Many countries now offer a visa built for remote workers. This guide compares eight official programs, with income rules, fees, and stay lengths checked in October 2026. The comparison can help you narrow your list before you read a full application guide.
What This List Compares
All eight programs below allow remote work for employers or clients outside the country. The list goes from the lowest income requirement to the highest, using the lower tier where a country has more than one. Thailand sits third because it asks for savings instead of monthly income.
Euro amounts are converted at about US$1.15 per euro, so the dollar figures will move with exchange rates. Readers who want more figures can see digital nomad visa income requirements by country. Short stays may not need a visa at all, which is covered in digital nomad visa vs tourist visa.
Staying long in any of these countries can make you a local tax resident. Each entry includes a tax note where one was found.
Top Countries With Official Digital Nomad Visas
1. Colombia
Colombia’s digital nomad visa has the lowest income requirement on this list. Applicants apply online through the foreign ministry’s visa portal.
- Income: Three times the monthly minimum wage, which is COP 5,252,715 in 2026 (about US$1,400). Applicants show it with bank statements from the last three months.
- Cost: Government fees are reported at about US$230 to US$320 in total, depending on the source and exchange rate.
- Stay: Up to two years.
- Work rules: Income must come from outside Colombia. Paid work for Colombian companies or clients is not allowed.
- Tax: Staying 183 days or more in a year can make you a Colombian tax resident.
Colombia requires health insurance that covers accidents, illness, and repatriation. One Colombian immigration guide says time on this visa does not count toward permanent residency. The visa suits a stay of up to two years.
Best for: Remote workers on a mid-level income who want a two-year base in Latin America.
2. Malaysia
Malaysia’s DE Rantau Nomad Pass is run by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). The pass has two income tiers.
- Income: At least US$24,000 a year (about US$2,000 a month) for tech and digital roles. Other roles need at least US$60,000 a year, according to MDEC’s FAQ version 10.0, dated 28 August 2026.
- Cost: A non-refundable fee of RM1,080 for the main applicant and RM540 per dependant is reported in the current FAQ.
- Stay: 12 months, renewable up to 24 months in total.
- Tax: The pass is an immigration permit and does not set a tax status. Staying about 182 days or more can make you a Malaysian tax resident.
Founders, accountants, and legal counsel are reported to fall under the higher tier, so checking the category before paying the fee can save money. From 1 August 2026, rejected applications cannot be appealed. A reported plan to allow stays beyond two years had not appeared in the published FAQ by 12 October 2026.
Best for: Developers, designers, and other digital professionals who want a Southeast Asia base with a lower income bar.
3. Thailand
Thailand launched the Destination Thailand Visa, known as the DTV, on 15 July 2024. Thai embassy pages describe it for digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers.
- Funds: At least 500,000 THB, shown with bank statements for the past three months. This is roughly US$14,500 to US$17,000, depending on the exchange rate.
- Cost: 10,000 THB at most embassies. The amount varies by embassy, and the fee is not refundable.
- Stay: The visa is valid for five years. Each entry allows up to 180 days, with one 180-day extension inside Thailand. After 360 days, the holder leaves and re-enters.
- Work rules: The DTV is a special type of tourist visa. Holders cannot get a Thai work permit or work for Thai clients.
- Tax: Staying 180 days or more in a calendar year can make you a Thai tax resident. Foreign income brought into Thailand may then be taxed.
Applications go through the Thai e-Visa portal. Embassies set their own document details, so the exact list can differ by country.
Best for: Remote workers who want a flexible five-year visa and can show savings instead of a monthly income.
4. Spain
Spain’s digital nomad visa is legally called the international telework visa. It lets non-EU remote workers live in Spain while working for companies abroad.
- Income: 200% of the monthly minimum wage, according to Spain’s foreign ministry. Guides that use the 2026 wage put it at about €2,849 (about US$3,300). Family members add 75% for the second person and 25% for each person after that.
- Local clients: Up to 20% of professional work can be for companies in Spain.
- Stay: A residence authorization can last up to three years.
- Cost: The consular visa fee is reported at about €80 to €100.
- Tax: Many permit holders may qualify for Spain’s reduced-rate expat tax regime, known as the Beckham Law.
