[schmookeeg]

Either this is completely not for me, or i don't get it.

I contract from my US C corporation.

That corporation pays me, at my US address.

I pay taxes accordingly. In the US.

Is Estonia trying to horn in on those personal earnings, claiming I earned them while being a tourist in their country? (illegally? gasp) What if I don't pay myself while in EE and just pay myself later?

Are there services I might consume over and above a tourist visa as a remote worker, and those need recouped? Will this remote worker visa get me better access to those services?

I didn't understand their digital citizenship thing a decade ago either.

Befuddled. I love Estonia too, so I want to understand. :)

[kd5bjo]

For most countries, visiting with a tourist visa means that it’s illegal to work while inside the country. The intent is to prevent you from entering the local job market, so most countries will turn a blind eye to tourists who don’t completely cut themselves off from their employer back home.

The actual laws haven’t been updated to officially allow that, though, so you’re operating in a legal grey area; especially if you have some non-vacation days in-country. This makes it unambiguously legal to take an extended vacation where you support yourself by continuing to work remotely.

[blaser-waffle]

I've worked remotely in several countries (Australia, UK, Canada, parts of the EU) in short stints (2-3 weeks to ~6 months), and for the most part the governments don't care much. As long as you're not conducting business related to that country -- like selling to locals or trying to get a local job -- no one will dig too hard. If they ask, you're just there to do an extended vacation or backpack.

Parent comment is right, though: it is sort of a legal gray area. If you plan on having a long-standing relationship with that country it's probably worth doing things legally, if possible.

[sneak]

US citizens only get up to 90 days at a time (out of a sliding 180 day window) in the Schengen zone (of which Estonia is a part) on the tourist allowance. If you are there for 90 days, you have to leave the whole Schengen zone for another 90 days before you can come back on another tourist allowance.

This offers a 1 year residence visa in Estonia, and makes it legal to work remotely while you are there.

Presumably they would also expect some income taxes while you are resident there (and working) during that year.