Moving to Europe as a Family While Working Remotely: The Best Digital Nomad and Freelancer Visas in 2025

Explore the most family-friendly European countries offering digital nomad and freelancer visas for remote workers with kids. Learn about cost of living, income requirements, education, healthcare, LGBTQ+ inclusion, pet relocation and what it takes to relocate to Europe with your family and work remotely.

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When people hear the term digital nomad, they often picture a young solo traveler with a laptop on a beach — but that image doesn’t reflect the growing number of families working remotely who are now rethinking what it means to live, work, and thrive. I’m one of them. I’m a single mom with two teenagers — one of whom is on the autism spectrum — and we’re actively planning a move to Europe. I have visited many European countries, many of them with my kids and I fell in love with the continent from the first time I set foot in the old world but never had I considered moving there with kids was an option, until recently. I have written before about traveling through Europe as a freelancer but now I am focusing on moving to Europe with my family long term. This article is for families like mine who are looking beyond the outdated “American Dream” and exploring what other countries can offer in terms of safety, education, healthcare, inclusivity, women’s rights and quality of life.

*Rua Augusta in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz*

Over the past few months, I’ve been researching the best digital nomad visas for families — and what I’ve discovered has completely changed my perspective. While I’ve worked remotely for years, I never seriously considered that moving abroad could be a viable long-term option for families. But it is. In fact, many countries are now offering digital nomad visas with dependents, and some are far more family-friendly than others. This article focuses specifically on those options, based on what matters most to families: access to international schools or affordable universities, walkable cities, reliable healthcare, inclusive environments for neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ children and youth, and a chance to build a better future without sacrificing stability

We are moving with our two golden doodles and we know that most American families have pets, who they consider to be part of their family like we do. That is why I’m also including what it’s like to move with dogs or cats — from entry requirements to the cost of flying them over and finding pet-friendly rentals once you arrive. (If you are considering moving abroad please do not leave your pets!)

Why Europe Offers the Best Digital Nomad and Freelancer Visas for Families in 2025

If you’re a family with the freedom to work remotely, Europe offers something uniquely valuable: the ability to live in a place where safety, healthcare, education, and quality of life are often treated as public priorities — not private luxuries. While many digital nomads gravitate toward countries in Southeast Asia or Latin America for the low cost of living, Europe stands out for families looking for long-term stability and support.

Many European countries now offer digital nomad visas with dependents, freelancer visas, or other pathways that allow you to bring your children and stay longer than a typical tourist visa. And unlike more transient nomad hubs, these countries often come with strong infrastructure: walkable cities, accessible transportation, clean public spaces, excellent private insurance options, and affordable or even free higher education.

That’s a major reason why we’re choosing to focus this guide specifically on Europe’s most family-friendly digital nomad visa options in 2025. For families like mine — and perhaps yours too — the goal isn’t just to work remotely, but to build a better everyday life. Whether that means enrolling your teen in college without racking up debt, walking to a local market without needing a car, or living in a place where your kids can feel safe being themselves, Europe offers a compelling alternative.

And while no place is perfect, several countries in Europe do offer realistic paths for families who are freelancers, contractors, or self-employed professionals — and want to live somewhere that aligns with their values, their budget, and their hopes for the future.

How to Use This Guide to Find the Best Digital Nomad and Freelancer Visas for Families in Europe

If you’re a parent working remotely — whether you’re freelancing, running your own business, or contracting with clients online — this guide is for you. It’s designed to help families like ours figure out where in Europe we might be able to live, legally and sustainably, using digital nomad or freelance-style visas.

This guide does not focus on temporary travel, youth gap years, or minimalist backpacking lifestyles. It’s for families who want to build a life abroad, either for a year or for the long term — and need real answers about income requirements, education, healthcare, housing, and what life might actually look like on the ground.

We’ve compared countries based on the following key factors:

Visa Type & Eligibility: Whether it’s a digital nomad visa, a freelance visa, or another type of remote work permit — and whether it allows for dependents (spouses and kids).
Monthly Income Requirement: How much you need to earn to qualify, plus how that amount increases if you’re applying with children or a partner.
Cost of Living for Families: Including real examples of rental prices (usually for a 3-bedroom furnished apartment in a mid-sized city), estimated monthly budgets for things like groceries, transportation, internet, and healthcare.
Note: These are average estimates and may vary based on location, lifestyle, apartment type, and season. Larger cities like Madrid and Barcelona may be more expensive, while smaller towns may be more affordable.
Education: Whether the country has affordable public universities, international schools, or homeschooling flexibility.
Healthcare: We look at access to private insurance (usually a visa requirement), and whether the country is known for high-quality medical care.
Walkability & Infrastructure: Can you live without a car? Are cities well-connected and safe for teens to get around independently?
Pet Relocation: Can you bring your dog or cat? How much does it cost? Is it easy to find pet-friendly rentals?
Inclusivity & Family Culture: Are women’s rights protected? Is the country supportive of diverse family types, including those with LGBTQ+ members or children with disabilities?

