Remote work is continuing to prove popular and many startups find it helps attract talent and build modern work cultures. While many dream of working from a tropical beach or cosy mountain cabin, urbanites crave the sound, the movement and the people. Europe is now becoming a hub of digital nomads – the continent offers the chance to find beach, city action and mountain retreats.
While the capital cities and popular tourist destinations still attract people, many professionals are now looking to work remotely in Europe’s lesser-known cities, often finding better prices, quality of life and opportunities.
Here, we’ve created a list of five European destinations that offer an ideal combination of low costs, easy accessibility and plenty of amenities for travellers and nomads. Specifically, this list is built with the central fact that all these countries offer a digital nomad visa.
How to choose a city to work remotely from
Choosing the right city to work remotely from can be daunting, as there are many factors to consider. From internet connectivity and cost of living to culture and community, evaluating what is most important to you and your lifestyle is essential. Last but not leaser important is visa process. While many Europeans might not have a problem settling in another European country, we’ve built this list with countries offering digital nomad visas. Let’s take a look!
Dubrovnik, Croatia
This city on the magnificent Dalmatian coast is the ideal destination for digital nomads since it has one of the most accessible visas in Europe regarding monthly income (€2,300). Dubrovnik is a safe and welcoming city with a low cost of living compared to other European destinations. Accommodation and food are reasonable, which makes it easier to stretch your budget and enjoy the local culture and lifestyle.
With many advantages, including no income tax, fantastic weather, dependable internet, and a secure atmosphere, Croatia is an excellent place for digital nomads to settle.
The Croatian Digital Nomad VISA is open to all non-EU and EEA residents that work for a non-Croatian company. It has a validation of 1 year with the chance to extend it. However, after your Croatia digital nomad visa expires, you must wait six months before applying for a new one.
Valletta, Malta
Malta has been one of the pioneers of Digital Nomad Visas since they started the project in 2001. The island is an ideal destination for digital nomads, as it offers one of the most accessible visas in Europe in terms of monthly income requirements, set at €2,700. The country boasts a warm and sunny climate, making it an excellent location for those who enjoy outdoor activities.
The cost of living is relatively affordable, and most locals speak English, which makes it easy to integrate into the community. The Maltese digital nomad visa offers a one-year tax exemption, making it an excellent opportunity to save money. The country has a reliable internet connection, including 5G nationwide coverage and over 400 free public Wi-Fi spots. The visa allows you to bring your family, and you can easily travel to other Schengen countries, staying for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
After one year, if the applicant wishes to renew the visa, it’s possible to do so at the Residency Malta Agency before the first visa expires.
Riga, Latvia
After highlighting two Souther European destinations, we’re travelling up north. Riga, the capital of Latvia, is an excellent place for digital nomads, particularly for its low cost of living. Accommodation, food, and entertainment are all reasonably priced, allowing remote workers to stretch their budgets further. The city also has a vibrant and creative atmosphere, with plenty of coworking spaces and coffee shops that cater to remote workers.
Following the last two cities, Latvia joins the list of the most accessible visas in Europe, with an at least, €2,875.50 monthly income requirement. A particular thing about the Latvian visa is that it’s only open to applicants that work for or have a country based in an OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) country. On the positive side, the application process can be done entirely online and has a validation of 1 year. Once the period is over, it can be extended for an extra year without much hassle.
Tallinn, Estonia
Estonia is a small country with a population of 1.3 million. Tallinn, the capital city, has a low cost of living, first-rate internet connectivity and a vibrant startup scene. Twenty years ago, Estonia wasn’t on the radar, but its internationalisation and impact on the startup world have helped it become worldwide recognised amongst entrepreneurs, to the point that it was the first country to issue a digital nomad visa!
The Estonian digital nomad visa offers two variations: type C, with which you can stay in the country for up to 90 days, and type D, which has a validity of 1 year. The monthly income required to apply for the visa is higher than the previously highlighted cities, with at least €3,504.
It has a very energetic startup scene, with home-grown giants like Bolt, Wise and Pipedrive, all excellent examples to follow for upcoming and growing companies.
The country’s favourable tax laws make it easy for many international companies. Estonia has the world’s best tax system and a hassle-free process to start a company, driving many entrepreneurs to its territory.
Valencia, Spain
Located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, Valencia has been awarded first place in the Forbes ranking of 20 best cities to live in based on the Expat City Ranking 2022 by InterNations, the world’s largest expatriate community.
The city offers a relatively low cost of living compared to other major national and European cities, rich history and culture, with many historical sites and landmarks to explore.
It’s been a popular Erasmus destination for many years, which has positively impacted Valencia and helped build a solid international atmosphere. It has a well-connected public transportation system, making it easy to get around the city and the country.
On top of that, Spain just launched a new visa for remote workers and a new startup act that aims to empower and drive international talent and investment to the country. To be eligible, applicants must have a job or freelance work that is location independent, earn a minimum of €2,259 per month and have private health insurance. After the 1-year period, the visa can be extended for up to 5 years.
We kept this list down to five lesser-known European locations that offer a great combination of affordability, accessibility and amenities for remote workers, but there are many other European countries that offer Digital Nomad visas.
Source : Eu-Startups
