Half of the digital nomad visas open in 2026 ask for less than about US$3,750 a month in income, and most sit between $3,000 and $4,200. That’s from our index of 28 digital nomad and remote-work visa routes in 27 countries that publish an income (or funds) requirement and are currently accepting applications, ranked from easiest to hardest to qualify for. Every figure links back to a source in our full Digital nomad visa countries: which countries have one (2026 list).
Last checked: 30 September 2026 · Next update: January 2027
Key findings:
- Median bar: ~$3,740 a month across 28 routes (about $3,500 if you count one route per country). Most European routes cluster at €3,000–3,700 (≈ $3,400–4,200).
- Easiest to qualify for: Ecuador ($1,446 on the 2026 basic wage), Brazil ($1,500, or $18,000 in savings), Mauritius ($1,500 per adult) and Colombia (COP 5.25m ≈ $1,640).
- Hardest: South Korea (2x GNI per capita, KRW 104.8m a year ≈ $6,170 a month for over-35s in the capital area), Romania (~$5,930) and Japan (~$5,310).
- Two well-known schemes are no longer open: the Cayman Islands Global Citizen programme stopped taking applications in October 2022, and Iceland’s remote-worker long-term visa lost its legal basis in May 2026. Many “nomad visa” lists still include them.
- Not ranked: Thailand’s DTV uses a 500,000 THB bank balance (~$14,900) instead of an income test. Uruguay and the Bahamas’ BEATS state no threshold, and the Philippines hasn’t published one.
The index
Monthly bar in approximate US dollars. Currencies converted at ECB reference rates for 30 September 2026 (Colombia at about 3,200 COP/USD); annual figures divided by 12. Consulates judge in the official currency, so treat USD figures as guides.
| Rank | Country | Region | Min. requirement (≈ USD/month) | Max. stay / renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecuador | Americas | $1,446 (3x 2026 basic wage) | 2 yrs, renewable |
| 2 | Brazil | Americas | $1,500 (or $18,000 in funds) | 1 yr + 1 yr |
| 2 | Mauritius | Africa | $1,500 per adult (+$500 per child) | Up to 1 yr, renewable |
| 4 | Colombia | Americas | ~$1,640 (COP 5,252,715) | Up to 2 yrs |
| 5 | Cape Verde | Africa | ~$1,705 (average bank balance, not income) | 6 months + 6 months |
| 6 | Malaysia (tech workers) | Asia/Pacific | $2,000 ($5,000 non-tech) | Max 24 months |
| 6 | Namibia | Africa | $2,000 | 6 months, not renewable |
| 8 | Italy | Europe | ~$2,410–2,555 | 1 yr, renewable |
| 9 | Costa Rica | Americas | $3,000 | 1 yr + 1 yr |
| 9 | Panama | Americas | $3,000 | 9 months + 9 months |
| 11 | Spain | Europe | ~$3,235 (€2,849: 200% of annual SMI ÷ 12) | Permit up to 3 yrs, renew 2 |
| 12 | South Africa | Africa | ~$3,310 | Verify |
| 13 | Hungary | Europe | ~$3,405 (net, not gross) | 1 yr + 1 yr |
| 14 | UAE (federal) | Middle East | $3,500 | 1 yr, renewable |
| 15 | Greece | Europe | ~$3,975 | Permit 2 yrs, renewable |
| 15 | Malta | Europe | ~$3,975 | 1 yr, renew up to 4 yrs |
| 15 | Cyprus | Europe | ~$3,975 (net, not gross) | 1 yr + 2 yrs |
| 18 | Mexico | Americas | $4,049 (San Diego consulate; varies) | Up to 4 yrs |
| 19 | Croatia | Europe | ~$4,115 (or savings) | Up to 18 months |
| 20 | Barbados | Caribbean | ~$4,170 | 12 months, renewable |
| 20 | Antigua & Barbuda | Caribbean | ~$4,170 | Up to 2 yrs |
| 22 | Portugal | Europe | ~$4,180 | Permit 2 yrs, then 3-yr renewals |
| 23 | UAE (Dubai) | Middle East | $5,000 | 1 yr, renewable |
| 23 | Indonesia | Asia/Pacific | $5,000 | 1 yr, not extendable |
| 25 | Estonia | Europe | ~$5,110 | Up to 365 days |
| 26 | Japan | Asia/Pacific | ~$5,310 (JPY 10m a year) | 6 months, no extension |
| 27 | Romania | Europe | ~$5,930 (RON 27,576) | Up to 36 months |
| 28 | South Korea | Asia/Pacific | ~$6,170 (see note) | Up to 3 yrs |
South Korea’s tiers (annual income, based on 2025 GNI per capita of KRW 52.41m): ages 18–34 need 1x (≈ $3,090/mo) outside the capital area or 1.5x in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi; ages 35+ need 1.5x outside the capital area or 2x inside it. We rank on the 2x bar as the standard adult requirement in the capital area.
