Second passport and residency for remote workers

A second residency or passport buys optionality. The realistic options for a remote tech worker fall into a small number of categories. ## Fast residency (under 2 years) Portugal D8 visa (path to residency in 5 years). Spain DNV (path in 5 years). Greece DNV (path in 7 years). Malta nomad residence (renewable annually). ## Faster but more expensive UAE Golden Visa (10-year residency from 540 000 AED investment). Portugal Golden Visa (still possible via select investment routes after 2024 reforms). ## Citizenship paths Most EU nomad visas lead to citizenship in 5 to 10 years (Portugal 5, Spain 10, Germany 8 with C1 German). St. Kitts and Grenada citizenship-by-investment cost 150 to 250 000 USD and grant a passport in 4 to 6 months. ## Tax considerations Holding a second residency does not by itself change tax residency. Tax residency depends on the 183-day test plus the substantive home test in most jurisdictions.