only from legal residents of its district. If you live outside India, check which mission covers your country of residence.

How to choose between them

Start with the hard filters, then weigh the softer ones:

1. Eligibility: check nationality restrictions and whether you can apply from where you live.
2. Income: compare your provable income with the threshold, remembering that some schemes count gross income and that family members raise the bar.
3. Length of stay: a six-month, non-renewable status suits a long trip; a renewable permit suits a move.
4. Tax: long stays can make you tax resident. Get advice from a qualified adviser in both your home country and your destination.
5. Cost of living: the visa is only the entry ticket. For ideas on affordable European bases, see our guide to underrated European towns for remote workers.

The bottom line

Digital nomad visas in 2026 give remote workers real options, but they are not interchangeable. Spain and Portugal tie their bar to the minimum wage, Croatia and Estonia ask for income well above local salaries, Malta and Dubai suit people planning a longer base, and Japan’s short, high-threshold status is for a narrow group. Shortlist two or three, read the official pages in full and confirm anything unclear with the embassy before you pay a fee.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work for local clients on a digital nomad visa?

Generally not. Croatia, Japan, Thailand and Dubai all restrict work for local employers or clients, and Spain caps work for Spanish companies at 20% of your professional activity. Check the specific rule for your scheme.

Which digital nomad visa has the lowest income requirement?

Of the schemes compared here, Spain’s €2,442 a month (for 2026) is among the lowest, while Portugal’s depends on the current minimum wage. Thailand’s DTV asks for funds of 500,000 baht rather than a monthly income.

Will I have to pay tax in the country?

It depends on the country and how long you stay. Estonia states that more than 183 days in 12 months makes you tax resident; Malta says its permit does not automatically create a tax liability. Most official pages are silent, so get professional advice.

Can my family come with me?

Most schemes here allow a spouse and children, usually with a higher income requirement. Spain, Croatia, Japan, Thailand and Dubai all describe family options on their official pages.

Sources

1. Telework (Digital nomad) Visa – Consular Section, Consulate General of Spain in Washington (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), 2026.
2. Type of Visa – General Information – National Visas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, 2026.
3. Temporary Stay – Necessary Documentation – National Visas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, 2026.
4. Temporary stay of digital nomads, Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, 2026.
5. FAQs about Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa, Republic of Estonia e-Residency, 2026.
6. New FAQs – Nomad Residence Permit (Version 14.1), Residency Malta Agency, 2026.
7. Status of Residence for Digital Nomad / Spouse or child of Digital Nomad, Immigration Services Agency of Japan, 2024.
8. Japan Introduces New Visa for Digital Nomads, Japan National Tourism Organization, 2024.
9. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), Royal Thai Embassy, Budapest, 2026.
10. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), Royal Thai Embassy, Kuala Lumpur, 2026.
11. Visa Issuance (Virtual Work), General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, 2026.