Nadeshiko ╰(^3^)╯ in
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Digital Nomad vs. IT Work Visa: Which Country Should I Choose?
Hello, everyone.
I hope you're all doing well, and if you're not, I hope whatever is bothering you eases soon.
Anyway, I'm from a struggling third-world country in West Africa. I currently earn roughly €2,700/month, pay no taxes, and am looking to relocate to the UK, Germany, Portugal, Spain or Luxembourg—all of which I'm currently researching.
I recently got a new remote job that allows me to work from anywhere in the world and offers a truly flexible work schedule. This new job pays me €4,200/month. I know that this is considered quite “a lot” for someone in my situation, but still, my country is no longer worth living in. Every day, the situation here worsens.
I plan to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa or an IT Work Visa in one of abovementioned countries.
Currently, I work as a Backend Engineer at an AI company in Germany (earning €2,700/month). My question is: Considering a decent quality of life, starting a family, and long-term stability, which of these countries would you recommend for someone in my situation?
I also intend to apply for more roles and possibly resign from my German company if I get an offer that matches or surpasses my second job.
I’d really appreciate any advice, opinions, or even criticism. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this—I truly appreciate it.
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fttgpoupvmbdhvvaycData Scientist
From a practical point of view, I'd suggest doing more research on the visa or residency policies in those destinations. Apparently among the countries you listed, only Malta offers a Digital Nomad Visa.
Apart from that, in some countries applying for a work visa requires sponsorship from a local employer. UK is one example, where many international students are not able to obtain work visas even after living there for several years. Meanwhile, some other countries, like Germany, allow the potential employee to apply for a work visa once they have a valid job offer from a local employer. If your German employer can help with relocation, this would be a more viable way.
So in general, you need to find an overlap between a) a country offering a digital normad visa so you can enter and live there as a resident; b) a country with more friendly immigration rules so you can ultimately apply for permanent residency
Of course there are other factors to consider, like the cost of living, tax, climate, diversity, time zone, etc. The list can grow as you gather more information. Good luck with your journey!
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