From remote income to a visa: how much you need and what counts
Real monthly income figures for six digital nomad visas, the proof consulates want, and the tax and healthcare questions to settle before you go.
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The number that opens the door
Every digital nomad visa sets a minimum income. You prove it with pay stubs, contracts, invoices and bank statements, usually covering several months.
Here are the figures from our country guides, for one applicant. Check the linked guide and the official source before you apply. Figures change every year.
U.S. dollar conversions are estimates using rates dated Sep 15, 2026. The amount and currency required by the visa office still apply. Rates by Exchange Rate API.
Six examples, for one person
Colombia. Three times the 2026 legal minimum wage, or 5,252,715 Colombian pesos (COP), about US$1,706 a month, from foreign employers or clients.
Spain. 2,442 euros (EUR), about US$2,821 a month, as listed on the Washington and Houston consulate pages for 2026.
Costa Rica. US$3,000 a month from remote work outside Costa Rica.
Panama. At least US$36,000 a year in foreign income.
Greece. At least 3,500 euros (EUR), about US$4,043 a month after tax from foreign remote work.
Portugal. 3,680 euros (EUR), about US$4,251 a month, four times the 2026 national minimum wage.
A visa income test is a gate. It is not a budget.
What counts as proof
Consulates want to see steady income from outside the country. Employees usually show a contract, a letter allowing remote work and recent pay stubs. Freelancers show client contracts, invoices and bank statements.
Start saving these records now. Many consulates want three to twelve months of history. Income that started last month rarely qualifies. Each consulate publishes its own checklist, so follow the one serving your home address.
Plan for health insurance before Medicare
At 50, you have 15 years before Medicare. Medicare generally does not pay for care outside the United States anyway.
Most nomad visas require private health insurance covering your full stay. Price a policy before you choose a country. The cost changes with your age and the coverage, and it belongs in your monthly budget.
You still file US taxes
US citizens file a US tax return every year, wherever they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets you exclude up to US$132,900 of foreign earned income for tax year 2026 if you qualify, for example by spending 330 full days abroad in a 12-month period.
Self-employed workers still owe US self-employment tax. Your new country may tax you too. Talk to a tax professional who works with Americans abroad before you move.
Your first 90 days
Month one. Settle your visa paperwork and register where required. Open a local bank account if you need one. Keep your US account and card.
Month two. Test your workday. Internet, time zones and meeting hours all matter to your employer or clients.
Month three. Compare real spending with your budget. Meeting the visa income test doesn't mean the town fits your budget. A visa income test is a gate. It is not a budget.
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