Non-EU professionals working remotely may soon get longer stays in the Schengen zone without triggering the standard 90/180 limit.
The EU has announced plans to extend the 90-day visa-free rule for certain non-EU workers, particularly remote workers and digital professionals. This move addresses a long-standing pain point for expats and digital nomads: the Schengen 90/180 rule, which limits most non-EU citizens to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen zone.
Under the proposed extension, qualifying remote workers—those with proof of employment or self-employment income and health insurance—could potentially stay longer without needing a formal residence permit. The exact eligibility criteria and implementation timeline are still being finalized, but the intent is clear: make it easier for skilled remote workers to base themselves in Europe.
Remote workers could stay longer without needing a formal residence permit.
If you're a digital nomad or remote worker planning to spend extended time in Europe, monitor EU announcements for the final rules. When they roll out, you'll likely need to provide proof of income and insurance. This could eliminate the need for expensive digital nomad visas in some countries.
Source: original report ↗
Free alerts
Free: the visa and tax changes that move your plans.
Get the immigration, residency and tax changes that actually affect living abroad — verified, dated, and explained, in your inbox. Free, and one click to leave.
Free · weekly · unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.
Knowing the rule changed is the easy part.
Seasoned Expat Pro tells you what each visa change, tax rule and residency decision actually means for your move — and the paperwork it changes — in a two-minute read.
Get the edge · $20/mo
Join the readers who move before the rules do. Cancel anytime, one click.
