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Itching to leave your country to be a digital nomad somewhere? Here are the best digital nomad visas in the European Union that can help you start your journey.
Before the pandemic, remote work was incredibly rare in both the public and commercial sectors of the global economy. Since March 2020, when corporations and governments of the world began to embrace remote labor, this has drastically changed.
With brand-new work flexibility and offices that are half or entirely empty, employees have continued to attract business on Wall Street and develop IT start-ups in Silicon Valley and other corporate strongholds. Profits have not dried up.
Work-from-home employees learned how to live at work in 2020 and 2021 and are now emotionally and technologically prepared to stretch their borders and live internationally as digital nomads beginning in 2022.
Digital Nomad Visas in the European Union
Today, numerous European nations make it relatively simple for individuals who work remotely to settle there and stay awhile, due to special residency programs for digital nomads planning longer visits than a tourist visa would allow—but not seeking to live permanently.
Other European countries, such as Germany, have comparatively lenient residence permit regulations for self-employed persons, allowing for long-term stays with the added benefit of simple transit for work visits overseas.
The following countries make it simple to work remotely thanks to the best digital nomad visas in the European Union that they offer.
11 Best Digital Nomad Visas In The European Union
1. Germany Freelance Visa
The Germany freelance visa is known as an Aufenthaltserlaubnis für selbständige Tätigkeit. It is essentially a residence permit enabling foreign freelancers and self-employed individuals to live in Germany for up to three years.
You must deal with German bureaucracy since approval might take up to four months.
You may be qualified to apply for Germany’s residence permit for freelance artists if you work as a self-employed individual in a profession such as education, journalism, art, music, or acting.
You’ll need to plan ahead of time: appointments at the immigration office are scheduled months in advance, and there’s a lot of documentation to gather in Germany.
On the bright side, obtaining a resident visa allows you to travel as frequently as you like from a centrally placed European nation. Furthermore, with the recent rebirth of interest in night rail travel, there are more choices than only flying to get from point A to point B.
A new line, for example, launched in January and connects Berlin to Brussels, Amsterdam, and Prague.
Basic Requirements
- Application fee: 100 euros (around US$113)
- Income: proof of financial self-sustainability
- A local address in Germany
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of working with local clients
2. Portugal Temporary Stay Visa
Portugal has recently been a popular destination for digital nomads and freelancers, with artists, startup employees, and the self-employed flocking to the bustling towns of Lisbon and Porto.
The outstanding arts scenes, superb food and wine, and strong communities of fellow digital nomads surely don’t hurt. Meanwhile, surfers with remote employment travel to the Algarve, a southern stretch with waves breaking against some of the world’s most stunning beaches.
Portugal provides a renewable Temporary Stay Visa for a variety of activities, including independent work, music, and amateur sports. It is valid for short-term visits of less than a year and permits you to enter and exit the country many times. After five years, you can apply for a permanent residency visa, which is followed by naturalization.
Basic Requirements
- Application fee: €90 for the visa and €75 for the resident permit fee (around US$85)
- Income: 635 euros per month (roughly US$722, which can come from different sources)
- Proof of income coming from properties, businesses, or other financial sources
- Proof of private travel/health insurance
- Proof of clean criminal records
3. Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Since January 2021, Croatia has had a digital nomad residence scheme. It is a country that attracts nature and water enthusiasts due to its spectacular natural beauty, notably its Adriatic coastline.
Cities like Dubrovnik and Split include Roman ruins, castles, and medieval alleyways, making them ideal backdrops for the blockbuster fantasy series. If you truly want to immerse yourself in the lifestyle, Zadar is home to the country’s first digital nomad community.
Croatia’s digital nomad visa, which allows stays of up to 12 months, is open to digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers. If you have a job, it cannot be with a Croatian firm.
The Croatian Digital Nomad Visa has received a lot of attention, and all of the processes, documents, and regulations have been worked up in the previous few months.
It provides a low-cost option for staying and working remotely in Europe. It is not a visa, but rather a temporary resident permit. You can apply in Croatia, but also in Croatian consulates and embassies across the world.
Basic Requirements
- Application fee: The cost varies depending on a number of factors, but it starts at roughly $180
- Income: 16,907.50 kuna (around US$2,550) per month. This is for one applicant; each partner/family member requires an additional 10%.
- Complete the application form
- Buy health insurance that covers Croatia
- Demonstrate they work in the field of communication technology for a foreign company
4. Greece Digital Nomad Visa for Non-EU/EEA Citizens
Greece offers one of the best digital nomad visas in the European Union. Apart from it, Greece offers it all: culture, gastronomy, sun-kissed beaches, and an abundance of islands. It also offers good internet speeds and a low cost of living in Europe. Greece has set up two schemes to attract digital nomads.
- The first program provides a 50% income tax discount for a period of seven years to selected nationalities who move or return to Greece and commit to staying for at least two years.