The insurance rule is stricter than many applicants expect. The policy must come from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain, and it must cover all the risks that the public health system covers.
Best for: Remote employees and freelancers with mostly foreign clients who want up to three years in the EU.
5. Malta
Malta’s Nomad Residence Permit is issued by the Residency Malta Agency. The agency last updated its FAQ on 17 April 2026.
- Income: €42,000 gross per year, or about €3,500 a month (about US$4,000). Applicants must show guaranteed income for at least five months.
- Cost: A €300 application fee per person, plus €100 for the residence card.
- Stay: One year, renewable up to three times, for a maximum of four years. The permit does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship.
- Insurance: Private health insurance with at least €100,000 of cover for the EU and the UK, paid in advance for a full year. Travel insurance is not accepted.
- Work rules: Permit holders cannot offer services to Maltese companies or clients.
Malta has special tax rules for permit holders. The agency says that holding the permit does not automatically qualify you for them. Holders can also visit the rest of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. The Schengen 90/180 day rule guide explains how this works.
Best for: Remote employees with a steady income who want an English-speaking EU base for up to four years.
6. Greece
Greece’s digital nomad visa now starts at a consulate. Since 5 February 2026, Law 5275/2026 has ended first applications from inside the country, according to legal summaries.
- Income: €3,500 net per month (about US$4,000), plus 20% more for a spouse and 15% more for each child.
- Cost: A €75 national visa fee. A €1,000 fee for the two-year residence permit is reported in 2026 guides.
- Stay: A 12-month type D visa, followed by a two-year residence permit after arrival.
- Tax: New tax residents may qualify for a 50% income tax reduction for up to seven years, according to guides on the Greek tax code. Living in Greece will usually make you a Greek tax resident.
Applicants who planned to arrive as tourists and apply later now need a different plan. A 2026 update reports a 90-day decision deadline for authorities, which can be extended by 30 days for complex cases.
Best for: Remote workers who can plan ahead and want a possible tax reduction in the EU.
7. Croatia
The Croatia digital nomad visa is legally a temporary stay permit. The Ministry of the Interior runs the online application.
- Income: €3,622.50 per month (about US$4,200), shown with six months of payslips or bank statements. Applicants can show savings instead: €43,470 for a 12-month stay or €65,205 for 18 months.
- Cost: €55.74 at a consulate or €46.45 at a police station, plus later card fees.
- Stay: Up to 18 months. A new application is possible six months after the previous stay ends.
- Tax: Legal summaries say Croatian law exempts income from foreign employers from local income tax while the permit is valid.
The savings option can help applicants whose income changes from month to month. Close family members may join after the nomad’s stay is approved.
Best for: Freelancers with uneven income who can show a savings balance and want a coastal base for up to 18 months.
8. Portugal
Portugal’s D8 visa is a national visa for remote workers with employers or clients outside Portugal.
- Income: Four times the national minimum wage, which is €3,680 per month in 2026 (about US$4,200). Guides expect €3,880 in 2027 if the minimum wage rises to €970.
- Savings: Guides commonly quote about €11,040, which equals 12 months of the minimum wage.
- Versions: A temporary stay visa for up to one year, or a residence visa. The residence visa is valid for four months and leads to a two-year residence permit from AIMA.
- Cost: The consular fee is reported between €75 and €110, depending on the source.
The income requirement rises as the minimum wage rises. Appointments with AIMA have been the main delay for recent applicants, according to a 2026 update.
Best for: Higher earners who want a route from a one-year visa to longer residence.
Other Programs Worth Checking
Japan and Estonia also run official programs. Japan’s digital nomad visa asks for ¥10 million a year in income and allows six months with no extension. Sources disagree on income for Estonia’s digital nomad visa. Both €3,960 and €4,500 per month were reported as of August 2026, so check the official page first.
Plan Your Route Once You Pick a Country
Colombia, Malaysia, and Thailand ask for the lowest amounts. The European programs ask for about €2,850 to €3,700 a month. After choosing a country, you can compare flight costs before you start an application. Search flights on FlyBibe to compare routes to Medellin, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Lisbon, or Athens.
Immigration and tax rules change. This guide reflects information checked on 18 October 2026. Please confirm current requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration agency, and speak with a qualified tax professional about your own situation. This article is general information and not legal or tax advice.