How does the Italian digital nomad visa compare to popular options in other countries?
Italy is the latest country to capitalize on the global trend of the nomadic lifestyle. Even as more people head back to the office, the pandemic-era urge to work from gorgeous locales hasn’t stopped.
The Italian digital nomad visa program—which was signed into law in March 2022—finally came into effect earlier this month. It provides one year in the country with the option of extending your stay. But before you begin brushing up on your Italian phrases, you should know that it comes with a series of stipulations, making it one of the harder visas to obtain.
First off, you need to be a highly-skilled worker, which is defined as someone “who carries out a highly qualified work activity with the use of technological tools capable of allowing them to work remotely, both as a worker self-employed or as a collaborator or employee of a company even if not resident in Italy.”
So, a remote worker of a company outside of Italy and self-employed individuals can apply if they meet the rest of the conditions.
If you qualify for that, you’ll also need to have an income of at least €28,000 ($30,000), a college degree or professional license, six years of work experience, and proof of health insurance and accommodation. Anyone who has been convicted of a crime in the last five years will be rejected.
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If all this seems doable, you can apply for the visa at the Italian consulate, and then once you’ve arrived in Italy, you’ll need to apply for your residency. Family members can also join workers, but it needs the approval of the local police.
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There Are Many More Digital Nomad Options Beyond Italy
Several other European nations have similar schemes running, inviting digital nomads to set up shop in stunning spots—some with easier requirements than others.
You can stay in Croatia as a digital nomad for a year if you can show a proof of income of €2,870 ($3,055) per month, proof of residence, health insurance, and proof of purpose. This year, Malta increased its income requirement to €42,000 per year ($45,000), but now you can stay for up to four years.
In order to enjoy tapas and siestas in Spain, the country requires workers to have “at least 200% of the monthly Spanish national minimum wage,” a college degree or professional certificate, and health insurance.
The northern European countries of Norway, Finland, and Iceland also have digital nomad visa programs. You can stay in Finland for six months if you earn €1,220 per month ($1,300). Iceland is attracting high-income groups with incomes of €7,075 per month ($7,500). Norway falls in the middle, offering visas of up to two years to non-E.U. nomads if they have income of €3,000 per month ($3,200).
Additionally, Turkey also recently launched its digital nomad visa program. U.S. citizens between 21 and 55 years of age can move to the country for a year if they earn $36,000 annually and work remotely. You can register on this website for visa applications.
Outside of Europe, the U.A.E. has a remote visa program that allows people with a monthly income of $3,500 (for Dubai, it goes up to $5,000).
In Asia, Bali has been a haven for digital workers. You can work in the country remotely for a year on a remote worker visa if you prove you have an income of $60,000 per year. Japan’s new scheme, announced in March, has a high price. Those who want to move need to show an income of $66,000 annually and they also need to have private health insurance. The visa is only granted for six months and can’t be renewed. The requirements make it out of reach for most.
If you want to work from a beachside villa in Thailand, you will have to look up their long-term resident visa program that invites wealthy global citizens, foreign retirees, work-from-Thailand professionals, and highly skilled professionals to live in the country for up to 10 years.
Make sure to check the requirements thoroughly before you decide to move. Some countries require workers to pay local taxes, which can easily drive up your living costs.
Related: The 12 Lies You Hear About Digital Nomad Life