MoneyToolsGlobal Study · July 2026
Digital Nomad Visas Compared 2026: Income Requirements & Taxes, Side by Side
More than 50 countries now run some form of remote-work or digital nomad visa. Most comparisons online just list them; we pulled the actual 2026 income requirements, visa duration, and — critically, since it's the part most guides skip — how each country actually taxes you once you're living there. Unlike our Take-Home Pay and Purchasing Power indices, this comparison is built from published visa program rules rather than computed by our tax engine — treat the figures as a snapshot of current requirements, not a calculation.
Key findings
- Colombia has the lowest income bar of any program compared here — ~$750-1,400/month depending on source cited by the consulate; among the lowest bars of any program.
- Indonesia (Bali) requires the most: $60,000/year (~$5,000/month) from entirely external sources, plus a $2,000 bank balance.
- A low income requirement and favourable tax treatment don't always come together. Colombia and Mexico are the most accessible to qualify for, but neither offers a dedicated tax break for nomads — you're taxed as a regular resident once you cross the 183-day line. Croatia, Costa Rica, and the UAE combine easy qualification with a genuine exemption on foreign-sourced income.
- Georgia doesn't appear on the chart at all — most nationalities need no visa and no income proof, just a passport, for a full year. See the note below.
- Several "tax-free" headlines are conditional, not automatic — Greece's 50% reduction and Spain's Beckham Law both require separate applications beyond the visa itself, and Portugal's D8 visa doesn't automatically grant its IFICI tax regime.
Minimum monthly income requirement, 2026 (USD-equivalent)
Lower bars are easier to qualify for. Some programs (Italy, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Indonesia) actually publish an annual figure — converted here to a monthly-equivalent purely for comparison; see the table below for how each is really phrased.
The full 2026 comparison
| Country | Program | Income requirement | Duration | Tax treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Colombia | Digital Nomad Visa (Visa V) | ~$750-1,400/month depending on source cited by the consulate; among the lowest bars of any program | Up to 2 years | Standard Colombian tax residency rules apply after 183 days in a 365-day period — no dedicated nomad tax exemption |
 Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | 500,000 THB (~$16,000) in provable income or funds over the prior 12 months — not a strict monthly salary check | 5 years multiple-entry, 180 days per stay | Exempt if under 180 days/year in Thailand; foreign income remitted into Thailand can become taxable once you're a tax resident |
 Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa | No dedicated nomad visa — remote workers typically use the Temporary Resident Visa, ~$1,620/month income or equivalent savings | 1-4 years | Standard Mexican tax residency after 183 days — no special nomad tax break |
 Malaysia | DE Rantau Nomad Pass | $24,000/year for tech professionals; $60,000/year for non-tech professionals | 3-12 months, renewable once (24 months total) | Foreign-sourced income has generally not been taxed for remote workers on this pass — confirm current treatment before relying on it |
 Italy | Digital Nomad Visa | €28,000/year (~$30,300), provable via bank statements, payslips, or tax returns | 1 year, renewable | Regime Forfettario offers a 5% flat rate (effective ~3.9%) for the first 5 years for self-employed income under €85,000; otherwise standard IRPEF up to 43% |
 Costa Rica | Rentista / Digital Nomad Visa | ~$3,000/month or $60,000 verified for the prior 12 months | 1 year, renewable once | Foreign-source income is not taxed for qualifying visa holders |
 Spain | Digital Nomad Visa | €2,849/month (200% of Spain's minimum wage); no more than 20% of income from Spanish clients | 1 year, renewable up to 5 | Beckham Law flat 24% on income up to €600,000 for up to 6 years, if you qualify (not automatic with the visa) — Spain's Beckham Law explained → |
 UAE | Virtual Working Programme | $3,500/month for employees; $5,000/month plus 1+ year of company ownership for business owners | 1 year, renewable annually | 0% personal income tax — Dubai nomad tax calculator → |
 Greece | Digital Nomad Visa | €3,500/month before tax; +20% for a spouse, +15% per child | 1 year, renewable up to 2 years total | 50% income tax reduction for up to 7 years under the inbound-worker regime — conditional, not automatic |
 Croatia | Digital Nomad Residence Permit | €3,622.50/month for 2026 (formula: 2.5x the prior year's average net salary, adjusts annually) | Up to 18 months, non-consecutively renewable (6-month gap required) | Exempt from Croatian income tax on foreign-sourced income for the duration of the permit |
 Portugal | D8 Digital Nomad Visa | €3,680/month (4x Portugal's minimum wage) plus savings of 12x minimum wage (€11,040) | 1 or 2 years, renewable toward permanent residency | Standard progressive IRS applies unless you separately qualify for IFICI (20% flat) — the D8 visa itself doesn't grant IFICI automatically — Portugal's IFICI regime explained → |
 Estonia | Digital Nomad Visa | €4,500/month gross for the 6 months before applying | Up to 12 months, not renewable | 22% flat if you become a tax resident (183+ days); short stays under that threshold generally avoid Estonian tax entirely |
 Indonesia (Bali) | Remote Worker Visa (E33G) | $60,000/year (~$5,000/month) from entirely external sources, plus a $2,000 bank balance | 1 year | Foreign-sourced income generally untaxed under this visa category |
The odd one out: Georgia
No visa or income requirement at all for most nationalities — visa-free entry for up to 1 year. The appeal isn't the entry rules, it's what happens once you're earning there: a territorial tax system plus Small Business Status taxing turnover at just 1% up to GEL 500,000/year. Georgia's 1% tax regime explained →
Methodology & Sources
Figures were researched from each program's current published requirements as of July 2026 — official government immigration portals where available, cross-checked against relocation and tax advisory sources for consistency. Income requirements originally stated in local currency or as an annual figure were converted to a monthly USD equivalent using this site's standard reference exchange rates, purely so the chart above compares like with like — always check the requirement in its original form (linked in the table) before applying.
Digital nomad visa rules change frequently and eligibility criteria (nationality restrictions, minimum stay, proof-of-funds documentation) go well beyond what fits in a comparison table. This is a starting point for narrowing down candidates, not a substitute for checking the official requirements or speaking to an immigration lawyer before applying.
For countries and cities we model in full, use our Nomad Tax Calculator to see the actual net income under each regime, not just the visa's headline pitch.