Best 6 EU-Based Digital Nomad Visas for 2024

It’s not easy to type out an important email with sunlight glaring against your laptop screen or sand clogging your keyboard.

So, when the idea of being a digital nomad and living the digital nomad lifestyle began to emerge as a kind of blend between work and everlasting vacation, the Nomad Capitalist team was sceptical. 

However, the rise in remote working and the adoption of more flexible work policies by companies has meant the concept of digital nomadism has matured into a more practical and sustainable lifestyle.

Today’s digital nomads aren’t just chasing exotic backdrops – they’re seeking a fulfilling work-life balance, cultural immersion and the freedom to explore the world while building their careers.

This unique blend of adventure and stability is somewhat easier to find with a European Union-based digital nomad visa. 

The Rise of Digital Nomad Visas

The paradigm of traditional work and the spaces where it’s conducted have undergone a seismic shift since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

WFH Research, a group that surveys attitudes to working arrangements, found that around 12% of full-time employees work from home, while 16% of companies are fully remote, in the United States.

Little wonder then that as the world embraces remote work, normal tourist visas are no longer cutting the mustard for many location-independent professionals and entrepreneurs. 

After all, the 50 or so countries currently offering digital nomad visas have all realised that they can attract long-term contributors to the country’s economy in exchange for the right to stay there for a few years. 

If you’re a remote worker, a freelancer or a business owner with the ability to work from anywhere in the world, there are some appealing benefits to having a digital nomad visa. Overall, it’s a win-win for all involved. 

Digital Nomad Visa Benefits

There are three key benefits of a digital nomad visa:

• You get access to a country for longer than a tourist visa allows. This gives you certainty and helps you bypass the sanctions you could expect if you stayed in a country for an extended time without a visa or residence permit. 
• Digital nomad visas usually have far lower financial requirements than traditional residence or citizenship programs. More conventional routes to residence and citizenship typically require a substantial investment or donation. A nomad visa usually only requires you to show proof of a reasonable amount of monthly income. 
• Finally, many countries offer tax incentives for those with residency or a digital nomad visa. Some don’t require foreign nationals to pay any taxes at all.

For a few years, these visas can act as a buffer against local taxation and employment law if you simply bring your income into a country but don’t necessarily sell anything or have customers there. 

There can be a downside. Depending on the country, they are usually only valid for a year or two and may not count towards permanent residence or citizenship.

Who Will an EU Digital Nomad Visa Work for?

Before we explore the six best EU nomad visas, let’s quickly cover why you need to be careful about which one you choose. 

As we mentioned, a lot of the countries offering digital nomad visas have tax incentives in place to help lower or even eliminate your tax burden while living there. 

However, there are a few that don’t have these provisions in place, meaning that if you trigger tax residence you will have to pay ‌normal local rates of tax.

You generally become eligible for tax residence by spending more than 183 days a year in that country. If you want to avoid becoming a tax resident, you will need to spend fewer than 183 days a year there or look at options where the tax incentives are in your favour.

While it’s possible to live in a zero-tax jurisdiction, these tend to be on remote islands and not supportive of what young professionals require. 

Also, there can be very little difference between temporary residency programs and digital nomad schemes in these places, which makes the benefits negligible. 

That narrows down the available tax-friendly options for nomads to Southeast Asia, Latin America and the EU. 

However, if you want to go to a European country where the requirements for residence are typically very strict, the digital nomad visa is a great option. 

After all, Europe has traditionally been expensive to get into.

Top Digital Nomad Visas in Europe

Here are our top six digital nomad visas in the European Union.

1. Spain 

The Spanish Digital Nomad Visa is open to non-EU nationals who want to work remotely there and who work for non-Spanish companies. 

Whether you’re a freelancer or work for a company outside Spain, this visa is a fantastic opportunity to experience the country’s rich culture and laid-back lifestyle without sacrificing your career.

Both self-employed workers with multiple clients and remote workers employed by a single company outside Spain are eligible. However, applicants are allowed to receive a maximum of 20% of their income from a Spanish company. 

To qualify, you’ll need to demonstrate a solid track record with at least three years of professional experience. 

Crucially, you cannot have lived in Spain within the past five years, and your current employer (or your clients, if you’re freelancing) must be based outside of Spain. 

If employed, your company needs to have been in operation for at least a year, and you must have been working with them for at least three months before applying.

Financially, you’ll need to prove you can support yourself comfortably, with a minimum monthly income of €2,646 (or €32,000 annually). This can be easily proven through bank statements and employment contracts.  

As with most digital nomad programs, you’ll need to have private health insurance and a clean criminal record.

