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European countries offer visas for digital nomads
22.05.2024
Almost 20 countries in Europe already offer visas for digital nomads, and this list is constantly expanding. What countries are these and how to become a digital nomad?
To find out the most important information about current visas for digital nomads around the world, read our article.
In this guide, we will focus on European countries and describe in detail which of them already issue such visas, for how long they can be obtained and what criteria must be met.
Albania
Visa for digital nomads: visa D for digital mobile workers
- Who can receive:
Foreigners working remotely on the basis of a contract with a foreign employer or client.
Peculiarities:
- Possibility to take your family with you.
- Upon arrival, you must convert your visa into an Albanian residence permit (RP).
Valid term of a visa: 1 year with the possibility of extension for 2 years and then for another 5 years.
Requirements:
- An employment contract with a company or a service contract with a contractor registered outside Albania.
- Documents confirming qualifications (diplomas, certificates, etc.).
- Monthly earnings of at least €305 and availability of funds in an Albanian bank in the amount of 408,000 lek (€3900).
- Certificate of good conduct.
- Housing contract (minimum one year).
- Medical insurance valid for at least 1 year.
- The visa application is submitted online. Review time: from 15 to 30 working days.
- The cost of a D visa is 80 euros.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €280-400
- Utilities: €105
- Monthly pass: €15
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €8
Andorra
Digital Nomad Visa: Residence per a nòmada digital
Who can receive:
Specialists working remotely on the basis of a contract with a foreign employer, and freelancers providing services to foreign customers.
Peculiarities:
- Possibility to take your family with you.
- The number of visas for nomads is limited by a quota - no more than 50 per year.
Valid term of a visa: Initially 2 years. The first extension is for 2 years, the second is for 3 years, the subsequent ones are for 10 years.
Requirements:
- Valid passport and visa application.
- Monthly income of at least €3,858 (300% of the minimum wage in Andorra for 2023).
- Police clearance certificates from all countries of residence and citizenship.
- Current photo.
- Positive decision from the Ministry of Economy on digital nomad status.
- Confirmation of ownership/rental of housing in Andorra.
- Employment agreement/contracts with foreign employers/customers.
- Documents about marital status.
- Willingness to live in the country for at least 90 days a year.
- Medical insurance.
- All documents must be translated, legalized/apostilled.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €800-950
- Utilities: €100
- Monthly pass: €35
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €13
Hungary
Residence permit for digital nomads: White Card
Peculiarities:
- Family members will not be able to automatically receive the same residence permit.
- You cannot apply for other types of residence permit for the duration of the White Card.
- Upon receipt of a share in a Hungarian company, the White Card is canceled.
Validity: 1 year with the possibility of a one-time extension for another year.
Requirements:
- Citizenship of a country outside the EU, EEA and Schengen area (third country).
- No share in a Hungarian company and no search for work in Hungary.
- Demonstrated employment relationship in a country other than Hungary, performing work remotely using digital technologies OR owning and managing a stake in a profitable company outside of Hungary.
- Income of at least 3,000 euros per month for the last 6 months.
- Availability of housing in Hungary (lease/ownership agreement).
- Health insurance or sufficient funds to cover expenses.
- Valid passport.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €330-420
- Utilities: €135
- Monthly pass: €23
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €9
Germany
Residence permit for the self-employed (freelancers): Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Selbständige Tätigkeit
Validity: From 6 months to 3 years with the possibility of extension.
Requirements:
- Confirmation of self-employment.
- Stable income.
- Medical insurance.
- Address in Germany.
- Availability of German clients:
- Evidence of intent to cooperate from at least two potential clients/employers (letters or contracts for payment of services).
- Sufficient pension plan (for applicants over 45 years of age):
- A monthly pension of at least 1,503.34 euros for at least 12 years, or assets worth at least 216,481 euros.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €700-950
- Utilities: €300
- Monthly pass: €50
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €13
Greece
Digital Nomad Visa: Greece Digital Nomad Visa
Validity: 1 year with the possibility of obtaining a residence permit for up to 2 years with the option of extension for another 2 years.
Requirements:
- Monthly earnings of at least 3,500 euros after taxes (if you are traveling with your spouse, you need to add another 20%, and for each child - 15%).
- Remote work as an employee or self-employed person with customers outside the country.
- Important: During this period you will not have the right to work for a Greek company on a permanent basis or as a freelancer.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €400-500
- Utilities: €216
- Monthly pass: €30
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €15
Iceland
Long-term visa for remote workers
Peculiarities:
- The holder of such a visa will not be issued an Icelandic identification number.
- Spouses/partners and children (under 18 years of age) of a digital nomad can also obtain a long-term visa as dependents of a person working remotely.
Validity:
- Up to 180 days if applying from your home country before arriving in Iceland.
- Up to 90 days if applied after entry into the Schengen area.
Requirements:
- Be from a non-EEA/EFTA country.
- No visa required to enter the Schengen area.
- No long-term visa to Iceland in the last 12 months.
