Best countries with digital nomad visas in 2026 for Americans: Top EU and Asian destinations

Top 10 countries with a digital nomad visa in 2026: A quick overview 

These 10 countries across the EU and Asia offer digital nomad visas in 2026, picked with US citizens and other non-EU remote workers in mind.

These estimates are broad and can change quickly, especially rent and visa requirements. Before you commit to a country, check the latest rules with the relevant embassy or immigration authority. Each digital nomad visa program has its own application process, so check whether the income threshold, health insurance rules, and residence steps must be handled before or after arrival. Some countries set eligibility by monthly income, while others use annual income, savings, or a mix of financial evidence. Most digital nomad routes also focus on active remote work rather than passive income alone. For a fuller explanation of how these routes differ from a tourist visa, see our guide to what is a digital nomad visa. And wherever you end up, Saily makes it easy to get reliable mobile data in more than 200 destinations so you’re connected from the moment you land.

European countries with a digital nomad visa 

European countries with a digital nomad visa are popular with Americans who want to stay in Europe beyond the usual 90-day Schengen limit while working remotely for foreign employers or clients. Each country offers its own version of a digital nomad visa or remote-work residence scheme, with different rules on income, dependents, taxes, benefits, and long-term residence. Depending on the country, you may apply for an entry visa first and then convert it into a temporary residence permit or similar remote-work residence document after arrival. 

1. Portugal

Portugal remains one of the strongest options for US digital nomads who want a European base with long-term potential. Its D8 visa is designed for remote workers and independent professionals earning income from outside Portugal, with temporary-stay and residence routes available. Lisbon and Porto can be expensive, but smaller cities and inland areas may offer better value, along with mild weather, Atlantic beaches, and international communities.

For a deeper guide, see our article on the Portugal digital nomad visa.

2. Spain

Spain is one of the most popular countries with digital nomad visas for Americans, offering EU access, strong infrastructure, coastal cities,  and a lively international scene. Its digital nomad visa, linked to international telework, is aimed at non-EU citizens working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain. Madrid and Barcelona are pricier, while Valencia, Málaga, Alicante, Granada, and northern cities may offer a better balance of cost and quality of life.

For more detail, see our full guide to the digital nomad visa Spain.

3. Croatia

Croatia doesn’t call its remote worker option  a digital nomad visa. It does, however, offer temporary stay for digital nomads who work remotely for a foreign employer or their own company registered outside Croatia. The country is a strong option if you want to experience Adriatic scenery, historic cities, island access, and a European base that may feel less intense than larger EU destinations (though remember that coastal areas can become expensive in summer).

4. Greece

Greece’s digital nomad visa is aimed at non-EU remote workers who earn income from employers or clients outside Greece. It can be a good fit if you want to enjoy Mediterranean weather, a locale with a rich and interesting history, and a lower cost of living than many Western European hubs. Athens is the most practical year-round base, Thessaloniki is often calmer and more affordable, and the islands are beautiful but may be less convenient homebases in winter because ferry routes, flights, coworking spaces, and seasonal services may be limited.

5. Italy 

Italy’s digital nomad and remote worker visa is designed for highly skilled non-EU workers who can work remotely using digital tools. It may suit remote workers who want to choose a base around a specific kind of Italian lifestyle: Milan for business connections, Turin or Bologna for more manageable city living, Bari or Lecce for the pace of southern Italy, Palermo for Sicily’s culture and cuisine, or smaller towns in Umbria and Abruzzo for lower rents and a slower pace.

For more detail, see our guide to the digital nomad visa Italy. 

Asian countries with digital nomad visas 

Asian countries with digital nomad visas offer very different types of remote-work bases. Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines tend to appeal to digital nomads looking for lower living costs, warm weather, island life, and established remote-work communities. Japan and Taiwan are usually better suited to higher-earning professionals who value safety, convenient public transport, good infrastructure, and a more structured short-term stay. Many Asian digital nomad visas are designed for temporary stays rather than long-term settlement, so they may not be the best fit if permanent residency or citizenship is your main goal.

6. Thailand

Thailand’s Destination Thailand Visa, often called the DTV, is one of the most flexible options in Asia for remote workers, freelancers, and digital nomads. Thailand offers low living costs, warm weather, beaches, mountain cities, coworking spaces, and a long-established digital nomad community. Chiang Mai is known for a lower-cost coworking scene, Bangkok offers big-city convenience, and Phuket, Koh Samui, and smaller coastal hubs suit remote workers who want more of a beach or island lifestyle.

7. Japan

Japan’s digital nomad visa is appealing, but it’s best viewed as a short-term option rather than a long-term relocation route. It allows eligible remote workers to stay for up to six months, with no extension, and is suited to higher-earning applicants who want safety, excellent transport, strong infrastructure, and a culturally rich base in Asia. Tokyo is the obvious choice, but Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and Sapporo may suit different budgets and lifestyles.

We also have a dedicated guide to the Japan digital nomad visa. 

