Just a few years ago, many travelers collected documents for a work or tourist visa. In 2024, digital nomad visas remain at the forefront. We tell you how to become a digital nomad, in which countries you can get such a visa and what its features are.

Who are “ digital nomads “?

Digital nomads emerged during the coronavirus pandemic. Companies began to switch to remote work, and their employees began to work from anywhere in the world. All they needed for this was a good laptop and high-speed Internet.

Nowadays, remote work has become an essential part of life. Digital nomads are employees who officially work remotely and can do so using the Internet.

Even during the pandemic, internet nomads could not stay and work abroad for long as tourists. The work visa option is not for them due to the need to enter into a contract or employment agreement with a local employer.

Digital visas have already become a pass to life, work and travel for many people.

What is a ” digital nomad visa “?

Digital nomad visa

– this is the legal right to be in a foreign country, but to work and earn income in a third country.

This is not just a visa, but a whole program for obtaining a residence permit. On average, states issue them for a period of one to two years. After the first year, in some countries the period of stay can be extended or even a residence permit can be issued for other reasons. Please note that an entry visa must be obtained separately.

The remote worker visa program has been a great help for many states in recovering losses when tourists and attractions stopped bringing money into the budget. It is much easier to draw up and receive such a document than to fight for a residence permit, permanent residence or citizenship.

Have you heard anything about the freelancer, self-employed or nomad visa? These are other names for the digital nomad visa. Remote workers may stay in the country more than tourists. They pay taxes and contribute to the economy, but do not take away local jobs. Both nomads and government authorities benefit from such a program.

We warn you right away that visas for freelancers and remote workers are an option not only for the IT sector. The main thing is to prove that you work with digital technologies. Let’s not deny that the opportunity to obtain such a visa is mainly used by IT specialists, and many companies are seeking to add another professional to their staff.

What is the difference between a visa for remote work and a Schengen or work visa?

Period of stay

You can stay in the EU with a Schengen tourist visa for only three months within six months. A digital visa gives the right to stay in the country for the entire period of validity.

Registration procedure

Getting a digital nomad visa is much easier than a work visa. Digital nomads are not required to enter into an employment contract with a local company and can continue to work for their organization.

How to get a digital nomad visa?

First, find out about countries with digital nomad visa programs. We recommend that you contact the Nomad List community with a rating of the best places in the world to live, work and travel for remote workers. It contains useful information on everything from the cost of living to the climate and weather of the region.

After that, check what documents you need to prepare to apply for a visa. All that remains is to wait for the authorities to approve the application, receive a passport with a visa and prepare for the long-awaited move to a new country.

Which European countries issue a digital nomad visa?

Remember 17 countries where you can get a freelancer visa in Europe:

Porto galia
Spain
Germany
Estonia
Georgia
Croatia
Czech
Iceland
Norway
Malta
Cyprus
Greece
Romania
Hungary
Latvia
Albania
Armenia

How can I get a European digital visa?

The visa process is different in European countries. There are two main criteria that are important for any state.

Monthly income

Income requirements are set in each state. To confirm its receipt, you must provide documents. This could be a bank account statement or a certificate of income from your current place of work, a translation of a tax return for the previous year, an employment contract or a real estate lease agreement. In some cases, a notarized copy of the translation may be required.

Stable work

The state must be sure that you will not cause an increase in unemployment among the population. Provide valid employer documents.

In addition to these documents, all applicants must submit a standard set of documents to the embassy or consulate of the selected country: valid passport, payment of visa fee, visa application, photographs, etc.

What are the features of obtaining a digital nomad visa in European countries and beyond?

You can find out detailed information about the process of obtaining a visa on the official websites of government agencies.

Croatia

Croatia is considered one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. And this undoubtedly attracts travelers from all over the world. Digital nomads are no exception.

Visa validity: The Croatian digital nomad visa can be issued for a maximum of one year and cannot be extended. However, nomads can apply again for another visa after six months have passed from the expiration of the previous one.

Requirements: you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country; have a stable monthly income of approximately €2,539 per month. If you want to take family members with you, your monthly income must show an additional €90 per month on your bank statement; are either self-employed or a freelancer outside the Croatian workforce.

Documentation:

Application form. If you would like to submit your application in person through the Croatian diplomatic mission, print out Form 1a;
Valid passport. The document must be valid for at least three months after the expiration date of your digital nomad visa;
Confirmation of monthly income. The provided bank statements must also confirm that you receive a monthly income as a freelancer or entrepreneur working for a company outside of Croatia;
The required monthly income for the Croatian Digital Nomad Visa is €2,539 per month;
Medical insurance. Medical insurance must cover your entire stay in Croatia;
Visit purpose. You must indicate the reason for your planned visit to Croatia, in this case for freelancing purposes;
No criminal record. You must provide a police clearance certificate, which you can obtain in your home country;
Temporary residence in Croatia. You must provide a booking confirmation or rental agreement with the Croatian landlord.

