Digital Nomad Visas That Allow Children & Spouses (2026): Income Needed for Your Family
Last checked: September 2026. Income thresholds for these visas are often tied to a minimum wage or average salary and change every January, so they rise most years. Treat figures as a starting point for your own research.
Many digital nomad visas let you bring a partner and children. They can be a sensible way for a family to live abroad while one or both parents keep a job or clients back home.
The hard part is working out how much money you need. Official pages give one figure for the main applicant, then add something for each family member, and rarely show the family total. This guide does the maths for a family of 3, 4 and 5 across 13 countries, and covers partner work, school and tax.
Can you bring your family on a digital nomad visa?
Usually, yes. Every visa in the tables below allows a partner and children to come with you, either on the same application or through a linked family application. A few things to know first:
- "Family" usually means a spouse or registered partner and children under 18. Some countries also accept older dependent children or parents. Unmarried partners may need proof that you live together.
- Only one person needs to qualify. The main applicant's income covers everyone. A partner who does not work remotely can still come as a family member.
- Family members get the same length of stay as the main applicant. If your visa ends, theirs ends too.
- Coming with you and joining later are different. Family who arrive later may face a waiting period, as in Portugal (see below).
No remote income yet? Read how to move abroad without a job offer first. These visas need income that already exists and comes from abroad.
How does the income maths work?
Each country sets a base figure for the main applicant. Then it adds something for each family member. There are three main ways of doing this:
- A percentage on top. Greece and Cyprus add 20% of the base for a partner and 15% for each child. Spain adds a percentage of its minimum wage: 75% for the first family member and 25% for each one after that.
- A fixed amount on top. Namibia adds US$1,000 for a partner and US$500 for each child. Mauritius asks for US$1,500 for each adult and US$500 for each child.
- One figure for everyone. Malta, South Africa and the UAE publish a single income figure and no official add-on for family. Costa Rica has one figure for a single person and one higher figure for any family.
Here is a worked example for Spain, for two parents and two children (a family of 4). The main applicant needs €2,849 a month. The partner is the first family member, so add €1,069. Each child adds €357. So: €2,849 + €1,069 + €357 + €357 = €4,632 a month.
Two more points matter when you do your own sums:
- Gross or net. Some countries mean income before tax (gross), others mean income after tax (net). Greece and Cyprus ask for €3,500 net. Malta asks for €42,000 gross a year. A net figure is harder to reach than the same gross figure.
- The date that counts. Thresholds linked to a minimum wage move each year. In Portugal, reports say the immigration agency uses the minimum wage in force on the day of your appointment, not the day you applied. If you are close to the line, leave a margin.
What counts as income, and what usually does not?
Rules differ, but these patterns hold in most countries:
- Usually counts: a salary from an employer based outside the country; regular freelance or business income from clients outside the country; profits from your own company registered abroad.
- Sometimes counts: rental income, pensions and investment income. Some countries accept these, others only accept income from active remote work. Check before you rely on them.
- Usually does not count: savings alone (Portugal asks for savings on top of income, not instead of it); one-off payments; income from clients or employers inside the country you are moving to.
- A partner's income: most visas look at the main applicant's income only. If you both earn, ask the consulate whether joint income counts or whether the higher earner should apply.
Expect to prove it with contracts, payslips or invoices, and bank statements showing the money arriving, usually for the last 3 to 6 months.
How much income does a family of 3, 4 or 5 need?
In this table, a family of 3 means two parents and one child. A family of 4 is two parents and two children. A family of 5 is two parents and three children. Figures are monthly unless marked. Figures marked * could not be confirmed on an official government page; they come from law firms or specialist advisers, or they are our own calculation from an official rule. Check them with the consulate before you apply.
| Country | Main applicant | Extra for partner / child | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Family of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | €2,849 | +€1,069 first family member, +€357 each after | 2,849 + 1,069 + 357 = €4,275 | +357 = €4,632 | +357 = €4,989 |
| Portugal (D8) | €3,680 | +€460 partner*, +€276 per child* | 3,680 + 460 + 276 = €4,416* | +276 = €4,692* | +276 = €4,968* |
| Greece | €3,500 net | +20% (€700) partner, +15% (€525) per child | 3,500 + 700 + 525 = €4,725 | +525 = €5,250 | +525 = €5,775 |
| Cyprus | €3,500 net* | +20% (€700) partner*, +15% (€525) per child* | €4,725* | €5,250* | €5,775* |
| Croatia | €3,622.50 | +€144.90 per family member (10% of the average net salary) | 3,622.50 + (2 × 144.90) = €3,912 | +144.90 = €4,057 | +144.90 = €4,202 |
| Italy | about €24,790 a year (about €2,066 a month)* | No separate family figure published* | Same, in principle* | Same, in principle* | Same, in principle* |
| Malta | €42,000 gross a year (€3,500 a month) | No family add-on published | €42,000 a year | €42,000 a year | €42,000 a year |
| Costa Rica | US$3,000 | One family figure: US$4,000* | US$4,000* | US$4,000* | US$4,000* |
| Mexico (temporary residence) | about US$4,400* | about +US$1,430 per family member* | 4,400 + (2 × 1,430) = about US$7,260* | about US$8,690* | about US$10,120* |
| Mauritius (Premium Visa) | US$1,500 | +US$1,500 per adult, +US$500 per child | 1,500 + 1,500 + 500 = US$3,500 | +500 = US$4,000 | +500 = US$4,500 |
| South Africa (remote work visa) | R650,796 gross a year (roughly US$40,000) | No family add-on published | R650,796 a year | R650,796 a year | R650,796 a year |
| UAE (virtual work) | US$3,500 | No family add-on published | US$3,500 | US$3,500 | US$3,500 |
| Namibia | US$2,000 | +US$1,000 partner, +US$500 per child | 2,000 + 1,000 + 500 = US$3,500 | +500 = US$4,000 | +500 = US$4,500 |
Notes on the income table
- Spain: the official rule is 200% of the minimum wage, plus 75% and 25% for family. The figures above use the 2026 minimum wage spread over 12 months; ask your consulate how it calculates.
