Work remotely. Live in Europe. Lawfully.
Several European countries now operate a dedicated route for people who earn their income outside the country. We assess which of them fits your nationality, your income structure, and your family circumstances — then guide the application.
Who these routes are generally for
- Remote employees of a foreign employer
- Freelancers with foreign clients
- Independent consultants
- Owners of an established company registered abroad
Which of these a given country accepts differs by country — Romania and Hungary, for example, are narrower than Spain or Portugal.
Routes we assess
The legal shape of each route differs, and that difference matters more to planning than any single number: a visa, a residence permit, and a regulated temporary stay are not interchangeable.
| Country | Program | What the permission actually is | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | International Teleworking Visa | A consular visa, or — where the applicant is already lawfully in Spain — a residence authorisation. | Remote employees and freelancers who want a longer, renewable base in a large European market. |
| Portugal | Remote Professional Activity Visa (D8) | Two separate routes: a temporary-stay visa, or a residence visa followed by an AIMA residence permit. | Applicants who want either a shorter temporary stay or a longer renewable residence pathway. |
| Greece | Digital Nomad Visa | A national visa, followed by a residence permit for longer stays. | Higher-earning remote workers who want a Mediterranean base with a clear step up to a residence permit. |
| Malta | Nomad Residence Permit | A residence permit issued by the Residency Malta Agency — not a visa. | English-speaking remote workers who want a straightforward, agency-run permit process. |
| Croatia | Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads | A temporary residence authorisation — technically a regulation of temporary stay, not a visa. | Applicants who want a single longer block of time in Europe rather than a renewable base. |
| Estonia | Digital Nomad Visa | A visa — not a residence permit, and entirely separate from Estonian e-Residency. | Location-independent workers who want a defined period in Estonia rather than a long-term base. |
| Italy | Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa | A national visa followed by a permesso di soggiorno issued in Italy. | Highly qualified remote workers and independent specialists. |
| Romania | Digital Nomad Long-Stay Visa | A long-stay national visa, with a subsequent right of stay. | Remote workers and owners of established foreign companies seeking a lower-cost EU base. |
| Hungary | White Card | A residence permit issued by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP). | Single applicants seeking a shorter central-European base. |
Three things worth knowing before you apply
- e-Residency is not immigration. Estonian e-Residency is a digital business-identity scheme. It grants no right to enter, live, or stay in Estonia. The Digital Nomad Visa is an entirely separate application.
- A visa is not a tax residency plan. Holding one of these permissions does not by itself decide where you owe tax; that depends on the destination’s domestic rules and any double-taxation treaty. Tax advice must come from a qualified tax professional in the relevant jurisdiction, not from us.
- Figures change, so we quote them per case rather than on a web page. Minimum income thresholds, application fees, permit durations, and renewal rules are set by each government and revised regularly. We confirm the current figures against the official government source for your destination during your assessment, and we do not publish numbers here that could be out of date by the time you read them.
Where the facts come from
Each country’s requirements are verified against that government’s own source — the immigration authority, the foreign ministry, or the official gazette — never against a blog, an agency site, or an AI summary.
Official government resources: Spain (exteriores.gob.es) · Portugal (aima.gov.pt) · Greece (migration.gov.gr) · Malta (residencymalta.gov.mt) · Croatia (mup.gov.hr) · Estonia (politsei.ee) · Italy (esteri.it) · Romania (igi.mai.gov.ro) · Hungary (oif.gov.hu). Provided for reference only — not affiliated with Residency and Global Advisory Bureau, and content there may change.
A structured path from enquiry to outcome.
Eligibility Review
We review your profile — nationality, qualifications, experience, and objectives — against the pathways that may realistically apply.
Pathway Guidance
We explain which options may suit your circumstances and what each generally requires, so you can make an informed decision.
Documentation Support
We help you understand, organize, and prepare the documentation your chosen pathway calls for.
Application Assistance
We assist with preparing and coordinating your application, working alongside employers or authorities where relevant.
Case Updates
We keep you informed as your case progresses and help you respond to any additional requirements that arise.
Eligibility, family provisions, and the current requirements for each route are determined by the relevant government and may change without notice.
Digital Nomad & Remote Work Visa Questions
Is this the same as a work permit?
No. An employer-sponsored work permit is for taking up a job in the destination country. These routes are the opposite case: your income already comes from outside that country, and the permission lets you live there while continuing that work. If you are being hired by a local employer, the work permit pathways are the relevant ones instead.
Does Estonian e-Residency let me live in Estonia?
No. e-Residency is a digital business-identity scheme. It grants no right to enter, live, or stay in Estonia. Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa is an entirely separate application with its own criteria. These two are frequently confused, and the confusion is expensive.
Why aren’t the income thresholds listed on this page?
Because they change, and a stale figure on a web page is worse than no figure. Minimum income levels, application fees, permit durations, and renewal rules for these routes are set by each government and revised regularly. We confirm the current figures against that government’s own official source for your destination during your assessment.
Will one of these routes make me a tax resident?
Holding one of these permissions does not by itself decide where you owe tax. That depends on the destination’s domestic rules and on any double-taxation treaty with your current country. We are not tax advisers — tax advice must come from a qualified tax professional in the relevant jurisdiction.
Can my family come with me?
Not uniformly, and this is one of the biggest differences between them. Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Croatia, Italy and Romania do provide for qualifying family members, subject to higher financial requirements. Estonia has no dependant category at all — an accompanying family member would need their own separate legal basis. Hungary’s White Card is restrictive on accompanying family. If moving as a family is the priority, that alone rules some of these routes in or out, so raise it at the start of your assessment rather than after choosing a destination.
Do these routes lead to permanent residency?
Some are structured as residence permits that can lead onward; others are time-limited stays that are not designed to. Which is which is one of the main things worth deciding before you apply, and it is part of what we assess.
Check which remote-work route fits you
Tell us how your income is structured and where you would like to be based. We will assess which of these routes you may qualify for.