Digital nomad & remote-work visas, compared
Work remotely from abroad on a visa built for it. Here are the digital-nomad and remote-work visas we cover — how long you can stay and how to apply — each linked to a verified, source-grounded step-by-step plan. Many Schengen countries also issue a national digital-nomad visa (Spain, Portugal, Croatia below; Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and more via the Schengen hub).
🇧🇷Brazil — Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV)Brazil's temporary visa and residence permit (VITEM XIV) for digital nomads — immigrants who work for foreign employers while staying in Brazil, with no formal employment registered in the country.Stay: Up to one year initially, renewable once for another year (two years total).🇨🇴Colombia — Visa V Nómadas DigitalesColombia's Visitor (V) visa sub-category for digital nomads — remote work or telework from Colombia, via digital means, exclusively for foreign companies, as an employee or independent worker, or to start a digital-content or IT venture (Resolución 5477 de 2022, Artículo 46).Stay: Up to two years per grant; beneficiaries (dependants) may be included.🇨🇷Costa Rica — Stay for Remote Workers and Service Providers (Estancia, Law 10008)Costa Rica's digital-nomad immigration sub-category (Estancia) under Law 10008 for foreign nationals who provide paid services remotely to people or companies outside Costa Rica.Stay: Up to one year per grant, renewable once for a further year.🇭🇷Croatia — Digital nomad visa (national)Croatia's temporary stay for digital nomads working remotely for a foreign employer or their own non-Croatian company.Stay: Up to 1 year🇨🇾Cyprus — Cyprus Digital Nomad VisaCyprus's national Digital Nomad Visa scheme for non-EU/non-EEA nationals who work remotely through telecommunications technology for an employer or clients located abroad. Cyprus is in the EU but not in the Schengen area.Stay: One year, renewable for a further two years.🇨🇿Czechia — Digital Nomad Program (long-term visa)Czechia's Digital Nomad Program — a national long-term visa route for highly skilled IT or marketing specialists who work remotely for a foreign employer or as a Czech-licensed freelancer.Stay: More than 90 days; the long-term visa for an employee is granted for up to 1 year, then extendable🇪🇪Estonia — Digital nomad visa (national)Estonia's Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) lets location-independent remote workers stay in Estonia for up to one year.Stay: Up to 1 year.🇩🇪Germany — Freelance / self-employment residence permit (national)Germany's national residence permit for freelance employment (Freiberufler) — the route used by self-employed remote professionals such as writers, artists, interpreters and other liberal professions.Stay: Initially limited to a maximum of three years, extendable.🇭🇺Hungary — White Card (digital nomad residence permit)Hungary's White Card residence permit for third-country nationals who work remotely from Hungary for an employer or company based outside Hungary.Stay: Up to 1 year, extendable once for a further year🇮🇩Indonesia — Remote Worker visa (E33G)Indonesia's E33G limited-stay permit for remote workers employed by a company outside Indonesia.Stay: Up to 1 year🇮🇹Italy — Digital nomad visa (national)Italy's national digital nomad / remote worker visa for highly specialized non-EU professionals who work remotely, launched in 2024.Stay: Up to 1 year, renewable while you keep your employment, lodging, and health insurance.🇯🇵Japan — Digital Nomad (Designated Activities)Six-month visa for remote workers of overseas companies earning ¥10 million+ a year.Stay: Up to 6 months — no extension will be granted🇱🇻Latvia — Digital nomad visa (national long-stay visa for remote work)Latvia's national long-stay visa for remote work, for third-country citizens employed by — or self-employed in — an OECD member state who can perform their duties remotely while staying in Latvia.Stay: Up to one year.🇲🇾Malaysia — DE Rantau Nomad PassMalaysia's MDEC-run Professional Visit Pass for foreign digital nomads working remotely for non-Malaysian employers or clients.Stay: Up to 12 months (renewable)🇲🇹Malta — Nomad Residence Permit (national)Malta's Nomad Residence Permit for remote workers who retain employment based in another country while legally residing in Malta.Stay: One year per permit; renewable while eligibility criteria are still met🇲🇽Mexico — Temporary Resident Visa (economic solvency)Mexico's Temporary Resident Visa granted on proof of economic solvency — the route remote workers use to live in Mexico while working remotely, applied for at a Mexican consulate (SRE).Stay: Up to four years total as a Temporary Resident (initial year plus renewals).🇵🇹Portugal — Digital nomad visa (national)Portugal's D8 temporary-stay / residence visa for remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Portugal.Stay: Up to 1 year on the Temporary Stay visa; longer via the residence permit🇰🇷South Korea — Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa (F-1-D)South Korea's F-1-D Workation visa for digital nomads — people employed by (or owning) a foreign company for over a year who can work remotely while staying in Korea.Stay: Up to 2 years total (1 year initial sojourn plus up to 1 year extension).🇪🇸Spain — Digital nomad visa (national)Spain's telework (digital nomad) visa for remote workers and professionals working for companies outside Spain.Stay: Up to 1 year on the visa; longer via the residence permit🇹🇭Thailand — Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)Five-year, multiple-entry visa for remote workers, freelancers and foreign talent (Workcation category).Stay: Up to 180 days per entry, extendable once by a further 180 days at an immigration office🇦🇪United Arab Emirates — Virtual Work Residence VisaOne-year UAE residence for remote workers employed by, or running a business registered, outside the UAE.Stay: Resident for the visa's validity (1 year)
Looking for a specific European country?
Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Greece and others issue national long-stay / digital-nomad permits rather than a Schengen-wide one. Start from the Schengen hub to pick your country and nationality.