One of the most appealing aspects of this visa is its flexibility. Initially valid for 12 months (or the length of your employment contract, if shorter), it can be renewed for up to five years, letting you truly immerse yourself in Spanish life.  

However, to maintain your visa status, you’ll need to spend at least six months per year in Spain, which means you’ll become a tax resident.

Luckily, digital nomads can qualify for Spain’s Beckham Law, meaning you pay a reduced income tax rate of 24% on all income below €600,000 per annum. 

If you’re interested in learning more about Spain’s Nomad Digital Visa, this video covers everything you need to know. 

2. Portugal

Portugal has long been a favourite destination for remote workers, and its official Digital Nomad Visa, launched in October 2022, makes it even easier to call this beautiful country home. 

Replacing the D7 visa, this program offers a clear pathway to residence for remote workers worldwide. 

Once you’re approved, you can stay in Portugal for up to four months, but during this time, you must apply for a residence permit that lasts for two years and is renewable for a further three. 

However, if you fall in love with the Portuguese lifestyle, you can apply for permanent residence after five years of temporary residence and eventually qualify for citizenship. 

To qualify for this visa, you’ll need to demonstrate a consistent income stream with a minimum monthly earnings of €3,280 (or €39,360 annually), proven through your salary statements from the previous 12 months. 

Now, let’s talk about taxes. 

In the past, digital nomads could claim non-habitual resident (NHR) status, reducing their taxes to 0% on global income and a flat rate of 20% on locally sourced income. 

Then, in late 2023, Portugal’s parliament announced that the NHR tax regime was coming to an end as they argued it was no longer beneficial to the country. 

However, from 2025, digital nomads can still benefit from a new NHR 2.0 regime, officially called the Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation Program.

The main difference, aside from being harder to qualify, is that those earning income from abroad will be taxed at a flat 20% rate. That’s still a lot lower than the local tax rates in Portugal or in many other countries. 

3. Estonia

Estonia is a modern technology hub where digital nomads will feel right at home. Its non-renewable digital nomad visa grants official approval to live and work there for one year. 

To qualify, you must be one of the following:

• A remote employee who shows proof of employment with a company based outside Estonia
• A partner or shareholder in a business outside Estonia
• An online freelancer or self-employed independent worker with most of your clients and customers residing outside Estonia. 

In all cases, you must show a monthly income of €4,500 with six months’ worth of bank statements. 

In terms of taxes, if you trigger tax residence, you’ll pay a flat 20% tax rate.

4. Greece

With the Greek digital nomad visa, you can work remotely for up to two years in the beautiful Mediterranean country while enjoying visa-free access to all 27 EU member states. 

To qualify, you must earn at least €3,500 per month from a remote job as an employee, freelancer or business owner with a company outside Greece. You must also prove you have accommodation for the duration of your stay in Greece. 

Aside from these requirements, you will have to register for a residence permit in Greece. 

If you live in Greece for more than six months, you will be taxed at local rates once you earn over €12,000 a year.

5. Malta

Due to its advantageous tax system, English-speaking population and foreigner-friendly legislation, Malta has become a particularly attractive destination for digital nomads. 

You’ll find the island nation offers fast broadband speeds and relatively low living costs, although the cost of rental property in popular areas like Valletta is rising.

The Nomad Residence Permit, as it’s formally known, requires a minimum monthly income of €3,500. 

Other requirements include renting a property in Malta, having health insurance, passing background checks and proving that you can work remotely.   

The program offers zero income tax for up to a year, even if you spend more than 183 days in Malta, as long as you hold tax residence in your home country. 

6. Croatia 

Croatia is a forward-looking, safe and relatively inexpensive country in which to enjoy life and build your remote career. 

The recently launched Croatia Digital Nomad Visa requires proof of monthly income of €2,870 and is valid for one year. You must also prove that you have accommodation in Croatia by submitting a confirmed booking or a rental agreement with a Croatian landlord.

This program is gaining popularity because digital nomads operating in Croatia are exempt from tax if they have a tax residence elsewhere. 

However, depending on its tax treaty status with Croatia, you may still have to pay taxes in your home country. 

Digital Nomad Visa Europe: FAQs

Choosing the Right European Digital Nomad Visa

People are beginning to realise that they can work from anywhere in the world and still be successful. 

Choosing the location with the optimal tax and lifestyle benefits for you requires careful planning.

That’s where Nomad Capitalist comes in. We help high-net-worth individuals create a bespoke strategy using our uniquely successful methods. 

You’ll keep more of your own money, create new wealth faster and be protected from whatever happens in just three steps. Discover how we do things here.