8. Indonesia (Bali)

Bali is the place most frequently chosen as a digital nomad destination, but the visa itself is issued by Indonesia. The E33G remote worker visa is for people who work remotely for a company outside Indonesia, making it a more formal route if you want to base yourself in Bali. The island is still popular for its beaches, cafés, coworking spaces, surf towns, yoga studios, and international community. Canggu and Ubud are busier and pricier than they used to be, but Bali can still offer good value for US remote workers who compare areas carefully and avoid the most expensive hotspots.

9. Philippines

The Philippines introduced its Digital Nomad Visa framework in April 2025, giving eligible remote workers a way to stay in the country while working for employers or clients abroad. It could be a strong option if you are American and want English-language ease, island life, and some of the lowest estimated living costs among the countries covered here, broadly comparable with Thailand. Because the Philippines route is new, check the latest embassy guidance for current fees, document requirements, and application steps before applying as they may change quickly.

10. Taiwan 

Taiwan recently introduced its digital nomad visitor visa in 2025, giving eligible remote workers a way to have a safe, tech-friendly, well-organized base in Asia. It can work well if you value public transport, urban convenience, a strong food culture, reliable infrastructure, and access to both city life and nature, though this visa option is still better suited to temporary stays than long-term relocation.

Taxes for US citizens living abroad as digital nomads 

Living abroad on a digital nomad visa doesn’t mean a US citizen won’t need to pay taxes in their home country. The US taxes citizens and resident aliens on worldwide income, even when they work from another country. That said, exclusions and credits may help reduce or offset the final bill if claimed correctly.

Key points to understand: 

• US tax filing usually still applies. In most cases, US citizens still need to file a US tax return while living abroad, even if all their income is earned overseas. Whether they actually owe tax depends on their income, exclusions, credits, business structure, self-employment status, and whether they pay tax in another country.

• The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion may help. For 2026, qualifying taxpayers can exclude up to US$132,900 of foreign earned income from US federal income tax if they meet the tax-home rules and either the bona fide residence test or physical presence test.

• The Foreign Tax Credit may reduce double taxation. It can reduce your US income tax dollar for dollar for qualifying foreign income taxes paid or accrued to another country.

• Self-employment tax and reporting rules still matter. US freelancers abroad may still owe self-employment tax if they have US$400 or more in net self-employment earnings, even if they claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. Extra reporting requirements may also apply if they hold money in foreign bank accounts.

• Your host country may also tax you. Depending on the rules, countries covered here such as Spain, Greece, Italy, Thailand, Indonesia, and Taiwan may tax you if you become a tax resident there. This usually depends on time spent in the country, local ties, income source, or whether your income is brought into the country.

Which countries with digital nomad visas lead to citizenship?

Digital nomad visas rarely lead to citizenship directly. Instead, some may help you begin a period of legal residence that can later count toward permanent residency or naturalization, depending on renewal rules, physical presence, tax status, language requirements, and nationality laws. 

From the countries covered here, Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Italy are generally the strongest long-term options. Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan are weaker choices if citizenship is the goal. Japan’s digital nomad visa is a short-term stay and doesn’t create a direct path to permanent residence or citizenship. Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan may allow temporary or renewable stays, but long-term settlement would usually require qualifying under a separate visa, residence, work, investment, or family route.

If citizenship is your main goal, look beyond visa length and lifestyle. Check whether the visa can be renewed, whether your stay counts as legal residence, and how long you must live there before applying.

How to choose the best country with a digital nomad visa 

No single country with a digital nomad visa works best for everyone. The right choice depends on your income, work schedule, tax position, family situation, lifestyle preferences, and whether you want a short adventure or a long-term base.

Use these tips to narrow your options:

• Check the income requirement first. Portugal, Greece, Japan, and Indonesia may be unrealistic if your earnings don’t meet the threshold.

• Prioritize your main goal. If you want lifestyle and flexibility, Thailand or Japan may work well. If you want long-term residency or citizenship potential, Portugal, Spain, Greece, or Italy may be stronger.

• Compare real monthly costs. Look beyond visa fees and factor in rent, healthcare, insurance, coworking, flights, school fees, and everyday transport.

• Understand the tax picture. US tax filing may still apply, and your host country may also tax you if you become a tax resident. Speak to a qualified tax adviser before choosing a destination, especially if you plan to stay for several months, work freelance, or pay tax in more than one country.

• Check visa length and renewal rules. A six-month visa may work for a trial stay, while a renewable residence permit may be better if you want to settle for longer, bring family, or build time toward permanent residency or citizenship.

• Think about daily life. Internet quality, safety, healthcare, an international community, travel connections, time zones, language, and application complexity all matter once you’re actually living there.

Wherever you choose, staying connected from the moment you land makes the move much easier. With a Saily eSIM, you can get connected without hunting for a local SIM card at the airport. Download the Saily eSIM app before you travel and buy the most suitable data plan for your needs. You can choose a single-destination plan or compare regional options like an eSIM for Europe and an eSIM for Asia and Oceania or Global eSIM Plans for those who are planning on hopping between many destinations.