Closed or unclear schemes
| Country | Scheme | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cayman Islands | Global Citizen Concierge Program ($100,000/yr) | Last date to apply was 31 October 2022; regulations expired 30 November 2024. No extension found. |
| Iceland | Long-term visa for remote workers (ISK 1m/month) | The legal provision was repealed by the Visa Act 37/2026 (May 2026). The replacement permit doesn’t mention remote workers. Confirm with Iceland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. |
What the numbers say
- The easiest bars move every year. Ecuador and Colombia tie their requirement to the local minimum wage, so it rises each January. Check the current figure before applying.
- Length matters more than price. Japan and Namibia give you six months. Portugal, Spain, Greece and the UAE lead to multi-year residence permits. If you want to relocate, compare the maximum stay before the income bar.
- A visa isn’t a tax exemption. On almost every route here, staying around 183 days a year makes you tax resident. See Exit tax explained: which countries charge it when you leave and Tax-free countries (2026): no income tax countries you can actually live in for the tax side.
Methodology
- Scope: digital nomad and remote-work visa routes that publish a monthly or annual income or funds requirement and are open to new applicants. 34 routes checked; 28 ranked; 2 closed; 4 with no numeric test.
- Sources: government pages where reachable, otherwise law firms, specialist guides and news outlets. Headline figures were re-checked against official sources on 30 September 2026: Ecuador (gob.ec), Brazil (gov.br), Mauritius (EDB), Colombia (Cancillería), Japan (Immigration Services Agency), South Korea (Ministry of Justice), Romania (2026 BASS law), Spain (BOE). Cape Verde’s figure comes from secondary sources only.
- Currency: ECB reference rates for 30 September 2026 (EUR 1 = USD 1.1355). Annual thresholds divided by 12.
- Ties share a rank. Where a range or tiered bar is given (Italy, Malaysia, South Korea), the table explains which figure we rank on.
- Comparability: most bars are gross monthly income. Hungary and Cyprus quote net income, Cape Verde a bank balance, and Mexico’s figure is from one consulate. Brazil and Croatia also accept savings instead of income. Mauritius’s bar is per adult applicant.
- UAE appears twice because the federal remote-work visa and Dubai’s programme are separate routes with different bars.
- Updates: we re-check every figure each January and when members report a change.
Using this data
Journalists, bloggers and researchers are welcome to use these figures. Please credit Nomad Forums and link to this page. For the source list or a country breakdown, reply here or message the Nomad Forums team.
General information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.
Over to you: Were you granted one of these visas in 2025 or 2026? Reply with the income figure your consulate actually used, and we’ll add a “reported by members” column in the next update.
Related guides: Visa processing times tracker (2026): real dates from members · Does my country have a digital nomad visa? 35 countries answered (2026) · Expat health insurance for digital nomads: SafetyWing vs Genki vs Cigna and more · Hungary White Card (2026): the digital nomad residence permit, income and tax · Spain self-employed visa (2026): the autónomo route, cuota and tax