Key Takeaways
- 20 of 41 long-stay visa routes let your family come with you. In the Nostos visa guides, spouses and children can apply with you or join you on the nomad route itself in Spain, Portugal, Malta, Greece, Croatia and 15 more countries.
- Spain asks for about €3,970 a month for a family of four. That is €2,442 for you, €916 for the first family member and €306 for each one after that, as rounded on the Spanish consulate's page (exactly €3,968.25), as of October 2026.
- Greece has the highest family threshold we found. Its €3,500 monthly minimum rises by 20% of that base for a spouse and 15% of it per child, so two adults and two children need €5,250.
- Hungary's White Card shuts families out. Family members of a holder cannot get a family-reunification permit, except a child born in Hungary.
- Nostos cost figures are for one person. We do not multiply them for a family, so use them to compare cities, not as your family budget.
Portugal, Spain and Malta are the best countries for digital nomads with kids in 2026. Their nomad visas let a spouse or partner and children come with you, and their cities score 82 to 91 out of 100 for safety and 84 to 87 for healthcare in Nostos, Navoy's free city chooser. Japan scores higher on both, but its nomad visa lasts six months and needs ¥10 million a year in income.
This matters to more people than the backpacker image suggests: 54% of US digital nomads are married or living with a partner, according to MBO Partners' 2025 Digital Nomads report. Below, we use the 41 long-stay visa guides and 413 city profiles in Nostos (dataset 2026.10.4) to show who can come with you, what it costs to qualify and which cities hold up for children. Visa rules change often, so every rule here is as of October 2026.
Visa rules change often. This article explains the rules as published by each government as of October 2026; it is not legal or immigration advice, so confirm with the embassy or consulate before you apply.
Which digital nomad visas let your family come with you?
20 of the 41 visa routes in Nostos let family apply with you or join you on the nomad route itself. Another 13 leave them to separate family visas or ordinary reunification rules once you hold a permit, and 8 give no dependant status at all.
Who counts as family differs a lot. Some countries take your parents; most stop at a partner and children, and the age limit for children ranges from under 18 to 25.
| Country | Partner | Children | Parents and others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Spouse or unmarried partner | Children; adult children if financially dependent | Your parents, if in your care |
| Portugal | Spouse or civil partner | Minor children; single adult children who depend on you and study in Portugal | Parents of you or your spouse in your care; dependent minor siblings |
| Malta | Spouse | Minor children of you or your spouse; unmarried dependent adult children; adult children with a disability | Not included |
| Greece | Spouse or partner | Children | Not stated |
| Cyprus | Spouse or civil-union partner | Under-age children | Not stated |
| Czechia | Spouse or registered partner | Children of you or your spouse or partner | Not stated |
| Colombia | Spouse or permanent partner | Dependent children up to 25, or any age with a disability | Not stated |
| Malaysia | Spouse or common-law partner | Children, adopted children and stepchildren under 18; disabled children of any age | Your own parents |
| Thailand (DTV) | Spouse | Children under 20 | Not stated |
| Japan | Spouse | Children | Not stated |
The table shows who each country's official nomad-visa or family-visa page names as eligible family. Source: the government and consulate pages in this article's sources, read on 7 October 2026.
The other countries where family can come on the nomad route are Barbados, Costa Rica, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mauritius, Montenegro, Namibia, Slovenia and Sri Lanka. Croatia's page names "close family members" and includes a common-law partner after three years together, or less if you have a child. Timing matters in a few places: Croatia rejects family applications made before your own stay is granted, Czechia wants family to apply at the same time as you, and Malta only adds dependants in your first application or at renewal.
In Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, family members apply for their own visas, usually through family reunification once you hold your permit. Argentina, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Panama, South Africa, Taiwan and Uruguay give no dependant status. Hungary goes furthest: its immigration authority says family members of a White Card holder cannot get a family-reunification permit.
Each country's details, from documents to fees, are in the Nostos guides, for example the Spain digital nomad visa guide, the Portugal D8 visa guide and the Malta Nomad Residence Permit guide.
How much extra income per spouse or child?
The seven countries that publish a per-person figure add between about US$162 and US$1,500 a month for each family member. For two adults and two children, five of them ask for roughly US$4,000 to US$4,550 a month; Greece asks for the most.
| Country | You alone | Spouse or partner | Each child | Two adults, two children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | €2,442 | +€916 (first family member) | +€306 (each further member) | €3,970 (about $4,437) |
| Croatia | €3,622.50 | +€144.90 | +€144.90 | €4,057.20 (about $4,535) |
| Greece | €3,500 net | +€700 (20%) | +€525 (15%) | €5,250 (about $5,868) |
| Costa Rica | $3,000 | Family total $4,000 | Family total $4,000 | $4,000 |
| Mauritius | $1,500 | +$1,500 (each adult) | +$500 (each dependent child) | $4,000 |
| Namibia | $2,000 | +$1,000 | +$500 | $4,000 |
| Sri Lanka | $2,000 | Not stated | +$500 for each dependant beyond two | $2,000 or $2,500 |
The table shows the minimum monthly income each visa asks for as your family grows. Source: the official visa pages and laws in this article's sources, read 7 October 2026; euros converted at the European Central Bank rate of 7 October 2026 ($1.1177 per euro).
