In Ireland , you can receive up to €84,000 if you renovate a structurally unsound home on one of 23 designated islands. Other countries offer one-time payments or total tax exemptions to digital nomads who agree to relocate and work there. Costa Rica offers a Digital Nomad Visa and 0% tax rate on foreign income. Many of these programs require a great deal of documentation and bureaucratic paperwork. Acquaint yourself well with all the requirements.
Ireland
Through the “Our Living Islands” strategy, you can receive grants up to €84,000 to move to and renovate vacant or derelict properties on select offshore islands.
Application Process
The application is handled by the local city or county council for the area where the property is located.
Identify Property
Find a qualifying property on one of the 23 designated islands (e.g., Aran Islands, Bere Island, Clare Island).
Verify Eligibility
Ensure the building has been vacant for at least two years and was built before 2008.
Provide Documentation
- Proof of ownership or an active purchase agreement.
- A detailed renovation plan, including cost estimates, timelines, and potentially planning permission.
- A tax clearance certificate or proof that your taxes are in order.
Payment
The grant is paid after approved work is completed; it is not an upfront lump sum.
Specific Requirements
Property Type
The building must be used as your primary private residence or a long-term rental registered with the Residential Tenancies Board.
Grant Tiers
You can receive up to €60,000 for a vacant home or up to €84,000 if the home is structurally unsound.
Residency
You must have the legal right to live in Ireland (citizenship, EU residency, or a valid visa like Stamp 0).
Potential Drawbacks
Financial Risk
Renovating on a remote island often costs significantly more than the grant provides due to high material, labor, and transport costs.
Infrastructure Issues
Many islands have limited healthcare, schools, and transport. Some lack high-speed internet or even basic sewage systems.
Isolation
Harsh weather conditions and dependency on ferry schedules can make daily life challenging, especially in winter.
Switzerland
The village of Albinen (pop. about 250) offers families up to CHF50,000 (€55,000) – specifically CHF 25,000 per adult and CHF 10,000 per child – to relocate.
Application Process
Secure Residency
Non-Swiss citizens must first obtain a Permit C (permanent residence), which typically requires living in Switzerland for 5-10 years.
Select Property
Identify a home to buy or a plot to build on within the village of Albinen.
Project Approval
Every application must be based on a construction project ready for approval or an authenticated purchase agreement.
Specific Requirements
Age Limit
Applicants must be under 45 years old at the time of application.
Minimum Investment
You must buy or build a home valued at a minimum of CHF 200,000 ($254,000). This must be your primary residence; vacation homes do not qualify.
Residency Duration
You must commit to living in Albinen for at least 10 years.
Potential Drawbacks
High Upfront Costs
You must invest at least CHF 200,000 upfront. The grant (approx. CHF 25,000 per adult and CHF 10,000 per child) is a subsidy, not a relocation fund.
Limited Amenities & Isolation
Albinen is a very small village with extremely limited services: no bank, no post office, and no school. Public transport is limited and the nearest schools or major services require a commute.
Spain
Ponga, Asturias: Family Relocation
Ponga targets families specifically to keep local schools and services from closing.
Incentive Offer
- €2,971 per person: Provided to individuals or couples moving to the village.
- €2,600 per child: An additional grant for each child born while living in the village.
Requirements
- Five-Year Commitment: You must commit to living in the village for a minimum of five years.
- Legal Status: Financial incentives do not grant a visa; you must already have legal residency in Spain.
How to Apply
Applications are managed directly by the Ponga Town Hall (Ayuntamiento). You must provide a valid passport, a Spanish NIE, and a rental agreement or property deed.
Drawbacks
- Isolation: Located in rugged mountains; winter can bring heavy snow that blocks roads.
- Infrastructure: Older housing often requires significant, expensive renovation.
- Social: The town has only about 600 residents, making a strong command of Spanish essential for daily survival and paperwork.
Italy
Calabria : “Active Residency Income” (Reddito di Residenza Attiva)
This program focuses on revitalizing tiny villages with fewer than 2,000 residents by attracting young entrepreneurs.
Incentive Offer
Up to €28,000–€30,000 distributed over three years (roughly €800–€1,000 per month).
How to Apply
- Monitor Official Portals: Applications are submitted through the Calabria Region’s official website when a “bando” (public call) is active.
- Submit a Business Plan: You must propose a new small business or fill a specific professional gap (e.g., plumber, shopkeeper) identified by the municipality.
- Timing: If approved, you must be prepared to relocate to Calabria within 90 days.
Requirements
You must be under 40 years old, must commit to living in the village full-time for at least three years and you must already have a valid Italian residence permit or EU citizenship before applying for the grant.
Sardinia : Home Purchase & Renovation Grant
Sardinia’s program is specifically designed to help people buy and renovate homes in rural areas.
Incentive Offer
A non-repayable grant of up to €15,000.
