Moving to Europe for Russian citizens is quite a feasible task for applicants with a stable income. If you do not plan to be employed in the territory of the host country, but have a sufficiently stable income outside of it, you have two options for authorization:
- Digital Nomad Visa - Digital Nomad Visa - more than 40 countries around the world provide them.
- France's long-term Visiteur visas (Visiteur), also known as the Visitor Visa or the residence permit for financially independent persons - Carte de sejour temporaire.
Despite some similarities, these permits are issued to non-EU citizens with a stable and sufficient level of income, without the right to official employment, each of these visas has its features, advantages, and disadvantages.
Specialists of the migration agency GARANT.IN have conducted a comparative analysis of both types of permits on the following parameters: requirements, advantages, disadvantages.
Moving to Europe: French residence permit Visiteur visa - Carte de sejour temporaire
To apply for a French residence permit for financially independent persons, you must meet the following requirements.
Requirements
- Age of majority. A resident who has reached the age of 18 may apply. Minors may only apply with a parent or guardian as the primary applicant.
- Availability of sufficient financial support for residents. The minimum amount starts from 2000 € per person per month. Income means pensions, dividends, income from renting out property, profits from entrepreneurial activity or business located outside France, personal savings, and interest from deposit placement of funds.
- Place of residence in France. This can be either personal property or an apartment/house on a long-term lease (minimum 12 months). Personal property will be an additional advantage when considering the candidate's application. To participate in the program it is necessary that the housing meets certain requirements - a minimum of 9 sq m per person, separate rooms for different-sex children.
- Absence of criminal history. The applicant needs to show that he/she has no outstanding convictions or prosecution under the law in his/her home country. Also important is the absence of a criminal record in a country where the applicant has lived for more than a year.
- No deportations and no illegal crossing of borders of European countries. The candidate must show that he or she has always crossed the borders of other powers legally and has not stayed on the territory of any country longer than the required period.
- Medical insurance with a coverage of 30,000 € for EU countries.
Advantages of residence permit for financially independent persons
By formalizing a new status in another country, the resident gets access to the following privileges:
- The ability to permanently reside in France, and freely enter and leave the territory of the country.
- The ability to travel freely in Schengen countries without a Schengen visa. Stay in such countries for up to 90 days out of 180 days.
- New status for the applicant and his family. Together with the main applicant, spouse, children under 18, dependent children under 25, and adult parents who are financially supported by the main applicant can obtain residency.
- No need to invest in the economy or fulfill other financial obligations.
- The opportunity to receive education in schools and universities in France - in private and public institutions.
- Access to quality medicine.
- Continuation of the migration path if desired. After 5 years in the status of residence permit, the resident can apply for permanent residence, and after another 5 years - for citizenship.
- Optimization of taxation. If the applicant spends at least 183 days a year in France, he can pay taxes here and formalize tax residency after the first year of residence.
Disadvantages of the residence permit for FNP
Like any program, this type of permit also has its disadvantages:
- It is prohibited to engage in contractual employment in France or to conduct business activities in France.
- The authorization is issued for a maximum of 12 months. You can renew your permit at the prefecture of your place of residence.
- You must apply for renewal at least 60 days in advance and submit the documents in person. Another option is to apply for a power of attorney for your representative. When submitting documents, it is important to meet all the conditions under which the status was granted.
Moving to Europe: Digital Nomad Visa - Digital Nomad Visa
To apply for such a permit, the applicant needs to meet several requirements.
Requirements:
- Conduct an employment activity that is suitable for this type of visa. The applicant cannot be just an entrepreneur or businessman, but a digital nomad. To prove the activity, an employment contract or a declaration confirming the applicant's ability to perform labor activities using information and communication technologies in a remote format will be suitable.
- Have a stable income. Passive income or personal savings will not be suitable to prove financial stability - they will help partially. The applicant must show a bank statement, where there will be confirmation of the crediting of regular payments to the account. Income must come from abroad.
- No outstanding convictions, prosecutions, or criminal record. It is necessary to provide a certificate of no criminal record in the resident's home country and from countries where the applicant has lived for more than a year.
- Show the address of the temporary registration. This can be a dwelling arranged in a long-term lease or own real estate.
- Availability of a health insurance policy in a European country with coverage from 30,000 €.
Advantages of a digital nomad visa
By formalizing a new status in another country, the resident gets access to the following privileges:
- The ability to legally stay in the territory of the chosen country and work remotely for at least 1 year.
- The resident can use medical services, study at a higher education institution, send children to school, and take advantage of benefits and allowances on a par with citizens of the country.
- Together with the main applicant, his/her spouse and children can move to another country.
- The permit is processed quickly.
- You can work on a digital nomad visa from anywhere in the country.
- In some cases, the visa can be extended, but a limited number of times.
Disadvantages
Like any program, the digital nomad visa has its peculiarities:
- By obtaining a permit, the applicant immediately becomes a tax resident of the country and is obliged to remit taxes. Tax rates may vary from country to country. Most often, the resident is charged an obligation in advance payment for 1 year in advance.
- A visa cannot be obtained permanently. Even its renewal is allowed not more than a certain number of times.
- Restrictions are imposed on certain activities.
- A digital nomad cannot be officially employed by a local company in the territory of residence.
Comparative analysis of the French residence permit for FNL and the digital nomad visa
The digital nomad visa has more restrictions and requirements, but at the same time, it has fewer requirements for the solvency of the applicant. If your goal is to constantly move from country to country, you can opt for a digital nomad visa. If your goal is a stable life on the territory of another state with the rights of a resident - the optimal choice is the residence permit for FNL.
If you find it difficult to choose a program or the client has special circumstances, the specialists of the licensed agency GARANT.IN is ready to provide prompt legal assistance. We offer turnkey strategy development - from getting an idea to its full realization. Each stage is supervised and accompanied by our specialists. We will help the applicant to obtain the desired status taking into account his/her request, budget, peculiarities of the case, and other conditions. For each applicant, we are ready to create a clear step-by-step plan of work, which will necessarily lead to the desired result.
