You’ve finally secured your dream remote job, and the world is your oyster. If the time zones work, Europe is a great place to base yourself. However, you’ll need more than a tourist visa to work and live in Europe. Lucky for you, some digital nomad visas are pretty easy to secure.
Whether you’re interested in moving abroad for a taste of new culture, food, and architecture or to take advantage of lower costs of living, digital nomad visas make this dream possible.
With a tourist visa, most visitors can only stay in Schengen Area for up to 90 out of 180 days. With a digital nomad visa, remote workers can typically stay for up to one year. The easiest EU countries to get a digital nomad visa include Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, and Malta.
General Requirements For EU Digital Nomad Visa
Most EU Digital Nomad Visa applications require the following:
- A clean background check
- A work contract from a country outside of the European Union
- That you are not an EU, EEA, or EFTA citizen
- A minimum salary, depending on the country
- Proof of health insurance
- That you are capable of doing your job remotely
- A passport that is valid for at least three months past your intended exit date
- That you are over 18
- That you have secured accommodation in the form of a reservation or accommodation contract
- Bank statement showing that you can support yourself in the case of an emergency
Note: The prices listed below are in USD and may slightly change depending on the value of the euro and dollar at the time of reading.
Croatia
| Name of visa | Obrazac 1A |
| Cost | $135 – 425 |
| Monthly income requirement | $2,530 |
| Length of stay | 12 months |
| Average cost of living (one person in or near a big city) | $1,800 |
Fine print: The cost to apply for the visa varies greatly depending on where you apply (embassy, Croatian police station, online). The above-mentioned price includes the cost of a temporary residence application and card. You must register for temporary residence within three days of arriving in Croatia (Obrazac 8A form). To bring family members with you, the income requirement is higher. The Obrazac 1A can not be extended, but you can reapply for it six months after it expires.
Estonia
| Name of visa | Type C or D |
| Cost | $88 – 110 |
| Monthly income requirement | $3,853 |
| Length of stay | 3 months type C, 12 months type D |
| Average cost of living (one person in or near a big city) | $1,300 |
Fine print: You can bring your immediate family with you. Estonian officials may also ask to see your university degree and/or training certificates related to your career. After arriving in Estonia, you can apply for an e-residence card. You can apply to extend the visa for six months.
Georgia
| Name of visa | Remotely From Georgia Program |
| Cost | $24 |
| Monthly income requirement | $2,000 |
| Length of stay | 12 months |
| Average cost of living (one person in or near a big city) | $1,400 |
Fine print: If you make less than $2,000 a month, you may still be eligible for this program if you have $24,000 in your bank account. Remotely From Georgia isn’t technically a visa. It’s a specific application introduced during the pandemic to allow digital nomads to bypass COVID restrictions and enter the country. This program is being phased out slowly, but Georgia still offers a one-year visa (that you can work remotely with) to 95+ countries without showing proof of income or savings and with no application fee.
Greece
| Name of visa | Greece Digital Nomad Visa |
| Cost | $80 |
| Monthly income requirement | $3,849 |
| Length of stay | 12 months |
| Average cost of living (one person in or near a big city) | $1,300 |
Fine print: You can apply for this digital nomad visa from your home country, but you must apply for a residency permit when you arrive. The visa cost listed above does not include $160 in administration fees. You can bring your immediate family members with you. Greek immigration officials often ask for proof of exit.
Hungary
| Name of visa | Digital Nomad Visa / White Card |
| Cost | $204 – 255 |
| Monthly income requirement | $2,190 |
| Length of stay | 12 months |
| Average cost of living (one person in or near a big city) | $1,000 |
Fine print: This digital nomad visa is for the working individual only; you can not bring family members along. Apply for this digital nomad visa from your home country. After arriving in Hungary, you must apply for a White Card (residence card) within thirty days. The visa and White Card price depend on whether you submit the documents online or in person (online is cheaper). Hungarian immigration officials may ask for proof of exit. Before your original visa expires, you can renew it for another 12 months.
Iceland
| Name of visa | Long-term Remote Work Visa |
| Cost | $97 |
| Monthly income requirement | $7,565 |
| Length of stay | 6 months |
| Average cost of living (one person in or near a big city) | $2,600 |
Fine print: This visa allows your spouse and/or children to join you, but the minimum income requirement increases by approximately $2,000. If you have had a long-term Icelandic visa within the last year, you are not eligible for this visa.
Malta
| Name of visa | N1 Nomad Residence Permit |
| Cost | $330 |
| Monthly income requirement | $2,955 |
| Length of stay | 6 – 12 months |
| Average cost of living (one person in or near a big city) | $1,800 |
Fine print: This digital nomad visa grants you six months in Malta. Once you arrive, you can get a residence permit that will extend your legal stay to 12 months. Before the visa expires, you can opt to renew it (if you still meet the requirements) for one year at a time, extending your stay to a total of three years. This visa permits you to bring your immediate family members by completing an N2 application form. You may also choose to complete the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Declaration Form for security. Along with the application, you must include a cover letter that explains your intentions in Malta (your career, plans, why you chose Malta, etc.).
Other Factors to Keep In Mind When Applying For a Digital Nomad Visa:
- Tax obligations
- Lawyer fees, if you choose or need to use one
- Approval time
- The minimum income requirement is typically higher if you bring family members
- Family members typically include your legal spouse, children under 18, or a child who depends on you financially or for medical reasons
- Time zones