Consular fee

: 100€.

Website: https://digitalnomadscroatia.mup.hr

Malta

Malta is already becoming one of the popular destinations for digital nomads. And the point is not only in its nature and other advantages.

The visa is valid for one year and can be extended if you continue to meet the requirements. It is possible to renew your Digital Nomad Visa before it expires through Residency Malta.

Requirements: lack of Maltese citizenship; monthly income is at least €2,700; are a partner of a company registered outside Malta; are an employee of a company outside Malta and have a contract with that company; are a consultant and offer freelance or consulting any other services to citizens outside Malta with whom you have a contract.

Documentation:

Valid passport. The passport must be valid and have at least two blank pages. It is necessary to provide copies of all pages of the passport, including blank ones;
Application form N1. This application is accepted for obtaining a residence permit;
Application Form N2 is required if you want to bring a family member to Malta;
Application form N4 is applicable if the General Data Protection Regulation EU/2016/679 (GDPR) declaration form is required;
Covering letter. The letter should include important details of your trip to Malta: the reason why you chose this country as a freelancer, how long you plan to stay, where you plan to stay;
Work agreement;
Proof that you will have a stable income as a freelancer, work contracts describing your position;
Summary. Be sure to update your resume with your most recent work experience and collect all previous training documents, certificates;
Family status. A document confirming that you are married (marriage certificate), in a relationship (lease agreement, joint bank account);
Proof of residence. Provide evidence of a place to stay in Malta, such as a tenancy agreement;
Statement from the bank. Bank account statement for the last six months. This document proves that you are financially stable and can support yourself while in Malta;
Health insurance for digital nomads. Health insurance must be valid when applying for a Nomad visa in Malta;
Health certificate. Medical documents confirming your health status.

How to submit documents:

submit your application online and then travel to Malta to obtain a residence permit; Apply for Residency Malta online by emailing [email protected]. After sending the letter, you must wait for a response from the agency. If you receive a positive response, the agency will invite you to Malta to proceed further with your application for a residence permit.

Visa fee: 300 €.

Website: https://www.servizz.gov.mt

Italy

A country famous for its beaches, nature and food is ready to open its doors to nomads. The launch of a digital nomad visa is already planned in Italy, but the exact date is still unknown.

Visa Validity: The duration of the Italian Digital Nomad Visa is yet to be decided by the authorities.

Requirements: international passport and its copy, national passport and its copy; completed application form, photograph, nulla Osta – permission from the Italian police (Questura); work contract; higher education diploma in a relevant field; proof of availability of suitable accommodation; proof of income for the previous financial year of at least €8,400; proof of payment of the consular fee – €116; certificate of no criminal record; health insurance (for example, SafetyWing).

How to submit documents: The visa process is complicated by the need for permission from the police (Nulla Osta). To obtain a document, you need either a trusted representative in Italy, or the opportunity to come yourself.

What should be done?

Submit a request for Nulla Osta at the Police Headquarters in the region where you plan to live;
Once you receive the Nulla Osta, you have three months to process your visa;
Collect the remaining documents and register at the consulate;
After entering Italy with a visa, you have eight days to apply for a residence permit;
To do this, you need to find a post office with a Sportello Amico counter and send a request through it;
After this, Sportello Amico will make an appointment with the police, where you will need to submit biometrics;;
You can pick up a residence permit card and check the readiness of the residence permit card on the police website.

Visa fee:

€116.

Website: https://vistoperiitalia.esteri.it

Portugal

A special digital nomad visa in Portugal has been introduced since October 2022. Previously, freelancers applied for a D7 visa.

First, calculate whether you received €3,040 in each of the last three months.

Prepare documents on employment with a foreign employer and on the fulfillment of foreign orders. Don't forget to obtain a tax residence document in the country where you pay taxes. The authorities must be sure that you will not be left without a roof over your head. Both rented housing and your own are suitable for this. To find it, you can come to Portugal in person, view the selected options, or use rental sites. We advise you to look for portals that have the option to cancel your accommodation reservation.

Applicants initially receive a visa for four months. During this period, you need to come to the country and apply for a residence permit at the National Migration Service in Portugal (SEF). This rule also applies to family members. A digital nomad visa is issued as a permit for temporary stay of up to a year (Temporary Stay) or permanent residence for a period of a year or more (Residence Stay).

Prepare for long waiting periods : the time it takes to obtain a digital nomad entry visa depends on the country of application, and the Portuguese authorities consider an application for a residence permit for two months.

The main advantage of a digital nomad visa in Portugal is the opportunity to obtain a country passport after just five years of staying here with a residence permit. But first, you can choose ready-made travel tours.

