Digital nomad visa programs
US passport holders. Income minimums, fees, and processing times are approximate and change frequently — verify at the official consulate or government site before applying. See also Visas and Entry Requirements.
All programs below grant the right to live and work remotely for a foreign employer or clients. None authorize local employment. Requirements verified mid-2026; treat figures as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Europe
Guides in this region (93)
Portugal — D8 Digital Nomad Visa
Residency visa; pathway to long-term residence
Europe
Income minimum
~€3,040 / mo
Visa fee
~€90
Processing
60–90 days
Initial stay
1–2 years (renewable)
Key notes: Apply at the Portuguese consulate in your home country. You must show proof of employment or freelance income for the past 3 months. Health insurance with €30,000 coverage required. After 5 years, eligible for permanent residency or citizenship.
Official portal
Spain — Digital Nomad Visa
Part of the Startups Law; up to 5 years
Europe
Income minimum
~€2,646 / mo (200% SMI)
Visa fee
~€74
Processing
~20 business days
Initial stay
1 year (extendable to 5)
Key notes: Up to 20% of income may come from Spanish companies. Must be employed by a company for at least 3 months prior to application. Apply at the Spanish consulate in the US.
Official portal
Croatia — Digital Nomad Residence Permit
Temporary residence; not an EU Schengen visa
Europe
Income minimum
~$2,300 / mo
Fee
~€55
Processing
Varies (weeks)
Initial stay
Up to 1 year
Key notes: Croatia is EU but not Schengen — time here does not count against Schengen 90/180 days. Apply in-country at the local police station (MUP) within 3 days of arrival. Health insurance required.
MUP portal
Estonia — Digital Nomad Visa
D visa; Schengen area
Europe
Income minimum
€3,504 / mo
Visa fee
~€100
Processing
15–30 days
Initial stay
Up to 1 year
Key notes: One of the original digital nomad visa programs. Apply at an Estonian embassy or online via the e-Residency portal. Counts toward Schengen 90/180 day limit for other Schengen countries — plan accordingly.
Police & Border Guard
Germany — Freelance Visa (Freiberufler)
For freelancers and self-employed; not a nomad-specific program
Europe
Income minimum
No set minimum; must show sustainability
Visa fee
~€75
Processing
6–12 weeks
Initial stay
1–3 years (renewable)
Key notes: Requires a concrete client contract or letter of intent from a German client. Must register a local address (Anmeldung) within 2 weeks of arrival. The Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) has significant discretion — a detailed business plan helps. Health insurance mandatory.
Make It In Germany
Italy — Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa
National D visa; Schengen area; 1-year renewable
Europe
Income minimum
€28,000 / yr (~€2,333 / mo)
Visa fee
~€116 (~$125 USD)
Processing
Varies by consulate
Initial stay
1 year (renewable annually)
Key notes: Apply at the Italian consulate in your US state of residence via Prenot@mi (book appointment online). Must hold a university degree or have 6+ months of proven remote or freelance work experience. Health insurance with €30,000 minimum coverage required. Biometrics mandatory since January 2025. Consulates vary on exact document requirements — confirm directly before applying.
Prenot@mi
Americas
Guides in this region (37)
Mexico — Temporary Resident Visa
Not a dedicated nomad visa, but commonly used
Americas
Income minimum
~$1,620 / mo OR ~$27k in savings
Visa fee
~$36
Processing
Varies by consulate
Initial stay
1–4 years
Key notes: Apply at a Mexican consulate in the US before traveling. You receive a temporary resident card (Tarjeta de Residente Temporal) on arrival. One of the most popular options for US-based remote workers due to proximity, cost of living, and time-zone alignment with US employers.
Mexican Consulates
Colombia — Digital Nomad / Digital Migrant Visa
Dedicated remote-work category (M visa)
Americas
Income minimum
~$700–1,000 / mo
Visa fee
~$54
Processing
3–15 business days (online)
Initial stay
Up to 2 years
Key notes: One of the most affordable income thresholds globally. Apply entirely online through the Cancillería portal. Proof of health insurance and a clean criminal record required. Medellín and Bogotá are popular bases.
