Varenna's colourful lakeside houses and bell tower below green mountains on Lake Como, Italy
Digital Nomad

Flat Tax for New Residents 2026: Italy, Greece and More

R
Ranym Garali
Published: October 30th, 2026Updated: October 30th, 2026
9 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Italy's flat tax for new residents tripled to $333,900 (€300,000) a year. It was $111,300 (€100,000) until 10 August 2024, $222,600 (€200,000) for moves from 11 August 2024, and $333,900 (€300,000) for moves from 1 January 2026.
  • Greece charges $111,300 (€100,000) a year on all foreign income for up to 15 years. You must not have been Greek resident in 7 of the previous 8 years and must invest at least $556,500 (€500,000) in Greece.
  • Türkiye exempts all foreign income for 20 years. It applies to people who become resident from 1 January 2026 after three years with no Turkish domicile or tax liability.
  • The fixed-fee regimes do not cover work done in the country. Italy and Greece tax local work normally, Poland very likely does too and Switzerland bars paid work entirely, so they suit investors, not remote workers.
  • Employees have their own regimes. Spain taxes work income at 24% up to $667,800 (€600,000) for six tax years, and Portugal's IFICI charges 20% on qualifying work for 10 years.

A flat tax for new residents lets someone who moves to a country pay a fixed amount, or a low rate, on their foreign income instead of the normal scale. The best-known one is Italy's, which now costs $333,900 (€300,000) a year, three times what it cost before August 2024. Greece charges $111,300 (€100,000), Poland $50,660 (PLN 200,000) and Switzerland taxes your living costs instead of your income, while Türkiye and Uruguay exempt foreign income for years and Kazakhstan exempts it in exchange for a yearly state fee. Almost none of them cover pay for work you do in the country.

Everything below is as of October 2026, built from the 152 tax profiles in Nostos, Navoy's free city chooser, and checked against each country's law or tax authority. Rules verified against official sources on 27 and 28 October 2026. It is general information, not tax advice. If you are a US citizen, you stay taxed on worldwide income wherever you live, and your home country's exit rules can change the answer.

How much is Italy's flat tax for new residents in 2026?

Italy's flat tax is $333,900 (€300,000) a year for anyone who moves their tax residence to Italy from 1 January 2026. Under article 24-bis of the income tax code, that single payment covers all foreign-source income, whatever the amount, for up to 15 years. Each family member you add costs $55,650 (€50,000) a year.

The price has tripled in under two years, according to the Agenzia delle Entrate:

Date you move to ItalyFlat tax per yearPer family member
Until 10 August 2024$111,300 (€100,000)$27,830 (€25,000)
11 August 2024 to 31 December 2025$222,600 (€200,000)$27,830 (€25,000)
From 1 January 2026$333,900 (€300,000)$55,650 (€50,000)

Earlier movers keep the amount that applied when they arrived. The 2026 Budget Law (Law 199/2025) made the latest increase.

To qualify, you must not have been Italian tax resident in at least 9 of the previous 10 years. Holders skip IVIE and IVAFE, the annual levies on foreign property and financial assets, and pay inheritance and gift tax only on Italian assets. Italian income, including pay for work you do in Italy, is taxed normally, at up to 43% plus regional and municipal surcharges. People moving from 2027 cannot combine it with the impatriate workers' regime.

When does it pay off? Italy taxes residents' foreign dividends, interest and gains at a flat 26%, so the $333,900 (€300,000) flat tax only wins if that kind of income exceeds about $1.3 million (€1.15 million) a year. If you are weighing Milan or another city, the Italy country page shows how the ordinary rules apply.

Scouting Milan before you move? Plan the trip free with Navoy and compare hotels in Milan.

Which countries offer a flat tax or exemption for new residents?

