Navigating the visa system in any country can be quite challenging and stressful, to say the least. The consequences of failing to obtain a visa can range from a ruined vacation to a missed job or study opportunity so being up to date with the latest information about visa systems is a must whether you’re planning a short or long stay in a foreign country.
In this quick guide, you will find an overview of the types of visas currently available in Portugal, Spain, Greece, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
And while all these countries belong to the European Union, their visa systems are not completely unified.
For example, when it comes to long-term visas, each EU member state creates its own legislation with only some of them offering special sub-types such as Digital Nomad, golden or pensioners visas.
In an effort to create a more coherent system for the entry of non-EU nationals into EU territory, the Schengen Area was established, and then implemented in 1995. It includes most (but not all) EU countries, as well as a few non-EU countries such as Norway and Switzerland. Schengen states share a common visa policy for short-term stays under the EU’s Visa Code, which aims to standardize the types and conditions of visas across the Schengen area.
This system uses a naming system from A to D, and while A to C visa types are legislated under EU law, the type D visa is still legislated under national law. These letters indicate the purpose, scope and duration of a visa. So, let’s break them down:
Type A: airport transit visa
For non-EU citizens from specific countries who need to make a brief stop or change planes without leaving the international zone of a Schengen airport. This type of visa does not allow its holder to leave the airport and visit the country. You don’t need this type of visa if you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country.
Type B: transit visa (not in use anymore)
This type of visa was previously used for transiting overland by car or train through Schengen countries for a maximum of 5 days. Nowadays, it is not used as it has been merged into Type C (short-stay) visas. In other words, if you are transiting by land, you’d have to apply for a Type C visa.
Type C: short-term visa (also known as Schengen visa)
The most common visa for tourists, short business trips, conferences, short-time study and family visits. It allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen states. As a Type C visa holder, you can apply for single, double or multiple-entry access and visit multiple countries, but you are not allowed to work.
Type D: long-term visa
This type of visa is issued for stays longer than 90 days in a specific country. It is used for study, work, research, family reunification or internships, and it is issued by the national authority of the country. So, the legislation for the applications and emission of this visa is the national one, not the EU one. It is under this category that most visa variations appear, with some countries offering D-visa subtypes such as those for individuals living off their own income, pensioners, digital nomads or investors (also known as Golden Visa).
Finally, some long-term visas still allow for short-term movement within the Schengen space. This type of visa is a blend of type C and type D visas and allows the holder to live and work or study in a member-state but also grants some travel rights within the Schengen area. Since there are so many variations, here’s a breakdown country by country:
Portugal
Portugal, like any other EU country offers A to D Visas but has a couple of special systems in place which are the job-seeking visa and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) visa. The latest one is only available for citizens from some of the former Portuguese colonies and aims to offer more flexible conditions for them to establish their residence in Portugal.
The job-seeking visa is quite unique to Portugal. It allows one entry in the country for a stay of 120 days, and can be extended for 60 extra days. During this time, the visa holder is allowed to apply for jobs and work in Portugal. This visa was valid for any job-seeker, but as of June 2025 it can only be requested by high-skilled professionals.
Besides the regular categories of work or study shared with other EU countries, Portugal offers type D visas for retired people, people who live off their own income and for remote workers, also known as the digital-nomad visa (D8). Moreover, although the previous parliament passed a law to suspend Golden Visas last year, the current government hasn’t spoken openly about them, so for now they are still in place.
Spain
Spain offers A to D visas and does have some special regimes under category D. For example, pensioners can apply for a visa as long as they are able to prove that they receive a pension of minimum 2,400 euros per month. People who can prove that they can live off their own passive income can also apply for this type of visa.
More recently, Spain implemented a digital-nomad visa which requires an income of minimum 33,144 euros per year. Also, the company you work for remotely can’t be located or registered in Spain. The process includes a first visa valid for a year that allows its holder to live in Spain. Once it expires, there’s the possibility of an extension through the request of a residence permit which will be granted for three years.
