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CrossBorderFreelance

Visa-for-Freelancers Comparator

Filter and compare digital nomad and freelancer visa programs by minimum income, duration, family eligibility, and more.

Informational only — not tax or legal advice

Informational only — not tax, legal, or immigration advice. This tool compares publicly published visa program facts (income thresholds, durations, fees) side by side. It does not promise visa approval, does not give personalized application advice, and does not calculate tax owed under any visa’s tax regime. Always confirm current requirements with the official government source linked on each visa’s page and consult a qualified immigration attorney before applying.

Data last verified 20 Aug 2026 — methodology

Costa Rica — Rentista / Digital Nomad Visa flag

Costa Rica — Rentista / Digital Nomad Visa

Estancia para Trabajadores y Prestadores Remotos de Servicios (Trabajador Remoto / Digital Nomad)

Costa Rica's remote-worker stay is for foreign-sourced remote income of at least USD 3,000/month, or USD 4,000/month with dependants; it is valid for 12 months, renewable once, and does not directly lead to residency.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow working for Costa Rican employers or serving Costa Rican clients.
  • Does not permit local employment in Costa Rica.
Min. income
$3,000.00/mo
Duration
12 mo (renewable)
Family-friendly No path to residency Pending verification

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Croatia — Digital Nomad Residence Permit flag

Croatia — Digital Nomad Residence Permit

Privremeni boravak digitalnih nomada (Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads)

Croatia's digital-nomad temporary stay is for third-country nationals working remotely for non-Croatian employers or own foreign companies; it can be granted for up to 18 months and currently requires at least EUR 3,622.50/month.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow work or services for Croatian employers or clients.
  • Does not permit local employment in Croatia.
Min. income
$4,131.00/mo
Duration
18 mo
Family-friendly No path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Czechia — Živno (Trade Licence / Freelance Visa) flag

Czechia — Živno (Trade Licence / Freelance Visa)

Živnostenské oprávnění + Dlouhodobý pobyt za účelem podnikání (Trade Licence + Long-Term Business Residence Permit)

Czechia's živno/business route has no fixed monthly income threshold in USD; official financial evidence for long-term business visa purposes is based on Czech statutory funds, including CZK 156,500 for entrepreneurship, and the long-term business residence permit can be valid up to 2 years.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not permit local employment in Czechia — this route is for self-employment/trade-licence activity, not being hired locally.
  • Does not guarantee permanent residency automatically — it opens an eligible path, subject to continued compliance at renewal.
Min. income
$0.00/mo
Duration
24 mo (renewable)
Family-friendly Path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Estonia — Digital Nomad Visa flag

Estonia — Digital Nomad Visa

Digital Nomad Visa (DNV)

Estonia's Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers to stay temporarily for up to 1 year if they work for foreign employers/clients and meet the minimum income threshold of EUR 4,500 net/month.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow working for an Estonian employer or serving Estonian-based clients.
  • Does not permit local employment in Estonia.
Min. income
$5,131.00/mo
Duration
12 mo
No path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Georgia — Remotely from Georgia flag

Georgia — Remotely from Georgia

Remotely from Georgia

Georgia's Remotely from Georgia record remains marked for re-check because the listed official programme site could not be verified directly in this review; commonly cited programme data still shows USD 2,000/month and no application fee.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow local Georgian-sourced work under this programme.
  • Does not permit local employment in Georgia.
Min. income
$2,000.00/mo
Duration
12 mo
Path to residency unclear Pending verification

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Germany — Freelance Residence Permit flag

Germany — Freelance Residence Permit

Aufenthaltserlaubnis für die Ausübung einer selbständigen Tätigkeit (Freiberufler)

Germany's self-employed/freelance route has no fixed income threshold; the authorities assess sufficient financial means, sustainability of the business idea, professional experience, accommodation, and capital/credit, with permits valid up to 3 years.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not permit local employment in Germany — this permit is for self-employed/freelance activity only, not being hired by a German employer.
  • Does not guarantee approval based on income alone — Germany assesses business sustainability, professional experience, and capital together, with no single fixed income threshold.
Min. income
$0.00/mo
Duration
36 mo (renewable)
Family-friendly Path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Italy — Digital Nomad Visa flag

Italy — Digital Nomad Visa

Visto per nomadi digitali e lavoratori da remoto altamente qualificati

Italy's digital-nomad/remote-worker visa is a 12-month renewable Type D route for highly skilled non-EU remote workers; the income threshold is commonly cited around EUR 28,000/year, but the listed official visa portal is dynamic and did not expose a full digital-nomad checklist in this review.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow working for Italian-based employers or clients under this visa category.
  • Does not permit local employment in Italy.
Min. income
$2,661.00/mo
Duration
12 mo (renewable)
Family-friendly Path to residency Pending verification