We went through all 196 regimes listed in the 152 Nostos tax profiles and kept the ones built for people moving in. Switzerland comes first because it taxes a minimum spending base; then fixed amounts and minimum taxes, roughly highest first in euro terms; then flat rates from highest to lowest:

CountryRegimeAnnual cost or rateWhat it coversHow longWho qualifiesCatch
SwitzerlandLump-sum taxationTax on living costs, federal base at least $525,000 (CHF 435,000, 2026)Worldwide income; wealth by cantonNo limitNon-Swiss, first arrival or after 10 years awayNo paid work in Switzerland; not in Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden
ItalyArt. 24-bis$333,900 (€300,000) + $55,650 (€50,000) per family memberAll foreign incomeUp to 15 yearsNot resident 9 of previous 10 yearsItalian income taxed normally
GreeceArt. 5A$111,300 (€100,000) + $22,260 (€20,000) per relativeAll foreign incomeUp to 15 yearsNot resident 7 of previous 8 years; $556,500 (€500,000) Greek investmentNo credit for foreign tax
KazakhstanAIFC Investment Tax ResidencyState fee of $66,430 (KZT 30,275,000) (2026)All foreign incomeUntil 1 January 2066Foreigners, not resident in past 20 years; $60,000 investmentKazakh income taxed normally
PolandArt. 30j lump sum$50,660 (PLN 200,000) + $25,330 (PLN 100,000) per family memberAll foreign income10 yearsNot resident 5 of previous 6 yearsMust also spend $25,330 (PLN 100,000) a year on listed purposes
MaltaIndividual Tax Programme15% on foreign income brought in, minimum $38,960 (€35,000)Remitted foreign income5 years, renewableHome bought for $779,100 (€700,000) or rented for $15,580 (€14,000); $9,460 (€8,500) feeStarts 1 January 2027
MaltaGlobal Residence Programme15% on foreign income brought in, minimum $16,700 (€15,000)Remitted foreign incomeTo 31 December 2031 if applied for by end of 2026Home bought for $306,100 (€275,000) or rented for $10,680 (€9,600) a yearOther income 35%
SpainBeckham law (art. 93)24% up to $667,800 (€600,000), 47% aboveWork income; foreign investment income untaxed6 tax yearsPeople moving for a job, incl. teleworking visaFreelancers excluded
PortugalIFICI20% on qualifying work; most foreign income exemptWork and foreign income10 yearsListed research and tech rolesForeign pensions taxed
CuraçaoPenshonadoregeling10%Foreign pensions and investment incomeNo limitAge 50+, 60 months abroad, home worth $251,400 (ANG 450,000)No local work by you or your spouse
AndorraPassive residenceNormal income tax, at most 10%Residence permit, not a tax breakWhile resident$1.1 million (€1 million) investment, $55,650 (€50,000) non-refundable paymentLive there 90 days a year
ItalyArt. 24-ter7%All foreign income10 yearsForeign pensioners in small southern townsTown of up to 30,000 people
GreeceArt. 5B7%All foreign incomeUp to 15 yearsForeign pensioners, not resident 5 of previous 6 yearsPension must come from abroad
Puerto RicoAct 60 investor decree0% (4% for applications from 2027)Interest, dividends, post-move gainsTo 2035 (2055 at 4%)Bona fide residents; $10,000 yearly donationUS tax still due on US-source income
CyprusNon-dom status0% defense tax on dividends and interestDividends and interest17 of 20 yearsDomicile of origin outside Cyprus2.65% health contribution still due
TürkiyeArt. 20/D exemption0%All foreign income20 yearsResident from 2026; no Turkish ties in 3 prior yearsNo credit for foreign tax
UruguayArt. 24-BIS tax holiday0%Foreign investment incomeArrival year + 10Resident from 2026; 183 days or a set investmentWork income not covered
ThailandLTR visa0%Foreign income brought in10 yearsWealthy investors, pensioners, high-earning remote workersConditions must be kept each year
Sri LankaInvestor visaTreated as non-residentForeign income outside tax5 or 10 years$100,000 or $200,000 investmentWork in Sri Lanka taxed

Sources: each country's tax law or tax authority, listed below; Nostos tax profiles, read 27 and 28 October 2026.

