Short answer: Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa is the quickest and least demanding to get. In Europe, the Italy Digital Nomad Visa has the lowest income floor (about $28,408 a year) but needs a degree, while the Portugal D8 needs no degree but asks for more income.
Remote-work visas ranked by how easy they are to get
Sorted by maximum processing time, then by the income or funds floor. Passive-income routes such as Portugal's D7 and Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa are left out because they are not built for people who keep working.
| Visa | Income or funds floor | Degree | Processing | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand Destination Thailand Visa | ≈ $14,700 in funds | Not required | 0–1 months | $335 |
| Spain Digital Nomad Visa | EUR 34,188/yr (≈ $37,504/yr) | Bachelor's | 1–2 months | $80 |
| United Arab Emirates Virtual Work Residence Visa | USD 3,500/mo (≈ $42,000/yr) | Not required | 1–2 months | $300 |
| Italy Digital Nomad Visa | EUR 24,789/yr (≈ $28,408/yr) | Bachelor's | 1–3 months | $125 |
| Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professional) | USD 80,000/yr (≈ $80,000/yr) | Not required | 1–3 months | $1,470 |
| Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa | EUR 3,680/mo (≈ $50,607/yr) | Not required | 2–6 months | $250 |
| Germany Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler) | ≈ $20,000 in funds | Bachelor's | 3–8 months | $100 |
Lowest income floor
Income floors run from about $28,408 a year (Italy Digital Nomad Visa) to about $80,000 (Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professional)). The floor is checked against documented income: payslips, contracts or invoices, usually covering several months. A floor you clear only in a good month is a floor you do not clear.
No degree required
Germany Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler), Spain Digital Nomad Visa, Italy Digital Nomad Visa record a bachelor's degree or equivalent as a requirement. That rules out many self-taught developers and designers who would clear the income bar easily. The routes without a degree test are Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa, United Arab Emirates Virtual Work Residence Visa, Thailand Destination Thailand Visa, Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professional).
Easiest to get is not easiest to keep
Fastest decision and lowest fee
Thailand Destination Thailand Visa has the shortest processing at 0–1 months. The lowest government fee is Spain Digital Nomad Visa at $80. Most European consulates also want an appointment, which can add weeks before the processing clock even starts, so book that first.
For the full country picture, see the Thailand LTR for high earners, or the Spain Digital Nomad Visa for a 3-year first grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest digital nomad visa to get in 2026?
On paperwork and speed, Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa: processing of 0–1 months, a funds requirement of about $14,700 rather than an income floor, and no degree requirement. The trade-off is that it allows 180 days per entry and does not lead to permanent residence.
Which digital nomad visa has the lowest income requirement?
Among the routes with a stated income floor, Italy Digital Nomad Visa at about $28,408 a year. It also requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent, which is the real filter.
Which digital nomad visas do not need a degree?
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa, United Arab Emirates Virtual Work Residence Visa, Thailand Destination Thailand Visa, Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professional). Spain, Italy and Germany's freelancer route all record a bachelor's degree as a requirement.
Which nomad visa is the cheapest to apply for?
Spain Digital Nomad Visa, with a government fee of $80. Fees are a small part of the total cost: health insurance, translations and the income you must show matter far more.
Is the Portugal D7 easier than the D8?
The D7 asks for less money (about $11,000 in funds against an income floor of about $50,607 a year for the D8), but it is built for passive income. If you will keep working remotely, the D8 is the route that matches your situation.
Related guides
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Build my workspaceofficial sources: §21 AufenthG · make-it-in-germany.com·Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78) · exteriores.gob.es·NLV · exteriores.gob.es·D7 · vistos.mne.gov.pt·Remote Work Residence · gdrfad.gov.ae·VLS-TS visiteur · france-visas.gouv.fr·DM 29.02.2024 · consnewyork.esteri.it·DTV · thaievisa.go.th·LTR (WFTP) · ltr.boi.go.th·Privilege Entry Visa · thailandprivilege.co.th