- Portugal: €3,680 is four times the 2026 minimum wage of €920. The family add-ons (50% and 30% of the minimum wage) come from law firms, not an official page. You also need savings of about €11,040.
- Croatia: the official wording is 10% of the average monthly net salary per family member, which is about €145. Some advisers read it as 10% of the full threshold (about €362), which would give higher totals. Ask before you apply.
- Italy: the legal formula works out at about €24,790 a year, but many websites quote about €28,000. Family members join under Italy's family reunion rules, and the consulate may ask for more.
- Costa Rica: most advisers say US$4,000 for a family, but the tourism board's page says US$5,000. Plan for the higher figure until confirmed.
- Mexico: this is not a digital nomad visa, but many remote-working families use it. Figures vary by consulate. The Las Vegas consulate, for example, lists about US$4,630 plus about US$1,500 per family member for 2026.
- Mauritius: the official wording is US$1,500 "for each adult applicant". It is unclear whether this applies to a partner who does not work, so the table assumes it does.
- Single parents: redo the sums with one adult. In Greece, a parent with two children needs €3,500 + €525 + €525 = €4,550. In Spain, the first child is treated as the first family member, so €2,849 + €1,069 + €357 = €4,275. If you are separated, most countries also ask for the other parent's written consent for the children to move.
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How long can you stay, can your partner work, and can the children go to local school?
For a family, these points often matter more than income. Again, * means we could not confirm it on an official page.
| Country | How long | Renewable? | Can the partner work locally? | Local school? | Tax point to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 1-year visa, or 3-year permit if you apply from inside Spain* | Yes, in 2-year periods* | Yes, family permits include the right to work* | Yes, state schools are free for resident children | Tax resident after 183 days; ask about the special regime for new arrivals |
| Portugal (D8) | Residence visa, then a 2-year permit* | Yes* | Reported yes* | Yes | Tax resident after 183 days; the old NHR regime is closed to new applicants |
| Greece | 12-month visa, then a 2-year permit | Yes, in 2-year periods | No, the law bars family members from any work or business | Yes* | Ask whether the 50% income tax break applies to you |
| Cyprus | 1 year* | Yes, up to 3 years in total* | No* | Yes* | Tax resident after 183 days; places are capped |
| Croatia | Up to 18 months | No; you must wait 6 months after it ends to apply again | Not stated officially* | Check locally* | Remote income reported as exempt from Croatian income tax* |
| Italy | 1 year | Yes, each year | Yes, the family permit allows work | Yes | Tax resident after 183 days; ask about the regime for new residents |
| Malta | 1 year | Up to 3 renewals (4 years in total) | Unclear* | Check locally* | 10% flat rate on the nomad's own work income after the first 12 months* |
| Costa Rica | 1 year | Once, for 1 more year; you need 180 days in the country | No local work | Check locally* | Foreign income exempt for the nomad; reported not to cover family members* |
| Mexico | 1-year residence card | Yes, up to 4 years in total* | Needs separate permission to work* | Check locally* | You may become tax resident in Mexico |
| Mauritius | Up to 1 year | Yes | No, holders must not enter the local job market | Children need a study visa* | Tax on money brought into and deposited in Mauritius |
| South Africa | Up to 3 years | Check* | No, not on an accompanying visa* | Children need a study visa* | Tax residence is decided by tax law, not your visa |
| UAE | 1 year | Yes | Possible with a separate work permit* | Mostly fee-paying private schools | No personal income tax, but your home country may still tax you |
| Namibia | 6 months | No; you can reapply 12 months after it ends | No, conditions cannot be changed | Unclear for such a short stay* | Short stay, but check your home country position |
What should families know about each country?
Spain
Spain is one of the most family-friendly options on paper: modest add-ons, reported work rights for family members, and free state schools. The catch is paperwork, which takes time. Our guide to moving to Spain with kids covers schools, regions and daily life.
