The short version
- Turkey has the lower entry bar: €2,584 per month versus €6,935 for Iceland.
- Turkey grants a longer initial stay (12 months vs 6), and it is renewable.
- Tax treatment differs: Iceland — unclear — verify individually; Turkey — standard resident taxation. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Iceland Remote Work Long-Term Visa | Turkey DNV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €6,935 | €2,584 (better) |
| Income basis | Salary / employment contract | Salary / employment contract |
| Initial duration | 6 months | 1 year (better) |
| Renewable | No | Yes (better) |
| Maximum total stay | 6 months | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | No | Indirect (switch required) |
| Path to citizenship | No | Via permanent residence |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Unclear — verify individually | Standard resident taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required in practice |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €85 | — |
| Where to apply | In country | Online, Embassy / consulate, In country |
| Processing time | 2–4 weeks | 4–12 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Iceland Remote Work Long-Term Visa →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Turkey 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 Long-term visa for remote workers and their family members — Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun), archived utl.is page (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Form L-802 — Application for a long-term visa for remote workers and their family members (official Directorate of Immigration form) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Sækja um langtímavegabréfsáritun vegna fjarvinnu — current official island.is application page for the remote-work long-term visa (utl.is now redirects here) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Long-term visa for remote workers in Iceland — Work in Iceland (official government portal): income ISK 1,000,000/1,300,000, 180/90-day tiers, no kennitala, fee ISK 12,200, processing 2-4 weeks (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Icelandic Health Insurance — Work in Iceland (official portal): public cover requires 6 months legal residence + kennitala (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Amendment to Remote Work Long-Term Visa Regulations — Government of Iceland (government.is), 1 Oct 2024 (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Remote Work Program Introduced — Fragomen (immigration law firm): program introduced 5 Nov 2020, up to six months, foreign-employment requirement (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Iceland Introduces Long-Term Visa for non-EU/EEA Teleworkers — SchengenVisaInfo (media): confirms 2020 launch and income/insurance requirements (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Iceland Remote Work Visa 2025: Digital Nomad Update — NNRoad (global mobility/compliance provider): Oct-2024 amendment, up to six months (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Iceland Digital Nomad Visa — Application and Requirements (VisaGuide.World): fee ISK 12,200, processing 2-4 weeks, ISK 2,000,000 insurance figure (unconfirmed against tier-1) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media ISK to EUR converter — exchange-rates.org (rate 144.20 ISK/EUR, 0.006935 EUR/ISK on 15 Jun 2026, used for EUR normalisation) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Application requirements for digital nomad visa and short-term residence — Digital Nomads goTürkiye (official government portal) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government goTürkiye Digital Nomads — income requirement USD 3,000/month or USD 36,000/year, age 21-55, university degree, passport valid 6+ months (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm EY Mobility/Immigration Alert (April 2024): Türkiye — New Digital Nomad Visa (eligibility, nationalities, two routes) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2024-188: Türkiye — Digital Nomad Visa Becomes Available (income, 34-country list, 5-step process, launch Sept 2024) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm BAL Immigration News — Turkey Digital Nomad Visa Launched (Sept 2024 launch, ~36 countries, up-to-one-year stay via residence permit) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Istanbul Lawyer Firm — Digital Nomad Visa and Residence Permit in Turkey: Full Legal Guide (mandatory insurance for full permit period, family reunification, no Turkish-client work) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Istanbul Lawyer Firm — Tax Residency for Foreigners in Turkey (GVK Art. 4, 183-day / six-month rule, worldwide income) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media USD to EUR exchange rate history 2026 (0.8612 on 15 Jun 2026, basis for EUR conversion of USD 3,000) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15