A practical look at Europe’s digital nomad visa landscape, with Croatia, Malta, Spain and other European countries publishing temporary residence or visa routes for remote workers.
The country links below point to official government, consular or authorised programme pages. Each route has its own rules, terminology and application requirements, so applicants should check the linked source before preparing documents or making travel plans.
Europe’s remote-work visa routes are country-specific
There is no single European digital nomad visa. The routes below are national programmes or visa categories listed by individual countries. Some countries use the term “digital nomad,” while others use terms such as remote worker, international teleworker, temporary stay or residence permit.
| Country | Linked route | What the official source states |
|---|---|---|
| Croatia | Temporary stay of digital nomads | Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior defines a digital nomad as a non-EU/EEA/Swiss third-country national who works through communication technology for a company, client or their own company that is not registered in Croatia and does not provide services to employers in Croatia. |
| Spain | International teleworkers | Spain’s UGE page lists a category for third-country nationals who move to Spain to carry out employment or professional activity remotely for companies located outside Spain, using computer, telematic and telecommunications systems. |
| Portugal | Remote Work / Digital Nomad visas | Portugal’s national visa page lists Remote Work / Digital Nomad under both temporary stay visas and residency visas for professional activity performed remotely. |
| Italy | Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa | Italy’s consular guidance describes the visa as intended for non-EU citizens who intend to work remotely while living in Italy. The same guidance says the route is available to highly specialised workers and separates digital nomads from remote workers. |
| Greece | Digital Nomad Visa | Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Greece offers non-European nationals the ability to live and work in Greece for foreign employers through telework by obtaining a Digital Nomad Visa. |
| Estonia | Digital Nomad Visa | Estonia’s embassy guidance says the digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live in Estonia for up to one year and work for an employer, their own company or clients registered abroad. |
| Malta | Nomad Residence Permit | Malta’s Nomad Residence Permit page states that the permit enables holders to retain employment based in another country while legally residing in Malta. It is open to individuals who can work remotely and independently of location using telecommunications technology. |
| Hungary | White Card | Hungary’s National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing describes the White Card as a residence permit for third-country nationals with verified employment in a country other than Hungary, or ownership in a profitable company outside Hungary, who perform work from Hungary using advanced digital technology. |
| Czechia | Digital Nomad Program | CzechInvest describes the Digital Nomad Program as covering remote IT and marketing specialists from listed countries, including the United States, who work through employment with a foreign employer, their own company outside Czechia or self-employment. |
Croatia
Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior publishes guidance for temporary stay of digital nomads. The page defines a digital nomad as a third-country national, meaning a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, who works through communication technology for a company or their own company that is not registered in Croatia and does not perform work or provide services to employers in Croatia.
The Croatian guidance states that temporary stay can be granted for up to a maximum of eighteen months, possibly less. The same page lists application and documentation details, including proof of purpose, proof of health insurance, proof of means of subsistence and address information in Croatia.
Spain
Spain’s Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos lists a category for international teleworkers under Article 74 bis of Law 14/2013. The page describes third-country nationals who move to Spain to carry out employment or professional activity remotely for companies located outside Spanish territory, using computer, telematic and telecommunications systems.
The same Spanish government page links to documentation for applicants and family members, as well as frequently asked questions in Spanish and English.
Portugal
Portugal’s national visa information page lists Remote Work / Digital Nomad under temporary stay visas and residency visas. The temporary stay section describes a visa for professional activity performed remotely by “digital nomads.” The residency section lists a residency visa for the exercise of professional activity performed remotely.
The Portuguese page states that temporary stay visas allow entry and stay in Portugal for less than a year, while residency visas are valid for two entries and four months, during which the holder is required to apply for a residence permit with AIMA.
Italy
Italy’s Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa guidance from the Consulate General of Italy in New York states that the visa is intended for individuals who are not EU citizens and who intend to work remotely while living in Italy.
The same guidance states that the visa is available to highly specialised workers. It describes “digital nomads” as freelancers, consultants or other independent specialists, and “remote workers” as employees of a company who can perform their work completely remotely.
Greece
Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a page for working in Greece as a digital nomad. The ministry states that Greece offers non-European nationals the ability to live and work in Greece for foreign employers through telework by obtaining a Digital Nomad Visa.
The ministry page directs readers to the official Work From Greece website for related information.
Estonia
Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa guidance says the visa allows remote workers to live in Estonia for up to one year and legally work for an employer or their own company registered abroad. The page also states that applicants may work as freelancers for clients mostly outside Estonia.
The same page lists eligibility requirements, including the ability to work independent of location, the ability to perform work duties remotely using telecommunications technology, and evidence that income met the stated threshold during the six months before application.
Malta
Malta’s Nomad Residence Permit page states that the permit enables holders to retain current employment based in another country while legally residing in Malta. The page says the permit is open to individuals who can work remotely and independently of location using telecommunications technologies.
The Malta page states that the permit is issued for one year and can be renewed upon application at the discretion of Residency Malta, provided the applicant still meets the eligibility criteria.
Hungary
Hungary’s White Card guidance states that the residence permit may be granted to a third-country national with a verified employment relationship in a country other than Hungary who performs work from Hungary using advanced digital technology, or to a person who owns a share in a profitable company in a country other than Hungary and manages or performs work for that company from Hungary using advanced digital technology.
The same guidance states that a White Card is only granted to a third-country national who does not pursue gainful activity in Hungary and does not hold a share in a Hungarian company.
Czechia
CzechInvest’s Digital Nomad Program page defines a digital nomad for the programme as a person who can work remotely and independently of place of work in IT or marketing positions using telecommunications.
The CzechInvest page states that the programme can apply to citizens of listed countries, including the United States of America. It describes routes for employees of foreign companies, freelancers and immediate family members.
Short-stay travel systems are separate from residence routes
Remote-work visas and residence permits are separate from Europe’s short-stay travel systems. The European Union’s official ETIAS page describes ETIAS as a travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers entering 30 European countries for short stays. The official ETIAS site states that ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs states that the Entry/Exit System is a European database used by member states to record the data of non-EU and non-Schengen nationals who cross the external borders of the Schengen Area. The ministry says the system was gradually implemented from 12 October 2025 and is fully operational from 10 April 2026.
What to check before applying
Before applying, remote workers should review the official page for the country they are considering. The linked pages above contain country-specific information on eligibility, documents, income, health insurance, employment structure, family members, application location and renewal rules.
Applicants should confirm the current rules with the relevant government authority, consulate or authorised visa centre before signing a lease, booking long-term travel or assuming that one country’s rules apply elsewhere in Europe.
