Digital nomad and remote work visas in Spain, Croatia, Estonia, Malta, Japan and Greece: income needed, how long you can stay and if you can work locally.
Written by the Global Sponsor Hub editorial team · Checked against official sources
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See country guidesSpain, Croatia, Estonia, Malta, Japan and Greece all run official visas for people who work remotely for an employer or clients abroad. Each one sets a minimum income, from €3,500 a month in Greece and Malta to ¥10 million a year in Japan, and stays run from 6 months in Japan to 3 years on Spain's residence permit. The part most people miss is that almost none of them let you work for local employers. Spain is the only one of the six that sets a share of local work you can do, up to 20%, and Estonia expects freelancers to work mostly for clients outside Estonia.
| Country | Official name | Income you need | How long you can stay | Can you work for local companies? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Visa for international teleworkers, then a teleworker residence permit | 200% of Spain's monthly minimum wage (SMI), plus 75% of SMI for the first dependant and 25% for each extra one | Visa up to 1 year; a residence permit applied for inside Spain lasts up to 3 years | Partly: freelancers can work for Spanish companies for up to 20% of their total work |
| Croatia | Temporary stay of digital nomads | €3,622.50 a month, plus 10% of the average monthly net salary for each family member; or savings of €43,470 (12 months) or €65,205 (18 months) | Up to 18 months | No |
| Estonia | Digital nomad visa (D visa) | €4,500 a month gross over the 6 months before you apply | Up to 1 year | Not for local employers. Freelancers' clients must be mostly outside Estonia |
| Malta | Nomad Residence Permit | €42,000 gross a year | 1 year from the card being issued, renewable | No |
| Japan | Designated Activities (Digital Nomad) | ¥10 million a year or more | 6 months, no extension | No |
| Greece | Digital nomad national visa, then a residence permit | At least €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child | Visa up to 12 months; the residence permit lasts 2 years and can be renewed 2 years at a time | No |
Spain's route starts with a visa for international teleworkers. You can then apply inside Spain for a teleworker residence permit, which lasts up to 3 years. The income rule is set as a share of the minimum wage (SMI): 200% of the monthly SMI for you, 75% for the first dependant and 25% for each extra one. The official pages give the formula rather than a 2026 euro figure, so work it out from the current SMI. Spain allows some local work: if you're a freelancer, up to 20% of your work can be for Spanish companies. Read the Spain country guide for the wider picture.
Croatia's Ministry of the Interior runs a temporary stay for digital nomads. It currently asks for €3,622.50 a month, plus 10% of the average monthly net salary for each family member. Instead of income, you can show savings of €43,470 for 12 months or €65,205 for 18 months. You can stay up to 18 months. If you're granted less, you can extend once, by up to 6 months. After the stay ends, you have to wait 6 months before applying again. The work has to be for a company not registered in Croatia, and you can't work for or serve employers in Croatia.
Estonia's digital nomad visa is a D visa for up to 1 year. You need a gross income of at least €4,500 a month over the 6 months before you apply. You have to work for an employer or your own company registered abroad, or freelance for clients mostly outside Estonia.
Residency Malta runs the Nomad Residence Permit. You need a gross income of €42,000 a year. The permit lasts 1 year from the day the card is issued and can be renewed, but to renew you need to have spent 5 months in Malta in the previous 12. Providing services to companies or people based in Malta makes you ineligible.
Japan's digital nomad route is a "Designated Activities" status. You need an annual income of ¥10 million or more and private medical insurance. Only people from some visa-exempt countries that have a tax treaty with Japan can apply, and Japan's Immigration Services Agency publishes the list. The stay is 6 months, with no extension. Working under a contract with a Japanese organisation isn't allowed.
Greece offers a digital nomad national visa for up to 12 months, followed by a residence permit that lasts 2 years and can be renewed 2 years at a time. You need at least €3,500 a month, plus 20% for a spouse and 15% for each child. You can only work for an employer or clients based outside Greece. These figures come from the UK government's official guidance on working in Greece, because the Greek ministry page had moved when we checked.
A digital nomad visa doesn't let you take a local job. If you'd rather be hired in another country, look for roles with visa sponsorship. On Global Sponsor Hub you can search roles that offer visa sponsorship, relocation support or global remote work. Browse jobs, or create your free Global Sponsor Hub account to get alerts and join over 3,000 candidates and growing daily.
More reading: remote eligibility versus work authorisation, remote work versus employer relocation and how to search remote international roles.
Which countries offer a digital nomad visa? Among others, Spain, Croatia, Estonia, Malta, Japan and Greece all run official routes for people who work remotely for an employer or clients abroad.
Can I work for a local company on a digital nomad visa? Usually not. Of these six, only Spain sets an allowance: freelancers can work for Spanish companies for up to 20% of their total work. Estonia expects freelancers to work mostly for clients outside Estonia.
Which digital nomad visa needs the lowest income? Of these six, Greece and Malta have the lowest fixed figures. Greece asks for €3,500 a month, and Malta's €42,000 a year works out at the same €3,500 a month. Spain's is set as 200% of its monthly minimum wage, so check the current figure.
Which one lets you stay longest? Spain's teleworker residence permit, applied for inside Spain, lasts up to 3 years. Greece's residence permit lasts 2 years and can be renewed.
Does Japan have a digital nomad visa? Yes, a 6-month "Designated Activities" status with no extension. You need ¥10 million a year or more, private medical insurance and a passport from one of the eligible countries.
Last checked: 29 Oct 2026
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