- Work remotely for a foreign company (excluding Icelandic employers), or as self-employed.
- Monthly income of at least 1,000,000 ISK (approx. 6,300 EUR) or 1,300,000 SEK (approx. 8,200 EUR) if you are applying for your partner/spouse as well.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €1400-1600
- Utilities: €97
- Monthly pass: €62
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €20
Spain
Digital Nomad Visa
Peculiarities: Family members (spouse/partner, minor children, dependents) can also obtain a visa, but this service is more expensive.
Valid term of a visa:
- 1 year.
- Then you can get a residence permit for 2 years.
- Possibility of obtaining a residence permit immediately within the country for 3 years with an open-ended work contract (or for a specified contract period).
- Subsequently, the residence permit can be extended for another 2 years.
Requirements:
- Remote work in companies outside Spain, or self-employment, provided that work for a Spanish company does not exceed 20% of total professional activity.
- Proof of financial means: minimum 200% of the minimum salary in Spain (currently €2,520 per month).
- Relevant education or minimum 3 years of work experience.
- For family members - documents confirming relationship.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €700-930
- Utilities: €127
- Monthly pass: €32
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €12
Italy
Digital Nomad Visa
Peculiarities:
- The visa opens the way to obtaining permanent residence (permanent residence) after 5 years of residence on this visa.
- Family members can come for family reunification (spouse, children under 18, parents - under certain conditions).
Valid term of a visa: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to the same conditions (job, income, insurance, housing).
Requirements:
- Annual income of at least 28,000 euros.
- Health insurance valid in Italy.
- Confirmed permanent residence in Italy.
- Minimum 6 months of remote work experience.
- Confirmation from the employer about remote work.
- No criminal record.
Life in the country:
- Rent a one-room apartment: €600-800
- Utilities: €200
- Monthly pass: €35
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe: €15
Cyprus
Digital Nomad Visa
Peculiarities:
- Family members of a digital nomad (spouse/civil partner and minor children) can also obtain a temporary residence permit for the same period, but without the right to work or engage in economic activities in Cyprus.
- If you reside in Cyprus for more than 183 days during a tax year and do not have tax residency in another country, the digital nomad is considered a tax resident of Cyprus.
Valid term of a visa: 1 year with the possibility of extension for a maximum of 2 years. Applications for renewal must be submitted no later than one month before the expiration of the current residence permit.
Requirements:
- Be a citizen of a country outside the EU or EEA.
- Be an employee of a company registered outside Cyprus or a self-employed person providing services to clients abroad.
- Availability of insurance.
- Income from €3500 per month after taxes and fees.
- No criminal record.
- Booked accommodation.
Life in the country:
- Renting a one-room apartment – €700–900
- Utilities – €185
- Monthly pass – €45
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe – €15
Latvia
Digital Nomad Visa
Peculiarities:
- Holders of this visa are not allowed to work directly in Latvia.
- Family members cannot apply for this visa along with the applicant.
Valid term of a visa: 1 year.
Requirements:
- Be an employee employed by an employer in an OECD* member country, or a self-employed person registered in one of these countries.
- Be able to perform work remotely while staying in Latvia.
- If you are an employee, provide a certificate from your employer about at least 6 months of work and an income of at least €3,433 per month.
- If self-employed, confirm income of at least €3,433 per month for the last six months.
- Availability of health insurance valid in Latvia and Schengen, with coverage of at least 42,600 euros.
- Confirmation of place of residence in Latvia.
Life in the country:
- Renting a one-room apartment – €300–450
- Utilities – €300
- Monthly pass – €30
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe – €10
Netherlands
Residence permit for self-employed workers
Peculiarities: Possibility of moving with family.
Validity: Maximum 2 years.
Requirements:
- Registration in the Trade Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).
- Possession of all necessary permits and licenses for work.
- Evidence of significant economic interest of the activity (assessed using a point system).
- For freelancers - having one or more orders/contracts in the Netherlands.
- For workers in the field of personal healthcare - registration in the BIG-register.
- Sufficient income (at least 1564 euros per month).
- Availability of a business plan.
Life in the country:
- Renting a one-room apartment – €1100—1350
- Utilities – €225
- Monthly pass – €80
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe – €15
Norway
Visa for self-employed workers
Peculiarities:
- Does not give the right to permanent residence.
- Accommodation is allowed for spouse/partner and children with a contract longer than 6 months.
Valid term of a visa: Maximum 6 years per period. After 6 years you must leave Norway for 2 years before applying again.
Requirements:
- Contract to work with a registered Norwegian company.
- Registration as an individual entrepreneur abroad.
- Relevant qualifications.
- The salary level is not lower than the standards for this profession in Norway: from 448,900 to 480,900 NOK, depending on the level of education.
- The visa application must be submitted at the Norwegian Embassy or Visa Application Centre.
Life in the country:
- Renting a one-room apartment – €800–1150
- Utilities – €190
- Monthly pass – €70
- Lunch at an inexpensive cafe – €17