Bar chart of the yearly flat tax or minimum tax on foreign income for new residents in Italy, Greece, Poland and Malta in 2026
Yearly flat or minimum tax on foreign income for the main applicant, in US dollars. Source: Italian, Greek, Polish and Maltese tax law via Nostos tax profiles, October 2026

Which regimes charge a fixed amount every year?

Besides Italy, four countries put a fixed amount, a spending base or a minimum tax on foreign income.

Greece: $111,300 (€100,000) on everything abroad

Article 5A of the Greek Income Tax Code, which we read in the Ministry of Finance's consolidated text, sets a flat $111,300 (€100,000) a year "regardless of the amount" of foreign income, plus $22,260 (€20,000) per relative, for up to 15 tax years. You need $556,500 (€500,000) invested in Greek property, companies or securities within three years of applying, unless you already hold an investor residence permit. Foreign tax cannot be credited against it. Greece taxes residents' dividends at only 5% and interest at 15%, so the math depends on your mix: it beats the normal rules above about $742,400 (€667,000) of interest a year. See the tax section for Athens.

Switzerland: tax on what you spend

Swiss lump-sum taxation taxes your worldwide living expenses instead of your income, at a federal minimum base of $525,000 (CHF 435,000) for 2026, seven times your rent, or your Swiss income, whichever is highest. Cantons set their own minimums, from $241,400 (CHF 200,000) in Jura to $780,500 (CHF 646,700) in Lucerne in the federal tax administration's 2025 overview. Any paid work in Switzerland rules it out, even for foreign clients. Ticino, home to Lugano, still offers it; Zurich does not.

Poland: $50,660 (PLN 200,000) for 10 years

Poland's ryczałt on foreign income (PIT Act, articles 30j to 30p) costs $50,660 (PLN 200,000) a year, prorated in the year you arrive, and covers all income earned outside Poland. You also commit to spend $25,330 (PLN 100,000) a year on listed purposes. Since dividends and gains are normally taxed at 19%, it pays off above roughly $266,000 (PLN 1.05 million) of foreign income. Pay for work done in Poland is probably Polish-source, so ask for an advance ruling before relying on it from Warsaw.

Malta: the minimum tax is going up

Malta's Global Residence Programme taxes foreign income you bring into Malta at 15%, with a $16,700 (€15,000) yearly minimum. Its replacement, the Individual Tax Programme from 1 January 2027, keeps 15% but raises the minimum to $38,960 (€35,000) and the home purchase to $779,100 (€700,000). Statuses granted or applied for by 31 December 2026 run until 31 December 2031. Compare Valletta costs before you buy.

Valletta's limestone buildings, domes and bastion walls above the Grand Harbour in Malta
Valletta's limestone bastions rise straight from the Grand Harbour in Malta. Photo: The Daphne Lens / Pexels

Which countries exempt foreign income completely?

Türkiye is the newest. Communiqué No 333, published in the Official Gazette on 4 July 2026, confirms that people who become resident from 1 January 2026, with no Turkish domicile or tax liability in the three prior calendar years, pay no income tax on foreign income for 20 years. You apply for the EK-1 certificate by the end of your first resident year. Work done from Istanbul is Turkish-source and taxed at 15% to 40%.

Uruguay gives people who become resident from 2026 a holiday on foreign investment income for the arrival year and 10 more. Those who pass the 183-day test need no investment. Afterward, investors pay 6% for five years, or a fixed tax of about $310,000 a year. Montevideo is the obvious base.

Cyprus non-dom status removes the defense tax on dividends and interest for 17 of your first 20 years, leaving only the 2.65% GESY health contribution. After that, a $278,300 (€250,000) payment per five-year period extends it. Pay for work in Limassol is taxed at up to 35%.

