A digital nomad is a person who can work remotely and independently in any given location, as he or she can use digital devices through which the work activity can be carried out. A digital nomad is similar with a freelancer and he or she can actually be a freelancer.
The difference is that a freelancer usually develops his or her activity in his or her home country, while the digital nomad travels the world while developing an activity connected to his or her home country.
When working as a digital nomad, a foreigner can be required to apply for various types of visas, and this can be influenced by the nationality of the person and the duration of the stay.
Most of the jurisdictions do not currently offer a digital nomad visa, created specifically for this purpose, but one can choose from the visa options available.
In Ireland, there isn’t any digital nomad visa program, but there are few visas for those who need to apply for one, in order to arrive here under an Ireland digital nomad visa.
We invite you to read the following article in order to discover more on this subject and for any inquiries you may have, our immigration lawyer in Ireland remains at your disposal.
Table of Contents
What are the basic options for the Ireland digital nomad visa?
For immigration to Ireland based on digital nomad activities, foreigners will have to select a suitable visa (such as visas for tourism purposes).
A suitable visa can be any visa type that is not included in the employment visa category, as the main purpose of stay in Ireland can’t be related to work, even though the digital nomad will work while being in Ireland.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is a digital nomad visa |
A visa through which foreign nationals who qualify as digital nomads (persons who can work remotely) can work and live in Ireland. |
| Who can apply for the digital nomad program
|
Non-EU and non-EEA nationals |
|
Applying for a residence permit (yes/no) |
No (for stays of maximum 90 days) |
| Maximum visas issued per year |
Not applicable (currently, there isn’t an Ireland digital nomad visa program, foreigners can apply for other visas that grant them the right of living here while developing digital nomad activities, such as the tourist visa). |
| Minimum monthly income required | Not applicable |
| Visa validity |
For tourist visa, 90 days |
| Renewal possible (yes/no) | It depends on the visa selected (for the tourist visa, renewals are not possible).
|
| Duration of the visa renewal | Not applicable |
| Family members allowed to migrate with the visa holder | Foreigners who want to arrive here under an Ireland digital nomad visa obtained as a tourist visa can arrive here with close family members, such as spouses, partners, children. |
| Developing work activities taxed in Ireland | No |
| Residency requirements for family members | Under the tourist visa, there aren’t any residency requirements. |
| Family members allowed to work in Ireland (yes/no) | No |
| Duration of the visa processing | Approximately 30 days |
| Visa issuance fee | EUR 60 for single entry / EUR 100 for multiple entry |
| Visa renewal fee | Not applicable |
This is due to the fact that the person is already registered for social security and employment taxes in his or her country of origin, where the work activities originated.
The idea of a digital nomad visa in Ireland is that the foreigner arrives here for the purpose of recreation, travel and so on, while being able to work for his or her own business or developing his or her work activities in a company.
Thus, given that the primary purpose of arrival is not to work in Ireland, employment visas are not suitable when seeking to relocate for digital nomad purposes. A work visa in Ireland will imply that the foreigner will have an employment contract in Ireland and pay employment taxes in Ireland.
In this particular case, the foreigner can apply for a tourist visa or for another similar visa. The visa should be selected based on the duration of stay and most foreigners who do not want to immigrate to Ireland for a long-term period of time will choose a visa that grants them the right to stay here for maximum 90 days.
This is the ideal solution for digital nomads as well, as a short-term stay visa will not have any tax implications or residency requirements.
Thus, for those seeking to obtain an Ireland digital nomad visa, the Short Stay C Tourist Visa is the suitable option, as long as the foreigner comes from a country where the issuance of the visa is necessary, as per the rules of the Irish Department of Justice.
We invite you to watch a short video about the Ireland digital nomad visa:
What is the quality of the internet services in Ireland?
If you will immigrate to Ireland for a short-term basis for the purpose of working as a digital nomad, then you will be interested in knowing the quality of the internet services and the types of internet services you can use.
In the list below, our immigration lawyer in Ireland has highlighted few important details regarding this matter:
- in 2021, Ireland ranks among the top 50 countries in the world regarding the internet speed;
- in a list comprised of 224 jurisdictions, Ireland ranks as the 44th country;
- the mean download speed in Ireland is set at 51,41 Mbps;
- in November 2021, Ireland had a download speed of 65,29 Mbps for fixed broadband;
- for mobile internet, the download speed was of 27,97 Mbps.
