15 Countries with Digital Nomad Visas You Should Know About

July 1, 2022

For many digital nomads, keeping up with different countries’ visa requirements can be a struggle. A simple tourist visa is often insufficient for the needs of the digital nomad life. Other options may not be much better.

Fortunately, many countries now provide visa programs designed specifically for digital nomads. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at the top countries with digital nomad visas.

What Is a Digital Nomad Visa?

Digital nomad visas are travel visas that allow digital nomads to live in a certain country. Typically, these visas allow you to remain in the country longer than a standard tourist visa would. They also allow you to work remotely in that country as long as you do not enter that country’s local labor market. This removes the possibility of taking jobs from local workers.

To apply for a digital nomad visa, you typically have to pay an application fee and prove a minimum monthly income. Once you are approved, you will be allowed to remain in the country until the visa expires. The most common length of stay is 12 months.

So which countries offer digital nomad visas for Americans living abroad? Here are our top picks.

15 Countries with Digital Nomad Visas

1. Estonia

Estonia has become a well-known destination for digital nomads. This is partially due to the Estonian Digital Nomad Visa, which makes it easy for foreigners to work remotely in this northern European nation.

Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is 80–100 euros (about $85–$105 USD)
• You must earn at least 3,504 euros per month (about $3,700 USD)
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year

2. Croatia

Croatia’s beautiful scenery and laid-back atmosphere have made it a popular home for digital nomads. Croatia’s Digital Nomad Temporary Residence Visa doesn’t hurt, either.

Croatia’s Digital Nomad Temporary Residence Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is 420 Croatian kunas (about $58 USD)
• You must earn at least 17,822.50 Croatian kunas per month (about $2,493 USD)
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year
• You can extend your stay for an additional six months

3. Iceland

Iceland is yet another country to try to attract digital nomads with its Long-Term Visa program. And with this island nation’s breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, plenty of digital nomads will be only too happy to answer the call.

Iceland’s Long-Term Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is 12,200 Icelandic krona (about $92 USD)
• You must earn at least 1,000,000 Icelander kroner per month (about $7,550 USD)
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for 180 days
• In order to apply, you must now have been issued an Icelandic Long-Term Visa within the previous 12 months

4. Germany

Germany’s digital nomad visa, the Resident Permit for Self-Employment, can be a bit trickier to get than most. However, if approved, it also offers a much longer stay than most.

Germany’s Resident Permit for Self-Employment at a Glance:

• The application fee is 60 euros (about $63 USD)
• There is no minimum income requirement
• You must have some form of accommodation in Germany
• You must prove that you earn your income through self-employment
• You must submit examples of your work
• You must submit an application in person at a German embassy or consulate
• Once you are approved, you must open a German bank account, register with the German tax office, and sign up for a German healthcare plan
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for three months
• You can extend your stay for a total of up to three years

5. Norway

Norway’s Independent Contractor Visa lets digital nomads make their home in the beauty of Scandinavia. While Norway is one of the most expensive countries to live in, many digital nomads consider it worth the cost.

Norway’s Independent Contractor Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is 600 euros (about $633 USD)
• You must have at least 35,719 euros deposited in your bank account (about $37,723 USD)
• You must have some form of accommodation in Norway
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for six months
• You can extend your stay for a total of up to three years

6. Costa Rica

Costa Rica has long been a favored destination for expats and digital nomads. Costa Rica’s digital nomad visa is known as a Rentista.

Costa Rica’s Rentista Visa at a Glance:

• There is no application fee
• You must earn at least $30,000 USD per year or deposit $60,000 USD into a Costa Rican bank account
• You must prove that you earn your income through self-employment
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for two years

7. The Bahamas

The Bahamas’ tropical climate and year-round sun make it an ideal spot for anyone to call home. And with its Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay program, it’s a great choice for digital nomads, too.

Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay at a Glance:

• The application fee is $25 USD
• There is no minimum income requirement
• If approved, you must pay an additional $1,000 USD for a work permit
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year

8. Barbados

The beautiful island of Barbados was one of the first countries to adopt a digital nomad visa program: the Barbados Welcome Stamp.

Barbados Welcome Stamp at a Glance:

• The application fee is $2,000 USD
• You must prove that you earn your income through self-employment
• You must prove that you will earn at least $50,000 during your stay
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year
• You can renew the visa once it expires

9. Bermuda

Bermuda’s Work from Bermuda Certificate is designed to help digital nomads enjoy the warmth and beauty of this island nation.

Bermuda’s Work from Bermuda Certificate at a Glance:

• The application fee is $263 USD
• There is no minimum income requirement, but you must prove that you will be able to support yourself and any dependents during your stay
• You must prove that you are self-employed or work for a company based outside of Bermuda
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year

10. Greece

Greece’s Digital Nomad Visa program gives Americans working abroad the ability to enjoy the serene beauty of the Mediterranean.

Greece’s Digital Nomad Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is 75 euros (about $79 USD)
• You must earn at least 3,500 euros per month (about $3,696 USD)
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year
• You can renew the visa up to two times for a total of three years

11. Hungary

Hungary’s digital nomad visa is known as a White Card. This visa is restricted to single digital nomads only but also boasts one of the lowest minimum income requirements in Europe.

Hungary’s White Card at a Glance:

• The application fee is 110 euros (about $116 USD)
• You must be single—couples and families cannot apply
• You must earn at least 2,000 euros per month (about $2,112 USD)
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year
• You can renew the visa once for another year

12. Portugal

Portugal’s digital nomad visa, known simply as the Portugal Visa, is one of the easiest to acquire in the world—and offers an impressive length of stay.

Portugal Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is 83 euros (about $87 USD)
• You must earn at least 600 euros per month (about $633 USD)
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year
• You can extend your stay for a total of up to five years

13. Brazil

As of 2022, Brazil is the only South American country to offer a digital nomad visa. The Brazilian Digital Nomad Visa program is relatively new, introduced just this year.

Brazilian Digital Nomad Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is $100 USD
• You must earn at least $1,500 USD per month
• You must apply in person at a Brazilian embassy
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year
• You can renew the visa once for another year

14. Mexico

For American digital nomads who’d like to stay closer to home, Mexico’s Temporary Resident Visa is a great choice.

Mexico’s Temporary Resident Visa at a Glance:

• The application fee is $129 USD
• You must earn at least $1,620 USD
• You must have at least $27,000 USD deposited in a bank account
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for one year
• You can extend your stay for a total of up to four years

15. Anguilla

Anguilla is a British territory in the West Indies. This island’s Beyond Extraordinary Anguilla program serves as an excellent digital nomad visa—and generally takes only 14 days to be approved.

Beyond Extraordinary Anguilla at a Glance:

• There is no application fee per se
• You must pay a travel fee of $2,000 USD
• You must have proof of employment
• This visa allows you to stay in the country for three months
• You can extend your stay for a total of up to one year

Need Help with Your Digital Nomad Taxes? We Can Help!

We hope this guide has helped you understand your options for countries that offer digital nomad visas. If you still have questions, we have answers. In fact, we can even help you prepare and file your digital nomad taxes.

At Greenback Expat Tax Services, we help Americans living abroad file their expat taxes accurately and on time. Just contact us, and we’ll be happy to help you in any way we can. We can even prepare and file your expat taxes for years to come.

Looking for tax consultations before moving abroad? Book a consultation with a Greenback expat tax specialist.