The momentum behind special residence visas for digital nomads is gathering steam globally as Portugal and Spain are the latest countries to throw their hats into the ring hoping to attract remote workers and their relatively hefty disposable incomes!
Just to clarify, EU / EEA citizens do not need any kind of visa to live and work in another EU member state. The digital nomad visa is for non-EU citizens who usually are limited to a maximum of stay of 90 days in any 180 day period within the European Union. This means that for example, digital nomads from the USA and post-brexit UK citizens amongst others may typically stay in the EU for 90 days, then either return home or go elsewhere for another 90 days before being able to spend time in the EU again. This is of course quite limiting for those that would like spend longer in a particular EU country.
Digital nomad visas are the answer and allow for a longer stay in the host country, for example for one year which is much better for those that wish to live in a country instead of just spend a few weeks passing through. Digitial nomad visas can also extend the possibility of non EU citizens to spend time in the Schengen area for the duration of their digital nomad visa.
One of the first countries to offer a digital nomad visa of sorts was Estonia back in 2020 and since then governments all over the world are creating digital nomad visas of their own in order to attract remote workers to their countries.
Below we have compiled a guide to the various digital nomad visas available in Europe for 2022/2023
We update this page regularly so please do check in again from time to time
PORTUGAL DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
Launched: October 30th 2022, finally a new visa for non EU / EEA digital nomads to live and work in Portugal for up to 12 months
Portugal continues to attract digital nomads in their droves with a mild climate, beaches, a vibrant culture and friendly locals.
A relatively low cost of living and a very dynamic and lively digital nomad scene make cities like Lisbon highly popular as well as Porto and the Algarve region. The Portugal Digital Nomad visa will also allow you to live and work on the islands of Madeira and the Azores too!
The new Portugal digital nomad visa officially known as “residence visa for the exercise of professional activity provided remotely outside the national territory” allows for non-EU / EEA citizens to live and remotely work in Portugal for up to 12 months. There is a minimum monthly income requirement of €2,800 which is roughly 4 times the Portuguese minimum wage and you must be either employed or self-employed by a foreign company.
Until the arrival of the new Portuguese digital nomad visa, the other ways to stay longer in Portugal was via a D7 visa for those with a passive income which whilst having a much lower income requirement threshold can be more complicated to obtain.
The new Portugal Digital Nomad Visa has two options, one is a 12-month temporary visa or there is the option to opt for a 12-month residency visa that can be extended and after 5 years lead to permanent residency for those that might want to make Portugal their long-term home.
How to apply for a Portugal Digital Nomad Visa
You can apply via the Portuguese consulate in your home country or if you are already in Portugal you can apply via SEF (Portuguese immigration and border services). Click the button below to go to the official SEF page where you can find the email address and telephone numbers to setup an appointment.
SPAIN DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
Launching in 2023, a new digital nomad visa especially designed for foreign remote workers wanting to spend extended time in Spain
Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world and with good reason. With fantastic weather, bags of history and culture, lovely beaches and warm hospitable people, Spain is certainly a country you should get to know while on your remote work adventures.
The most popular cities in Spain are the two biggest cities, the capital Madrid and the Catalan coastal city, Barcelona closely followed by the third largest city Valencia. Then you have the Andalucia region in the south home to beautiful historic and culture rich cities like Malaga, Seville, Granada, Cordoba and Cadiz.
Spain has been a latecomer in the race to offer special digital nomad visas but now it’s happening as of 2023. A new law recently introduced to attract startups and digital nomads comes with quite substantial tax incentives including a reduction in corporation tax from 25% to just 15% for up to the first 4 years. This applies only to those who have not been resident in Spain in the past four years.
Digital Nomad Visa Spain for non EU citizens
Full details are yet to be announced however it looks like the minimum monthly income requirement will be in the €2000 – €3000 range.
The Spanish digital nomad visa is expected to have a duration of 12 months with the possibility to extend further.
You cannot have been resident in Spain in the past 5 years and must be employed by a non-Spanish company or have clients outside of Spain with the maximum allowed income from Spanish tourists to be capped at 20% of income. There should be proof that you have been working remotely for at least the past 12 months, be free of a criminal record, have proof of private health cover and proof of a place to stay in Spain.
