In short
A US citizen can spend 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area without a visa, but not live there. To stay longer while working remotely, you need a national digital nomad permit. In 2026 Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and (for IT and marketing) Czechia have one; income bars range from about €24,800 a year (Italy) to about €5,200 a month (Romania). Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Nordics, Ireland, Poland, Austria, Switzerland and the UK have no nomad visa — some offer freelance or self-employment permits instead.
Digital nomad visas: key facts
Last verified 28 September 2026| Visits | US citizens can stay visa-free up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, without working; entries are registered in the Entry/Exit System (fully running since 10 April 2026)# Source: Entry/Exit System (EES) – European Commission Migration & Home Affairs |
|---|---|
| D8 digital nomad visa | Remote income from outside Portugal of at least €3,680 a month (4 × minimum wage) plus €11,040 in savings; a temporary-stay version lasts up to 1 year# Source: A DEEP DIVE Into Portugal's D8 Requirements: Portugalist |
| Digital nomad visa | Gross income of at least 200% of the minimum wage — €34,188 a year in 2026 (about €2,849 a month; US consulates quote €2,442 × 14) — plus 75% of the minimum wage for the first family member and 25% for each other; a degree or 3 years of experience; at least 3 months with your employer or clients, an employer operating for 1 year, and freelancers may earn up to 20% from Spanish clients# Source: Consulate General of Spain in Washington – Telework (Digital nomad) Visa · Consulate General of Spain in Houston – Telework Visa (Digital Nomad Visa) |
| Digital nomad / remote worker visa | At least €24,789 a year; a degree, licensed profession or 5 years' experience (3 for IT); 6 months of remote work; insurance of at least €30,000; 1 year, renewable# Source: Consulate General of Italy in New York: digital nomad / remote worker visa · Embassy of Italy in Washington: digital nomad / remote worker visa |
| Digital nomad permit | €3,500 net a month from employers or clients outside Greece; 12-month D visa, then a 2-year permit, renewable# Source: Legal 500: digital nomads in Greece — legal framework |
| Digital nomad income | €3,622.50 a month (2026) — 2.5× the previous year's average net salary, +10% per family member; or savings of €43,470 (12 months) / €65,205 (18 months)# Source: MUP: temporary stay of digital nomads |
| Digital nomad income | €4,500 gross a month in each of the 6 months before applying# Source: Embassy of Estonia in Washington: digital nomad visa |
| Digital nomad visa: income in 2026 | €4,538 gross per month (2.5 × 2025 average wage of €1,815)# Source: PMLP: Long-stay visa for remote work · Central Statistical Bureau: 2025 average gross wage €1,815 |
| Nomad Residence Permit | Remote work for a foreign employer, company or clients; at least €42,000 a year gross income; €300 fee; 1 year, renewable up to 4 years in total# Source: Residency Malta: Nomad eligibility · Residency Malta: Nomad FAQs v14.1 |
| Digital nomad visa | Since 2022: work remotely, as an employee or owner, for a company registered outside Romania, with income of at least 3 times the average gross salary for the last 6 months — RON 27,576 a month (≈ €5,220) in 2026; apply at a Romanian consulate# Source: E-Visa portal MAE · Alba24 - Noi valori pentru pensii si contributii 2026 (CNPP announcement, Law 44/2026) |
| Digital nomad visa | None — and no official plan for a remote-work permit has been announced# Source: Make it in Germany: self-employment |
The Basics
What a Digital Nomad Visa Is — and Isn't
A digital nomad visa lets you live in a country while you keep working for an employer or clients outside it. It is national: a Portuguese D8 lets you live in Portugal, not in Spain. Most require proof of remote income for several months, health insurance and a clean criminal record, and most do not lead directly to permanent residence.
Visa-free time does not replace it. As an American you can stay 90 days in any 180 across the whole Schengen area — and since 10 April 2026 the Entry/Exit System records every entry and exit. Working locally, or staying longer, needs a permit.
Most nomad permits make you tax resident after about 183 days in the country. As a US citizen you also keep filing US returns — see our immigration overview for the US points.
