Updated
GL-D-01
Glossary · Citizenship and residency programs
Digital Nomad Visa
A visa for remote workers and freelancers: it allows you to legally live in the country while working for foreign clients. Available in Portugal, Spain, the UAE, and dozens of other countries.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- A visa for remote workers and freelancers working for foreign clients
- Where it applies
- Portugal, Spain, the UAE, Greece and dozens of other countries
- Condition
- A stable income from abroad above the threshold
- Duration
- Usually 1-2 years, renewable
- Can you prepare
- Yes: evidence your income and the remote nature of the work
02 / In plain words
What Digital Nomad Visa means
A digital nomad visa is a residence permit for those who work remotely for foreign clients or their own company abroad. It lets you live in a country legally without taking a job with a local employer: the income comes from outside, and you simply live where you like.
Dozens of countries have introduced such visas in recent years — Portugal, Spain, Greece, the UAE and others. The common requirement is to evidence a stable income above a set threshold and the remote nature of the work. In return you receive the right to live in the country, often with your family, and to use the local infrastructure.
A digital nomad visa is a convenient and inexpensive way to live in another country, and sometimes a first step to permanent residence and citizenship if you live there long enough. But the tax consequences should be worked out in advance: a long stay may make you a tax resident of the new country.
A case from practice
An IT specialist works for a company in another country and obtains a digital nomad visa in Portugal, showing their contract and statements of stable income. They live in the country legally with their family, and after several years of residence will be able to apply for permanent residence. They work out their tax status in advance.
Who it suits
- Remote employees and freelancers
- Owners of online businesses
- Those who want to live abroad legally
- Families with flexible work
- A first step to residence and citizenship
- A trial run of life in the country
03 / What it covers
What matters with a nomad visa
Income
- Stable and from abroad
- Above the threshold
- Evidenced with documents
Who receives it
- Principal applicant
- Often the spouse and children
- Remote employment
Rights
- To live in the country legally
- Local infrastructure
- Renewal
Nuances
- Not a local employer
- Possible tax residence
- Path to permanent residence
04 / How it works
How to obtain a nomad visa
Choosing the country
Evidence of income and work
Filing the application
Review
Residence card
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
The visa is for remote work for foreign clients
02
The main condition is evidenced income above the threshold
03
Dozens of countries have such visas
04
A long stay may make you a tax resident
05
Sometimes it is a first step to PR and citizenship
Common mistakes
- Not evidencing the stability and level of income
- Not accounting for the tax consequences of a long stay
- Confusing a nomad visa with the right to work for local employers
- Missing the health insurance and accommodation requirements
- Not checking the path to PR if the goal is to stay
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Choose a country to suit your income and goal and gather in advance documents evidencing stable earnings from abroad and the remote nature of your work. The tax consequences are worked out separately: if you plan to stay long, tax residence is dealt with in advance. Then the visa is issued without delays and there will be no tax surprises.
What we do for you. We choose a country to suit your income and goal, help gather documents on your earnings and remote work and work out the tax consequences in advance, so that a digital nomad visa becomes a convenient solution rather than a problem.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
Each country has its own threshold — usually a stable monthly income from abroad above a certain amount. The exact bar and documents are confirmed for the specific programme.
As a rule, no: the point of the visa is remote work for foreign clients or your own business. Local employment requires a different type of residence permit.
With a long stay — probably yes. That is why the tax consequences are worked out in advance, especially if you plan to live in the country for most of the year.
In many programmes, yes — the spouse and children. The conditions and income requirements for a family are confirmed for the specific visa.
Sometimes, yes: after living in the country for the required number of years you can apply for permanent residence and then citizenship. But that requires actual residence.
Dozens — among them Portugal, Spain, Greece, the UAE and others. The conditions and income thresholds differ, so the country is chosen for your situation.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us what outcome your family needs
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