Visa validity: one year.

Requirements: €3040 income (in each of the last three months), application, passport, two photographs, document of no criminal record, employment contract and confirmation of orders, document of tax residence, documents for housing, health insurance, payment of visa fee

How to submit documents: in person at the Portuguese Consulate or at the National Migration Service (SEF).

Visa fee: €180.

Website: https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/portugal-digital-nomad-visa/#the-portugal-digital-nomad-visa-program.

Spain

Streams of digital nomads began arriving in Spain from the beginning of 2023. Government agencies act quite quickly. You need to apply for a visa at the Spanish consulate or embassy.

If you entered the country on a tourist visa, you can do this inside Spain through the Ministry of Integration, Social Protection and Migration. Within a month, the digital nomad receives a residence permit for up to three years, and can later extend it for another two years. If you are submitting documents from your country of residence or citizenship, count on a maximum of one-year digital nomad visa to Spain.

The Spanish authorities have established the following requirements for Internet nomads:

the minimum income of applicants is not lower than €2,520 per month;
mandatory existence of an employment agreement/contract under which you can work remotely;
no criminal record as a digital nomad;
three years of work experience in the specified specialty.

Family members can apply for this visa, but they must add €945 to their income for their spouse and €315 for other family members. Get ready to pay 24% taxes to the country's budget every month.

Visa validity: up to three years.

Requirements: €2520 income per month, application, passport, two photographs, document of no criminal record, employment contract, letter from employer confirming remote work, confirmation of the organization's work for a year, confirmation of qualifications, health insurance, payment of visa fee

How to submit documents: in person at the Spanish consulate or embassy or at the Ministry of Integration, Social Protection and Migration.

Visa fee: €180.

Website: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/digital-nomad-visa/spain/.

Germany

In Germany, the “Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Selbständige Tätigkeit” visa can be obtained by freelancers and self-employed people. The filing requirements and issuance procedure are different for them.

Freelancers can only obtain a visa if it will have a positive impact on the cultural and economic development of the country. In Germany, such professions include, for example, artists, writers, translators, architects, self-employed doctors, language teachers, etc.

Founders of companies, individual entrepreneurs and managers can count on a visa for the self-employed. A complete list of documents and forms can be found here.

Validity of a nomad visa: up to three years.

Requirements: The Germans are famous for their pedantry and attention to detail for a reason. Pay attention to the package of documents:

valid passport
1 photo 35×45 mm;
application for a residence permit;
confirmation of receipt of regular income;
summary;
professional work permit (for example, lawyer's license);
medical insurance;
proof of residence in Berlin;
pension plan (for applicants over 45 years old);
lease agreement or document for own housing;
confirmation of expenses for rented or own housing.

How to submit documents

: sign up for personal submission of documents at the immigration office in Berlin a.

For some categories of applicants, special documents are provided. We warn you right away: be patient and prepare to go through the millstones of the German bureaucratic system. It takes up to four months to wait for a decision.

Visa fee: €100 (Turkish citizens pay less).

Website: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/328332/en/.

Estonia

Relatively small in size, Estonia became the first country in the world to officially start issuing digital nomad visas. This practice has existed in the country since 2020.

Remote workers do not receive a residence permit, but only a temporary residence permit in Estonia for a year. Freelancers and employees of foreign organizations can apply for a visa.

Nomad visa validity: up to one year. You can only extend your digital nomad visa for 6 months after it expires.

Requirements: monthly income for the last six months must not fall below €3,500. Prepare this package of documents:

passport;
visa application;
statement from the bank;
an employment agreement/contract with a foreign employer and a letter confirming that you can work remotely;
confirmation of accommodation in Estonia;
medical insurance;
certificate of no criminal record;
educational document (diploma, certificates, etc.).

How to submit documents

: to the nearest Estonian embassy, and their review process takes up to 30 days.

Visa fee: €80.

Website: https://www.e-resident.gov.ee/nomadvisa/.

Hungary

The Hungarian authorities have created the “White Card ” program for digital nomads. Remote workers and holders of shares in foreign organizations that earn profits in third countries can obtain a residence permit.

After taxes, the monthly income cannot fall below €2,000, and the applicant's work must be related to digital technologies.

Hungary processes applications for residence permits quite quickly. You can submit documents to the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your host country. In addition to proof of income, you must provide an employment contract and a bank statement for the last six months, proof of housing (even accommodation with friends is suitable), as well as health insurance.

The application review process takes 1.5-2 months. You can receive the document within 30 days after a positive decision, provided you have a visa to enter the country. Applicants receive a residence permit for up to two years. Usually, for the first time, the authorities issue a visa for a year with the possibility of extension for a similar period.