Kazakhstan, Thailand and Puerto Rico tie the exemption to an investment or visa. Americans should note that Puerto Rico's decree covers only Puerto Rico tax: the IRS still taxes US-source dividends and interest.

Some countries tax only local income for every resident, not just newcomers: see our list of territorial tax countries.

Who should use which regime?

  • Wealthy investors with large portfolios: Italy, Greece, Poland and Switzerland. Against normal rates, the fixed fee wins only above about $266,000 (PLN 1.05 million) of foreign investment income a year in Poland, $742,400 (€667,000) of interest in Greece or $1.3 million (€1.15 million) in Italy.
  • Investors with smaller portfolios: Türkiye, Uruguay and Cyprus cost nothing to join, though each has residence conditions.
  • Retirees: Italy's and Greece's 7% pensioner regimes, Curaçao's 10% and Malta's remittance programmes.
  • Employees moving for a job: Spain's 24% regime and Portugal's IFICI. Spain's names employees on the teleworking visa; most IFICI routes need a Portuguese employer, so check eligibility before planning around Lisbon.
  • Remote workers and freelancers: few fit. Thailand's LTR visa covers high-earning remote employees of large foreign companies, but whether pay for work physically done in Thailand qualifies is not settled.

Andorra la Vella is different: passive residence is a permit, and the appeal is a normal income tax capped at 10%.

What are the catches?

  • Local work is not covered. Italy and Greece tax pay for work you physically do in the country at normal rates, Poland very likely does too, and Switzerland rules out paid work entirely.
  • Your old country may not let go. Exit taxes, extended residence rules and treaties can keep you taxable at home.
  • US citizens stay taxed by the US. None of these regimes change that.
  • Rules move fast. Italy changed its price twice in 17 months, Malta is replacing its programme and Türkiye's regime is less than a year old.

The UK replaced its non-dom regime in April 2025 with a four-year foreign income and gains regime; we do not cover it here.

How to use this when choosing a base

Pick the regime first, then the city. Every Nostos city page now has a "Do you pay tax here on income from abroad?" section, and the full dataset is on the Nostos data page. If you are already planning Italy or Greece, compare costs and climate there, then plan the trip free with Navoy and check hotels in Milan and flights to Milan. For the day-count rules that make you resident in the first place, see our 183-day rule by country guide and which digital nomad visas make you pay tax.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Italian flat tax for new residents in 2026?

People who move their tax residence to Italy from 1 January 2026 pay a fixed substitute tax of $333,900 (€300,000) a year on all foreign-source income, plus $55,650 (€50,000) for each family member included, under article 24-bis of the Italian income tax code. People who moved between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025 pay $222,600 (€200,000), and earlier movers keep $111,300 (€100,000). The option lasts up to 15 years and does not cover Italian income.

Can a digital nomad use a flat tax for new residents?

Usually not for their work income. Pay for work you physically do in Italy or Greece counts as local income and is taxed at normal rates, Poland very likely treats it the same way, and Switzerland's lump-sum regime is closed to anyone who does paid work in Switzerland. Remote employees should look at Spain's 24% regime instead, which names employees on the teleworking visa.

Is the Greek non-dom tax still $111,300 (€100,000)?

Yes. Article 5A of the Greek Income Tax Code sets a flat $111,300 (€100,000) a year on all foreign-source income, whatever the amount, plus $22,260 (€20,000) for each relative added, for up to 15 tax years. Applicants must not have been Greek tax residents in 7 of the previous 8 years and must invest at least $556,500 (€500,000) in Greece within three years, unless they hold an investor residence permit.

Which country has the longest foreign income exemption for newcomers?

Kazakhstan's AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme exempts foreign income until 1 January 2066, for a yearly state fee and an investment of at least $60,000. Among broader regimes, Türkiye's exemption lasts 20 years and covers all income earned outside Türkiye, for people who become resident from 1 January 2026.

Sources

Tax ResidencyItalyFlat TaxNon-Dom

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.

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