Digital Nomad and Startup Visas: How to Choose the Right Route

Two different visas for two different kinds of people

Remote workers and founders often look at the same list of countries, but the visas serve different purposes. A digital nomad visa lets you live in a country while working remotely for an employer or clients abroad. A startup visa lets you move to build a company there, usually with an assessment of your business plan and sometimes a link to local investors or an incubator. Choosing the wrong one is a common and expensive mistake.

Digital nomad visas: how they usually work

Estonia introduced one of the first dedicated digital nomad visas in 2020, and dozens of countries have followed, including Portugal (the D8 visa, 2022), Spain (from 2023), Croatia, Greece, Barbados, Costa Rica and Thailand. Japan introduced a six-month digital nomad route in 2024. Typical conditions include:

• Proof of remote income above a threshold, often several times the local minimum wage. Portugal's D8, for example, has required roughly four times the national minimum wage in monthly income.
• Health insurance valid in the country.
• A clean criminal record and, usually, proof of accommodation.
• A fixed stay of six months to a year, often renewable.
• A ban on working for local companies in most cases.

Startup visas: how they usually work

Details and names of these programmes are updated often, so check the official government page before relying on the table.

Where tax and compliance trip people up

• Tax residency. Many countries treat people who stay more than 183 days in a year as tax resident, which can make your worldwide income taxable there. Some nomad visas come with special tax rules, others do not.
• Your employer's risk. A remote worker can create a taxable presence (a "permanent establishment") for an employer in the country where they work. Many companies restrict this.
• Social security. In the EU, an A1 certificate can keep you in your home social security system for a period. Outside it, you may owe contributions in two places or none at all.
• Visa limits. Working for local companies or clients can break the terms of a nomad visa.
• Banking and healthcare. Opening accounts and getting insurance can take longer than getting the visa.

How to choose

A practical checklist

1. Confirm your employer allows you to work from the country, and check tax and social security with a professional.
2. Read the visa conditions on the official government site, including income thresholds and renewal rules.
3. Budget for the full cost: visa fees, insurance, housing, tax advice and the cost of leaving your current home.
4. Check how the visa treats family members, since some include partners and children and others do not.
5. For startup visas, prepare a business plan, evidence of funding and your pitch to the endorsing body well in advance.
6. Keep a record of days spent in each country to manage tax residency.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch from a nomad visa to residency?

Sometimes. A few countries allow time on a nomad visa to count towards longer-term residence, but many do not. Check before you move.

Do I pay tax in the country that gave me the visa?

It depends on how long you stay and on the country's rules. Some have special regimes for foreign income, others tax you as a resident after 183 days.

Do I need a company to get a startup visa?

Not always. Many programmes start from a business idea or plan, but you will need evidence that it is credible and supported by an approved organisation or investor.

Sources and further reading

• Government immigration portals of each country, such as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on canada.ca and the UK Government on gov.uk.
• OECD, model tax convention and guidance on tax residence, on oecd.org.
• European Commission, social security coordination and A1 certificates, on ec.europa.eu.

Visa rules, thresholds and tax treatment change often; confirm current conditions with official sources and a qualified adviser. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.