How to Apply
Select a town with a population of fewer than 3,000 residents. Then contact the town hall (Comune) of your chosen village. Then purchase the property that you plan to renovate.
Requirements
- Matching Funds: The grant cannot exceed 50% of the total cost of purchase and/or renovation. In other words, to get the full €15,000, you must spend at least €30,000.
- Residency: You must register your permanent residence in the Sardinian municipality within 18 months of arrival.
Respective Drawbacks
| Feature | Calabria Drawbacks | Sardinia Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Bureaucracy | Extremely complex application process; requires a detailed business plan in Italian. | Infamously slow local administration. |
| Financial Risk | Payments are monthly stipends, not a lump sum; if the business fails, funding may stop. | You must front significant capital first; the grant is a reimbursement, not an advance. |
| Infrastructure | Many target villages have very limited healthcare, no high-speed internet or schools. | Island logistics make renovation materials and labor expensive. |
Payment for Digital Nomad
Spain - Extremadura : Digital Nomad Grant
The Extremadura region offers digital nomads up to €15,000 to relocate. It has a €2 million budget to attract 200 high-tech remote workers.
Incentive Offer
- Up to €15,000 total: Women, people under 30, and those moving to towns with fewer than 5,000 residents receive an initial €10,000.
- €8,000 base: All other applicants receive a base grant of €8,000.
- Commitment Bonus: Staying for a third year adds €4,000 to €5,000 more.
Requirements
- Employment: Must be a highly qualified professional working 100% remotely in the tech industry.
- Residency: Must not have lived in Extremadura in the last six months. Non-EU nationals must first obtain a Spanish Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) (see below).
- Commitment: Must agree to live and work in the region for at least two years.
How to Apply
Submit applications via the Extremadura General Electronic Access Point. You will need a digital certificate or electronic Spanish ID and a DNV.
How to Apply for the Spanish DNV
Work Requirements
You must have a contract with a company located outside of Spain that has been active for at least 3 months and the company must have been in operation for at least 1 year.
Professional Qualification
A university degree or professional certificate in your field OR proof of at least 3 years of experience in your industry.
Income Requirements (2026 Estimates)
- Main Applicant: You must prove a monthly income of at least 200% of the Spanish Minimum Wage (SMI), estimated at about €2,640/month.
- Family Add-ons: +75% of the SMI for the first family member (
€990) and +25% (€330) for each additional person.
Mandatory Documentation
- Criminal Record Check: An apostilled (issued by a government authority) certificate from every country you’ve lived in for the last 5 years.
- Private Health Insurance: A policy from a provider authorized to operate in Spain with no co-payments and full coverage.
- Proof of Relationship: Apostilled marriage or birth certificates if applying with a partner and/or children.
- Form MI-T: The official application form for the International Telework Visa.
The Process to Get the Grant
Once your DNV is approved and you have moved to Extremadura:
- Get your NIE: Your Foreigner Identity Number (provided with the visa).
- Empadronamiento: Register your address at the local Town Hall (Ayuntamiento). This is the “start date” for your residency commitment.
- Digital Certificate: Obtain a “Certificado Digital” to sign the grant application via the Extremadura Electronic Office.
Critical Detail
Most grants are taxable income in Spain. Before committing, you should calculate how much of the €15,000 will be returned in taxes.
Chile : The Start-Up Chile (SUP) program
The SUP is a government-backed public accelerator that provides equity-free funding and support to globally scalable startups. The program is divided into three distinct tracks – Build, Ignite, and Growth (BIG) – each with its own specific eligibility criteria.
General Requirements
- The team leader must be over 18 years old, own at least 10% equity in the company and must work exclusively on the startup for the duration of the program.
- Residency: The team leader must live and work in Santiago, Chile, for the full execution period (typically 4 to 12 months).
- Visa: Foreigners must apply as natural persons and obtain a Start-up Visa (requires a 24-month valid passport and a clean criminal record).
- The company must be a tech-based, innovative, and scalable solution with global potential.
Specific Program Tracks (2026)
| Program | Stage | Funding (Equity-Free) | Requirement Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | Validated idea or prototype | ~$12,000-$18,000 | Less than 1 year of development. |
| Ignite | Functional Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with early validation | ~$30,000-$60,000 | Less than 3 years of development. |
| Growth | Operational with revenue | Up to $100,000 | Annual sales between $100K and $1M. |
How to Apply
The application process is handled through the Start-Up Chile website.
- Preparation: Prepare a 90-second video pitch in English and a detailed description of your product, market, and team.
- Submission: Fill out the online form during specific “call” windows (typically twice a year, often around November).
- Evaluation: Applications undergo review by expert judges. Selected founders are called for interviews.
Drawbacks and Challenges
- Reimbursement Delays: Founders frequently report a 1-3 month delay in receiving the actual grant money after arrival.
- Bureaucracy: Participants must provide extensive documentation for every expense.
- Strict “Community Giveback”: Founders are required to engage in “social capital” activities, such as mentoring or workshops for the local community.
