Can You Work Remotely in Europe in 2026?

The pandemic brought about a new era of how we work, and many people's jobs shifted to a remote setup. According to data from Employer Records, remote roles account for 15% of all job listings available.

In 2025, 22% of Americans worked remotely in some capacity or another, which begs the question - if you can work from home, can home be anywhere?

More and more Americans are searching for how to work abroad. In fact, Google shows a steep incline in online searches for terms around working abroad and remote work from 20265 to 2026 alone.

It's clearly a popular topic... but is it actually possible?

Yes, but there are a lot of moving pieces, from entry requirements and visas, to taxes, health and travel insurance, and more. We did a deep dive on how feasible it really is for the average remote worker.

The work from anywhere perk

A lot of job descriptions have a shiny perk highlighted on them: work from anywhere. It's a common workplace advantage in large tech companies and the start-up scene, especially.

A work from anywhere advantage means the company that you're working for allows you to work anywhere you'd like - in the US, abroad, etc. But it doesn't mean that you're legally entitled to.

On top of that, some companies have a list of approved countries that travelers can "work anywhere" in. So, it may not be a true "world is your oyster" situation.

If you want to work abroad, remotely, you do need to have a work contract that explicitly states you're permitted to work from the country you intend to travel to, or hope to immigrate to.

While your current role may be remote, it doesn't mean your employer allows its employees to work out of the country. While it seems simple, in theory, there is a lot of yellow tape from legal, tax, and administrative perspectives.

Step one: Verify with your employer that you can work from abroad, and ensure it's written into your contract.

If you're self-employed, it is a different story. It will be up to you to make sure you're meeting the legal and tax requirements to work where you choose.

US citizens aren't always visa-exempt

Not all European countries are treated equally when it comes to foreigners working on their soil. Where they do agree is that no matter which country you're traveling to in the European Union/Schengen area, you cannot work without a visa. This is true for remote work, too.

US citizens don't need a visa to travel to European countries for short trips, so long as they're for tourism, to visit friends/family, or go to an event.

Business conferences and specific work meetings are generally allowed, but "regular" work, even remotely, isn't. The same is true if you're a freelancer or self-employed. Having the ability to work outside of the US doesn't mean that your destination will actually allow you to do so.

A standard Schengen visa doesn't allow you to work either.

In order to work for a US company overseas, even remotely, you have to apply for the appropriate visa for your destination.

Step two: Be ready to undergo a visa application process.

Some Countries Restrict Foreign Remote Workers

Not all countries in Europe allow foreigners to work remotely for companies elsewhere, even if you're self-employed.

More and more countries are offering what's called a digital nomad visa. These visas are specifically designed for this exact thing: for foreigners to work remotely for a US company on their soil.

Many countries are starting to offer visas like this, but not all of them do. While they're becoming more popular, it doesn't mean all European countries will ultimately offer something like this.

For instance, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece all offer digital nomad visas. France and Germany do not.

It's also worth noting that some countries have specific visas for freelancers and entrepreneurs, but requirements vary.

Step three: Check to see if the country you want to go to offers a visa allowing this kind of work.

Work visas are tied to a single country

If you were hoping to "backpack" your way through Europe, with your laptop and work in tow, that adds another layer of complexity.

In the vast majority of cases, the visa that allows you to work will be tied to a single country, not all of Europe. While it may allow you to travel to other European countries, it won't necessarily allow you to bring your laptop and work.

If/when you decide to go through the visa application process, it'll be up to you to understand what your visa allows you to do, workwise and everything-wise.

There's prepwork involved

While it'd be nice to just go online, fill out a form, and hop abroad and work, it isn't really how working remotely abroad works.

Just like how different countries have different rules and entry requirements, different countries also ask different things of its visitors.

For instance, most of the time when people apply for a visa, they need to show that they have enough money to support themselves during their stay, a passport, international health or travel insurance, work contracts, a flight already booked, and accommodations already secured.

The specifics depend on your situation, and when it comes to the requirements, the extent depends on the country and the visa.

In short, there isn't a one-size-fits all approach to working abroad in Europe.

Step four: Learn the requirements and work towards meeting them.

It isn't impossible at all

Seeing all of the hoops you have to jump through, lines of yellow tape, and roadblocks, it can feel discouraging. However, it isn't impossible.

If you have a job where you work remotely, check to see if your work can offer a "work anywhere" clause and if there are any restrictions.

If you already have a work anywhere guarantee, check with HR about the specifics.

Research which countries allow foreigners to work remotely for foreign companies. You might also want to check out this post we created: Best Cities for Digital Nomads. All of the cities on the list are in Europe and offer these kinds of visas.

Make sure you check official embassy websites for the different requirements, rules, and allowances for the country you're interested in working abroad in.