Digital nomad and passive-income residence: which country asks for what income?

Remote work has separated living in a country from the workplace. Many states have developed digital nomad and passive-income residence permits to attract people earning foreign income. These programmes ask for no investment; they ask for regular income and health insurance instead.

Spain's digital nomad visa

It grants a renewable permit of one to three years to remote workers. An income equal to twice the minimum wage, about USD 34,000 a year, is required, along with a contract with a foreign employer or freelance client contracts. A degree or at least three years of experience is required. Family members may accompany you.

Passive-income and retiree permits

In many European countries a permit can be obtained by proving rental income, a pension or dividends. The income required varies by country; health insurance and a registered address are mandatory. The road to citizenship is long and often demands continuous residence.

Georgia, the UAE and Croatia

These countries offer short, flexible remote-work permits. Income thresholds are relatively low and processing is fast, but tax and renewal conditions must be examined separately.

The tax residency trap

Many people think a residence permit is not tax residency. In reality living in a country for more than 183 days, or making it the centre of your life, can create tax residency. In that case worldwide income may be taxed there. If a double taxation treaty with Türkiye exists, duplication can be reduced; if not, the risks grow. Special regimes such as Spain's Beckham regime must also be assessed separately.

Documents

• 6-12 months of bank statements and income documents
• A remote employment contract or client invoices
• Health insurance (valid in the country, full cover from the first month)
• Criminal record certificate (apostilled, with sworn translation)
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract)

No programme gives an approval guarantee; income thresholds are updated over time. You can get detailed information from our digital nomad service page.

An income calculation example

In a programme with an income threshold of about USD 34,000 a year, you must show regular income equivalent to USD 2,850 a month. If your income comes from several clients, the invoices and bank inflows of the last 12 months should show that the total consistently exceeds the threshold. If part of your income is investment return, documenting it separately is recommended.

Health insurance and living costs

Private health insurance is mandatory in most programmes and asks for full cover from day one. In Spain an average policy costs between €700 and €1,500 a year. Depending on the city, monthly rent and living costs may be in the €1,500-3,000 range, so treat the income threshold only as a minimum measure.