Digital nomad visas in the European Union

Since the pandemic occurred in 2020 our daily life normality and routine have changed in yet so many aspects. One of these aspects sure is the sudden widespread diffusion or remote working. With the simple use of a laptop and an internet connection many people have been able to move their workplace to their houses on any preferred location.

This situation, with remote working still being strongly sponsored by companies and governments while the borders were reopening after the initial pandemic-related dread, boosted the phenomenon of people leisure travelling while working, de facto enhancing an unprecedented growth in presence of a professional figure known as the digital nomad. 

As a direct consequence, many countries across the world, EU countries included, have started to create and issue specific visas for remote worker, in the attempt to charm international workers to move their nomadic workplace to their country.

What is a digital nomad visa?

A digital nomad visa is a special type of visa allowing its holder to work remotely from and to become a temporary resident of a certain country, without the need to obtain a work permit and while paying taxes in one’s country of origin.

Looking at it on a traveler’s perspective obtaining a digital nomad visa, often also available for the remote worker’s family members, allows people to explore new places and live new cultures while working at the same time.

Moreover, such visas tend to be issued quickly, two weeks to two months on an average basis, and have a validity that usually ranges from one to two years, therefore allowing for a short waiting time and for a potentially long “working holiday” experience.

Many countries in the EU have recently introduced digital nomad visas of their own, and each country established to this extent its own rules regarding the application process and other requirements.

Income taxes with a digital nomad visa

Each digital nomad visa issuing country has different regulation on the income tax matter. Whether remote foreign workers will be required to pay income taxes locally mainly depends on whether their home country has a tax treaty with the hosting nation. It is therefore very important to check specific regulations for each of the Visa issuing nations with relevant Consular authorities.

ETIAS and digital nomad visa

Being the Digital Nomad Scheme a proper visa, it is not compatible with ETIAS Visa Waiver scheme.

In other words, persons eligible for ETIAS are not eligible for a digital nomad visa and vice versa.

Which EU countries have launched a digital nomad visa?

While many Schengen countries or regions have launched proper Digital Nomad Visas, some other have, to this moment, only created a platform for non- immigrant freelance workers.

What follows is a list of all such types of visas currently available in the European free travel area with a few details on eligibility criteria and application process.

Croatia digital nomad visa

Visa duration: One year, with possibility to apply for renewal.

Application taxes: €60 approximately

Income benchmark requirement: Around €2,300/month

Croatia’s scheme for digital nomads is available to non-EU/EEA nationals working alternatively through their own foreign company or as remote employees for a company registered outside of Croatia. Visa eligibility can be extended to close family members.

Travelers that are exempted from visa requirement for tourist visits can decide to apply for the digital nomad visa even after they have entered Croatia. 

Holders of Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa are currently not subject to income tax in the country.

Czech Republic digital nomad visa

Visa duration: Up to one year

Application taxes: €200

Income requirement: Must have €5,000 in your bank account.

This visa is intended for non-EU citizens who operate as freelance or run their own business as it requires the applicants to have business ties with a company in the Czech Republic.

As such it is not suitable for standard remote employees but only for digital freelance or entrepreneurial nomads.

Cyprus digital nomad visa

Similarly, to other Digital Nomad Visa Cyprus’ scheme is dedicated to Non-EU or non-EEA nationals who can perform work remotely through telecommunications technology and are employed in a company registered abroad, or are self-employed offering services remotely for clients located outside of Cyprus itself.

The minimum income requirement is of 3500 euros a month after taxes.

the main benefits of such visa are as follows:

  • Right of residence for a year in Cyprus, with a possibility of renewal for further two years.
  • Right of residence for family members, for the same period as the Digital Nomad, without the right to be employed of perform economic activity in Cyprus.
  • Not subject to local income taxes as long as the digital nomad remains tax resident of another country.


Estonia digital nomad visa

Estonia’s digital nomad visa was launched in the second half of 2020 and aims to let people work remotely for foreign companies stay in Estonia for up to one year at a time. The eligibility criteria also include freelance workers that mainly serve clients located abroad and can be extended in its validity for six additional months.

Candidates must have earned a minimum of €3,500 net per month in the six months prior to their application.

Those that remain in Estonia for more than half a year, will gain tax residency and be therefore subject to local taxes.

Estonia also offers an ‘e-residency’ scheme, granting remote entrepreneurs, without the need of having actual residency in the country, accessibility to Estonia’s e-services. This scheme can be extremely useful to run a company online, access banking, and declare taxes in Estonia without actually living there.

Finland’s self-employment visa

Finland’s freelance workers visa has its eligibility limited to non-EU entrepreneurs who run an independent business registered outside of Finland itself. The minimum income requirement is, up to this day, of only 1220 euros per month but applicants are also required to provide proof they will be able to maintain themselves and their families, if any, during the maximum 6 months stay in the country.

