Questions about freelancing & the digital nomad visa

Member since 19 September 2023

amelie2301Member19 September 2023 14:43:22

Hello all,

I'm currently considering moving to Brazil as a freelance worker to be closer to my boyfriend, and be out of the States for a while, but am a bit confused on how eligible I am for the VITEM XIV Digital Nomad visa. It states that one must provide an, "employment or service contract, contract or other document proving the relationship with the foreign employer."

But I work freelance producing various content online, paid out primarily by one source (enough to meet the minimum income) as well as additional income on the side. I do not have an LLC or anything, I merely receive my income from a few US-based services.

Has anyone applied for this visa under similar circumstances, or similar visas? If so, what did you use in place of an employment contract, if you even needed to at all? I have 1099s, tax returns, bank statements, and a list of monthly payouts that prove my income, just no service contract or such because that doesn't exist for my line of work.

I've sent an e-mail to the embassy in DC in hopes of a reply, but I figure it's worth asking people here as well and getting first hand experiences, if any such exist. I've seen one or two people on Reddit say they acquired the visa under similar circumstances, so I assume it to be possible.

Thanks!

KellyMarieD Member

Member since 21 May 2021

KellyMarieDMember09 August 2024 05:38:47

Hi I am also a freelancer with a majority of my income from one large client. My client wrote a short letter on their company letterhead and signed it. It stated that I do work as a vendor for them, the number of years I have worked with them, the average amount of hours per month I bill them for, my rate, and that my work is done completely online. Think of it as being similar to a proof of income document you might need to apply for an apartment. I also provided three months of bank statements showing that clients deposits into my account. The second thing I had to write was a declaration stating I can do my work online and what I use to do that, laptop, wifi connection, software etc. Both of these documents were accepted by the consulate. Although I have learned it varies based on the city of the Consulate you are submitting your paperwork to. Is Washington D.C. the closest consulate to your current address?

amelie2301 Member

Member since 19 September 2023

amelie2301Member12 August 2024 11:00:58

Hi Kelly,

Thank you for the reply, though I actually ended up getting residency by união estável instead. I also don't know if that approach would have worked for me, because my income is crowdfunded and collected by one source. They refused to provide any sort of concrete documentation of my self-employment for that reason.