Digital nomad visa. Overview
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a boom in visas for so-called digital nomads, i.e., employees of IT companies who prefer to work remotely from different parts of the world. During the pandemic, we’ve all learned how to work in this mode while remaining as efficient as ever. In 2022, the demand for this type of visa has increased even more since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Let’s understand what a digital nomad visa provides, what countries issue these visas, and how to apply for one.
Advantages and disadvantages of digital nomad
Visa for digital nomads allows its holder to stay in another country for a long time without wasting time on bureaucracy related to the process of obtaining a residence permit, permanent housing, and job search in the country of residence—it is much easier to obtain than work visa or standard residence permit.
Advantages of a digital nomad:
- The ability to combine travel and work while maintaining a steady income.
- Most countries that issue these visas have a well-developed digital infrastructure that remote workers need.
- With the coronavirus pandemic still unfinished, most countries have strict but workable rules for incoming tourists to counter the spread of the virus.
- Ease of processing mentioned above.
But like all good things, this type of visa also has its disadvantages:
- In most cases, you cannot work for a local company with this visa.
- You are supposed to live in one country for at least six months to a year or until your visa expires. Hence you cannot apply for a similar visa in another country until then.
- So far, there is no clearly defined mechanism to extend a digital nomad visa.
- Taxation for visiting freelancers in many countries can be very disadvantageous compared to their home tax jurisdiction.
- A digital nomad visa is usually not cheap.
In which countries is digital nomad available?
As of this writing, in 2022, the digital nomad visa is available or in development in over 40 countries.
Available:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- Brazil
- Germany
- Greece
- Dominica
- Dubai, UAE
- Iceland
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Cyprus
- Curaçao
- Latvia
- Mauritius
- Malta
- Norway
- Panama
- Portugal
- Romania
- Seychelles
- Saint Lucia
- Thailand
- Croatia
- Estonia
Under development:
- Belize
- Hungary (alternative to residence permit—White Card is available)
- Grenada
- Spain
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Montserrat
- Northern Macedonia
- Serbia
- Taiwan
- Montenegro
- South Korea
As you can see, you have a vast choice. Let’s look at the conditions for a digital nomad visa.
Conditions for obtaining a nomadic visa
Conditions of registration may vary between countries, but there are common requirements. First of all, a nomad must have stable remote work because the visa does not allow getting a job at a local company—for this, you need to relocate, and we can also help you with that 😉
In addition, a remote worker must have a certain income level, allowing living safely in the country. A statement from your bank or a certificate from your company’s accounting department is enough to prove it.
All other requirements differ from country to country: some countries require a criminal record certificate, and others may require medical insurance.
To get a better understanding of what conditions may be imposed by certain countries, let’s look at two cases—where it is easy to get a digital nomad visa and where it isn’t so.
Digital nomad visa cases in Europe
Digital nomad in Croatia
The first candidate is Croatia, one of the countries where it is easiest to get a digital nomad visa through the Privremeni Boravak u Svrhu Boravka Digitalnih Nomada program. With this Croatian visa, you can leave the country for one month unhindered. Everyone who meets the requirements can get a visa for a year. In this case, you can avoid paying taxes. It costs $87-$150 for a Croatian visa for digital nomads. You can apply for the digital nomad program at the Croatian consulate or online. For this, you will need:
- questionnaire;
- passport;
- certificate of medical insurance;
- certificate of no criminal record;
- permanent income of $2700 per month or a bank account of at least $32000, which is confirmed by a bank account statement or certificate of employment;
- address of residence in Croatia (even the address of the hotel where you are staying is enough);
- proof of purpose of your stay in Croatia—your company registration documents, a contract on rendering services to a Croatian client, etc.
Once your participation in the program is approved, you can apply for a digital nomad visa. Again, online or at the Croatian consulate.
Digital nomad in Germany
That was the case with the simple visa application. Now let’s move on to the more complicated one—Germany. The Aufenthaltserlaubnis für selbständige Tätigkeit program is considered one of the most complicated for digital nomads. It essentially provides a residence permit for freelancers and other self-employed people. You’ve probably heard about the glorious German bureaucracy. Here you have to face it in all its glory, and the processing time of your application can be up to 5-6 weeks. This visa costs 100 euros and is valid for 6 months to 3 years. In addition, the success of your application will depend on the extent to which your services can be of use to the German economy.
For registration, you will need:
- a biometric photo 35×45 mm on a light background;
- completed form Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels;
- a stable income, which should be enough to support your life in Germany and your family, if you have one;
- a forecast of your revenue;
- health insurance;
- proof of accommodation in Germany—rental or your own one;
- a bank statement to prove that you are indeed renting in Germany;
- a good pension plan if you are over 45 years old.
In addition, digital nomads living in Germany are subject to income tax, which can, depending on your income, be as high as 45%.
Based on that information, you should be very careful when choosing a country. Write to us if you have any questions about Uniting For Ukraine program. Our working hours are 9:00-19:00 from Monday to Friday. Send a request through the form below or a message on Telegram/Viber, Whatsapp for consultations.
