Nomad Tracker

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Nomad Tracker is an iOS mobile application specializing in automated residency and visa compliance tracking. It falls under the technical category of privacy-first location intelligence tools, leveraging on-device processing for GPS data and photo metadata analysis.
2. Core Value Proposition: It eliminates manual travel logging by automating tax residency monitoring (e.g., 183-day rule) and visa limit compliance (e.g., Schengen 90/180 rule) through background GPS and AI-driven insights, prioritizing user privacy with 100% on-device data processing.

Main Features

1. Automated GPS Tracking: Uses iOS’s "Significant Location Changes" API to detect country entries/exits in the background. Operates in low-power mode by sleeping during inactivity, avoiding battery drain while maintaining accuracy.
2. Photo Metadata Inference: Scans local photo library EXIF data (timestamps/geotags) to reconstruct past travel history instantly. Processes data locally—no cloud uploads—ensuring privacy while backfilling historical residency records.
3. Dynamic Visa & Tax Engines:
   • Schengen 90/180 Calculator: Applies rolling-window logic to count Schengen days within any 180-day period, updating in real-time.
   • Fiscal Residency Monitor: Tracks 183-day thresholds across custom fiscal years (e.g., UK’s April 6th start) using configurable date parameters.
4. Fiscal Oracle AI: On-device AI analyzes travel patterns to generate personalized tax optimization strategies and visa risk alerts, such as predicting residency triggers or overstay risks.
5. Geographic Risk Board: Interactive map visualizing day-accumulation per country. Tappable country overlays display stats like "45/90 Schengen days used" or enable manual entry corrections.
6. Home Screen Widgets: Configurable iOS widgets display critical metrics (e.g., "Schengen days remaining") without opening the app, using local data syncing.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Manual spreadsheet errors causing visa overstays (e.g., Schengen violations) or accidental tax residency triggers due to miscalculated 183-day thresholds.
2. Target Audience: Digital nomads, perpetual travelers, remote workers managing multi-country tax residencies, and visa-restricted tourists (e.g., ESTA users).
3. Use Cases:
   • A digital nomad avoiding Schengen overstay penalties via real-time 90/180 rule alerts.
   • A freelancer proving non-residency to a tax authority using automated day-count exports.
   • Reconstructing 5 years of travel history for visa applications via photo metadata scanning.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike competitors requiring manual logging or cloud uploads (e.g., TripIt), Nomad Tracker automates tracking via passive GPS/photo analysis while keeping all data on-device—a critical edge for privacy-conscious users.
2. Key Innovation: Hybrid approach combining local AI (Fiscal Oracle), device-native APIs (iOS Significant Location Changes), and offline photo metadata parsing to deliver deterministic accuracy without compromising battery life or data security.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How does Nomad Tracker handle Schengen 90/180 rule calculations?
   It uses a rolling-window algorithm that scans the most recent 180 days from any selected date, automatically summing Schengen zone stays to display remaining days compliant with EU regulations.
2. Is my travel history secure with Nomad Tracker?
   Yes, all location data and photo metadata are processed exclusively on your iPhone—never transmitted to servers—ensuring GDPR-compliant, privacy-first residency tracking.
3. Can Nomad Tracker support complex visa rules like the UK tax year?
   Absolutely. It natively accommodates custom fiscal years (e.g., April 6th for the UK or July 1st for Australia) and configurable visa "runway" thresholds for non-Schengen countries.
4. What’s required for automatic GPS tracking to work reliably?
   Users must enable "Always Allow" location permissions and avoid force-quitting the app, allowing iOS to trigger background updates during country border crossings.
5. How does the Fiscal Oracle AI provide tax optimization insights?
   By analyzing on-device travel patterns, it identifies residency risks (e.g., nearing 183 days in a country) and suggests actionable strategies like border runs or stay redistribution to minimize tax liabilities.