Visa & Residency

EU, EEA & Switzerland: the easiest path

As a German citizen, you enjoy freedom of movement within the EU. For the first three months, you don't need a residence permit in another EU country; some countries merely require registering with the local authority. Only for longer stays do registration and proof requirements kick in. Spain (including the Canary Islands), Portugal, and Greece are therefore the most robust low-friction destinations. Important: the Canary Islands are not a special case under residency law — their special status only concerns customs and VAT, not residency rights.

• First 3 months: no residence permit needed (though some countries require registration)
• After 3 months: a registration certificate, often with proof of employment and health insurance
• Canary Islands = Spain: no special case under residency law
• Digital nomad visas are usually unnecessary for EU citizens — they target non-EU nationals

The four questions to ask before any non-EU destination

Outside the EU, you should strictly check four points in order before booking. The most common mistake is working under tourist status, even though it only covers vacations or business visits — not actually performing work. Where an explicit remote-worker or digital-nomad scheme exists, it is almost always preferable to plain tourist status.

• Do I, as a German, need an entry authorization (e.g. ESTA, eTA, ETA)?
• Does my status allow only tourism/business — or genuine remote work too?
• How long am I allowed to stay, and is an extension realistic?
• Is there a suitable digital-nomad/remote-work/residence scheme?

United Kingdom: the ETA and the "not the main purpose" rule

Germans need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for the UK. It costs 20 GBP, and the decision usually comes within a day — still, plan for up to three working days as a buffer. As a visitor you may stay up to six months. Remote work for your German employer is explicitly allowed, as long as it is not the main purpose of the trip. Requirement: the employment relationship must have existed before entry, and pay must continue to come from abroad.

• ETA required for Germans, 20 GBP, decision usually under 1 day (buffer: 3 working days)
• Visitor stay of up to 6 months per entry
• Remote work permitted only if it is not the main purpose of the trip
• Employment must predate entry, wages must keep coming from abroad

Non-EU destinations with a clear remote-work status

Several countries offer clean, official remote-work schemes. Canada is the simplest: if you work remotely for a company outside Canada, you don't need a work permit — the eTA (7 CAD) and visitor status of up to six months are enough. Thailand's DTV runs for five years, allows 180 days per entry (extendable once by another 180), and costs around 350 EUR at the embassy in Berlin; proof of funds of about 500,000 THB is required. The UAE offers a "Virtual Work" residence visa (1 year) starting at a monthly salary of 3,500 USD. Mexico lets Germans enter visa-free for up to 180 days but treats remote work as a tolerated gray area with no dedicated visa. Indonesia's E33G requires a foreign employment contract and an annual income of at least 60,000 USD; Costa Rica has a remote-worker scheme under Law 10008 (about 3,000 USD/month). Caution with the US: ESTA/Visa Waiver (40 USD) covers only tourism and business visits — "employment" is explicitly excluded, and no clean workation scheme exists publicly.

• Canada: no work permit for remote work (foreign employer); eTA 7 CAD, up to 6 months
• Thailand DTV: 5 years, 180 days/entry (extendable once by +180), about 350 EUR, proof of funds ~500,000 THB
• UAE "Virtual Work": 1 year, minimum salary from 3,500 USD/month
• US: caution — ESTA/VWP (40 USD) does not permit "employment", no digital-nomad scheme
• Fees and rules change — verify with the relevant authority before booking

Destination countries at a glance

The table below summarizes the key destinations for German employees — from low-friction (EU) to destinations that require a case-by-case check. It does not replace checking your individual case: fees, deadlines, and permissibility change constantly.