Residence, Travel, Schengen, Visas
 

With the given circumstances please give me your opinions, thoughts, answers, anything!

-18 years old

Online business earning at least 48,000 $ yearly

-I'm neither a European citizen nor a U.S Citizen

Do not worry about whether my business works or not disregard that part from any of your replies please.

My only goal is:

Travel to Europe for a few years at the specified situation above and become a swedish or italian resident a few years to come, ultimately making me a citizen from either one.

Anyway, I've looked around Google for some time now and I've found quite a few helpful sources including this site, Nomadicmatt, tripadvisor and a few others. I don't think I fully understand the Schengen laws enough to just go out there and start traveling.

Getting straight to the point, my questions are:

How do I stay In Europe for the time being while I work in getting a residence from both the europe locations?

From my understanding, NomadicMatt (nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/…) states that you can stay in Europe as long as you want, as long as you don't break the schengen "rules". Meaning I travel and stay say in Germany which is a strict Schengen European country for 90 days, then I leave the country and go to a non-Schengen location such as ukraine until the 90 days are over and come back. Or like NomadicMatt stated: "Just vary your location. I spent 3 months in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and England as I waited for my clock to reset then headed back into Germany for Oktoberfest."

Could I use this method as well, rinse and repeat style? Is it safe, meaning will I be able to do this as long as I want without any problems at all?

Do I need a Visa(s)?

I know this is a very broad question but again from my understanding and reading I need a "schengen visa"?

Is this true for the intended purpose or would I need to get more and such? Also I If anyone knows how visas work in Europe please let me know!

Is it completely fine to travel while still having a online business with no "work permit" issues?

My business is going to be completely online, so I believe I am going to be fine I'll be self-employed working with virtual assistants. I'm not completely sure about this even though it may sound obvious it doesn't hurt to double check and ask so I'd like to know.

Exactly how do the Schengen Laws work?

This site seems to be the most trusted since its from the government. From the given information on the site, It sounds to me that I can travel and stay in the specified locations of Europe for 90 days and then I have to leave and then stay out of the Schengen zones for 90 days until I can come back again. Also, it states that I just need a visa if it is just to travel. If this is wrong in any way or I'm missing something that could be vital to know please let me know.

Do I need residence permits or any other types of permits to rent an apartment in any location in Europe?

I can't seem to find anything relating this question so I really want to know. Will I be able to rent an apartment without a residence permit, or will I have to stay in hotels? Or is there other ways? Since I don't have any relatives, friends or acquaintances in Europe anywhere this is my only option.

How do I go by Obtaining Residence In Sweden or Italy?

I know obtaining residency overall is very difficult but please give me your honest opinion on this matter and let me know what I could do.

I know there is only a few ways to obtain it including the following:

Marriage

Work

Investing

My best bet is probably Investing since I don't have a degree in anything nor am I "qualified" to teach anything and I don't have a partner in either of those locations.

From what I have found on a couple sites and some people is that Investing in companys residing in either of the countries may possibly allow me to ask for residency and obtain it. Partnering with companys and buying shares of stocks all fall into that category as well so If you know anything about obtaining residency this way please let me know.

>>>I know this is a very broad question but again from my understanding and reading I need a "schengen visa"?<<

Visas depend on your country of residence (what is own your passport)in addition to the countries you want to visit. There are rules based on what country you are from. Things that apply for US citizens might not apply for you.

You will need some type of visa to be allowed to work in a country (they will want tax from your online business). Each country will have it's on rules on obtaining that visa. Many require you obtain that visa before you come there.

As far as Schengen, it's 90 days out of a 180 day period.

UK you can stay 180 days.

You will need proof of health insurance (they don't want you to be a drain on their health system), proof you have enough money to live on until you get a visa that allows you to work ,etc.

Many of the websites/blogs are talking about doing things under the radar often illegally. You really need to contact either the Italian or Swedish embassies about visas. With your income, I don't think you can afford Sweden.

<i>Residence, Travel, Schengen, Visas
Posted by: Inzz on Apr 21, 13 at 6:39pm
With the given circumstances please give me your opinions, thoughts, answers, anything!
-18 years old</i>

Your age might be your first problem. Your nationality (why a secret) is probably your second problem.

Most of the participants on Fodors are out of your league. We travel and come home. A few of us have lived in Europe. I was sent there twice by employers and I would guess that the others went under similar circumstances.

If you want to avoid going through official channels, i.e. the consulates of those countries in your homeland, take the advice of NomadicMatt. What you have restated from that site appears to be legal.

I would suggest contacting an immigration lawyer, as it's hard for people here to comment (even if you have been mostly quite forthcoming with details). Only a lawyer can tell you accurately how to go about seeking residency. You might find it easiest to find a job in Europe first and then get sponsored by your employer - if you have a job, give it up for a chance in Europe. In terms of investing, it used to be the case that Ireland used to give passports to people who could invest very heavily in the economy - probably more than you would have at your disposal. Some governments also have visas for freelancers - but again, I'd ask a lawyer - find one that specialises in Europe.

Lavandula

You need to state your nationality as some countries have reciprocal agreement with certain European countries to allow their young citizens (usually up to 30) to live and work for up to one to two years. It's usually known as working holiday visa (WHV). And once you establish residence in one Schengen state in this way, you can visit others in Schengen officially for 90-in-180 days but in practice as long as your visa is valid.

Other ways of obtaining residency are difficult, complicated or virtually impossible. To run your online business, you almost always require a work permit or work visa, and each country has its own rules and requirements. Since you won't be working for a company who can sponsor your visa, you will be in some sort of self-employed status and it's very difficult to get permission for it.

Marriage or another permanent relationship to an EEA citizen (EU plus a few others) or a Swiss can get you residency with work privileges, but again each country has its own requirements. UK for example has stringent income requirement for UK sponsor, not the applicant, of £18,600 a year.

So tell us your nationality and we can point you in the right direction.

INZZ -

Without knowing your nationality it's impossible for people here to give you answers that are anything more than a guess.

The 90 days in and out of Schengen might not apply to you.

You need to consult an expert in your own country to find out what rules cover you.

A US citizen can do the in and out of Schengen for 90 days at a time - but US citizens don't need visas for Schengen OR the UK when they enter as tourists - for 90 days in Schengen or 6 months in the UK.

You might need visas for both - and they might make the 90 in and out not possible for you unless they allow for unlimited entries and exits.

Sorry everyone I thought It didn't really matter if it did then very little but I only hold mexican citizenship at the moment.

I would also contact a tax lawyer...each country has its own tax laws (including Mexico) and you may need to pay tax in the country you are resident in (uk requires this) plus depending whether Mexico requires taxes in residency or citizenship and whether it has tax treaties with the country you are resident in you may find yourself owing tax on your income in more than one country. $48k a year is quite a lot and the tax on that could be a lot too and you don't want to get into tax problems.

Why not contact the embassy/consulate of the country in which you want to become resident. Ask them - look at their website for their rules, not only regarding visas and establishing residency but also regarding times you can contact them, make an appointment etc.

No one on this forum is an immigration expert.

I would also suggest you check out the tax situation as jamikins says. Especially if you opt for Sweden as your country of residence.