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Argentina
Bruchou & Funes de Rioja
Bruchou & Funes de Rioja
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Australia
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
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Austria
Schima Mayer Starlinger
Schima Mayer Starlinger
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Bahrain
Al Tamimi & Co (Bahrain)
Al Tamimi & Co (Bahrain)
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Belgium
Claeys & Engels
Claeys & Engels
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Brazil
Veirano Advogados
Veirano Advogados
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Bulgaria
BOYANOV & Co.
BOYANOV & Co.
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Canada
Mathews Dinsdale
Mathews Dinsdale
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Chile
Munita & Olavarría
Munita & Olavarría
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China
Fangda Partners
Fangda Partners
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Colombia
Brigard Urrutia
Brigard Urrutia
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Croatia
Divjak Topić
Bahtijarević & Krka
Divjak Topić
Bahtijarević & Krka
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Cyprus
George Z. Georgiou
& Associates LLC
George Z. Georgiou
& Associates LLC
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Czech Republic
Randl Partners, advokátní kancelář, s.r.o.
Randl Partners, advokátní kancelář, s.r.o.
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Denmark
Norrbom Vinding
Norrbom Vinding
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Estonia
COBALT (Estonia)
COBALT (Estonia)
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Finland
Dittmar & Indrenius
Dittmar & Indrenius
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France
Capstan Avocats
Capstan Avocats
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Germany
Kliemt.HR Lawyers
Kliemt.HR Lawyers
-
Greece
KREMALIS LAW FIRM
KREMALIS LAW FIRM
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Hong Kong
Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong)
Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong)
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Hungary
Bozsonyik-Fodor Legal
Bozsonyik-Fodor Legal
-
India
Kochhar & Co.
Kochhar & Co.
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Ireland
Lewis Silkin (Ireland)
Lewis Silkin (Ireland)
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Israel
Herzog Fox & Neeman
Herzog Fox & Neeman
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Italy
Toffoletto De Luca Tamajo
Toffoletto De Luca Tamajo
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Japan
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
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Kazakhstan
AEQUITAS Law Firm
AEQUITAS Law Firm
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Latvia
COBALT (Latvia)
COBALT (Latvia)
-
Lithuania
COBALT (Lithuania)
COBALT (Lithuania)
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Luxembourg
CASTEGNARO
CASTEGNARO
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Malta
Ganado Advocates
Ganado Advocates
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Mexico
Basham, Ringe y Correa S.C.
Basham, Ringe y Correa S.C.
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Netherlands
Blom Veugelers Zuiderman Advocaten
Blom Veugelers Zuiderman Advocaten
-
Netherlands
Bronsgeest Deur Advocaten
Bronsgeest Deur Advocaten
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New Zealand
Kiely Thompson Caisley
Kiely Thompson Caisley
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Norway
Advokatfirmaet Hjort DA
Advokatfirmaet Hjort DA
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Peru
Vinatea y Toyama
Vinatea y Toyama
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Poland
Raczkowski
Raczkowski
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Portugal
pbbr
pbbr
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Romania
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP)
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP)
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Saudi Arabia
Al Tamimi & Co (Saudi Arabia)
Al Tamimi & Co (Saudi Arabia)
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Serbia
Karanovic & Partners
Karanovic & Partners
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Singapore
Rajah & Tann Singapore
Rajah & Tann Singapore
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Slovakia
NITSCHNEIDER & PARTNERS
NITSCHNEIDER & PARTNERS
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Slovenia
ŠELIH & PARTNERJI Law Firm
ŠELIH & PARTNERJI Law Firm
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South Korea
Yulchon LLC
Yulchon LLC
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Spain
Sagardoy Abogados
Sagardoy Abogados
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Sweden
Elmzell Advokatbyrå
Elmzell Advokatbyrå
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Switzerland
Blesi & Papa
Blesi & Papa
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Thailand
Rajah & Tann Thailand
Rajah & Tann Thailand
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Turkiye
Bener Law Office
Bener Law Office
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Ukraine
Vasil Kisil & Partners
Vasil Kisil & Partners
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United Arab Emirates
Al Tamimi & Co (UAE)
Al Tamimi & Co (UAE)
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United Kingdom
Sackers
Sackers
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United Kingdom
Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Venezuela
D'Empaire
D'Empaire
Insights
One of the dramatic changes to the employment landscape as a result of the COVID-19 crisis has been a surge in requests from employees to work remotely from another country. At the height of the pandemic, these requests were usually short-term relocations, for reasons of expediency or need. However the trend has continued even as the public health crisis has receded, with many requests now involving longer-term or even permanent moves abroad.
Dealing with these requests can be complex for employers and the area is a potential legal minefield. Would the employee’s presence create a ‘permanent establishment’ for the employer for tax purposes? Will the employee gain local employment rights that differ from those in the ‘home’ jurisdiction? How can employers be sure they are complying with health and safety, working time and data privacy rules?
Some countries have sought to address these issues by introducing ‘digital nomad’ visas, simplifying the conditions for people to work for a foreign employer from their jurisdiction. The latest country to do so is Spain. A draft Spanish law aims to promote Spain as a destination for remote working. It is expected to be approved by end of this year.
Under the new rules, two main avenues would be available for digital nomads.
Visa for international remote work
Foreign nationals who are not in Spain, yet intend to stay in the country and work remotely for a non-based Spain company, would be able to apply for a visa at the Spanish consulate for international remote work. This would be valid for up to one year, unless the remote work agreement is valid for a shorter period, in which case the visa would be limited to the employment contract validity.
Holders of this visa would be allowed to reside and work remotely while in Spain for as long as their visa is valid.
Once they are in Spain, foreign nationals with this visa would have the right to apply for a residence permit for international remote work (see below). This can start 60 days prior the expiration of their visa, provided they still meet the conditions.
Residence permit for international remote work
Foreign nationals who hold the visa described above, or who are otherwise in Spain legally, even as visitors, can apply for a residence permit for international remote work, valid nationwide.
The residence permit would be valid for a maximum of three years unless the remote worker has a contract for a shorter period.
Holders would have the right to renew their permits for periods of two years as long as the conditions leading to their initial approval are still met.
General conditions
Foreign nationals applying for either of these options must be highly qualified professionals, graduates or postgraduates from universities, vocational training or business schools, or alternatively, where appropriate, have at least three years’ professional experience.
Visa-holders’ dependents will qualify for visas or permits for the same period of validity as the digital nomad. Adult dependents will be allowed to work.
The draft Bill defines these digital nomad visa-holders as third-country nationals who are authorised to remain in Spain to work remotely or undertake a professional activity for companies located outside Spain, exclusively using computer, telematic and telecommunication means.
For remote employment, the visa holder can only work for companies located outside Spain. For professional activity (such as freelance or contractor work), the visa or permit holder may work for organisations located in Spain provided that work does not exceed 20% of their total professional activity.
#digitalnomad #workcation #remotework #globalmobility #visa
For more information about foreign workers
The view from other places.
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