A few notes on reading it. Spain counts family members in order, not by role: the first person added costs €916, whether partner or child. The consulate rounds its figures; the exact 2026 amounts are €915.75 and €305.25, so €3,968.25 for a family of four. These are monthly bars based on a minimum wage paid in 14 instalments, so the yearly figure is 200% of the annual minimum wage (€34,188 for one person), not €2,442 times 12. Croatia's page says the threshold rises by 10% of the average monthly net salary per family member; we worked out €144.90 from the €1,449 average behind its €3,622.50 figure. Sri Lanka's rule adds $500 once you have more than two dependants but does not say whether a spouse counts as one, so a family of four needs either $2,000 or $2,500.
Portugal asks only that your income covers the whole family, without a per-person amount, and most other countries publish no family figure at all. Spain's figures change each year with the Spanish minimum wage.
Which cities are safest and healthiest for kids?
Among countries whose nomad visa covers your family, Naha (Okinawa), Valletta, Prague, Ljubljana, Faro and Funchal combine the strongest Nostos scores for safety, healthcare and air. The cities at the very top of our rankings, such as Singapore, Luxembourg City and Basel, are in countries with no nomad visa in our guides.
Be clear about what these scores measure. The safety score is national: half the WHO homicide rate, half the World Bank's political-stability score, so every city in a country shares it and it says nothing about neighbourhoods. Healthcare is national too: the WHO universal-health-coverage index and life expectancy, which describe the system rather than how easily a visitor gets an appointment. Air quality is measured city by city, as the annual average of fine particles (PM2.5) against the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
| City | Country | Safety | Healthcare | PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Nostos rank (of 413) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naha (Okinawa) | Japan | 99 | 92 | 6.3 | 45 |
| Valletta | Malta | 91 | 85 | 11.6 | 5 |
| Prague | Czechia | 92 | 78 | 13.4 | 86 |
| Ljubljana | Slovenia | 89 | 84 | 14.5 | 108 |
| Faro | Portugal | 87 | 84 | 2.9 | 10 |
| Funchal (Madeira) | Portugal | 87 | 84 | 5.2 | 3 |
| Málaga | Spain | 82 | 87 | 7.3 | 12 |
| Zadar | Croatia | 87 | 73 | 7.9 | 39 |
The table shows selected cities in countries whose nomad visa covers family, with Nostos safety and healthcare scores (0 to 100) and annual PM2.5, where lower is better. Source: Nostos dataset 2026.10.4, 7 October 2026.
Naha is second in the Top 10 safest cities and third in the Top 10 cities for healthcare, but Japan's six-month limit makes it a long stay rather than a move. Faro has the cleanest air of all 413 cities at 2.9 µg/m³ and tops the Top 10 cleanest-air cities. Valletta ranks 5th overall with 91 for safety. To rank all 413 cities with safety weighted first, use the safety-first ranker, and see the Nostos methodology for how each score is built.
Schools and healthcare access
Most official nomad-visa pages say nothing about schooling, so we cannot tell you whether your children can join a public school in most of these countries. Ask the school, or the education ministry, before you commit.
Three programmes do address it:
- Barbados: school-aged children approved under the Welcome Stamp do not need a separate student visa, according to Visit Barbados.
- Malaysia: children on a DE Rantau dependant pass need a Student Pass applied for through the school, unless they are home-schooled.
- Sri Lanka: dependent children may enrol in international or private schools.
For healthcare, the visa rules are about insurance, and they often apply to each family member. Japan requires the spouse and each child to hold private medical insurance with at least ¥10 million of cover. Malta requires a policy for each applicant with at least €100,000 of cover. Costa Rica asks for a medical policy that covers you and your family group. A high Nostos healthcare score tells you the country's system is strong, not that you can use it free on a nomad permit.
What does a family of four budget look like?
Nostos cannot give you a family budget: its monthly cost is for one person living alone, and we do not multiply it for a family. What it can show is the one-person cost and a one-bedroom rent, next to the legal income floor for two adults and two children.
| City | One person, per month (Nostos) | Central 1-bedroom rent | Visa income floor, family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia, Spain | $1,949 | $1,175 | €3,970 |
| Split, Croatia | $1,979 | $1,030 | €4,057.20 |
| Athens, Greece | $1,458 | $707 | €5,250 |
| San José, Costa Rica | $1,479 | $738 | $4,000 |
| Port Louis, Mauritius | $1,250 | Not available | $4,000 |
The table compares one adult's monthly cost of living with the income each visa demands for a family of four. Source: Nostos dataset 2026.10.4 (city-level cost data dated July to September 2026) and the official visa pages above, 7 October 2026.
