Best for budget
Italy
Lower monthly income thresholds make this option easier to qualify for financially.
Side-by-side visa comparison
Italy vs Malaysia — Digital Nomad Visa Comparison
Italy requires $2,530/month with 12 months stay, while Malaysia requires $24,000/year with 12 months stay. Italy wins on budget.
Budget
Italy
Long-term
Tie
Fastest
Malaysia
Feature
Italy
Malaysia
Minimum Income
$2,530/month
$24,000/year
Duration
12 months
12 months
Processing Time
12 weeks
4 weeks
Application Fee
$126
$240
Tax Status
Italian tax residence generally applies after 183 days, subject to treaty relief and local rules.
Tax treatment depends on tax residency status under Malaysian law. Staying <182 days in a calendar year: generally not a Malaysian tax resident — no Malaysian tax on foreign-sourced income. 182+ days: may become tax resident, subject to progressive rates (0%–30%) on worldwide income. Malaysia does not tax foreign-sourced income for non-residents.
Dependents
Yes
Yes
Path to Residency
No
No
Path to Citizenship
Yes
No
Best for long-term
Tie
Longer approved stay periods reduce renewal pressure and support slower relocation plans.
Fastest processing
Malaysia
Shorter processing windows can make this the better pick for near-term travel timelines.
Next step
Check Italy eligibility for your nationality
Next step
Check Malaysia eligibility for your nationality