What Income Do You Really Need for a Digital Nomad Visa?
By Elias Verne · Updated 2026-07-07
The income requirement is the first thing that decides which visas are even open to you - and it is more nuanced than a single number. Here is how to read it before you apply.
How income floors are set
Most countries peg the requirement to a multiple of their own minimum wage or a subsistence threshold, which is why the figures drift upward each year and why sources disagree on the exact euro amount. A floor set at, say, 200% of the minimum wage moves whenever the minimum wage moves.
This is also why we date every figure and link its source rather than freeze a number that will be wrong in six months. Always confirm the current year's amount on the official source before you gather documents.
The range across countries
The spread is wide. Spain sits at the lower end among European options, which is a big part of its popularity. Portugal asks for meaningfully more. Italy states its requirement annually rather than monthly, so compare it on a yearly basis. Japan sets a high annual bar aimed at well-paid professionals. The UAE uses a dollar figure. Greece states its floor net, after tax, which quietly raises the gross you need.
Because the units differ - monthly here, annual there, one currency or another - comparing them by eye is misleading. The eligibility checker normalizes all of that so you can see, in your own currency, which countries you clear.
Family raises the bar
If you bring a partner or children, the required income goes up, and the uplift varies by country: a percentage for a spouse and a smaller percentage per child is typical. A visa that looks affordable solo can move out of reach for a family, so always check the family-adjusted figure, not just the headline solo number.
Each country guide shows the specific uplift where it is published; treat the solo figure as the floor, not the whole picture.
Income is not the only financial test
Some countries care less about monthly income and more about savings. Thailand's DTV, for example, is built around a lump sum held in the bank rather than a monthly salary, which suits people with capital but variable income. Others expect both an income stream and a savings buffer.
Gross versus net matters too, and passive income - rent, dividends, a pension - frequently does not count toward a work-based visa's threshold. Read the fine print on what kind of income qualifies before assuming you meet the bar.
How to prove your income
Meeting the threshold is one thing; documenting it is another, and it is where applications stall. Employees are usually asked for an employment contract plus recent pay slips and bank statements showing the money actually arriving. Freelancers and company owners face a higher bar: client contracts, invoices, tax returns, and bank statements that together tell a consistent story.
Consistency is the quiet requirement. Income that swings wildly month to month, or that lands in an account the consulate cannot see, invites questions. Line up several months of clean, matching records before you apply.
If you are just below the line
A near-miss is not the end. Because thresholds move with exchange rates and minimum wages, the same salary can clear the bar in one country and fall short in another, so widen the search before giving up - the eligibility checker shows which countries you already clear. A savings-based route like Thailand's can also suit people with capital but uneven income.
What rarely helps is padding the number. Passive income usually does not count, and adding family members raises the required income rather than lowering it. If you are close, it is normally faster to pick a country with a lower floor than to force a marginal case.
Last updated 2026-07-07. General information, not legal or tax advice; confirm specifics with the official source on each country page.