- The second program, which went into effect in early October 2021, is the Greece digital nomad visa for non-EU/EEA citizens. This enables you to stay in Greece and operate remotely for a foreign employer or your own foreign-registered firm. The duration is originally for one year but can be extended twice for a total of three years.
Basic Requirements
- Application fee: 75 euros for the application (around US$85)
- Proof of work and income of €3,500 (around US$4,000) per month plus 20% for spouse/partner and 15% for each child
- A clean criminal background
- Health insurance
- Submit your application to a Greek consulate in person
5. Malta Nomad Residency Permit
The island isn’t only lovely, it’s also a digital nomad hotspot owing to a specific program and its status as the first country in Europe to have a 5G network, making remote work connectivity easier than ever.
It also boasts a Mediterranean lifestyle and enough sunshine year-round to keep your Vitamin D levels properly topped up.
The country’s Nomad Residency Permit is available to freelancers and remote employees for international organizations alike—as long as you can execute your job remotely utilizing communications technology.
This program is designed for remote employees who are not from the EU. It is valid for up to one year and can be renewed for up to three years if you are still qualified.
Basic Requirements
- Successfully complete a background check
- Proof of health insurance
- Rent or purchase property
- Write a letter of intent outlining your reasons for relocating to the country
- Application fee: 300 euros (around US$340) per person
- Income: 2,700 euros (US$3,071)
- Rental contract or proof of property purchase
6. Hungary White Card
White Card, Hungary’s Digital Nomad Visa, is one of the best digital nomad visas in the European Union. It is available since November 2021. It is one of the more straightforward Digital Nomad visas, with a monthly income requirement of only €2,000. This is a single-person residency permit that cannot be joined by couples or families. This visa is primarily intended for “singles under the age of 40.”
The White Card will allow remote workers to stay in Hungary for up to a year if their company is located elsewhere.
Basic Requirements:
Applicants must be…
- Holding a valid work contract in another country
- Having shares in a profitable company outside the country
- Not seeking gainful activity within Hungary
- Not holding shares in any Hungarian companies
7. Czech Republic Zivno Visa
Prague, the capital of Czechia, is a popular destination for digital nomads. Czechia has had a freelancer visa called the Zivno for quite some time; however, it is somewhat hard because you must have a trade license for one of the trades mentioned below.
It entitles you to work for a year and can be extended. Because of the narrow list of trades, this visa is more difficult to get in Europe.
The Czech Republic offers a lot to offer digital nomads, such as beautiful towns, excellent skiing, more castles than any other country, and a low cost of living.
The Zivno visa, a type of trade license-based visa, is essential for digital nomads who want to learn more about the historic city core of Prague or the modernist streetscapes of Brno. It is primarily aimed towards freelancing teachers, IT specialists, and creatives.
The process of obtaining a visa isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible, so you’ll want to start early—many people interested in migrating there typically employ an expert to help them.
First, you must get your trade license (more on that here); next, you may apply for your visa to remain for up to one year.
Basic Requirements
- Application fee: 5,000 CZK (roughly US$232)
- Income: proof of possessing 124,500 CZK (around US$5,800) per person.
- A trade license for one of the eligible sectors
- At least a year’s worth of proof of residence
8. Estonia Digital Nomad and Freelancer Visa
Estonia made a ground-breaking initiative when it developed its e-residency program, which aids international company owners manage their EU-based businesses more efficiently and with digital signatures.
In June 2020, Estonia introduced a one-year visa for freelancers and digital nomads that enables you to remain in the nation while conducting remote work. The official digital nomad visa was first issued in this nation.
Basic Requirements
- Application fee: €100 (around US$113)
- Income: 3,504 euros (US$3,988) earned each month in the six months preceding the application
- Fill out the online application form
- Make an appointment to submit it at the nearest Estonian Embassy or Consulate
9. Romania Digital Nomad Visa
With a new program starting in January 2022, Romania is one of the newest European nations to join the digital nomad visa bandwagon. Although relatively new, it is one of the best digital nomad visas in the European Union. The initiative is an effort to draw high-income earners to the nation and aid in the post-COVID economy’s recovery.
Basic Requirements
- Length: 1 year with the option of a one-year extension
- Income: 6,095 lei, approximately US$4,170 (one of the highest for a relatively low-income country)
- Proof of employment or ownership of a business registered outside of Romania
- Proof of health insurance
- Background check
10. Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Currently, Spain offers a Non-Lucrative Visa, which officially prohibits you from working and is intended mainly for retired or self-sufficient individuals. Who is aware of remote employment, though.
In addition, Spain is developing Digital Nomad Visas, and a draft law known as the Startups Law has been submitted. Remote employees would be able to get a visa that would allow them to remain and work for a year under the proposed law. You have another 24 months to prolong this. The first €600,000 earned would be subject to a 24 percent tax.
Basic Requirements
- Costs Visa: $140 (Non-Lucrative Visa )
- Income to prove: €2151 per month (Non-Lucrative Visa )
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