To date, digital nomads are a very facilitated category: find out which countries offer the best opportunities.
REMOTE WORKING ABROAD? The countries that offer the most BENEFITS for DIGITAL NOMADS
There are those who love it and those who hate it. It is a very convenient obligation that, however, in the long run, gets bored. We are pleased to present you the undisputed protagonist (after the virus, of course) introduced by 2020: remote work. In order not to risk getting bored or feeling isolated from the rest of the world, some people have seen fit to take advantage of all the strengths that this way of working offers, moving around the globe while continuing to work: they are the “digital nomads”. If you too are thinking of taking advantage of remote work, find out which are the destinations that facilitate this category of workers the most.
#1 In Greece, taxes are halved
Outward journey with (almost) no return to Greece. In fact, the country has recently introduced a new law for which European citizens who intend to move with their tax residence for at least two years, can take advantage of many agreements. Dedicated both to those who intend to do it as an employee in a “new job position”, and to freelancers, the law provides:
- The exemption from payment of income tax and solidarity tax on 50% of income from employment or freelance of Greek source;
- Any other income from Greek and foreign sources is taxed according to the general tax rates;
- The exemption from the application of local taxes on the annual income deriving from the ownership or possession of a residence or vehicle for private use.
But be careful because the deadline for requesting this tax regime is July 31 of the year in which the individual starts working or entrepreneurial activity and, above all, two other fundamental requirements must be met: not to have the status of Greek tax resident in the six years prior to relocation and providing on-site work services to a Greek or a Greek branch of a foreign company.
No more going to Greece just for the holidays, it’s time to move.
#2 Croatia has introduced a special visa for digital nomads
The new visa, still adopted by very few European countries, was introduced by Croatia on January 1, 2021. The digital nomad is defined by Croatian law as «anyone outside the EU who works in “communication technology” or as an employee of distance or through your company registered abroad». The objective of the visa is to attract new workers who, in reality, would represent a strategy to relaunch Croatian tourism; they could be a local resource as consumers of goods and services, not to mention that a temporary stay increases the likelihood that villas and tourist apartments, usually empty, will be rented during the winter. It looks like a paradise: newcomers will not be subject to income tax, but they won’t be able to provide services to Croatian companies.
#3 The income visa in Spain
Spain has instead decided to give the opportunity to those who would like to live in Spain but work elsewhere, specifically creating a defined “income” visa. This non-profit residency is reserved for non-EU citizens who do not work in Spain but who want to reside there. The conditions for obtaining a visa are simple: have a minimum income of 26 thousand euros per year from foreign work (such as that performed remotely) or from retirement. The visa lasts one year but can be renewed, with a maximum duration of two years. It seems simple and indeed it is, but I recommend: it is not possible to carry out economic or professional activities on Spanish territory.
#4 Estonia extends e-Residency to digital nomads
It has been since 2014 that Estonia has chosen to use the e-Residency system, which is a virtual identity that was previously only granted to non-residents but has now been extended to digital nomads. It is an excellent opportunity for those who want to travel around Europe while working: in fact, the digital visa allows you to stay and work in Estonia for 12 months, including the right to travel within European borders for 90 days. Since 2014, the system has earned the country over 41 million euros, a figure that is set to increase rapidly.
#5 Madeira: the Portuguese tourist village reserved for smart working
The Digital Nomads Madeira is a project that from February to June will allow hundreds of digital nomads to live in a tourist village on the Portuguese island of Madeira for at least a month. The requests are thousands but the village can contain “only” 100 workers at the same time, who have free work spaces, internet connection from 8 to 22, in addition to the services offered such as restaurants and shops. The project adds to the already existing D7 visa, a strategic visa that Portugal had introduced to attract retirees and foreigners with a stable income. The waiting list for the digital nomad village is quite long, but you can always go for the D7 visa which after 5 years could also convert into a permanent visa.
#6 Living in Dubai without paying taxes
No, you have not read wrong. In the Arab Emirates there is no tax on personal income. So those who work in smart working will not have to pay taxes and will be able to enjoy a visa that allows you to do practically everything like any resident: access to telephone lines, identity documents, banking services, the possibility of renting accommodation and even sending children at school.
ROSITA GIULIANO