How to apply for a Spanish Digital Nomad Visa
You should be able to apply via the Spanish consulate in your home country. Once we have more information we will update the information on this page.
ESTONIA DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
One of the original pioneers of e-residence visas and a great country to stay in as an entrepreneur or digital nomad via Estonias digital nomad visa
Estonia offers many reasons for wanting to visit and perhaps even spend longer as a digital nomad. Just a few of the reasons to visit Estonia include the fact that a whopping 50% of the country is made up of forests and there are over 2,000 islands which although mostly uninhabited are wonderful to visit. The capital Tallinn boasts one of the best-preserved medieval historic centres in Europe.
Additionally, Estonia despite its size certainly punches above its weight when it comes to technology. Tallinn is a significant startup hub and home to several high-profile international startups including Skype, Bolt and Transferwise. The Estonian government was one of the pioneers of e-government making it easier to interact with the government using technology. Estonia also is known for its e-residency programme with Angela Merkel and Barack Obama being famous recipients.
From Tallinn, you can also visit other beautiful cities such as Helsinki and St Petersburg for example.
How to apply for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
As you would expect, Estonia has made it easy and painless to apply for a digital nomad visa online. Please click the button below to be taken directly to the official page where you can get more info and apply.
MALTA DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
The island of Malta is a great digital nomad destination where you can get a 12 month digital nomad visa, extendable for up to three years
Malta, formerly part of the British empire for over 150 years and a republic since 1974 is part of the EU and a place where you can enjoy plenty of sunshine, beaches and to make things a bit easier, English is an official language making daily life a little easier for English language speakers.
Valletta, the capital of Malta is officially the sunniest and warmest city in Europe offering on average 2957 hours of sunshine per year!
Malta is home to an international community and offers plenty to do when the laptop is shut off for the day.
The Malta Digital Nomad Visa is available for 12 months and extendable for up to a total of 3 years.
The minimum income requirement is a gross annual salary of at least €32,400 and you need a valid travel document, a place to stay and health insurance, all pretty standard when it comes to digital nomad visas.
Cost of a Malta Digital Nomad Visa
There is a €300 administration fee per person when applying and if successful there is a fee of €27.50 for the issue of a residency card once accepted.
How to apply for the Malta Digital Nomad Visa
You can apply via email, more details including FAQs and application email address can be found by clicking the button below which will take you to the official page
GREECE DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
Greece is another mediterranean country offering digital nomad visas for up to 12 months (renewable) to non-EU / EEA remote workers
Greece, an ever-popular European holiday destination and country that has struggled economically in recent years is doing its best to attract well-paid remote workers / digital nomads in order to boost economic activity beyond traditional short-term holidaymakers.
Greece is a truly beautiful country, offering a warm climate, history galore, a rich culture, hospitable locals, excellent food and an ideal base to spend time as a remote worker
Greece Digital Nomad Visa requirements
The requirements for a Greece digital nomad visa are in line with most digital nomad visas currently on offer.
The Greece Digital Nomad visa is affordable at just €75, the minimum monthly income requirement of €3,500 after taxes is a bit steeper compared to other countries. If you are lucky enough to meet the minimum threshold you can enjoy an initial 12-month digital nomad visa and then be able to extend for 2-year periods.
You must work for a foreign employer or be self-employed with clients outside Greece. With the Greece digital nomad visa, you are not permitted to work for a Greek business locally, only remote work via internet/laptop is permitted
In addition to the above, you must have proof of a place to stay, health coverage in terms of comprehensive long-term travel and or health insurance, a clean criminal record and a return ticket proving your intention not to remain in Greece after your digital nomad visa has expired.
With the Greece digital nomad visa you can be accompanied by immediate family members, for example, a spouse / co-dependent, however, in this case, the minimum monthly income threshold increases by 20% and in the case of children a further 15% for each child.
How to apply for a Greece Digital Nomad Visa
Clicking on the button below will take you to the official site where you can download the application form. In the section “main purpose of travel”, you should select “other” and write “remote work” in which case the Greek authorities will treat your application as a digital nomad / remote worker.