The picture for Russian, Belarusian, and CIS passport holders applying for EU digital nomad permits in 2024-2026 - country by country.
The 2022 EU sanctions on Russia and Belarus created uneven restrictions across EU member states for digital nomad and long-stay visa applications. The restrictions are consulate-level and policy-level, not always statutory - meaning the picture differs country by country and changes over time. This guide summarises the practical position as of mid-2026 for the five EU destinations Nomadic Go covers. Contact our team for a current eligibility check before purchasing.
Croatia has not formally barred Russian or Belarusian nationals from the digital nomad temporary stay permit. Applications from these nationalities are processed individually. In practice, some consulates apply enhanced scrutiny and delays. Applicants must demonstrate income from a non-Croatian employer or company and provide full documentation. Tax treaty considerations and consulate location (apply at the nearest Croatian consulate to your country of residence) are relevant. Contact our team for current consulate-level guidance.
Estonia has applied significantly increased scrutiny to applicants from Russia and Belarus following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The digital nomad visa (Type D) is assessed individually. Russian and Belarusian applicants should expect longer processing times and a higher documentation bar. Approvals are possible but not guaranteed. Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board has discretion to decline applications on security grounds. Our team can advise on current approval rates and documentation strategy before you proceed.
The Czech Republic does not have a dedicated digital nomad visa. The common route is the zivnostenske opravneni (trade licence) visa, which requires establishing a Czech freelance registration. Russian and Belarusian applicants face Czech consulate-level discretion under the EU sanctions framework. Applications are not automatically rejected but processing times are longer and documentation requirements are more extensive. The Czech consulate must be satisfied regarding source of funds and ties to Russia or Belarus.
Portugal's D8 visa does not formally restrict Russian or Belarusian nationals, and Portugal has historically been more accessible than some other EU member states. However, banking for Russian/Belarusian nationals in Portugal has become significantly more difficult since 2022, which affects the ability to open a local account as required. Consulate processing for these nationalities is slower. Applicants must demonstrate remote income from outside Portugal and credible ties to the applicant's country of residence. See also the Portugal D8 guide for full details.
Spain's teleworking visa does not formally bar Russian or Belarusian nationals. Applications are considered individually by the Spanish consulate in the applicant's country of residence. Enhanced documentation and potentially longer processing applies. Spain's banking environment is more cautious regarding Russian/Belarusian account-opening than some other EU member states, which can complicate the residency phase. Contact our team for current consulate-specific guidance.
Nomadic Go provides a free eligibility assessment for any nationality before you purchase a visa service. For Russian, Belarusian, and other flagged nationalities, we review current consulate-level policies, advise on document strategy, and give an honest assessment of approval likelihood. If we assess that an application is unlikely to succeed, we will tell you before any payment is made. Where applications proceed, we manage the full documentation and submission process.
Croatia has not formally prohibited Russian nationals from the digital nomad temporary stay permit. Applications are processed individually at the consulate, with enhanced scrutiny following 2022 EU sanctions. Approval is possible but not guaranteed. Contact our team for a current assessment before proceeding.
Estonia applies significantly increased scrutiny to applicants from Russia and Belarus. The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has broad discretion to decline applications on security grounds. Approvals do occur but are less predictable than for other nationalities. Processing times are longer. We recommend a pre-purchase eligibility check.
The Czech Republic does not have a formal digital nomad visa. The trade licence (zivnostenske opravneni) route is available to most nationalities but Russian and Belarusian applicants face Czech consulate discretion and a more extensive documentation requirement. Source-of-funds scrutiny is particularly thorough.
Yes, significantly. Russian and Belarusian nationals face heightened AML scrutiny from EU banks, and many EU banks will decline to open accounts for these nationalities regardless of visa status. This is relevant because some EU residency pathways require a local bank account. Nomadic Go can advise on banking feasibility for your nationality and jurisdiction before you commit to a visa route.
FATF-greylisted nationalities generally can apply for EU digital nomad visas, but face enhanced due diligence at the consulate and during the banking phase. Processing times may be longer and documentation requirements more extensive. Nationals of OFAC-comprehensively-sanctioned countries (Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria) face restrictions that make EU visa applications largely inaccessible in practice.