Unfortunately, the Hungarian digital nomad program does not offer the same visa to applicants' family members. Please note that the period of residence under the White Card program does not count towards obtaining a permanent residence permit and citizenship.

Visa validity: one year.

Requirements: €2000 income per month, application, passport, documents from the employer about the duties performed, documents confirming income, medical insurance, confirmation of leaving the country.

How to submit documents: in person at the Hungarian embassy or consulate or within the country.

Visa fee: €110.

Website: http://www.bmbah.hu/index.php.

Czech

The Czech “Zivno” license is available to non-EU citizens. Both freelancers and business owners can apply for it. Please note that you must have a trade license for one of the professions listed here.

At the time of submitting documents, you must have at least €5,000 in your bank account and book accommodation in the country for at least a year. Consider how you will prove qualifications or experience in a specific industry in the country.

Visa validity: one year (with the possibility of subsequent extension).

Requirements: €5000 in a bank account, application, passport, two photographs, license, health insurance, documents of no criminal record, documents for housing.

How to submit documents: in person to the Czech Embassy.

Visa fee: €200.

Website: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/digital-nomad-visa/czech-republic/.

Greece

The digital nomad visa process has been launched in Greece since 2021. You can take the first step towards this document online or within the country if you enter there with a Schengen visa. By the way, to understand whether Greece is right for you, you can visit the country as a tourist. To do this, just select a tour.

To obtain a residence permit, you need to contact the Greek embassy or consulate. The visa is available to nomads with a monthly income of €3,500 or more. By the way, if your spouse is filing with you, add another 20% to this amount, for a child – 15%. Show the authorities that you have already rented a home in the country for at least a year.

Review of documents will cost €75, and if the result is positive, you need to pay another €1000 as a state fee. Applicants will learn about the decision within a month.

Based on the results of reviewing the documents, applicants receive a residence permit for up to two years, which can be extended. You can extend your residence permit an unlimited number of times, but you cannot apply for a country passport, such as in Portugal.

Visa validity: up to two years.

Requirements: €3,500 monthly income, application, passport, two photographs, medical insurance, documents of no criminal record, documents for housing, documents from the employer, payment of a visa fee.

How to submit documents: to the Greek embassy or consulate or within the country.

Visa fee: €75.

Website: https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/greece-digital-nomad-visa/.

Cyprus

The program in Cyprus applies to the applicant and his family members, so they can obtain a visa at the same time. You can submit documents from the territory of the country if you entered there with a Schengen or even a national visa.

The authorities issue digital nomad visas to nomads with a minimum income of €3,500 per month. Don't forget to add 20% for your partner and another 15% for your child. You need to prove a profit. An employment contract, a civil law contract, and even documents for passive income will do.

When submitting documents, you need to pay €70 and the same amount for registration in the register of foreigners (only for the first submission). Government authorities assure that they will consider the application in approximately 5-7 weeks. After this, you will receive a one-year visa, and then, if you wish, you can extend it for another two years. After this, neither you nor your family members will be able to work for local organizations.

Visa validity: one year.

Requirements: €3,500 monthly income, application, passport, two photographs, resume, medical insurance, documents of no criminal record, documents for housing, employment contract, documents from the employer about remote work, company registration certificate, blood test result.

How to submit documents: to national authorities within the country.

Visa fee: €70.

Website: http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/CRMD/crmd.nsf/All/BF9908B541BFF7D3C22587EA003CD306?OpenDocument.

UAE

Internet nomads have the opportunity not only to relax in Dubai, but also to work remotely from there. You can start applying for a digital nomad visa in the UAE by submitting documents in person or online if coming to the country is not yet possible. After receiving approval, you have 60 days to get to the country and complete the paperwork procedure.

Visa validity: one year.

Requirements: $3500 monthly income, passport, medical insurance; for an employee: an employment contract for a year; for business owners: confirmation of company ownership for a year, confirmation of remote work.

How to submit documents: domestically or through the GDRFAD website.

Visa fee: $611.

Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/invest-in-dubai/live-and-work/visas-and-entry/work-remotely-from-dubai.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Which countries outside of Europe issue digital nomad visas?

Now the number of such countries has already crossed the threshold of fifty, and some states are seriously thinking about introducing a program for nomads (for example, Italy, Indonesia and Japan). We advise you to start from the continent and consider the options of Barbados, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, Colombia, the UAE, and Thailand.

Can I enter the country with a digital visa?

A visa to enter the state must be obtained separately.

Is there a program for internet nomads in Poland?

Polish authorities have not yet developed a special visa for digital nomads. Alternatively, you can get a freelancer visa. It is issued for a period of up to two years, and after this period it can be extended. Please note that to obtain this type of visa you need to confirm working with Polish clients.

IT specialists and startupers may consider obtaining a visa under the Poland business harbor program. The conditions for submission and the list of required documents can be found here.