Portugal
Portugal changed several family rules in 2025 and 2026. If your partner applies to join you later from inside Portugal, a waiting period of up to 2 years may apply (15 months for couples who can prove they lived together). Minor children are exempt. It is not fully clear how this affects a family that applies together at the consulate, so ask a lawyer before you book anything. See Portugal's 2026 changes for families for the detail.
Greece and Cyprus
The family maths is simple, but a partner cannot take a local job. Since February 2026, Greece only accepts applications at its consulates, not from inside the country. Cyprus has a fixed number of places and has closed when full in the past.
South Africa, Mauritius and Namibia
South Africa's remote work visa can last up to 3 years, and the spouse and children can apply for their own long-term visas to come with you. Children usually need a study visa for school. Read our guide to the South Africa digital nomad visa for families for the steps. Mauritius has a low income bar and no government fee for the Premium Visa; see moving to Mauritius with family. Namibia's visa lasts only 6 months and cannot be renewed, so it works as a long stay or a trial rather than a move. Our Namibia family guide covers the longer-term routes.
Costa Rica, Mexico and the UAE
Costa Rica uses one figure for any family, but caps the stay at 2 years. Mexico needs far more income for a family, because each person adds a separate amount. The UAE lets virtual workers sponsor their family; budget for high school fees from the start.
Which tax traps catch families?
A visa decides whether you may live somewhere. It does not decide where you pay tax. These are the questions to take to a qualified tax adviser before you go:
- The 183-day line. In many countries, spending more than 183 days a year there makes you tax resident. That can mean paying tax there on your worldwide income, even if your employer is abroad.
- Your home country may still tax you. Leaving does not always end your tax residence at home. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live. Others stay tax resident at home if they keep a house or family ties there.
- Your employer may be affected. Long-term work from abroad can create tax or social security duties for your employer. Get written permission.
- Special regimes have conditions. Spain, Greece, Italy and Malta all have lower tax rates for some new residents, but each has its own rules. Tax breaks for the nomad often do not cover a partner's income.
- Social security and pensions. Ask where you and your partner pay contributions, and what happens to your pension rights while you are away.
- Health insurance. Nearly every visa needs private cover for the whole family. Price it before you decide.
What about Estonia, Georgia and others not in the table?
Estonia was the first country with a digital nomad visa, and it asks for €4,500 a month gross. But family members are not covered by the main applicant's visa. Each person applies separately, which makes it hard for a family with a partner who does not work remotely.
Georgia is not a digital nomad visa at all. Citizens of many countries, including EU countries, the UK and the US, can stay visa-free for up to a year. That can suit a family trial, but it gives no formal residence status, and school enrolment and longer stays need separate steps. Check your own passport's rules on Georgia's official consular site.
Thailand, Brazil and others also have nomad visas that allow dependants. We left them out because we could not confirm their family rules on an official source.
How do you choose the right one for your family?
- Start with your real income: what you can prove for the last 6 to 12 months.
- Decide how long you want to stay. A 6-month or 18-month visa is a trial. For several school years, look for a renewable permit.
- Check your partner's options. If your partner wants to work locally, Greece, Cyprus, Costa Rica and Mauritius will not allow it. Our guide on whether your partner can work there explains how to check.
- Look at schools early, including study visas and private school fees.
- Book a tax conversation before you apply, not after you arrive.
- Keep a margin above the minimum. Thresholds rise, exchange rates move, and a consulate may count your income differently.
Not sure which country fits your family best? Take the 2-minute family destination quiz to narrow down your shortlist before you start on the paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for a digital nomad visa with a family of 4?
It depends on the country. For two parents and two children, it is about €4,632 a month in Spain, €4,692 in Portugal, €5,250 in Greece and US$4,000 in Namibia or Mauritius. Malta, South Africa and the UAE ask for the same figure whatever the family size.
Can my partner work on a digital nomad family visa?
In some countries, yes. Italy's family permit allows work, and Spain's family permits are reported to include work rights. Greece, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Mauritius and Namibia do not allow family members to work locally.
Can my children go to state school on a digital nomad visa?
In most EU countries, resident children can attend state schools. In South Africa and Mauritius, children usually need a study visa. In the UAE, most expat children go to fee-paying private schools.
Can a digital nomad visa lead to permanent residence?
Sometimes. In some countries with renewable permits, such as Spain and Portugal, time on the permit can count towards long-term residence after about 5 years. Ask how your permit counts before you rely on it. Short visas such as Croatia's, Costa Rica's and Namibia's do not lead to permanent residence by themselves.
Want the whole move in the right order? The Global Relocation System takes your family through all five stages, Decide, Prepare, Transit, Arrive and Thrive, with a master checklist, planning templates and a budget tool. See what is inside the system
Comparing visa routes? Our Visa Guide for families sets out visa types, costs, processing times and family rules for ten destinations.