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Malta — Nomad Residence Permit flag

Malta — Nomad Residence Permit

Nomad Residence Permit

Malta's Nomad Residence Permit is for third-country nationals working remotely for foreign employers/businesses/clients; it is issued for 1 year and can be renewed while criteria are met, with a current minimum gross yearly income of EUR 42,000.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow providing services to Malta-based companies or individuals.
  • Does not permit local employment in Malta.
Min. income
$3,991.00/mo
Duration
12 mo (renewable)
Online application Family-friendly No path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Mauritius — Premium Travel Visa flag

Mauritius — Premium Travel Visa

Premium Visa

Mauritius's Premium Visa is a free, renewable long-stay visa for tourists, retirees, and remote professionals/families, valid for more than 6 months up to 1 year; official FAQ evidence states USD 1,500/month per adult and USD 500/month per dependent child.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow entering the Mauritian labour market.
  • Does not permit local employment in Mauritius.
Min. income
$1,500.00/mo
Duration
12 mo (renewable)
Online application Family-friendly No path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Mexico — Temporary Resident Visa (Financial Solvency) flag

Mexico — Temporary Resident Visa (Financial Solvency)

Visa de Residente Temporal por Solvencia Económica

Mexico's Temporary Resident Visa by economic solvency is consulate-based; the Orlando consulate checklist requires either USD 73,215 average savings over 12 months or USD 4,393/month income over 6 months, with a USD 53 processing fee.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not permit local remunerated activity in Mexico without separate permission.
  • Does not permit local employment in Mexico under this visa category.
Min. income
$4,393.00/mo
Duration
12 mo (renewable)
Family-friendly Path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Portugal — D8 Digital Nomad Visa flag

Portugal — D8 Digital Nomad Visa

Visto D8 (Digital Nomad Visa / Remote Work Visa)

Portugal's D8/remote-work route is tied to remote professional activity performed outside Portugal; official means-of-subsistence rules use the 2026 minimum monthly salary of EUR 920, so the commonly applied D8 threshold of 4x minimum wage is EUR 3,680/month.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow taking on clients or paid work located inside Portugal under this visa.
  • Does not permit local employment in Portugal — remote work for outside entities only.
Min. income
$4,196.00/mo
Duration
12 mo (renewable)
Family-friendly Path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
Spain — Digital Nomad Visa flag

Spain — Digital Nomad Visa

Visado para Teletrabajadores de Carácter Internacional (Digital Nomad Visa)

Spain's international telework visa/residence route is for non-EU remote workers for companies/clients outside Spain; the 2026 main-applicant threshold is approximately EUR 2,849/month gross, based on 200% of annual SMI.

What this visa does NOT do

  • Does not allow more than 20% of your work to come from Spanish clients.
  • Does not permit local employment in Spain.
Min. income
$3,249.00/mo
Duration
12 mo (renewable)
Family-friendly Path to residency

Last verified: 2026-08-20

Official government source ↗ View details →
How we compare visas · Compiled by the crossborderfreelance.com editorial team

Frequently asked questions

Does this tool guarantee my visa application will be approved?

No. This tool only compares publicly published program facts — minimum income thresholds, duration, fees, and stated requirements. Visa approval depends on your individual circumstances and is decided solely by the relevant government authority. Always verify current requirements on the official government source linked on each visa’s page.

Is Estonia’s e-Residency the same as its Digital Nomad Visa?

No — these are different things. Estonian e-Residency is a digital identity that lets you run an Estonian company online; it is not a visa or a residence permit and does not grant you the right to live in Estonia. Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is a separate, actual visa program that permits remote workers to reside in Estonia for up to a year. This tool only lists the Digital Nomad Visa.

Does this tool calculate the tax I would owe under a visa’s tax regime?

No. This tool compares visa eligibility facts only. It does not calculate income tax, social security contributions, or any other tax liability under any country’s regime. Use the Tax Residency Days Tracker for day-count tracking, and consult a qualified tax professional for any tax questions specific to a visa program.

Where does the visa data come from?

Every visa record links to its official government source (immigration ministry, consulate, or equivalent authority website). Records are seeded from public sources and reviewed for accuracy; each record shows a "last verified" date. Always confirm current requirements on the official government link before applying.

Can this tool give me application advice?

No. This tool does not provide personalized guidance on how to prepare or submit an application. For application assistance, consult a qualified immigration attorney or the visa program’s official government resources.

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