Read the columns separately. The income floor is a legal minimum for the visa, not an estimate of what a family spends. The Nostos figures are for one person in a one-bedroom flat, and a family needs more space, more food and, in many cases, school fees and insurance for every member. We looked for an official source on family living costs abroad that we could verify and did not find one, so we have not added a figure.
Once you have a shortlist, plan the trip with Navoy to compare flights and family-sized stays for each city.
Related on the Navoy blog: the cheapest countries to get residency, nomad visas under $500.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Spain's digital nomad visa with kids?
Yes. Your spouse or unmarried partner, your children (adult children too if they depend on you financially) and parents in your care can get accompanying family visas. As of October 2026 you need €2,442 a month for yourself, plus €916 for the first family member and €306 for each further one, so €3,970 for two adults and two children.
Which digital nomad visas do not allow family?
Hungary's White Card is the clearest case: its official factsheet says family members of a holder or applicant cannot get a family-reunification permit. In the Nostos guides, Argentina, Estonia, Latvia, Panama, South Africa, Taiwan and Uruguay also give no dependant status, so each family member needs their own visa or entry.
Does each family member pay a separate visa fee?
Usually, yes. Malta charges each dependant the same €300 application fee and €100 card fee as you, Malaysia charges a RM540 processing fee per dependant (about $132, with pass fees on top), and Sri Lanka charges US$500 a year for the spouse and for each dependant. Barbados is the exception, with a single US$3,000 family bundle against US$2,000 for one person.
Can my spouse work on a family permit?
Often not. Cyprus says family members of a digital nomad may not be employed or carry out any economic activity, and Malaysia's DE Rantau FAQ says a spouse cannot work on the pass. Check the rule for your country before you rely on a second income earned locally.
Sources
- Telework visa, Consulate General of Spain in Washington (exteriores.gob.es), https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Telework-visa.aspx, accessed 2026-10-07
- Migration Code (Law 5038/2023, FEK A' 81/01.04.2023), article 68, Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.pdf, accessed 2026-10-07
- Temporary stay of digital nomads, Croatian Ministry of the Interior, https://mup.gov.hr/aliens-281621/stay-and-work/temporary-stay-of-digital-nomads/286833, accessed 2026-10-07
- Estancia Nómadas Digitales, RACSA (Costa Rica government), https://www.racsa.go.cr/nomadas-digitales/, accessed 2026-10-07
- Premium Visa FAQs, Economic Development Board Mauritius, https://edbmauritius.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FAQs-Premium-Visa.pdf, accessed 2026-10-07
- Namibia Digital Nomad Visa, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, https://www.nipdb.com/digital-nomad-visa, accessed 2026-10-07
- Digital Nomad Visa Category, Department of Immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka, https://www.immigration.gov.lk/content/files/visa/digital_nomad/Digital%20Nomad%20Visa%20Category.pdf, accessed 2026-10-07
- Residency visa documentation, Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency, accessed 2026-10-07
- Nomad Residence Permit FAQs, Residency Malta Agency, https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/, accessed 2026-10-07
- Digital nomads and family members, Cyprus Migration Department, https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/digital-nomads-and-family-members/, accessed 2026-10-07
- Digital Nomad Program, Embassy of the Czech Republic (Chicago consulate), https://mzv.gov.cz/chicago/en/consular_information/long_term_residence_permit/digital_nomad_program.html, accessed 2026-10-07
- Resolución 5477 de 2022, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia, https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/normograma/compilacion/docs/resolucion_minrelaciones_5477_2022.htm, accessed 2026-10-07
- DE Rantau Pass FAQ v10.0 (28 August 2026), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, https://www.mdec.my/api/media/file/DE-Rantau_Pass_FAQ_v10.pdf, accessed 2026-10-07
- Destination Thailand Visa, Royal Thai Embassy London, https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/destination-thailand-visa, accessed 2026-10-07
- Designated Activities (Digital Nomad / Spouse or child of Digital Nomad), Immigration Services Agency of Japan, https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities53_00001.html, accessed 2026-10-07
- White Card residency for digital nomads, Hungarian National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, https://oif.gov.hu/factsheets/white-card-residency-for-digital-nomads, accessed 2026-10-07
- Apply now: 12-Month Barbados Welcome Stamp, Barbados Welcome Stamp programme, https://barbadoswelcomestamp.bb/applynow/, accessed 2026-10-07
- Barbados Welcome Stamp, Visit Barbados, https://www.visitbarbados.org/barbados-welcome-stamp, accessed 2026-10-07
- Euro foreign exchange reference rates, 7 October 2026, European Central Bank, https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/eurofxref/eurofxref-daily.xml, accessed 2026-10-07
- 2025 Digital Nomads Trends Report, MBO Partners, https://www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/digital-nomads, accessed 2026-10-07
- Nostos dataset 2026.10.4 (413 cities, 41 visa guides), Navoy, https://nostos.navoy.io/data, accessed 2026-10-07
About the Author
Ranym Garali
Ranym is the Marketing and Content Lead at Navoy. She's been writing about travel for two years and digs into the data behind each piece, flight prices, visa rules and what people are actually searching for , so the advice holds up in practice.