Compare
Every European Digital Nomad Visa (2026)
Income figures as published by each country for 2026. Click a country for the full guide.
| Country | Route and income requirement |
|---|---|
| Portugal | Remote income from outside Portugal of at least €3,680 a month (4 × minimum wage) plus €11,040 in savings; a temporary-stay version lasts up to 1 year |
| Spain | Gross income of at least 200% of the minimum wage — €34,188 a year in 2026 (about €2,849 a month; US consulates quote €2,442 × 14) — plus 75% of the minimum wage for the first family member and 25% for each other; a degree or 3 years of experience; at least 3 months with your employer or clients, an employer operating for 1 year, and freelancers may earn up to 20% from Spanish clients |
| Italy | At least €24,789 a year; a degree, licensed profession or 5 years' experience (3 for IT); 6 months of remote work; insurance of at least €30,000; 1 year, renewable |
| Greece | €3,500 net a month from employers or clients outside Greece; 12-month D visa, then a 2-year permit, renewable |
| Croatia | €3,622.50 a month (2026) — 2.5× the previous year's average net salary, +10% per family member; or savings of €43,470 (12 months) / €65,205 (18 months) |
| Malta | Remote work for a foreign employer, company or clients; at least €42,000 a year gross income; €300 fee; 1 year, renewable up to 4 years in total |
| Cyprus | For anyone working remotely for employers or clients outside Cyprus (not only IT); €3,500 net a month, +20% spouse, +15% per child |
| Estonia | Long-stay (D) visa for up to 365 days for remote work for an employer, company or clients registered abroad; €4,500 gross a month in each of the 6 months before applying |
| Latvia | €4,538 gross per month (2.5 × 2025 average wage of €1,815) |
| Hungary | €3,000 net a month for the 6 months before entry, from a foreign employer or your own business abroad; 1 year, extendable once for 1 year |
| Romania | Since 2022: work remotely, as an employee or owner, for a company registered outside Romania, with income of at least 3 times the average gross salary for the last 6 months — RON 27,576 a month (≈ €5,220) in 2026; apply at a Romanian consulate |
| Bulgaria | At least 50 minimum monthly wages of the previous year — about €27,500 a year for 2026 applications (€31,010 from 2027) |
| Slovenia | Since 21 November 2025: for people working remotely for a foreign employer or their own business abroad, with income of at least twice the average net salary — about €3,140–3,200 a month; up to 1 year, cannot be extended, new permit only 6 months after it ends; family can join at once |
| Czechia | Since July 2023 for highly qualified IT (and since 2025 marketing) professionals from the US and other listed countries; income at least 1.5× the average gross wage |
Every figure comes from the country's key-facts register — follow the country link for sources and details.
No Nomad Visa
Countries Without a Digital Nomad Visa — and What to Use Instead
Freelance permit instead
None — and no official plan for a remote-work permit has been announced. Liberal professions can use the freelance permit.
German freelance visa →DAFT for Americans
Self-employed permit for US (and Japanese) citizens: invest at least €4,500 in your own Dutch business, register with KvK and invest within 6 months of the IND decision.
DAFT guide →No remote-work permit
No digital nomad or remote-work permit; Stamp 0 does not allow any work.
Ireland overview →Denmark, Sweden, Finland
Sweden has no digital nomad or remote-work visa; non-EU routes are an employer work permit, the EU Blue Card, a self-employment permit or a researcher or student permit. Denmark and Finland have none either.
Sweden overview →Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania
None — Poland has no residence permit for remote workers employed abroad. Slovakia and Lithuania have no nomad route either.
Poland overview →Switzerland & UK
Switzerland has no digital nomad visa and has not announced one. The UK has no nomad visa; its High Potential Individual and Global Talent visas need no employer.
UK overview →Belgium and Luxembourg also have no nomad or remote-work permit.
How to Choose
Four Questions Before You Apply
Do you clear the income bar with a margin?
Consulates check several months of bank statements. Income just above the line is a common reason for delays.
Do you want to stay long term?
Some permits are short (Slovenia up to 1 year, Croatia up to 18 months); others renew (Greece, Malta, Spain). Few count fully toward permanent residence.
Where will you be tax resident?
Nomad permits rarely exempt you from local tax. Compare the country's tax rules on its guide page before you choose.
Can your family come?
Most routes allow a spouse and children, often with extra income per person (Croatia +10%, Cyprus +20% for a spouse).
Related Routes
Other Ways Remote Workers Move to Europe
Retirement and passive-income visas suit people who don't work at all; company formation suits founders.
Retirement visas →Cost of living by city →Healthcare for expats →
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which European country has the easiest digital nomad visa for Americans?
It depends on your income. Italy's bar is about €24,789 a year; Spain's about €34,188 a year; Portugal's €3,680 a month plus savings. Spain also lets you apply from inside the country during a visa-free stay.
Can I work remotely in Europe on a tourist stay?
A visa-free stay is for visits — 90 days in any 180 across Schengen. Living and working from a country needs a residence permit such as a digital nomad visa.
Does Germany or France have a digital nomad visa?
No. Germany has a freelance permit for liberal professions; France has a visitor visa for people who will not work in France. Neither is a remote-work visa.
Do digital nomad visas lead to citizenship?
Rarely directly. Some countries let you switch to a regular residence permit later; check the country guide for the exact rules.
Across Europe
Compare all 29 countries by topic
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