Europe's Digital Nomad Visas Just Got More Expensive (Updated 2026)

If you have been putting off your European digital nomad visa application, this is your sign to stop, and get started now. Five of the most popular countries for remote workers, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy and Malta, have all confirmed updated income requirements for 2026. None of them has made the numbers easier, unfortunately.

None of this is really a surprise. Most of these visas are linked to a country's minimum wage or a similar benchmark, so when wages go up, the bar goes up too. The frustrating part is that the actual euro figures are scattered across FAQs, immigration lawyer blogs and forum threads, which is exactly how people end up applying with numbers from two years ago. Here's what each country requires right now, and where to double-check it yourself.

Euronews put together a useful overview of nomad visas across the region if you want the wider picture, but here is exactly what each of these five countries requires right now.

Why It Matters and What It Is.

An income requirement is not just paperwork. It is the number a consulate uses to decide whether you get approved, and getting it wrong is one of the most common reasons applications get delayed or rejected. If you were sitting right on the edge of qualifying last year, a few hundred euros a month could now put you on the wrong side of the line.

It also matters if you are choosing between countries. Someone earning £2,900 a month has very different options in 2026 than they did in 2023, and the country that made the most sense for your budget back then might not be the best fit anymore.

Here is where each of the five stands.

Portugal: €3,680 a Month

Portugal's D8 visa has always used the same formula: four times the national minimum wage. That formula has not changed. What has changed is the minimum wage itself, which rose to €920 a month on 1 January 2026, automatically pushing the income requirement from €3,480 to €3,680 a month.

If you are applying as a couple or with dependents, that figure climbs further, so it is worth getting an up-to-date breakdown from AIMA, the agency that replaced SEF, or a Portuguese immigration lawyer before you submit anything.

Spain: €2,849 a Month

Spain's digital nomad visa income requirement is tied to the SMI, the country's minimum interprofessional salary, which rose 3.1% in February 2026. That pushed the threshold for a single applicant from €2,763 to €2,849 a month.

Bring a partner and the number jumps to €3,765 a month, with an extra €305 for each additional dependant. It is not a dramatic increase on its own, but if you were budgeting tightly around last year's figure, it is worth running the numbers again before you apply.

Greece: €3,500 a Month, Same as Before

Greece is the only country on this list that hasn't raised its income threshold this year. It still sits at €3,500 a month, with an extra 20% required for a spouse and 15% per child.

The process has changed, though, just not the price. Since February 2026, applications go through Greek consulates only, rather than through the range of channels people used before. If you are applying from a country without a nearby Greek consulate, factor that into your timeline. It's also worth confirming with your consulate whether they measure gross or net income, since the guidance in English isn't always clear on that point. I know, confuuuuusing.

Italy: €28,000 a Year, Now Written Into Law

Italy's digital nomad visa used to be based on temporary rules rather than permanent law. This meant it could be changed or removed with little warning. That changed in May 2026, when a joint ministerial decree added it to Italy's Immigration Code.

The income requirement itself did not move: it is €28,000 a year, or roughly €2,333 a month, for both self-employed and employed applicants. What did change is the programme's stability. Italy's nomad visa is now proper law rather than a pilot scheme, which is good news if you were nervous about building a life around a visa that might not exist in two years.

Malta: €42,000 a Year for New Applicants

Malta's Nomad Residence Permit requires a gross annual income of €42,000, a threshold that has been in place since April 2024. If you applied before that date, you are grandfathered in at the old €32,400 figure, but anyone applying fresh needs to hit the higher number.

Malta also asks for proof of accommodation, valid health insurance covering the EU or UK, and a clean police record, on top of the income test, so budget time to gather documents as well as save the money.

What To Do If You Are Close to the Line

If your income sits within a few hundred euros of any of these thresholds, do not rely on a blog post, including this one lol, as your final word. Check the country's official immigration or consular page directly before you apply, because these figures move with wage data and exchange rates, sometimes more than once a year.

It is also worth reconsidering your target country entirely if the numbers no longer work for you. Slovenia's digital nomad visa has a notably lower bar than most of Western Europe, and it is still one of the most underrated options on the continent. If you want the full picture of what is available across the region before you commit to one country, our guide to digital nomad visas in Europe is a good place to start.

And once you're earning the income you need to qualify, it is worth understanding what you owe and where, which is exactly what our digital nomad tax guide walks through.

None of these countries is trying to shut remote workers out! They are adjusting for inflation and wage growth like anywhere else. But if you have been coasting on an old number in your head, now is the moment to update it.

Ready to Actually Hit These Numbers?

Qualifying for any of these visas comes down to one thing: consistent income you can prove. If you are still figuring out how to earn that first steady chunk of money online, The Escape Plan walks you through making your first €1,000 as a beginner, step by step, for €17. Get The Escape Plan here.