The short version
- Cape Verde has the lower entry bar: €1,500 per month versus €1,800 for Montenegro.
- Montenegro grants a longer initial stay (24 months vs 6), and it is renewable.
| Criteria | Cape Verde Remote Working Program | Montenegro DNV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €1,500 (better) | €1,800 |
| Income basis | Savings accepted | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 6 months | 2 years (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 1 year | 4 years |
| Path to permanent residence | No | No |
| Path to citizenship | No | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt (Remote Working Program tax exemption (foreign-source income)) | Foreign income exempt (Digital-nomad foreign-income exemption (Personal Income Tax Law; commonly cited as Art. 32d)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit), min. €30,000 |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €20 (better) | ≈ €47 |
| Where to apply | Online | In country, Embassy / consulate |
| Processing time | 2 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Cape Verde Remote Working Program →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Montenegro DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Remote Working Program in Cabo Verde — Turismo de Cabo Verde (official ITCV portal) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Remote Working Program — 'Proof of Income' requirement (Individual 1.500 EUR / Family 2.700 EUR average bank balance, last 6 months) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Remote Working Program — 'Insurance' requirement (travel + health insurance with evacuation and body-transportation cover) and 'Costs' (visa fee 20 EUR/person, airport fee 34 EUR/person) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Cabo Verde — Individual — Residence (>183-day aggregate rule in a calendar year and 31-December habitual-residence test), PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Cabo Verde Digital Nomad Visa: Key Benefits, Tax & Income — caboverdeexpert (tax-resident carve-out, no PR/citizenship path, local clients prohibited) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Cape Verde suspends visa on arrival for citizens of 96 countries (Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, eff. 1 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government EASE — Cabo Verde official traveller pre-registration & Airport Security Tax (TSA) platform (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Cabo Verde Digital Nomad Visa — Remote Working Cabo Verde (consolidated requirements: 1.500/2.700 EUR balance, 6+6 month validity, 20 EUR visa fee, 34 EUR airport fee, ~2-week processing) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Health Services & Regulations in Cape Verde — overview of the public/private health system and fees for non-nationals (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Digital Nomads - Government of Montenegro official portal (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Legal status for nomads - digitalnomads.gov.me (Law on Foreigners; eligibility = foreign employer / own company not registered in Montenegro; up-to-2-year permit extendable 2 more years; ~40-day decision; in-person MUP application; health insurance required document) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Montenegro: Digital Nomad Permit, Visa Pathways Available - Fragomen (2y + 2y validity, max 4y, 6-month re-apply rule, D-visa route, foreign-company work only) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Montenegro - Digital Nomads obtaining Residence Permits - JPM & Partners (legal basis Off. Gazette 12/18, 3/19, 86/22; 3x-minimum-wage income test over prior year; 40-day processing; 6-month cooldown) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa - Citizen Remote (3x minimum wage; older ~EUR 1,350 figure [outdated]; government fees EUR 60-100; tax residency 183 days; in-country MUP / diplomatic mission) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa in 2026 - iWorld (3x minimum wage = EUR 1,800-2,400 via EUR 600/800 split; residence-permit fee EUR 47, extension EUR 27, visa EUR 35; ~2-month processing; Art. 32d PIT foreign-income exemption; programme ends 31 Dec 2026, no confirmed successor) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Tax, Cost, Expiry (income EUR 1,800-2,400; EUR 30,000 insurance minimum; ~EUR 67 government fee; 0% tax on foreign income; ~40-day decision; programme to 31 Dec 2026, no extension announced as of 24 May 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Wages 2026 - Take-profit.org (statutory minimum wage; dual structure ~EUR 670 / EUR 800 net since Sept 2024, basis for the 3x income formula) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Taxes in Montenegro 2026 - Immigrant Invest (183-day tax-residency rule; progressive PIT 9-15%; digital-nomad foreign-income treatment) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15