Remote work visas: Spain, Portugal and Canada
Nomaders shows where employers allow each remote role to be based. Whether you can personally live there is a separate question. Here's a plain summary of the main routes for three popular places.
Spain
Digital Nomad Visa (international teleworker)
A residence route for non-EU nationals who work remotely for an employer or clients based outside Spain.
- Employees must work for a company located outside Spain. Freelancers may take Spanish clients for up to 20% of their work.
- You need a university degree or at least three years' experience in your field.
- The income bar is tied to 200% of Spain's minimum wage, roughly €2,849 a month for a single applicant in 2026, and higher with family.
- Applications go through a Spanish consulate, or from inside Spain if you are already there legally.
Official source: Spanish government (Plataforma One), Spanish Consulate in London
How to apply in SpainSee remote roles open to SpainPortugal
D8 Digital Nomad Visa
For non-EU nationals whose earnings come from outside Portugal, as a remote employee or a freelancer.
- Income must come from outside Portugal. A Portuguese employer or clients mean a different visa.
- The income bar is four times Portugal's minimum wage, about €3,680 a month in 2026.
- There is a temporary-stay version (up to a year) and a residence version that leads to a residence permit.
- Your job has to exist already. Looking for remote work does not qualify.
Official source: Portuguese visa portal
How to apply in PortugalSee remote roles open to PortugalCanada
No dedicated visa. Visitor status
Canada has no digital nomad visa. People working for a foreign employer or foreign clients may generally stay as visitors for up to six months.
- You enter as an ordinary visitor (with an eTA or visitor visa, depending on your passport).
- All of your income must come from outside Canada. Working for a Canadian employer or Canadian clients needs a work permit.
- Since May 2026, officers may ask for proof of this, such as an employment letter and evidence of foreign income.
- Visitor status does not lead to residence and cannot be stretched into living there.
Official source: Government of Canada: visiting Canada
How to apply in CanadaSee remote roles open to CanadaCommon questions
If a job on Nomaders is open to Spain, Portugal or Canada, can I move there?
Not because of the job. When Nomaders lists a role under a country, it means the employer lets that remote role be based there. It says nothing about your right to live or work in that country. You still need citizenship, residence or a visa of your own.
Will the employer sponsor my visa?
Don't assume so. Most remote employers hire people who already have the right to work where they live. Some adverts say sponsorship isn't available. A digital nomad visa is something you apply for yourself, and it normally requires your employer to be outside that country.
Is a remote job at a Spanish or Portuguese company enough for a digital nomad visa?
Usually not. Both routes are built for income from outside the country. A local employer normally means a standard work permit instead.
I'm an EU citizen. Do I need any of this?
No for Spain and Portugal. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can already live and work there. Canada's visitor rules apply to everyone who isn't Canadian or a permanent resident.
Are these figures final?
No. We last checked them in September 2026. Income bars move with each country's minimum wage and rules change, so always confirm with the official sources linked here or an immigration adviser before you apply.