Work and nomads
Digital nomad visas: what they are and what they usually ask for
More and more countries offer them. What they solve, which requirements keep coming up and how they differ from staying on as a tourist.
Tomás Berruezo 6 min Photo by Xiaoqian Shen on Unsplash A digital nomad visa is a permit designed for people living in one country while working for clients or companies elsewhere. It isn't a local work permit: it's the opposite, a permit NOT to work for the local market.
What it solves
- Duration: it lets you stay for months or years instead of the weeks a tourist entry allows.
- Clarity: there's no longer a grey area about what you're doing there.
- And sometimes the tax side, with specific regimes, though that depends on the country and the treaty.
The requirements that keep coming up
- A demonstrable minimum income, usually with payslips, invoices or several months of statements.
- Working for companies or clients outside the country.
- Health insurance covering you there for the whole stay.
- A criminal record check and, sometimes, a rental contract.
- And a fee, with a process that may be consular or online.
The first one is what decides in practice: the income threshold varies enormously and it's what makes the same profile fit in one country and not in the next.
What it does NOT solve
It doesn't automatically tell you where you pay tax or how you make social security contributions. That depends on each country's rules and on the treaty with your home country, and it's exactly the conversation to have with an adviser before moving.
The questions to take with you are in working from another country and taxes.
The visa says you can be there. It doesn't say where you pay tax, and those are two different questions.
And the practical side
These processes run on your phone and your email: forms, scanned documents, appointments and notifications. Being without a reliable connection during the process is one of the few small things that can derail the whole thing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a digital nomad visa?
A permit to live temporarily in a country while working for companies or clients elsewhere, without access to the local labour market.
What requirements do they usually ask for?
A demonstrable minimum income, work for companies outside the country, health insurance, a criminal record check and a fee.
Does it sort out my tax situation?
Not automatically. Where you pay tax depends on the country's rules and the treaty with your home country, and that's a question for an adviser.
Is it better than staying on as a tourist?
It gives clarity and duration, which is exactly what a tourist entry doesn't give if you stay for months and work.
