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Digital nomad visas in the EU

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A digital nomad visa lets you live in a country legally while working remotely for employers or clients abroad. As of mid-2026, 13 of the 27 EU countries run one, and the income bars range from about €2,500 to €4,300 a month. Here is the full landscape, cheapest threshold first, and the realistic alternatives in the countries that do not have one.

One thing first: if you hold an EU or EEA passport, you do not need any of these visas, you already have the right to live and work remotely anywhere in the bloc.

The 13 EU countries with a nomad visa

CountryIncome / mo*Duration
Croatia
Digital Nomad Residence Permit
~€2,540Up to 12 months, reapply after a break
Italy
Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa
~€2,7001 year, renewable
Spain
Digital Nomad Visa (Startup Law)
~€2,8001 year visa, residence up to 3+2 years
Czechia
Digital Nomad Program
~€2,900Long-term visa up to 1 year
Hungary
White Card
~€3,0001 year, renewable once
Slovenia
Digital Nomad Visa
~€3,20012 months, not renewable (6-month cooldown)
Portugal
D8 Digital Nomad Visa
~€3,2801 year, or residence permit up to 5 years
Estonia
Digital Nomad Visa
~€3,500Up to 12 months
Greece
Digital Nomad Visa
~€3,5001 year visa, 2-year residence permit possible
Cyprus
Digital Nomad Visa
~€3,5001 year, renewable up to 2 more
Malta
Nomad Residence Permit
~€3,5001 year, renewable up to 4
Romania
Digital Nomad Visa
~€3,9501 year, renewable
Latvia
Digital Nomad Visa
~€4,3001 year, renewable once

*Approximate minimum monthly income, verified against public sources in July 2026. Thresholds track local wages and change often; always confirm with the official source before applying. Most programs add 15-75% per accompanying family member.

Croatia

One of the lowest income bars in the EU; income tax exemption on foreign remote income.

Italy

Launched 2024; requires higher-education or proven professional experience.

Spain

Counts toward long-term residence; special 24% tax regime possible.

Czechia

Narrow program (selected professions and nationalities); the zivno freelance route is the broader alternative.

Hungary

Straightforward program; time on the White Card does not count toward permanent residence.

Slovenia

New since November 2025; income bar is about twice the national average net salary.

Portugal

The residence path counts toward the 5-year citizenship clock.

Estonia

The original EU nomad visa (2020); pairs well with e-Residency for company owners.

Greece

Plus 20% per partner and 15% per child on the income bar.

Cyprus

Annual quota applies; popular with non-EU tech workers.

Malta

English-speaking admin; 10% flat tax on authorised work after the first year.

Romania

Income bar is about three times the average gross salary.

Latvia

Employer or clients must be OECD-registered; one of the higher income bars.

The 14 without one, and what to do instead

Germany

No nomad visa, but the Freiberufler (freelance) residence permit is a well-trodden route for self-employed remote workers.

Austria

No nomad visa; self-employment permits are quota-based and demanding.

France

No nomad visa; the profession liberale route or a long-stay visitor visa (no local work) are the usual paths.

Netherlands

No nomad visa; self-employed permit exists, and US citizens have the favourable DAFT route.

Belgium

No nomad visa; self-employed professional card is the main route.

Ireland

No nomad visa; remote work for a foreign employer generally is not a residence ground.

Denmark

No nomad visa; work-based permits target local employment.

Sweden

No nomad visa; a self-employment permit exists with real business requirements.

Finland

No nomad visa; the entrepreneur permit suits freelancers with Finnish clients.

Poland

No nomad visa; freelancers use work visas or business activity registration.

Lithuania

No nomad visa; e-resident tools exist but residence needs a standard permit.

Slovakia

No nomad visa; trade-licence (zivnost) residence is the closest route.

Luxembourg

No nomad visa; standard work or self-employment permits apply.

Bulgaria

No nomad visa yet; freelancers use the trade-representative or self-employment routes.

Four things the visa brochures skip

  • Ninety days is the default ceiling. Without a permit, non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180 across the whole Schengen area. Count yours with the Schengen 90/180 calculator.
  • Taxes are separate from visas. Spend 183+ days in a country and you usually become tax resident there, whatever your visa says. A few programs (Croatia, Malta) add explicit tax breaks; most do not. See our EU tax overview for freelancers and companies.
  • Renewal is the real question. Estonia and Slovenia cap you at a year; Spain and Portugal can roll into long-term residence. If you might want to stay, pick a program that counts toward permanent residence.
  • Income must usually come from abroad. Most programs require 80-100% of your income from non-local employers or clients.
  • Family raises the bar. Expect roughly 15-75% extra income required per dependent, depending on the country.

For the bigger picture beyond visas, cost, safety, healthcare and the path to citizenship, see our guide to the best EU countries for remote workers or compare any countries side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Which EU country has the cheapest digital nomad visa?

Croatia sets the lowest bar at roughly EUR 2,500 a month of income, with Hungary and Latvia close behind. The most expensive mainstream programs, like Estonia's, ask for around EUR 4,300. Most countries add 15 to 75% per accompanying family member, and thresholds change often.

Can I work remotely from the EU without a nomad visa?

EU and EEA citizens can, anywhere in the bloc. Non-EU citizens can visit Schengen visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, and working remotely during a short tourist stay is tolerated in practice, but staying longer legally requires a nomad visa or another residence permit. Our Schengen calculator works out how many of those days you have left.

Do digital nomad visas lead to permanent residence?

Some do, some cannot. Estonia caps you at a year and Slovenia requires a break before reapplying, while Spain's and Portugal's permits can roll into long-term residence and eventually citizenship. If staying is on your mind, pick a program whose years count toward permanent residence.

Sources and verification

Checked July 2026

Figures are compiled from the sources above and public national summaries, then cross-checked against public net-salary calculators. Where 2026 rules were still in flux at the time of writing, the text says so rather than picking a number. Everything is a labelled estimate for orientation, not a substitute for advice on your own case.

Published by Dobreon sp. z o.o., Krakow, Poland (VAT PL6772528744). Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.

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