Latest news with #non-EEA
Time Out
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time Out
The underrated European country launching a brand-new digital nomad visa
Acquiring a digital noma visa is one way people who are lucky enough to work remotely have been changing things up the last couple of years, and a new country has joined the ever-growing list of nations offering one. The country in question? Slovenia, the central European nation popular for its dreamy lakes, pretty mountains and general tranquil aura. Those interested in relocating won't need to wait long, as Slovenia's digital nomad visa is launching from November 1, 2025. It will grant successful applicants a one-year permit to live in the country, as long as they're working for a business based outside of Slovenia as an employee or a freelancer, or someone who's self-employed providing services to clients based outside Slovenia. Anyone from a non-EU and non-EEA country can apply, and while family members can join, they must abide by the same rules in terms of employment. Break these rules, and you're out – it could lead not only to visa cancellation but also restrictions on future entry. Twelve months is the cap and you aren't allowed to renew your visa, however, you are allowed to reapply after a six-month break from the country. There's also a requirement to prove you have enough income to support yourself, either by submitting pay slips, bank statements or employment documents. We don't know yet if there will be an income threshold or a visa fee, so stay tuned for updates on those details. Keen to get involved? You'll be able to apply either by doing so at a Slovenian embassy or at a local administrative unit if you're already in the country, according to the Economic Times. If you want to get an idea of other destinations welcoming remote workers, have a look at our roundup of all the digital nomad visas on offer across the world right now.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Keeping homeless figures down will be 'very difficult', says housing minister
Avoiding crossing the threshold of 5,000 children living in emergency accommodation will be "very difficult", the housing minister has admitted. The latest figures show that 4,844 children were in emergency accommodation in May — the highest number ever recorded in Ireland. James Browne said that it is going to be "very difficult to prevent a crossing of that 5,000 considering how close we are". As the number of homeless people continues to rise each month, Mr Browne denied that a move to limit access to social housing to non-habitual residents is an attempt to improve optics. Under the legislation, those who are not habitually resident in Ireland and who do not have the right to remain, will not be able to access homeless supports. According to the homelessness figures for May, just 51% of those in emergency accommodation are Irish citizens with non-EEA residents accounting for 3,031 people. Groups such as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) previously raised concerns that the legislation would disproportionately impact migrants and ethnic minority communities. Mr Browne said an individual's immigrant status is not relevant to the matter, saying: "We are talking about people who might arrive in the country, who have not been working here, who have not been living here and then seek social housing supports." The move to legislate to provide legal and habitual residency as eligibility criteria to access social housing, which was first raised last year, would regularise what already exists on an administrative basis, said Mr Browne. It is the "right thing to do" and would match current rules for social protection, he continued. The minister was speaking as details were released showing that 17 local authorities failed to reach their targets on social housing delivery between 2022 and 2024. Minister of State for local government and planning John Cummins said it is clear which authorities are performing and which are not. "Some have a can-do attitude, think outside the box, have a clear vision and, to be honest, some don't have those attributes," said Mr Cummins, adding that the system can only move as fast as the slowest cog. However, when it comes to those local authorities that are under performing, Mr Browne said he would not favour introducing penalties. When you penalise what is effectively a social service, it is the customers who will end up suffering and not those in charge, he said. A reward system is being explored for those who are delivering, potentially around the discretionary funding that councillors have available to them as is done in Britain and other countries, Mr Browne said. Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin called the Council League Table on social housing delivery a "cheap gimmick" designed to deflect from the Government's failures. "Government knows that due to their own failures the 2025 social and affordable housing targets cannot be met and are now setting the local authorities up to take the blame come the year's end," said Mr Ó Broin. Read More Cork TDs clash over emigration figures as housing crisis forces more young people abroad
Euronews
6 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Everything you need to know about Slovenia's new digital nomad visa
Slovenia is set to become the latest European nation to launch a digital nomad visa. The country will offer remote workers a one-year permit to live in the country. The visa is expected to become available from the beginning of November this year. It is hoped that it will attract talent and encourage long-term tourism in Slovenia. Here is everything we know so far about who will be eligible and when it will launch. Who is eligible to apply for Slovenia's digital nomad visa? Slovenia's digital nomad visa will be available for non-EU and non-EEA nationals. To be eligible, you must also work exclusively for foreign clients or employers. This means either being employed by a company located outside Slovenia or, if you are self-employed or a freelancer, only providing services to clients outside the country. Failure to abide by these rules may result in your visa being revoked and future restrictions on entering the country. Family members can join a digital nomad holding a visa, but they are also not allowed to work for companies based in Slovenia. Applicants have to provide evidence of sufficient income to support themselves and their families throughout their stay. This can be recent payslips, employment contracts, freelance agreements, or bank statements. The exact income threshold has not yet been specified. How to apply for Slovenia's digital nomad visa Those interested in Slovenia's digital nomad visa can apply online or at a Slovenian consulate or embassy. The visa is expected to launch on 21 November 2025. The permit is valid for 12 months. It is non-renewable, so remote workers looking to stay longer need to spend at least six months outside Slovenia before reapplying. Why digital nomads should choose Slovenia This is the first time Slovenia has introduced an official option for remote workers to reside in the country. The permit hopes to lure foreigners looking to stay in the country long-term by offering a comparatively affordable cost of living compared to other European countries, especially neighbouring Italy and Austria. Slovenia hopes that burgeoning services for digital nomads will also be a draw. The capital Ljubljana now has plenty of co-working spaces, while cities like Maribor, Celje, Kranj and Koper offer quieter options with good facilities for families. Slovenia joins a growing list of European countries offering digital nomad visas, including Italy, Germany, Croatia, Portugal and Greece.
