Working from abroad ยท November 2026
Working remotely from abroad: country guides
Most remote roles are tied to one country. To do one from somewhere else you need three things: the right to live there, an answer on tax, and an employer who agrees. These guides give the first two from official pages, country by country, and RoleFinder's own numbers on the third.
Every visa and tax fact here was read on the official page linked under it on 11 November 2026. It is a summary, not legal or tax advice: rules and amounts change, and the consulate or the tax office decides your case. It does not cover social security or what your employer has to do in the country.
Side by side
| Country | Permit for remote work | Money asked | How long | Tax resident after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanon Buy Houses Japan | Digital nomad status (Designated Activities) | 10 million yen a year | 6 months, no extension | In the guide |
| Italy | Digital nomad / remote worker visa (highly skilled work only) | About 25,000 euros a year; employees 33,000 euros gross | 1 year, renewable | Most of the year (183 days) |
| Portugal | Temporary stay or residence visa for remote work | 3,680 euros a month (4 times the 2026 minimum wage) | Up to 1 year, or a residence permit | More than 183 days in any 12 months |
| Spain | Telework visa | 2,442 euros a month (twice the 2026 minimum wage) | 1 year; residence permit up to 3 years | More than 183 days in a calendar year |
| Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (workcation) | 500,000 baht in the bank | 5 years; 180 days per entry | More than 180 days in a calendar year |
Amounts are for one person in 2026. Japan's row is from the guide on Buy Houses Japan, a site by the same maker; the others from the official pages each guide links, read on 11 November 2026.
The guides
- Working remotely from Japan (on Buy Houses Japan, a site by the same maker)
- Working remotely from Italy
- Working remotely from Portugal
- Working remotely from Spain
- Working remotely from Thailand
The part no visa solves: the employer
Most remote ads name the countries they accept. In a sample of 3,076 open remote roles on RoleFinder on 5 November 2026, 59% named the US or Canada, 15% the UK or Europe and 14% another single country. Fewer than 1 in 100 said worldwide.
So a remote role you can do from another country is one whose employer accepts it, in writing. Read the ad's location line first, then ask.
RoleFinder lists 51,691 open remote roles today. Each one's page shows the location the employer gave.
How these guides are made
- Visa and tax facts come only from official pages: consulates and embassies, the countries' visa portals, their tax authorities and official gazettes. Each section links the pages it was read from.
- Where official pages disagree, the guide says so and names each one. Sums the pages do not print, such as twice a minimum wage, are shown as sums.
- The numbers on remote roles are RoleFinder's own, from the roles it lists.
- Something wrong or out of date? Write to urbano@urbanodx.com and it gets fixed.
Questions
Can I work remotely from another country?
You need two things: a status that lets you live there and do the work, and your employer's agreement. Spain, Portugal, Italy, Thailand and Japan each have a visa or status for remote workers, with an income or savings line. The guides give each one's rules from the official pages.
Which of these countries asks for the least money?
For a freelancer, Italy asks the least income of the five: about 25,000 euros a year, for highly skilled work only. Spain asks 2,442 euros a month and Portugal 3,680 euros a month in 2026. Thailand asks for savings instead, 500,000 baht, and Japan for an income of 10 million yen a year.
Do remote jobs let you work from anywhere?
Rarely. In a sample of 3,076 open remote roles on RoleFinder on 5 November 2026, fewer than 1 in 100 said worldwide; 59% named the US or Canada and 15% the UK or Europe.
Find the remote roles that fit your CV.
Add your CV once. RoleFinder checks every new listing against it and keeps a short, ranked list of the ones that fit, remote ones included.