You need to earn between about €28,000 and €44,000 a year, depending on the country, to qualify for a Mediterranean digital nomad visa in 2026. Italy asks for roughly €28,000 a year (about £23,700), Spain for €2,849 a month, Greece, Malta and Cyprus for €3,500 a month, and Portugal for around €3,680 a month. Digital nomad visa income requirements are not the whole test, though. The same salary can pass in one country and fail in another because of gross versus net rules, how the threshold is set, which income counts, and how many dependants you bring. This guide sets out the 2026 figures in sterling at roughly £1 to €1.18 and explains what UK earners should check before applying.

The thresholds side by side

Country	Minimum income	Approximate sterling, per month	Basis
Italy	About €28,000 a year (€2,333 a month)	£1,980	Annual figure tied to a healthcare benchmark
Spain	€2,849 a month (€34,188 a year)	£2,415	200% of the 2026 minimum wage, gross
Greece	€3,500 a month, plus family uplifts	£2,970	Fixed monthly figure
Malta	€3,500 a month (€42,000 a year)	£2,970	Gross
Cyprus	€3,500 a month	£2,970	Net of tax and social contributions
Croatia	€3,622.50 a month	£3,070	Pegged to the national average salary
Portugal	About €3,680 a month	£3,120	Four times the Portuguese minimum wage

Our overview of digital nomad visas in 2026 covers the civic and tax obligations that come with each permit. Thresholds are reviewed regularly, and several move every year because they are pegged to a national wage figure, so confirm the current number with the official source before you file.

Why the same salary passes in one country and fails in another

Gross versus net. Cyprus specifies income after tax and social contributions, while Malta and Spain use gross figures. A UK earner on £3,000 a month gross may clear Malta’s €3,500 test but fall short in Cyprus once tax is taken off.

Fixed versus indexed. Spain’s figure is 200 percent of the annual minimum wage, set by Royal Decree 126/2026 at €1,221 a month across 14 payments, or €17,094 a year. Doubling that gives €34,188 a year, or €2,849 a month. Portugal’s is four times its minimum wage, which is €920 in 2026. Because both rise with the wage, expect next year’s figure to be higher.

Annual or monthly. Italy’s test is framed as roughly €28,000 a year from remote work, which many advisers treat as a round figure, so aim above it rather than at it.

What do families need to earn?

Dependants raise the bar, and the uplifts differ.

Household	Greece	Spain
Single applicant	€3,500 a month (£2,970)	€2,849 a month (£2,415)
Applicant plus partner	€4,200 a month (£3,560)	About €3,917 a month (£3,320)
Applicant, partner and one child	€4,725 a month (£4,005)	About €4,274 a month (£3,620)

Greece adds 20 percent for a spouse and 15 percent for each child. Spain adds 75 percent of the minimum wage for the first dependant and 25 percent for each further one. Portugal also applies family uplifts, commonly described as 50 percent for a spouse and 30 percent for each child, so ask how the base is calculated before you assume a figure. Italy and Malta add amounts per family member too, which should be confirmed with the consulate or agency.

What UK earners should watch

Exchange rates. Thresholds are set in euros but many UK remote workers earn in sterling. At £1 to €1.18, Spain needs about £2,415 a month. If sterling weakens to €1.10, the same threshold needs about £2,590, a rise of around £175 a month, and if it strengthens to €1.25 the figure falls to about £2,280. Build a buffer rather than aiming at the line.

Contracts and history. Authorities typically want recent bank statements, payslips or invoices, plus a contract or client agreements that show income continuing. Malta asks for evidence covering the previous three months and contracts guaranteeing income for several months after application. In Spain, advisers typically look for a working relationship that is at least three months old.

Who pays you. Your employer or clients must usually be outside the country you are moving to. A freelancer in Spain is limited to about 20 percent of income from Spanish companies, as a rule. UK employers and UK clients count as foreign for these purposes. If you own the company that pays you, our guide on UK self-sponsorship and Expansion Worker routes explains the different position for people coming the other way.

What does not count towards the income test?