Digital nomad visa to Greece

These are the main conditions ruling the issuance of Digital Nomad Visas to Greece:

  • duration: one year, with possibility to extend with a residence permit.
  • application taxes: €75
  • applicants must be able to prove they are digital nomads and that they are equipped to work remotely, for a foreign based company, by using telecommunications technology.
  • having a registered employment contract with a non-Greek company in hence among the basic requirements
  • Must prove to have a monthly salary of at least €3,500 after taxes.
  • Digital nomads are not permitted to work or freelance for Greek companies under the scheme.


Hungarian remote workers visa

Hungary‘s so-called ‘White Card’ visa is open to non-EU digital nomads employed remotely outside the country. The Visa has a standard validity of one year that can be furtherly extended. 

Eligibility is currently limited to those who can prove to a monthly after-tax income of at least 2,000 euros.

Digital nomads are than required to stay in the country for at least 90 days in a 6 months period in order to gain exemption from local taxes for the first semester spent in Hungary.

White card visa holders are not allowed to work for a Hungarian company under this scheme.

Iceland’s digital nomad visa

Iceland’s remote work visa, despite its low application taxes, is aimed at individuals earning approximately over €7,000 per month, either as employees of a foreign company or as freelancers. Such visa lasts for six months and applicants will not be subject to Icelandic taxes during this time. 

As for other host countries, as a digital nomad visa holder you are not permitted to work for local employers or clients. Moreover, other eligibility criteria apply such as being citizen of a country with a visa-waiver agreement with Iceland and the prohibition to apply for the visa if another such visa to Iceland has been obtained in the former 12 months. 

Freelance visa to Italy

While the Italian visa for digital nomads is currently on hold, non-EU nationals wishing to work remotely from Italy could be eligible to apply for a self-employment visa.

Ever since the pandemic outbreak Italy has been working strongly on creating incentives to attract foreign freelancers and, as a matter of fact, freelancers who set up their legal residency in Italy are now offered a 70% detaxation on the revenue they generate in the country.

This visa, whose validity can be extended, usually starts with a 2 years duration and can only be obtained from Italian’s Embassies and Consulates located abroad.

Eligibility requirement mainly concern with being registered as a freelance workers or entrepreneur, showing proof of a sufficient a stable income and giving proof of accommodation while in Italy.

Latvia digital nomad visa

These are the main eligibility requirements in order to be able to obtain a permit to Latvia:

  • Being hired by a company registered in an OECD country or being a freelance worker with a business registered in an OECD country.
  • Having worked for the abroad business for one full semester at least
  • Produce evidence of being allowed to work remotely
  • Having a minimum monthly income of €2,875.50.
  • Having a valid health insurance for the entire planned stay in Latvia


Digital nomad visa to Malta

Candidates to Malta’s Digital Nomad Scheme must provide evidence to have a stable monthly income of at least 2700 euros. Applicants are also required to demonstrate they are employed by a foreign company or that they are shareholders/partners of foreign registered business.

The application fee ranges around 300 euros per person and the standard validity of the Visa is of one year.

Only non-EU citizens are eligible for such permit.

Digital nomad visa to the Netherlands

Holland to launched it digital nomad scheme whose basic requirements are for all applicants to be employed by a foreign registered business. Interesting facts is that the Netherlands visa is the only one in the European panorama that does not have e specific income threshold. Consular officials will, regulations say, be in charge of verifying whether the applicant has a sufficient revenue to cover for the entire planned stay in the Country.

Norway digital nomad visa – Svalbard islands

Eligible non-EU digital nomads can apply for a two years renewable residence permit and independent contractor visa to live and work remotely in Norway. Candidates must have at least one Norwegian client and are required to pay local taxes under the scheme. The minimum income requirement is of three thousand euros per month approximately.

The real uniqueness of this visa is that, upon extension after the first two years it can give access to permanent residence status.

Another peculiarity is that it only applies to people will to live and work from the Svalbard Islands and not from any place in the Norwegian territory.

Portugal digital nomad visa

Inducted officially from October 30, 2022, Portugal launched its digital nomad visa

open to non-EU citizens who are employed or self-employed by a foreign-based company.

This new scheme presents itself as an alternative to the existing ‘D7’ visa, which is aimed at retirees and ‘passive income’ earners.

The new visa has a one-year validity period and a 2,800 euros per month income is required as a minimum standard.

Romania remote workers visa

Among EU’s youngest Members, Romania too has recently launched its Digital Nomad Scheme to attract remote non-EU workers. 

The Romanian Visa has a duration of one year and does not require its holders to pay income taxes in Romania if they are already registered tax residents to another nation. 

The salary benchmark demands for all applicants to earn a gross worth of at nearly 4000 euros a month.  

Other schemes outside of Europe

Several non-European nations, or sometimes even single regions or provinces, have also launched visas to attract foreign remote workers. Among such realities are:

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Cape Verde
  • Cayman Islands
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Curaçao
  • Dominica
  • Georgia
  • Indonesia
  • Mexico
  • Mauritius
  • Seychelles
  • Thailand
  • Western Cape (province of South Africa)