- Market Size: While Chile is a great testing ground, some founders find the local market too small for final scaling, requiring a quick pivot to larger regions..
Total Tax Exemptions (& Reductions) for Digital Nomads
Many countries now offer DNVs that often provide significant tax exemptions on foreign-earned income, effectively “paying” you by letting you keep more of your salary. These jurisdictions provide a legal framework to live locally while paying zero income tax on money earned from outside the country.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica offers a dedicated DNV (“Rentista for Remote Workers and Service Providers”) designed for location-independent professionals. The program allows you to live and work in the country for one year, with an option to renew for an additional year.
Key Incentives
- Tax Exemptions: You are 100% exempt from Costa Rican income tax on your foreign earnings.
- Duty-Free Imports: You can import basic work equipment (computers, cameras, tablets) without paying customs duties.
- Banking Access: You are legally allowed to open a national bank account in Costa Rica, providing access to the local mobile payment system (SINPE).
- Driver’s License: You can continue using your home country’s valid driver’s license throughout the duration of your visa.
Requirements
- Minimum Income: You must prove a stable monthly income of at least $3,000 if applying alone or $4,000 if applying with a family. Some official sources may list up to $5,000 for families depending on specific dependency counts.
- Health Insurance: You must maintain a policy with a minimum coverage of $50,000 that is valid in Costa Rica for the entire stay.
- Remote Work Status : You must work for a company or clients located outside of Costa Rica. You are strictly prohibited from working for local employers.
Croatia
Offers a residence permit for up to 18 months that remains officially tax-free on foreign-sourced remote work income.
- You must be able to prove that you have a monthly income of at least €3,295 per month.
United Arab Emirates (Dubai )
The Virtual Work Visa allows you to live in Dubai for one year with 0% personal income tax.
- Requirement: Monthly income of $3,500 and six months of bank statements.
Panama
Uses a territorial tax system, meaning that income earned outside Panama is not taxed. Their DNV specifically offers 0% tax on foreign earnings.
- Requirement: Annual income of $36,000.
Barbados
The “Welcome Stamp” visa (valid through 2026) imposes no local income tax on foreign earnings for its 12-month duration.
- Requirement: Minimum annual income of $50,000.
Georgia
Remote workers can apply for Small Business Status, which reduces the tax rate to 1% on turnover up to ₾500,000 GEL (~$185,000 USD). For individuals who do not register as a business, Georgia generally does not tax foreign-sourced income (money earned from clients or employers outside Georgia), provided you are not considered a tax resident or meet specific exemption criteria.
New 2026 Requirements & Drawbacks
- Mandatory Health Insurance: As of January 1, 2026, all foreign visitors must have valid health and accident insurance for the duration of their stay. You may be fined at the border if you cannot produce proof of coverage.
- Mandatory Business Registration: To get the 1% tax rate, you must physically register at a Public Service Hall and open a local Georgian bank account.
Spain
DNV holders can apply for the “Beckham Law” tax regime, which offers a flat 24% tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to five years, while foreign-sourced dividends and interest remain exempt.
- Requirement : Monthly income of approx. €2,800.
Italy
Qualified digital nomads can access the Impatriate Regime, which offers a 50% to 60% exemption on taxable income for up to five years. Self-employed individuals may also qualify for a 5% flat tax (Regime Forfettario) for the first five years.
Act Fast: What You Need to Know Before Moving Abroad for Incentives
What are the requirements for taking advantage of the available financial incentives to live in a village in Europe?
Generally, you will need a detailed renovation plan, specific investments in property or local businesses, proof of ownership or a purchase agreement, and an appropriate residence permit or visa. Many programs also require a long-term commitment to living in the village, such as at least 10 years in Albinen, Switzerland, along with the willingness to adapt to limited amenities like fewer schools or slower internet.
Would I have to provide money upfront to qualify for the incentives?
In many cases, these incentives are structured as reimbursements or subsidies rather than upfront payments. This means you often need to fund the project first and receive compensation later. For example, in Calabria, Italy, grants cover up to 50% of total costs, so receiving €15,000 requires at least €30,000 in spending. In Albinen, Switzerland, a minimum upfront investment of CHF 200,000 is required.
What is required for me to live tax-free as a digital nomad?
You will typically need a Digital Nomad Visa issued by your destination country. Requirements often include proof of minimum monthly income, such as $3,000 for individuals or $4,000 for families in Costa Rica, foreign-sourced income, full health insurance coverage, a clean criminal record, and a valid employment contract with a company based outside the host country.
As a digital nomad, can I get paid to relocate to another country?
Yes, some regions offer financial incentives. For example, Spain’s Extremadura region provides up to €15,000 for digital nomads who relocate. Applicants typically need a university degree or at least three years of professional experience, must commit to living in the region for at least two years, and must meet visa and income requirements. Non-EU applicants must secure a Spanish Digital Nomad Visa and demonstrate sufficient income from a foreign employer.
