About Digital Émigré
The Digital Émigré Mission
Our mission is to provide information on residency and citizenship across the EU to help investors and remote workers get second passports in Europe.
We understand that navigating the complex immigration systems of different European countries can be daunting. Our goal is to make the process more accessible by providing up-to-date, accurate information on the various options available.
Whether you’re looking to gain residency through real estate investment, start a business, or qualify as a digital nomad, Digital Émigré aims to walk you through every step of the journey. We’ll explain the requirements, costs, and timelines associated with each pathway in detail.
Obtaining a second passport in Europe comes with many benefits. It allows you to live, work and travel freely across the EU. It gives you access to first-class healthcare, education and financial systems. Most importantly, it provides you and your family with the security and stability of EU citizenship.
At Digital Émigré, we’re focused on helping people achieve their dreams of European residence or citizenship. We want to empower travelers, investors and remote workers to take advantage of this life-changing opportunity. With the right information and guidance, obtaining a second passport in Europe is well within your reach.
We chose the name Digital Émigré because, historically, an émigré leaves their country of origin because of political reasons. And digital, because we’re primarily aimed at people who earn their income online, or through other passive sources such as pensions.
Digital Émigré has curated a select network of partners across the EU – including immigration lawyers, tax specialists, financial advisors and real estate agents. They help us make sure our content is accurate and up-to-date.
Our Story
Digital Émigré was created in 2020 by Samantha North, as a resource for British nationals wanting to regain EU rights after Brexit. One thing soon became clear – it wasn’t just Brits who wanted this, but citizens from all over the world.
Samantha had recently relocated to Portugal on a long-term mission to acquire citizenship, and wanted to share her knowledge and experience with others in a similar situation.
In the process of planning this move, Samantha had already researched numerous citizenship pathways across the EU, and had selected Portugal as the best option.
Digital Émigré originally started as a hub for sharing information on moving to Portugal. But it has expanded since then to provide information on residency and citizenship across Europe, along with comprehensive guides on moving abroad and various aspects of expat life.
Today, Digital Émigré has become a leading resource on EU relocation, with articles covering every aspect of making this big move.
Editorial Guidelines
At Digital Émigré, we strive to stay true to our backgrounds in journalism and academic research by maintaining strict editorial guidelines.
In particular, Samantha worked in counter-disinformation analysis during the US 2020 election, so maintaining high levels of accuracy on the Internet is an important goal for her.
We don’t accept guest posts on Digital Émigré, except on a very limited basis (from professionals that we already know and trust).
Our articles on immigration and tax-related topics draw on our network of expert professionals in Europe (including lawyers and tax advisors) to clarify uncertainties, review new content, and ensure accuracy to the very best of our ability.
From time to time, we review various products and services that we believe will help our readers in their relocation and second citizenship journeys. These reviews may include affiliate links to help us keep this site up and running.
However, our policy for reviews means always testing the product or service first-hand. We don’t recommend anything that we wouldn’t use ourselves. You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.
Corrections Policy
As journalists and academics, we’re committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information. But despite our best efforts, errors may occur from time to time. When we’re made aware of an error, our policy is to correct it as quickly as possible.
If we find inaccurate or outdated information in any of our published content, we’ll revise it to reflect the most current and accurate information available. If necessary, we will append an editor’s note to the piece detailing the changes made.
We also welcome feedback from readers regarding any errors or outdated information they may find. Please contact us at support@digitalemigre.com to suggest any corrections. We will investigate and make changes as appropriate. Our goal is always to provide our readers with factual and current content.
Digital Émigré Editorial Team
Dr Samantha North
Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief
Experience
The mission of Digital Émigré reflects Samantha’s personal experience of emigrating to Portugal. In 2025, she plans to apply for Portuguese citizenship and regain the EU rights that were lost after Brexit.
During the planning stages, Samantha spoke with several immigration lawyers. She also researched all possible second citizenship pathways across the EU. This knowledge became the foundation of Digital Émigré.
Samantha soon discovered that Portugal ticked the most boxes. It’s the perfect second citizenship destination for those who don’t have any ancestral or spousal links in EU countries (which could otherwise provide a path to citizenship).
Education
Samantha holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Exeter and a PhD from the University of Bath.
Samantha’s writing and commentary have been featured in Al Jazeera, Business Insider, CNN, the Financial Times, Website Planet, and the Daily Telegraph, among others.
Dr Malek El-Qallali
Co-Founder, Managing Editor
Experience
Malek also has personal experience with emigration, having moved in 2007 from his native Libya to the UK – and stayed there ever since.
After graduating from the University of Bath with his BA and two Masters degrees, Malek moved to York to begin a PhD program in innovation management, then relocated back to Bath to complete his research.
In 2019, Malek received his UK citizenship, ironically just before Brexit kicked in and stripped British citizens of their previous rights to freedom of movement across the eurozone.
Despite Brexit, Malek’s first-hand experience of the entire process of applying for and being granted second citizenship has been invaluable for his role at Digital Émigré.
Education
Malek holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Bath, and two masters degrees, one in digital communications and the other in innovation management.
He also holds a PhD from the University of Bath School of Management, while also lecturing in innovation and engineering management.