This is where applications fail. Savings, investment portfolios and inheritances generally cannot be used to meet a nomad income test, and Malta’s guidance says so directly. Italy warns that irregular or passive income may lead to rejection, since the visa is for active remote work, and Spain’s route is not designed for passive income either. If your money comes from dividends, rent or a pension rather than work, you are likely looking at a different visa, such as a passive income route like the Greece Financially Independent Person visa, which we compare in our guide to financially independent person visas.

Italy also asks for more than money. You generally need to be a highly qualified worker, meaning a relevant degree or several years of experience, plus health insurance of at least €30,000 cover, accommodation and a clean criminal record. Italy’s route is explained in our Italy country page, and our note on Italian tax for new residents covers the planning side.

Income is only one test

Meeting the threshold gets you through one door. These other points decide whether the permit works for you.

• Permit length. Spain offers a one-year visa or a residence authorisation of up to three years. Greece offers a visa of up to 12 months and a residence permit of up to two years. Italy grants one year, renewable, and Malta one year, renewable up to four years in total.
• Tax residency. A nomad permit does not settle your tax position. In many countries you become tax resident at around 183 days, and then worldwide income may be reportable. Spain’s special regime for inbound workers can apply a 24 percent rate on qualifying income up to €600,000, but it is not automatic and has deadlines. Our piece on Greek tax residency explains how a permit and tax residence differ. Check your UK position too, as GOV.UK explains for people who live abroad.
• Social security. If you stay employed by a UK company, you may need a social security certificate or local contributions, depending on the arrangement.
• Health insurance. Private cover is generally required, and the standard varies by country.
• Border tracking. The Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since April 2026, so informal stays are easier to detect, as our guide to the Entry/Exit System explains.

Which route suits which earner?

Your situation	Likely first look	Why
Earning about £24,000 to £29,000 a year	Italy	Lowest income bar, if you are highly qualified
Earning about £29,000 to £36,000	Spain, or Greece at the top of the range	Lower threshold plus tax options in Spain
Earning about £36,000 and above	Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Croatia or Portugal	All within reach, differing on tax and permit length
Income mostly passive or from savings	A passive income or investment route	Nomad visas test active income
Wanting long-term status	A residence route with a permanent path	Nomad permits are a start, not a destination

Spain can lead to long-term residence after five years, and Malta’s permit runs to four years. Our guides to Malta residency for UK applicants and the Malta Permanent Residence Programme cover the longer-term options, and our note on Cyprus permanent residency for business owners does the same for Cyprus.

When a nomad visa is not enough

A nomad visa tests a country for a year or two. If you want something more secure, a Golden Visa or a passive income permit may suit better, as our guides to Golden Visa investment options and the best Golden Visa options in Europe set out. Our review of securing residency in Portugal and Greece compares two popular bases, and our note on Greece and Cyprus gaining ground shows where demand is heading. If a second passport appeals as well, Dominica and St Lucia remain open under EU pressure, and it helps to understand residency versus citizenship by investment and second passport practicalities first. Many people now combine routes, as our review of second residency planning in 2026 shows.

Frequently asked questions

How much do you need to earn for a digital nomad visa in Europe?
It varies by country. Italy asks for about €28,000 a year, Spain €2,849 a month, Greece, Malta and Cyprus €3,500 a month, and Portugal around €3,680 a month. Dependants raise the figure.

Is the income requirement gross or net?
It depends. Spain and Malta use gross income, while Cyprus specifies income after tax and social contributions. Always check which basis applies before you compare.

Can I use savings to qualify?
Generally not. Digital nomad visas test regular income from remote work, and savings, investment portfolios and inheritances usually do not count.

Can I work for a UK employer on a digital nomad visa?
Yes, in most cases. A UK employer or UK clients count as foreign, as long as the work is done remotely for businesses outside the country you are moving to.

Does a digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?
Not directly or quickly. Citizenship normally needs a longer period of lawful residence, language and integration conditions. A nomad visa can be a first step, but it is not a shortcut.

If you are comparing income thresholds with your own pay, Coates Global’s immigration lawyers can test your contracts, family size and exchange-rate buffer against each country before you apply. Get in touch before you sign a lease or give notice on your current home, because the right route depends on both your income and your longer-term plans.