Spain also used to have a Golden Visa system for foreigners who wanted to obtain a residency permit through different types of investment, including real estate investment. Given the precarious housing situation that Spain currently faces, as of April 2025 this system is no longer in place.
Greece
Greece is one of the most flexible countries when it comes to its visa system. Besides the A to D system, foreigners can also apply for different sub-types within the category D. For example, digital nomads who demonstrate a minimum monthly income of 3,500 euros, and are working remotely for a non-Greek company can request a one-year visa. After its expiration, they can apply for a regular one-year residence permit.
To retire in Greece, non-EU citizens typically need to obtain a retirement visa, also known as a Financially Independent Person (FIP) Visa, which allows them to live in Greece based on their financial independence. This visa requires proof of sufficient passive income from sources outside of Greece, such as pensions or investments to prove the applicant’s ability to support themselves without working in Greece.
Greece also has a Golden visa system in place since 2013 which provides residence permits to non-EU nationals who make significant investments in real estate or other sectors of the Greek economy. The minimum investment thresholds vary by region.
France
France maintains a relatively standardized visa system, with both short- and long-term options clearly outlined through an official online platform known as the Visa Wizard, which helps applicants identify the appropriate visa based on their nationality and purpose of travel. Although the results are not binding, it is a very useful tool to better understand which type of visa suits applicants the best.
Long-stay (Type D) visas in France cover a wide range of purposes including professional activity, higher education, family reunification and extended tourism. Some D visas may permit limited work rights or access to public services depending on the applicant’s category. While France does not currently offer a specific visa for digital nomads, certain long-stay visa options can be adapted for remote workers, provided they meet the criteria.
Germany
Germany offers a variety of long-stay visas under the type D category, including those for employment, study, family reunification, language learning, vocational training and self-employment. Germany is also a participant in the EU Blue Card system, which is aimed at high-skilled workers. To be eligible, applicants must have a higher education degree and a job offer from a German company with a salary above a certain threshold.
Germany’s visa system is centralized and well-documented, but be aware that individual federal states may handle applications slightly differently, particularly when it comes to freelancers and artists. Although Germany does not offer a specific digital nomad visa, its freelance visa can function similarly if the applicant meets the strict documentation requirements.
Regarding retirement, there isn’t a specific visa sub-type for retirees but non-EU citizens still can obtain a residence permit for retirement purposes by applying for a general residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) under Section 7 of the German Residence Act. As with any other country, the main requirement for this type of application is being able to prove financial self-sufficiency.
The Netherlands
Besides the A to D visas, the Netherlands has a special regime called Orange Carpet which is available for individuals who travel regularly for business. However, this cannot be requested by the employee, only by their company or organisation. The Orange Carpet is not a type of visa by itself but a way of making the process of requesting a visa smoother and faster. The employees of organisations and companies who participate in this program will not need to show as many documents to request a visa, they will have their application process treated preferentially and will only need to apply for a new visa once every five years.
Although there isn’t a specific regime for retired people to apply for a visa, the type D visa can be requested by people living off their own income as a pension can count as own-income for the application process. Even though the Netherlands does not have a specific visa designated as a “digital nomad visa”, self-employed individuals, including those working remotely for foreign companies, can apply for a long-stay visa or a self-employed residence permit, which allows them to live and work in the Netherlands (MVV visa).
Finally, the Netherlands also participates in the EU Blue Card system for highly-skilled workers. This type of permit can be requested by the employer or the employee and can be issued for a maximum duration off five years. One of the requirements for the application is a valid work contract or binding job offer of at least six months from a Dutch company with a salary within the ranges established by national law.
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Read more about visas here in Dispatches’ archives.
Mónica da Silva is half-Venezuelan, half Portuguese and has lived in Venezuela, Portugal, Spain and Germany. She has studied linguistics and has a Bachelor’s Degree in European Studies. Besides contributing to Dispatches, she works remotely as an English teacher, which allows her to be on the move as often as she wants.