Local Spain
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Local Spain
Spain to allow foreign driving licence exchange to be done online
Residents in Spain will soon be able to validate their foreign driving licences online, avoiding the painstaking process of doing the documentation via Spain's Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) offices when wanting to register, validate or/and exchange them. The digitalisation of the process is intended to speed up bureaucratic backlogs and a lack of available in-person appointments. As is sometimes the case with Spanish administration, especially with residency matters, as reported by The Local, even getting an appointment at the DGT can be difficult enough. In recent months, the issue has become so severe that Spanish daily El País has described it as 'an almost impossible mission'. In addition to the few appointments that are available, these tend to be taken by private companies or individuals who block book them. A lack of DGT staff working in the branch also contributes to the scarcity of physical appointments. This means that basic DGT procedures can take weeks or even months. The body acknowledges that validating foreign driving licences is among 'the most complex procedures' that exist. The exchange process can be long and frustrating. First, prior verification by the issuing authority is required. Then there is a medical examination, proof of residence in Spain and, in the case of driving professionals, an aptitude test. This includes several documents and often several trips to the DGT office. The online system is intended to speed up this process, but the streamlined telemática validation service can only be used with drivers from countries with which a bilateral agreement on reciprocal recognition and exchange of driving licences has been signed. The DGT breaks down the relevant countries on its website, but these include non-EEA states such as: Andorra, Argentina, Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Philippines, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldavia, Nicaragua, New Zealand, the UK, Panama, Paraguay, Serbia, South Korea, Tunisia and Turkey. Drivers with licences from all other non-EU nations have to resit their driving exam (theory and practical) after six months of residency in Spain. Those with licences from the EU and the EEA are allowed to drive in Spain with their current licences, as long as they have not expired. If your licence doesn't expire in less than 15 years, you can carry on using your EU licence, but are also free to exchange it any time you want. According to the DGT, this process is voluntary. When you want to exchange your licence for a Spanish one or if it expires, you can do so through the DGT in a process called renovación del permiso comunitario. When doing the online application, the DGT will ask for all the relevant documents and applicants need only go to the nearest provincial DGT headquarters to hand in their original licence (which must be valid) and to pick up a provisional driving licence. The approved licence will later be sent to your home address by post. In order to access the DGT's so-called ' Electronic Headquarters ', users must be registered in Cl@ve system or have a digital certificate. Applicants must indicate which class of licence they want to exchange. If they opt for a lorry or bus licence, additional tests must be taken, depending on the country. Note that if the driving licence to be exchanged was issued by Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Philippines, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldavia, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Serbia, Tunisia or Turkey, before exchanging the licence, a prior verification of the licence is requested from the country that issued it and only when the relevant issuing body responds can the online exchange application process continue. Once the issuing country has replied to the verification request, the applicant will receive an email informing them whether the request has been rejected or accepted. If it has been accepted, a 'locator' will be provided to continue with the exchange request. 'The country's response includes the date the licence was obtained, the expiry date and the renewal date of the licence being exchanged,' the DGT said in a statement. In the event that an applicant holds a licence from the countries that do not require a locator to be provided prior to the application (Argentina, Andorra, United Kingdom, Peru, Ukraine, Uruguay, Japan, Switzerland, Korea and Monaco) the system will move directly to the exchange request.
Local Norway
02-05-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Norway's immigration directorate updates salary thresholds for work permits
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) requires skilled work permit applicants to have received a job offer with pay and working conditions that are in line with what's considered typical in Norway. Skilled worker permits are available for non-EEA nationals who have a university degree, have completed vocational training of at least three years at upper-secondary school level, or have special qualifications acquired through long professional experience. Prospective employees who will be working in an industry with a collective bargaining agreement must be paid the collective wage rate. Meanwhile, those working in an industry with no collective bargaining agreement must earn at least 469,366 kroner per year pre-tax if they hold a bachelor's degree. In some cases it may be possible to earn a salary less than this if the applicant or employer can document that it is the norm for the industry. For reference, the average annual salary in Norway is 704,700 kroner per year, according to figures from the national data agency Statistics Norway . Those with a master's degree will be subject to a higher wage requirement and will need to earn at least 513,100 kroner per year pre-tax unless they can prove a lower salary than is typical for the role. The updated earnings requirements were effective immediately upon their introduction on April 11th. Advertisement When applying for a skilled work permit, the applicant's vocational training or higher education needs to be relevant to the job they are applying for. They must also have a job offer before applying for a permit, and the role must be a full-time position or 37.5 hours per week. The UDI will also grant work permits to those who have been offered positions equivalent to 80 percent of full-time hours. Some workers must also have their qualifications officially recognised and authorised in Norway. READ ALSO: What foreign workers in Norway should know about regulated professions
