Best Visas to Apply For Now
July is the slowest month of the year at most European consulates, so anything you file now competes with the summer backlog. This edition leans towards routes that are either fast to decide, cheap to attempt, or newly opened and still uncrowded. Every entry below is checked against the current record on this site — income figures, fees, and stay lengths are the ones we have verified, not the ones that were true last year.
🇲🇺 Mauritius: no fee, a 7–14 day decision, and no tax on foreign income
The Premium Travel Visa is the least expensive serious option in the database: no application fee at all, a decision in one to two weeks, and no Mauritian tax on foreign-sourced income while you hold it. The income bar is $1,500 a month, which is low for a country with this level of healthcare and connectivity. It is the highest-scoring active programme on our own composite score for exactly these reasons.
Seasonal tip: July to September is the Mauritian winter — dry, mild, and the cheapest stretch of the year for accommodation.
Note: There is no path to permanent residency through this route, and the visa is a one-year framework rather than a settlement plan.
🇧🇬 Bulgaria: the newest EU route, and still the cheapest bar in the bloc
Bulgaria's Digital Nomad Residence Permit only launched in December 2025, so the queue is still short compared with Portugal or Spain. At EUR 2,583 a month it has one of the lowest income requirements of any EU programme, the fee is around $100, and foreign income is not taxed locally. As a Schengen member it also gives you the same 90-in-180 travel rights as the more expensive Western European options.
Seasonal tip: Sofia and Plovdiv are at their busiest in summer; rental terms are noticeably better from October onwards.
Note: The programme is new enough that consular practice still varies. Expect to be asked for documents that are not on the published list.
🇸🇮 Slovenia: a November 2025 launch with a clean one-year framework
Slovenia's digital nomad permit is the other recent EU entrant. Foreign income is not taxed during the stay, the fee is about $110, and the country is small enough that the administrative process is comparatively predictable. Ljubljana is one of the easiest capitals in Europe to live in without a car.
Seasonal tip: Processing runs 30–60 days, so a July filing realistically lands you a decision in September.
Note: The permit is not renewable — it is a single one-year stay, so plan the exit before you plan the arrival.
🇺🇾 Uruguay: a $1,500 bar with an actual residency pathway attached
Uruguay pairs a low income requirement with something most low-bar programmes lack: the stay can lead to permanent residency. Foreign income is not taxed, the political and banking environment is unusually stable for the region, and Montevideo has a real long-stay expatriate infrastructure rather than a seasonal one.
Seasonal tip: July is mid-winter in Uruguay — quiet, cool, and the low season for rentals outside Punta del Este.
Note: Processing runs 30–90 days and the fee is around $200. Spanish is genuinely necessary for administrative errands.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: a February 2026 programme that almost nobody has applied to yet
Sri Lanka's digital nomad visa launched in February 2026 with a $2,000 monthly bar, a $250 fee, and a 14–30 day decision. Foreign income is not taxed. Cost of living is a fraction of any European option on this list, and the programme is new enough that the application volume is still low.
Seasonal tip: July is the dry season on the east coast and the wet season on the southwest — pick the coast before you pick the flight.
Note: The programme is very new; conditions may be revised once the first renewal cohort comes through. Verify against the official source before committing.
General Application Tips
- European consulates run at reduced capacity through July and August. If your target is in the EU, assume the published processing window is a floor, not an estimate.
- Income thresholds tied to a national average salary (Croatia, Latvia, Romania) move when that average is republished. Check the figure on the month you apply, not the month you started planning.
- Apostilles and sworn translations are the usual cause of a rejected file. Start those six to eight weeks before you intend to submit.
- A low application fee is not the same as a cheap application. Insurance, translations, and background checks routinely cost more than the fee itself.
- If a programme is described as non-renewable, plan the departure at the same time as the arrival — several countries impose a waiting period before you can reapply.
Disclaimer
Based on historical patterns and publicly available information. Processing times and conditions may vary. These recommendations reflect general trends and should not be considered legal or immigration advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before applying.
Last updated: 2026-07-31