Foreigners who want to arrive here under an Ireland digital nomad visa must know that although the internet speed for mobile internet services is rather low compared to the fixed internet, it has increased in the last year, when it was set up at 15,71 Mbps (in November 2020).
Why choose Ireland for digital nomad purposes?
Ireland is an attractive destination for foreigners, not only for touristic purposes, but also for work. The country provides many positive characteristics, and in the list below, you can find some of its assets:
- the country has a very good environment and clean air (although the climate is not necessarily suitable for those seeking warm, sunny destinations);
- the internet quality is very good and reliable;
- the country’s main language is English, which is the main international language spoken by foreigners;
- a very stable political and social environment;
- it is generally not considered crowded and it is suitable for persons who have families and children.
The only negative aspect about living in Ireland is that the cost of living is very high, compared to the European average, as well as to neighboring countries. High prices can be expected when it comes to accommodation, transportation or food.
What is the cost of living in Ireland?
The monthly cost of living in Ireland can be influenced on the lifestyle of the foreigner, the budget the person has and the place where the person will live. Typically, those who will arrive here under an Ireland digital nomad visa will choose the country’s main cities.
The most important city of Ireland is Dublin, its capital-city, which is also the largest city of the country (having more than 500,000 inhabitants). If you plan to move to Ireland in the city of Dublin, you can find out below some of the costs you should expect:
- eating a simple, inexpensive meat at a restaurant can cost EUR 17;
- having a coffee, a beer or water can cost EUR 4, EUR 6 and EUR 2 respectively;
- buying a public transportation ticket can cost EUR 3,50;
- 1 month of utilities can cost around EUR 200;
- renting an apartment in the city center can get close to EUR 2,000 per month;
- another important matter, especially for the holder of the Ireland digital nomad visa, is the cost of internet services, which can be EUR 60 per month.
What cities to choose as an Ireland digital nomad visa holder?
Persons who will immigrate to Ireland as digital nomads can, of course, live anywhere in the country, including in the countryside, as long as there is a decent internet connection. But in most cases, foreigners will opt for the country’s largest cities.
This is given by the fact that cities provide anything a person can seek out for, but also because one has the possibility to develop work activities in coworking spaces, which have become increasingly popular.
In Dublin, foreigners can find several coworking spaces, in the case in which they want to work in a different place than their apartment or a coffee store, etc.
Usually, coworking spaces provide many facilities that one needs in an office, such as:
- a desk and office spaces;
- a meeting room;
- lockers;
- printers and other office supplies.
However, in all cases, all persons who benefit from the services of a coworking space will need to pay a fee. In Dublin, the fee charged can be of EUR 30 per 1 day of work.
Remote workers and digital nomads who want to use these services on a regular basis have the possibility to enter a membership program that provides access for the entire month.
In the latter scenario, it is more advantageous from a financial perspective. For instance, renting a desk per 1 month will cost EUR 150. Those who want to work in an office (a separate room), can expect to pay from EUR 150 to EUR 300 per 1 month.
Please mind that these pricing options are cheapest, as, depending on the coworking space of choice, the prices can go up to even EUR 1,000 per 1 month of renting a private room.
For instance, other services providers charge EUR 125 per 5 days of rent, so it is necessary to verify all the options in order to make the most suitable decision, appropriate to a person’s budget.
We invite you to address to our lawyer if you want to obtain a digital nomad visa in Ireland. Our law firm can present a clear list of the nationals who are required to obtain a short-term stay visa.
At the same time, you can request any other information on other immigration formalities you must comply with when arriving here under an Ireland digital nomad visa.
Our immigration lawyer in Ireland is also qualified to assist you in other immigration procedures, provided that you change your mind and want to become a resident in one of the Irish cities. Our attorney can offer advice on how to apply for a different visa and how to obtain a residence permit.
A residence permit in Ireland can be obtained by foreigners who can be included in one of the categories for which residence permits are issued, such as employment, business, investment, family reunification, study, etc.
It can also be granted to persons who arrive here as refugees, humanitarian protection or any other vulnerable categories of foreigners, in accordance with the stipulations of the Irish law.
Digital nomads who consider relocating here on a permanent basis can find a suitable visa that can eventually provide the right to permanent residency.
After this, the last step an immigrant can take is to apply for Irish citizenship, if the person wishes so and if he or she meets the necessary requirements imposed by the law (such as knowing the Irish language, culture, society).
