Compare countries

Side-by-side visa comparisons for founders, freelancers and remote workers. 231 unique pairings across 22 countries.

Quick answer

Compare countries side-by-side on visa, residency, income minimums, digital nomad routes and startup pathways. NomadIndex generates 231 dedicated comparison pages for remote workers, freelancers and founders relocating abroad.

Key takeaways

Every unique country pair has a dedicated compare page with structured facts
Side-by-side tables cover visa programs, income ranges, fees and processing times
Heuristic recommendations flag better fits for remote work vs startup founders
Always verify final requirements with official immigration sources

Build a comparison

Select two countries to generate a side-by-side comparison page.

Featured comparisons

Popular pairings to help you start exploring.

🇵🇹Portugal

🇪🇸Spain

Side-by-side

Criteria

Portugal

Spain

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

5 years

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

6–60 days

20–30 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Portugal

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Spain

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Portugal

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

Spain

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Portugal

5 years

Spain

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Portugal

Yes — all tracked programs

Spain

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Portugal

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

Spain

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Portugal

6–60 days

Spain

20–30 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Portugal vs Spain

🇵🇹Portugal

🇦🇪UAE

Side-by-side

Criteria

Portugal

UAE

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

5 years

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

6–60 days

2–5 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Portugal

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

UAE

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Portugal

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

UAE

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Portugal

5 years

UAE

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Portugal

Yes — all tracked programs

UAE

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Portugal

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

UAE

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Portugal

6–60 days

UAE

2–5 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Portugal vs UAE

🇮🇹Italy

🇪🇸Spain

Side-by-side

Criteria

Italy

Spain

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€2,333–€2,583 / mo (est.)

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

30–60 days

20–30 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Italy

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Spain

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Italy

€2,333–€2,583 / mo (est.)

Spain

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Italy

10 years

Spain

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Italy

Yes — all tracked programs

Spain

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Italy

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Spain

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Italy

30–60 days

Spain

20–30 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Italy vs Spain

🇭🇷Croatia

🇪🇪Estonia

Side-by-side

Criteria

Croatia

Estonia

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Residence

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€2,800 / mo (est.)

€3,504 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

8 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Yes — 1 of 2 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

1 route (residency); 1 renewable

No dedicated residency routes tracked

Cost

Processing time range

2–4 weeks

15–30 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Croatia

Yes — Digital Nomad Residence

Estonia

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Croatia

€2,800 / mo (est.)

Estonia

€3,504 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Croatia

8 years

Estonia

8 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Croatia

Yes — all tracked programs

Estonia

Yes — 1 of 2 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Croatia

1 route (residency); 1 renewable

Estonia

No dedicated residency routes tracked

Cost

Processing time range

Croatia

2–4 weeks

Estonia

15–30 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Croatia vs Estonia

🇹🇭Thailand

🇦🇪UAE

Side-by-side

Criteria

Thailand

UAE

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Destination Thailand Visa

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

$6,667 / mo (est.)

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

3 routes (residency, work); 3 renewable

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

4–8 weeks

2–5 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Thailand

Yes — Destination Thailand Visa

UAE

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Thailand

$6,667 / mo (est.)

UAE

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Thailand

Not available

UAE

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Thailand

Yes — all tracked programs

UAE

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Thailand

3 routes (residency, work); 3 renewable

UAE

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Thailand

4–8 weeks

UAE

2–5 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Thailand vs UAE

🇩🇪Germany

🇳🇱Netherlands

Side-by-side

Criteria

Germany

Netherlands

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

No / limited

Cost

Minimum income range

€4,025 / mo (est.)

€5,942 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

8 years

5 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

2 routes (work); 2 renewable

1 route (work); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

4–8 days

2–90 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Germany

No / limited

Netherlands

No / limited

Cost

Minimum income range

Germany

€4,025 / mo (est.)

Netherlands

€5,942 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Germany

8 years

Netherlands

5 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Germany

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Netherlands

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Germany

2 routes (work); 2 renewable

Netherlands

1 route (work); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Germany

4–8 days

Netherlands

2–90 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Germany vs Netherlands

Popular comparisons

🇵🇹 Portugal vs 🇪🇸 Spain 🇬🇷 Greece vs 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇹🇭 Thailand vs 🇦🇪 UAE 🇭🇷 Croatia vs 🇷🇴 Romania 🇮🇹 Italy vs 🇲🇹 Malta 🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇨🇦 Canada 🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇸🇬 Singapore vs 🇦🇪 UAE

How does NomadIndex compare countries?

Visa program data

We aggregate tracked visa programs per country — digital nomad, freelancer, startup and residency routes.

Ranges, not absolutes

Income, fee and processing figures show ranges across programs where exact data varies. Estimates are clearly marked.

Recommendations

Suggested winners are heuristic summaries — not personalised advice. Always verify with official sources.

Frequently asked questions

How does NomadIndex compare countries?: We aggregate tracked visa programs per country and present side-by-side fields including visa types, income ranges, processing times, citizenship paths and tax notes. Figures may be estimates or under source review.
Are comparison recommendations personalised?: No. Recommendations such as 'better for remote workers' are heuristic summaries based on our dataset, not personalised legal or tax advice.
Should I rely on NomadIndex before applying for a visa?: No. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying. NomadIndex data is for informational planning only.

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

231 comparison pages available

Every unique country pair has a dedicated comparison page.