You’ll also find personal insights throughout — based on my own journey and priorities as a single mom of two teens — as well as practical takeaways you can use to start building your own relocation plan.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But my hope is that this guide makes the idea of moving abroad with your family feel more possible — and helps you start narrowing down the countries that make the most sense for you.

Spain: A Family-Friendly Digital Nomad Destination with Culture, Safety, and Stability

Spain was the first country I seriously considered when we began exploring our options to move abroad — and it’s still one of our top choices. When we visited with the kids a few years ago we found that Spain is a great family destination and itchecks off so many boxes for families looking for a better life: walkable cities, an inclusive culture, affordable higher education, universal healthcare, and a strong focus on quality of life. My brother lives in Valladolid, Spain, and I’ve watched my nephew, who has Down syndrome, thrive in an environment where he can walk safely to class, build community through accessible programs, and live with a level of independence that would be hard to achieve in the U.S. For our family Spain is also a top choice as we are dual citizens (Guatemala and U.S.) and Spain has a fast track for citizenship for citizens of it’s former colonies including Latin American countries and the Philippines requiring only two years of residency instead of ten. My kids also speak some Spanish so learning the language at a level where they can attend college in Spanish will not require as much time and effort.

*Cloister of Colegio de San Gregorio, which now houses the Museo Nacional de Escultura (National Museum of Sculpture) in Valladolid, Spain. Photo by Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz*

Spain offers a digital nomad visa with dependents, officially launched in 2023 as part of the country’s Startup Law. This visa is available to remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies or freelancers who have long-term contracts with foreign clients. It allows families to live and work legally in Spain while enjoying access to healthcare, education, and long-term residency options. The process can be bureaucratic and time-consuming, but for families who meet the requirements, Spain offers an excellent foundation for a new chapter.

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa: Key Details for Families

Income Requirement: €2,646/month (200% of Spain’s minimum wage) for the main applicant. For dependents:
- Add 75% (€994/month) for the first dependent
- Add 25% (€331/month) for each additional dependent
- For a family of four (one adult, one partner, two kids), the required income is approximately €4,302/month
Visa Duration:
- 1 year if applied from outside Spain
- Up to 3 years if applied from within Spain (renewable for up to 5 years)
- Eligible for citizenship after 10 years (2 if you also have citizenship from a Latin American country or the Philippines)
Bring Dependents: Yes — includes spouse/partner and children
Healthcare: Private health insurance with no copays or deductibles is required. Plans cost around €60–€150 per adult per month
Internet Speed: 150–300 Mbps (fiber optic widely available)
Education:
- Public universities (price for international students) : €6,000–€8,000 per year for bachelor’s degree
- International schools (for younger children): €4,000–€10,000 per year per child
- Spain offers inclusive education and growing support for neurodivergent children, though options vary by region
Pet-Friendly Factor: Spain allows pets to be imported with a microchip, rabies vaccine, and health certificate. Pet-friendly rentals are fairly common in mid-sized cities, and flying a medium-sized dog from the U.S. costs around €900–€1,200 depending on airline and crate size.

Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for a Family of Four (2025)

Costs are based on a mid-range lifestyle in a mid-sized city like Valencia. Living in cities like Madrid or Barcelona may increase housing and lifestyle costs, while smaller towns can be more affordable.

Furnished 3-bedroom apartment: €1,200–€1,700
Groceries: €1,000
Utilities (electricity, water, gas, garbage): €200
Internet and cell phones: €80
Transportation (public or gas for one car): €200
Private health insurance: €250
Entertainment, dining out, subscriptions, and kids’ activities: €300

Total estimated monthly cost: €3,530

Note: These are average estimates and may vary based on location, lifestyle, apartment type, and season. Larger cities like Madrid and Barcelona may be more expensive, while smaller towns may be more affordable.

Estimated One-Time & Annual Costs

Initial relocation costs for a family of four:

One-way flights to Spain: €3,200 (prices may be a lot lower depending on location of departure and time of the year)
Shipping household goods (half-container): €5,000
Visa fees, translations, apostilles: €500 (this price is if you do it yourself, price for visa processing services for a family of four is around €4,000 which I would recommend)
First and last month rent deposit: €3,000 (add one more month’s rent if you will be using a realtor to help you find your apartment, which I would recommend)

Total initial move-in cost: €11,700

Annual roundtrip travel back to the U.S.:

Estimated cost: €4,000

Total estimated first-year cost (living + move + U.S. travel): €58,060
Estimated yearly cost after that (including one U.S. trip): €46,360

Advantages for Digital Nomad Families

Inclusive and safe environment
Spain consistently ranks among the most LGBTQ+ inclusive countries in the world. It also offers walkable cities, reliable public transportation, and strong community-focused values. From young children to teens and neurodivergent adults, Spain is generally welcoming and supportive — especially in mid-sized cities like Valencia and Málaga.

