Living in Europe for a month

Want to live abroad in Europe but don’t want to commit for a long period of time? I hear you. The good news is that you can easily move across to Europe and live around the continent for a month.

Whether that’s spending the full month in Italy or Slovakia, or traveling around and exploring the different cultures, it’s entirely possible to spend a month in Europe. So, what do you need to think about before living in Europe for a month? Let’s dive in and find out.

Visas

First things first, you need to think about visas. On the whole, if you’re visiting Europe from the US, Canada, Australia, or many other nations, you can take advantage of the Schengen Zone. This is made up of 26 countries within Europe that operate with open borders when it comes to tourists and freedom of movement.

The Schengen Zone allows you to travel freely within these countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without having to get a visa. Notable exceptions to the Schengen Zone are the UK, Croatia, Turkey, Ireland, and more. This is obviously perfect if you want to live in Europe for a month.

If you’re wanting to go to Croatia or Ireland, you can travel without a visa for up to 90 days, and for the UK it’s up to 180 days. For Turkey, it’s a little bit different, and depending where you’re coming from is going to determine how much you need to pay and the duration that you can stay.

One of the main downsides of the Schengen visa-less scenario, and other visa-less stays, is that legally you cannot work on them, not even on a remote or self-employed basis. Although it’s difficult to keep track of people who are working remotely, if you’re caught working overseas without the proper documentation, you can be fined and deported.

In some circumstances, the country can also ban you from re-entering in the future. So, if you’re traveling for a month, it’s worth saving up ahead of time and leaving work at home if you can.

If you work for an international company, you might be able to get a short-term work visa or an international flexible working arrangement. Similarly, if you’re going to Europe to learn a language, you can enroll in a part-time language school for a month and apply for a student visa, if working is a necessity.

Accommodation

Finding somewhere to live for a month can be tricky. Most places will have an absolute minimum rental agreement of three months, and it’s more likely to be six or twelve months. Traditional rentals are largely out of the question.

You can get great deals if you stay in a hostel for over a week or two and you can kind of make the room your own, if you get a private, and meet new people in the common areas.

If you want more peace and quiet, I suggest getting an Airbnb or similar vacation rental. It’s normally in a more residential neighborhood and, like hostels, they normally have reduced rates for longer stays.

Job

As I’ve mentioned, pretty much all visa-less stays mean that you cannot work during your month in Europe. If you do have a digital nomad visa or work permit, you can work in the country. In order to get these visas, you’ll either have to show an in-demand skill or role, be financially secure, or have sponsorship from your new job.

If you’re a student, you’ll be able to work a set amount of hours per week. For instance, UK student visas allow you to work up to 20 hours per week. This means you can get a job in retail, hospitality, or admin pretty easily for a couple of hours per week.

If you’re a digital nomad, you can work from anyway on your laptop. As long as you have a WiFi connection and you’re largely working for companies that are registered outside the country you’re currently staying in, you should be in the clear.

Language

Realistically, if you’re staying in a country for a month, you’re no longer just passing through – you need to make an effort with the language. Besides, if you want to live like a local, or experience the place fully, knowing the language is a huge part of that.

Not only is it a great life skill, but it’s also super handy, and it’s respectful. Brush up on your language skills before you travel!