I worked remotely while visiting Europe on a tourist visa, and my dad says that's illegal-did I technically break the law?

"Tourist visas (or visa-free stays under programs like Schengen) are generally for leisure, visiting family, or short-term travel. They do not authorize employment within the country you're visiting. But there's more to it than that."

"If you're employed by a company in your home country and simply logging in remotely while physically abroad, you're not entering the local job market. That's where the legal gray zone begins."

"Most European tourist stays fall under the Schengen Area's 90-day rule. Schengen visas don't authorize employment. But enforcement largely targets people working locally without proper permits."

"Immigration laws exist to protect domestic labor markets and ensure proper taxation. Governments want to prevent visitors from taking local jobs without work authorization."

Tourist visas and visa-free Schengen stays prohibit employment, but the definition of "work" creates legal ambiguity. Remote work for a home country employer while physically abroad generally does not violate visa restrictions, as it does not enter the local labor market. However, working for European employers or local clients while on a tourist visa likely violates regulations. Casual email responses during short trips rarely trigger enforcement action. Immigration agencies primarily focus on unauthorized local employment rather than remote work arrangements. Governments enforce these rules to protect domestic labor markets and ensure proper taxation. The rise of digital nomadism has complicated traditional visa enforcement approaches.

Read at SplashTravels