Cancillería portal
Barbados — Welcome Stamp
12-month remote work authorization
Americas
Income minimum
$50,000 / yr (individual) · $100,000 (family)
Fee
$2,000 (individual) · $3,000 (family)
Processing
~5 business days
Initial stay
12 months
Key notes: One of the first Caribbean digital nomad programs. The stamp allows you to work remotely while living in Barbados for a full year. Normal Barbados tax rules apply — consult a tax professional on residency implications.
Welcome Stamp
Asia-Pacific
Guides in this region (29)
Georgia — Remotely from Georgia Program
No visa required for US passport holders (365 days)
Asia-Pacific
Income minimum
None
Visa fee
Free
Processing
Arrive and stay
Allowed stay
365 days visa-free
Key notes: US passport holders can stay up to 365 days with no visa. The "Remotely from Georgia" program formalizes this for nomads, but entry itself requires no paperwork. Tbilisi has a large and established expat/nomad community. See Visas for general Georgia entry notes.
Indonesia — B211A Visa On Arrival Extension
Tourist/social visa extended for remote workers; not an official nomad visa
Asia-Pacific
Income minimum
Not specified
Fee
~$150–200 (visa + extensions)
Processing
On arrival + in-country extensions
Max stay
Up to ~6 months with extensions
Key notes: Bali is the de-facto hub. Indonesia has announced a dedicated "Digital Nomad Visa" (E33G) but availability has been inconsistent — check current status at imigrasi.go.id before traveling. The B211A extension route is the most reliable path as of mid-2026. Cannot work for Indonesian companies.
Imigrasi portal
Thailand — Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa
Wealthy Global Citizen category for remote workers
Asia-Pacific
Income minimum
$80,000 / yr for 2 consecutive years
Visa fee
~$600
Processing
4–8 weeks
Initial stay
10 years (5+5)
Key notes: High bar but the most generous Southeast Asia long-stay option — 10-year visa, 17% flat income tax option, multiple re-entry permit included. Must have $500k assets OR $100k investment in Thailand. Apply through the Board of Investment (BOI) portal.
BOI LTR portal
Japan — Digital Nomad Visa
Status of Residence: Designated Activities · launched April 2024
Asia-Pacific
Income minimum
~¥10M / yr (~$68k USD)
Visa fee
~¥3,000 (~$20 USD)
Processing
Varies by consulate
Initial stay
Up to 6 months (not renewable)
Key notes: Available to US citizens (Japan has a tax treaty with the US). Must show proof of remote work, health insurance covering ¥10M (~$68k), and income from outside Japan. Non-renewable — must leave Japan for 6 months before reapplying. Apply at a Japanese consulate in the US before departure.
Japan MOFA
UAE — Virtual Work Programme
1-year remote work visa · Dubai / Abu Dhabi
Asia-Pacific
Income minimum
$3,500 / mo (employee) · $5,000 / mo (owner)
Fee
~AED 1,535 (~$420 USD, incl. Emirates ID)
Processing
1–5 business days
Initial stay
1 year (renewable)
Key notes: Must provide 6 consecutive months of bank statements showing the income minimum (updated Jan 2026). Business owners must show company ownership for at least 1 year. No UAE income tax. US citizens remain subject to US federal tax on worldwide income regardless of UAE residency — consult a tax advisor.
GDRFA Dubai
Malaysia — DE Rantau Nomad Pass
Professional Visit Pass for remote workers; up to 24 months
Asia-Pacific
Income minimum
$24,000 / yr (tech) · $60,000 / yr (non-tech)
Fee
RM 1,080 + 8% SST (~$234 USD)
Processing
6–8 weeks (100% online)
Max stay
3–12 months; renewable once (24 months total)
Key notes: Administered by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). US citizens are already visa-free for 90 days; DE Rantau enables stays beyond that. Must work remotely for a company registered outside Malaysia. Multiple-entry pass. Kuala Lumpur is a major Southeast Asian nomad hub with low cost of living and fast internet. Dependents can be included (RM 540 + SST each).
MDEC DE Rantau
Verify before applying. Visa programs change frequently — income thresholds, fees, and processing times listed here are approximate as of mid-2026. Always confirm current requirements directly with the official consulate or government portal before submitting an application or booking travel.
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