Start with Portugal vs Spain

Dataset last reviewed: June 2026

NomadIndex data is for informational and planning purposes only. Requirements change frequently — verify with official government sources before applying.

NomadIndex is not legal, tax, or immigration advice. See how we verify data

Key takeaways

Every unique country pair has a dedicated compare page with structured facts

Side-by-side tables cover visa programs, income ranges, fees and processing times

Heuristic recommendations flag better fits for remote work vs startup founders

Always verify final requirements with official immigration sources

Featured comparisons

Popular pairings to help you start exploring.

🇵🇹Portugal

🇪🇸Spain

Side-by-side

Criteria

Portugal

Spain

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

5 years

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

6–60 days

20–30 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Portugal

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Spain

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Portugal

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

Spain

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Portugal

5 years

Spain

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Portugal

Yes — all tracked programs

Spain

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Portugal

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

Spain

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Portugal

6–60 days

Spain

20–30 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Portugal vs Spain

🇵🇹Portugal

🇦🇪UAE

Side-by-side

Criteria

Portugal

UAE

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

5 years

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

6–60 days

2–5 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Portugal

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

UAE

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Portugal

€920–€3,680 / mo (est.)

UAE

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Portugal

5 years

UAE

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Portugal

Yes — all tracked programs

UAE

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Portugal

2 routes (passive income, investor); 2 renewable

UAE

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Portugal

6–60 days

UAE

2–5 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Portugal vs UAE

🇮🇹Italy

🇪🇸Spain

Side-by-side

Criteria

Italy

Spain

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€2,333–€2,583 / mo (est.)

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

30–60 days

20–30 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Italy

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Spain

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Italy

€2,333–€2,583 / mo (est.)

Spain

€2,763–€2,800 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Italy

10 years

Spain

10 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Italy

Yes — all tracked programs

Spain

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Italy

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Spain

1 route (passive income); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Italy

30–60 days

Spain

20–30 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Italy vs Spain

🇭🇷Croatia

🇪🇪Estonia

Side-by-side

Criteria

Croatia

Estonia

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Digital Nomad Residence

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

€2,800 / mo (est.)

€3,504 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

8 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Yes — 1 of 2 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

1 route (residency); 1 renewable

No dedicated residency routes tracked

Cost

Processing time range

2–4 weeks

15–30 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Croatia

Yes — Digital Nomad Residence

Estonia

Yes — Digital Nomad Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Croatia

€2,800 / mo (est.)

Estonia

€3,504 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Croatia

8 years

Estonia

8 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Croatia

Yes — all tracked programs

Estonia

Yes — 1 of 2 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Croatia

1 route (residency); 1 renewable

Estonia

No dedicated residency routes tracked

Cost

Processing time range

Croatia

2–4 weeks

Estonia

15–30 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Croatia vs Estonia

🇹🇭Thailand

🇦🇪UAE

Side-by-side

Criteria

Thailand

UAE

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Yes — Destination Thailand Visa

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

$6,667 / mo (est.)

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — all tracked programs

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

3 routes (residency, work); 3 renewable

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

4–8 weeks

2–5 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Thailand

Yes — Destination Thailand Visa

UAE

Yes — Remote Work Visa

Cost

Minimum income range

Thailand

$6,667 / mo (est.)

UAE

$5,000 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Thailand

Not available

UAE

Not available

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Thailand

Yes — all tracked programs

UAE

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Thailand

3 routes (residency, work); 3 renewable

UAE

1 route (investor); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Thailand

4–8 weeks

UAE

2–5 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Thailand vs UAE

🇩🇪Germany

🇳🇱Netherlands

Side-by-side

Criteria

Germany

Netherlands

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

No / limited

Cost

Minimum income range

€4,025 / mo (est.)

€5,942 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

8 years

5 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

2 routes (work); 2 renewable

1 route (work); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

4–8 days

2–90 days

Remote work

Digital nomad visa

Germany

No / limited

Netherlands

No / limited

Cost

Minimum income range

Germany

€4,025 / mo (est.)

Netherlands

€5,942 / mo (est.)

Citizenship

Citizenship path

Germany

8 years

Netherlands

5 years

Family relocation

Family inclusion

Germany

Yes — 2 of 3 programs

Netherlands

Yes — all tracked programs

Residency pathway

Residency pathways

Germany

2 routes (work); 2 renewable

Netherlands

1 route (work); 1 renewable

Cost

Processing time range

Germany

4–8 days

Netherlands

2–90 days

Some figures are estimates or source-reviewed values. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying.See how we verify data

Compare Germany vs Netherlands

How does NomadIndex compare countries?

Visa program data

We aggregate tracked visa programs per country — digital nomad, freelancer, startup and residency routes.

Ranges, not absolutes

Income, fee and processing figures show ranges across programs where exact data varies. Estimates are clearly marked.

Recommendations

Suggested winners are heuristic summaries — not personalised advice. Always verify with official sources.

Frequently asked questions

How does NomadIndex compare countries?

We aggregate tracked visa programs per country and present side-by-side fields including visa types, income ranges, processing times, citizenship paths and tax notes. Figures may be estimates or under source review.

Are comparison recommendations personalised?

No. Recommendations such as 'better for remote workers' are heuristic summaries based on our dataset, not personalised legal or tax advice.

Should I rely on NomadIndex before applying for a visa?

No. Always confirm requirements with official government sources before applying. NomadIndex data is for informational planning only.