Affordable and accessible healthcare and education
While you’ll need private health insurance for your visa, it’s far more affordable than U.S. insurance, and you can access high-quality care. The country also offers a range of educational opportunities — from international schools to low-cost university degrees — without the crushing student debt so common in the U.S.

Long-term lifestyle and residency options
The Spanish digital nomad visa can eventually lead to permanent residency. You don’t need to leave after a year or two, which is ideal for families seeking stability. This visa offers a path to truly settling in and building a future.

Disadvantages

Bureaucratic challenges
Spain is known for its paperwork and slow administrative processes. You’ll need patience, especially when applying for visas, registering with local municipalities, or setting up healthcare.

Strict employment requirements
This visa is not designed for casual freelancers or influencers relying on ad revenue or affiliate links. You must show active contracts with companies outside Spain and include written permission to work remotely from within the country. The companies must have been operational for at least one year.

BEST FOR: Families with steady remote work contracts seeking long-term residency, excellent healthcare, strong public safety, and a lifestyle focused on family, culture, and well-being.

Excellent option for Hispanic families with dual citizenship as Spain provides a fast track to citizenship in only 2 years for citizens of it’s former colonies (Latin American and other countries like Philippines)

Portugal: A Top Choice for Families Seeking Stability, Safety, and a Path to Residency

Portugal was one of the first countries I looked into after Spain — and for good reason. This country combines many of the things families like mine are searching for: safety, walkability, affordable healthcare, reliable infrastructure, and a slower pace of life that’s ideal for raising kids. Portugal also has one of the most family-friendly digital nomad visa options in Europe, and has long been known for its welcoming attitude toward immigrants, freelancers, LGBTQ+ families, and people from diverse backgrounds. We visited Portugal with my kids a few years ago and we fell in love immediately, from the culture and weather to the food. I often pictured us settling in a city Porto or Coimbra, or maybe even a smaller town in the Algarve — somewhere where my daughter could walk safely to the store or park, and where life could feel a little lighter and easier. You can check out my article about visiting Coimbra with kids to get a better idea of how family friendly this small city near Porto is!

*Visiting the University of Coimbra a few years ago.*

Portugal offers one of the best digital nomad and freelancer visas for families in Europe, officially called the D8 or “residence visa for independent work or remote work.” It’s open to remote contractors and freelancers who work with clients outside Portugal. Dependents can be included in the application, and the visa provides a path to long-term residency and even citizenship. If you’re a U.S. family with remote income and you’re looking for a lifestyle shift, Portugal is definitely worth exploring.

*Porto, Portugal. The Dom Luís I Bridge. Photo by Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz*

Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa: Key Details for Families

Income Requirement:
- Main applicant: €3,280/month (4x Portuguese minimum wage, which is €820 in 2025)
- Add 50% (€1,640/month) for a spouse/partner
- Add 30% (€984/month) per child
- For a family of four (two adults, two children): total required income is approximately €6,888/month
Visa Duration:
- Initial residency: 2 years
- Renewable for an additional 3 years
- Eligible for permanent residency after 5 years
Bring Dependents: Yes — includes spouse/partner and children
Healthcare: Private insurance is required for your application, but once you are registered as a resident, you may access Portugal’s public healthcare system, which is heavily subsidized and very affordable
Internet Speed: 100–300 Mbps in most urban and suburban areas
Education:
- Public universities (price for international students) : €6,000–€8,000 per year for bachelor’s degree
- International schools: €5,000–€15,000 per year per child, depending on the city and program
- Many cities offer inclusive education programs for neurodivergent and disabled students, though resources vary by region
Pet-Friendly Factor: Portugal allows pets from the U.S. with proper health documentation and a microchip. Many rentals allow pets, especially in smaller cities and rural areas, and flying a dog from the U.S. typically costs €800–€1,100 depending on the pet’s size and airline policies.

Estimated Monthly Cost of Living for a Family of Four (2025)

These figures reflect an average mid-range lifestyle in cities like Porto or Coimbra, where many families find a good balance between affordability and quality of life. Lisbon is significantly more expensive, while rural towns may offer greater savings.

*Lisbon, Portugal. Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos). Photo by Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz*

Furnished 3-bedroom apartment: €1,300–€1,800
Groceries: €1,000
Utilities (electricity, water, gas, garbage): €200
Internet and cell phones: €80
Transportation (public transit or gas for one car): €200
Private health insurance: €250
Entertainment, dining out, subscriptions, and kids’ activities: €300

Total estimated monthly cost: €3,530–€3,830

Note: These are average estimates and may vary based on location, lifestyle, apartment type, and season. Lisbon is one of the most expensive cities in Portugal, while smaller towns and inland regions offer much lower rent and daily expenses.