Digital Nomad Visas in 2026

What digital nomad visas are

Digital nomad visas (also called remote work visas or freelancer visas) allow foreign nationals to live legally in a country while working remotely for employers or clients based in other countries. The host country gains population, tax revenue (in some cases), and economic activity from spending — without the worker competing for local jobs.

Digital nomad visas are distinct from:

• Entrepreneur/startup visas (working on a local business)
• Work visas (working for a local employer)
• Tourist visas (not legally permitted to work)

Active digital nomad visa programmes (2026)

Portugal — D8 Visa

Launched: 2022

Who qualifies: Non-EU nationals working remotely as employees of foreign companies, or as self-employed/freelancers with clients outside Portugal. Also available to EU nationals wanting legal residence status.

Income requirement: Monthly income of at least €3,040 (approximately 4x Portugal's minimum wage — verify current threshold)

Application process: Apply at a Portuguese consulate in your home country. Documents: proof of income (employment contract or client contracts + invoices), bank statements (last 3 months), health insurance, clean criminal record, accommodation proof.

Duration: D8 is an initial visa (4 months) allowing entry into Portugal to apply for a 2-year residence permit. The residence permit can then be extended (2 + 3 years) and eventually leads to permanent residence.

Tax: Under the new IFICI regime (from 2024, replacing NHR), qualifying individuals may access a flat 20% rate on Portuguese-source income for 10 years. Remote workers earning from foreign sources may benefit from NHR-derived protections for the transitional period. Specific tax treatment requires advice.

Spain — Digital Nomad Visa

Launched: January 2023 (Startups Act)

Who qualifies: Non-EU nationals working remotely as employees of companies outside Spain, or as self-employed/freelancers with at least 80% of income from clients outside Spain.

Income requirement: Minimum monthly income of approximately €2,646 (200% of Spain's minimum wage — verify current threshold)

Application: At Spanish consulate in home country. Documents: employment contract or proof of client relationships and income, tax returns, bank statements, criminal record, health insurance.

Duration: 1-year initial visa; extendable to 3 years; can convert to self-employment or employment residence permit.

Tax: The Beckham Law (Régimen Especial de Tributación) — available to some but not all DNV holders — allows a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-source income for up to 5 years (up to €600,000). Eligibility requirements apply.

Germany — Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler Visum)

Pre-existing route, not a new "digital nomad" visa:

Available to non-EU nationals in recognised "liberal professions" — journalists, IT specialists, artists, scientists, teachers, doctors, architects, lawyers, tax advisors, engineers.

Requirements: Contract or work orders from clients (can be foreign clients), sufficient income to cover living costs in Germany, no criminal record, health insurance.

Processing: Can take 3–6 months; requires application at a German consulate and then formal approval from the local Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' authority) once in Germany.

UAE — Remote Work Visa

Launched: October 2020

Who qualifies: Employees of companies outside the UAE (not for the self-employed or company owners — they use the investor/partner visa route). Must prove employment with a foreign company.

Requirements: Employment contract with an offshore company, minimum monthly salary of USD 3,500 (verify current requirement), proof of ability to work remotely, health insurance.

Duration: 1 year

Cost: Approximately AED 3,400 (application and processing — verify current fees)

Limited uptake: The UAE remote work visa has seen limited uptake compared to the investor visa, partly because the investor visa (via a free zone licence) offers longer duration and more flexibility.

Georgia — De Facto Nomad Destination (no specific visa)

Georgia does not have a specific "digital nomad visa" but functions as a nomad destination via:

Visa-free access: Citizens of 90+ countries can enter and stay in Georgia for up to 365 days per year without a visa (verify your country at evisa.gov.ge). This allows living and working remotely in Georgia legally — remote work for foreign employers is not prohibited by Georgian immigration law for short-term stays.

Residence permit: For longer-term residence, forming a Georgian LLC and obtaining a residence permit through the company provides a more stable legal basis.

Estonia — Digital Nomad Visa

Launched: August 2020

Who qualifies: Non-EU nationals working remotely for employers or clients outside Estonia, with a monthly income of at least €4,500 (verify current threshold).

Duration: Up to 1 year (D-type visa allowing 365 days in Estonia)

Note: E-Residency is not a residence right — it doesn't allow you to live in Estonia. The Digital Nomad Visa does allow you to live in Estonia.

Other notable digital nomad visa programmes