How to Be a Digital Nomad in Europe: A Beginner’s Guide
Author Bio: Brittany Loeffler is the co-founder of Nomads Embassy: The World’s First Embassy for Digital Nomads and has been traveling the world full-time since 2019.
Do you dream of working remotely from your laptop in some of the oldest and most famous cities in the world? Then you may want to consider being a digital nomad in Europe.
With today’s technology and increasingly fast wifi, more people than ever have the opportunity to work remotely from anywhere in the world. All they need is a stable Internet connection and a charged laptop!
As the digital nomad lifestyle becomes more popular and attainable through remote work opportunities and digital nomad visas, freelancers, employees, and entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this flexible way of life.
If you’re still going to the office every day or beginning your remote work journey, becoming a digital nomad may seem overwhelming and intimidating.
Where do you even start?
The answer is right here!
If you are considering being a digital nomad in Europe and traveling to new places while working remotely, you’ve come to the right place.
By the end of this article, you’ll know how to get started, why you should be a digital nomad in Europe, digital nomad visa options, and how to find affordable and flexible accommodations.
How to Become a Digital Nomad
No matter where you are or where you wish to be in the world, the first step to achieving a location-independent lifestyle is to become a digital nomad.
To be a digital nomad, you must meet two requirements: earn a livable income remotely and have the desire to see the world.
Remote Job
Oftentimes, the most challenging part of becoming a digital nomad is securing a stable remote job. Fortunately, many companies now offer remote roles, and there are plenty of opportunities to create our own job through freelancing and entrepreneurship.
Some people find that their current roles now allow them to work remotely full-time, so they do not have to search for a new remote job. This is one of the easiest pathways to becoming a digital nomad.
However, if you’re newly graduated or searching for a new career, you may find finding a remote job difficult. Some of the most popular digital nomad jobs include:
- Software developer
- Graphic designer
- UX/UI designer
- Digital marketer
- Content creator
- Copywriter
- Virtual assistant
Give yourself time to find the right remote job that fits your lifestyle and interests. Many digital nomads have multiple streams of income to help support their location-independent lifestyle too.
Desire to See the World
The second thing you need to become a digital nomad is the desire to see the world and experience different cultures. It’s easy to work remotely from your home country, but it’s so much more exciting to work remotely immersed in a foreign country.
If you find yourself scrolling through photos and videos of beautiful far-away destinations, checking flight prices in your free time, and yearning to meet people from all over the world, then you definitely have the desire to see the world!
This desire is your motivation to live a digital nomad lifestyle. Contrary to popular belief, being a digital nomad in Europe doesn’t mean you’re on vacation 24/7. Being a full-time traveler can be exhausting and discouraging at times, but your desire to experience new countries and learn about the world serves as your motivation to keep going.
To become a digital nomad, you can’t have one of these without the other. You must have both a remote job and the desire to travel.
Why Be a Digital Nomad in Europe?
Some of the most popular digital nomad destinations are in South America and Southeast Asia, so why are we suggesting that you be a digital nomad in Europe?
Firstly, Europe offers great cities for first-time digital nomads. With excellent infrastructure, affordable costs of living, and fast internet speeds, remote workers worldwide find Europe one of the best continents to begin their journeys.
Let’s also not forget that many European countries offer digital nomad visas to third-country nationals that allow them to stay in the area longer than a tourist visa. But more about that later.
Various Cultures and Traditions
The beauty of being a digital nomad in Europe is the opportunity to experience various cultures and traditions without traveling very far.
With so many different countries in a small area, digital nomads can travel just a few hours and end up in a new country with a completely different culture than they experienced that morning.
Being a digital nomad in Europe allows you to get a crash course on hundreds - if not thousands - of years of history while working remotely. As you walk to a new cafe or coworking space, you may pass ancient ruins or cathedrals that are hundreds of years old.
Many European countries and cultures have many holidays and celebrations throughout the year that digital nomads can participate in and learn.
Ease of Travel
Europe has one of the most straightforward and comprehensive transportation systems. With hundreds of trains, daily flights, and an extensive bus network, digital nomads can travel to different countries easily and on a budget.
No matter where you want to go, there is likely a way to get there using public transportation!
Affordable Cost of Living
Compared to countries like the United States, Canada, and England, Europe has a relatively affordable cost of living. In fact, some of the cheapest digital nomad cities are in Western and Eastern Europe.
As a digital nomad, it’s essential to be conscious of your budget, as you can face unexpected expenses while traveling. When choosing your digital nomad destination, we suggest researching the cost of living to determine whether you can live comfortably there on your remote income.
Digital Nomad-Friendly Cities
When searching for a destination to travel to as a digital nomad, it’s important to consider a few factors:.
- Walkability
- Public transportation
- Cost of living
- Coworking spaces and cafes
- Internet speed
- Digital nomad community
Fortunately, for those who choose to be a digital nomad in Europe, there are plenty of options that have all of these.
Some of the most popular digital nomad cities within Europe include Lisbon, Athens, Sofia, Valletta, and Barcelona. You’ll find remote workers with their laptops out during the day and experiencing all of the great entertainment the cities have to offer at night in these cities and more.
Digital Nomad Visas in Europe
Many digital nomads choose to visit and work remotely in Europe using a tourist visa. However, for many third-country nationals, they can only stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days out of 180 days.
Digital nomads who are EU citizens don’t have to worry about this too much. The general rule is that if you plan to spend more than three months living in a country, then you should apply for residency.
Third-country nationals who wish to stay in the Schengen Area longer than the tourist visa allows can apply for a digital nomad visa.
What is a Digital Nomad Visa?
A digital nomad visa allows remote workers to temporarily live in a foreign country. As of the end of 2022, ten European countries offer a digital nomad visa, with more to come!
These digital nomad visas do have minimum income requirements that applicants must meet, and some allow applicants to bring a spouse and dependents. Typically, digital nomad visas allow holders to live in the country for one year with the option to renew.
This recent movement is excellent for digital nomads who want to stay in Europe for at least a year and truly experience living abroad while working remotely.
While visas and relocating to a new country can be overwhelming, Nomads Embassy: The World’s First Embassy for Digital Nomads offers streamlined professional assistance with local immigration lawyers in applying for digital nomad visas worldwide.
When applying for a digital nomad visa in Europe, many countries require an address of accommodations. It’s easier than ever to find accommodations as a digital nomad in Europe.
The Best Place to Find Digital Nomad Accommodations in Europe
Whether you choose to apply for a digital nomad visa in Europe or simply want to spend a month or two in the area, you can find affordable and flexible accommodations with Spotahome.
Choose to rent single rooms, studios, or full apartments with no long-term lease commitments. Stay flexible in your travels with short to medium rental agreements with local landlords.
In just a few clicks, you can search for and reserve your verified accommodation on Spotahome’s easy-to-use platform and begin your digital nomad journey in Europe.
Are you ready to be a digital nomad in Europe? Find your new home on Spotahome today!