Forge Your Path: The Ultimate Guide to Digital Nomad Visas

by Sarah Blinco | Feb 21, 2024 | Being a digital nomad and working abroad, Creative travel experiences, Travel blogger destinations

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t think travelling the world, setting your own schedule, and working wherever, whenever you fancy, isn’t ‘dreamland’ material. And yet, for the roughly thirty-five million digital nomads living and working across the globe, that dream is very much a reality. It’s easy to see the never-ending roll of Instagram influencers and glammed-up travel bloggers and assume that this new way of working is nothing more than a ‘fad’ – after all, how are you expected to keep pace with all the red tape of border entries, passport control, and visa requirements these days? Well, in our latest post here at Travel Live Learn, we’re lifting the lid on one of the world’s best travel hacks: the digital nomad visa.

What Is A Digital Nomad Visa?

Digital nomad visas are specifically aimed at individuals who want to live and work in foreign countries. From social media bloggers, writers, and programmers, to online English teachers, there are so many jobs available these days that allow people to work anywhere from their parent’s basement to a shared house in Brazil. If you can do it from a laptop, you can probably qualify for a digital nomad visa. It’s a country’s way of recognising that you are working while staying within their borders, without technically working for that country.

One of the biggest pros of a digital nomad visa is that it allows travellers to continue working on their journeys without the need for a working visa, which can be costly and complex to obtain.

Benefits Of Digital Nomad Visas

Let’s delve a little deeper into the benefits of a digital nomad visa. Firstly, and apologies for reminding everyone of it, the COVID-19 pandemic naturally had a profound impact on global tourism, with plenty of countries’ economies being rocked by the effective disappearance of one of their major income streams.

Airlines, accommodation, local attractions, and public transport were all hit as borders were shut, and even as the travel industry continues to recover, the overall numbers for most countries continue to languish behind those in 2019. 

The benefit of digital nomad visas for countries is, therefore, a way of appealing to travellers to visit their shores again and lay down their roots for extended periods. These travellers will be working, meaning that the money they earn will be spent inside this host nation. Slow travel and sustainable tourism have also emerged as one of the hot new travel trends in the wake of the pandemic, and digital nomad visas help on this front too, with longer-term stays leaving less of an imprint on the environment.

For the nomads, the benefits of these visas should be fairly apparent. Whether you’re able to bounce from project to project or negotiate a remote work structure with a full-time employer, a digital nomad visa allows workers to fully immerse themselves in another culture and experience living in another country without the hassle of emigration visas.

How To Obtain A Digital Nomad Visa

Naturally, different countries have different requirements for digital nomad visas depending on the passport of their applicants. Depending on the country, nomads can stay in a country for a set amount of time, and the names and qualifications for these visas can vary. Not every country has a digital nomad visa in place; however, it is becoming more prevalent as the benefits are being demonstrated by the early adopters. At the time of writing, 58 countries currently offer digital nomad visas, with Japan set to follow soon.

Some countries offer this visa for free, while others charge applicants for the pleasure. The length of stay can also vary between three months to up to a whopping five years!

As with any trip, it’s always worth doing some solid research into your preferred country to make sure you’re fully clued up on the requirements of their digital nomad programs.

Best Countries With Digital Nomad Visas

Now that you know what a digital nomad visa is, where in the world are the top destinations? From vibrant cultural hubs, stunning natural landscapes, and idyllic holiday havens to low costs of living, here are some of the best countries offering digital nomad visas:

Spain

We love Spain, it offers so many attributes even for our four-legged friends. Spain’s Startup Act now means that digital nomads working for non-Spanish companies now can live and work in the country for up to six months without a working visa. This includes nomads working for multiple clients i.e. English teachers online. A degree isn’t a necessity either anymore, provided you can show at least three years’ worth of work experience.

Requirements:

• Cannot have lived in Spain for five years before applying.
• Proof of income of €2,300 per month.
• Proof that the company you are working for has been operational for a year and that you have been working for them for at least three months.

Barbados

As a remote worker in the paradise setting of Barbados, you are exempt from paying taxes. The Barbados Welcome Stamp costs $2,000 and allows nomads to live and work in the country for twelve months. Applications are fairly straightforward, even allowing for families to relocate with you.

Requirements:

• Can only work for individuals or companies outside of Barbados.
• Proof of income of over $50,000 for the duration of the 12-month stay.

Indonesia

As of 2023, Indonesia has launched a bold five-year digital nomad visa. Including islands like Bali, this visa allows nomads to work in the country tax-free, provided their income comes from outside Indonesia. Now for the downside: the Second Home Visa costs around $140,000, which certainly makes it seem like one for the semi-retirees.

With that being said, the B211a Business Visa is a viable alternative for nomads. This visa allows remote workers to work in Indonesia for up to six months.

Requirements:

• Evidence of savings of up to $2,000.

Malta

Malta’s Nomad Residence Permit is available for $328, is valid for 12 months, and can be renewed twice for a total stay of three years. The country’s 400+ public WiFi spots, 5G nationwide coverage, and abundance of coworking spaces make it a stellar destination for remote workers.

Requirements:

• Foreign job contract, proof of foreign freelance contracts or owner/part-owner of a registered company.
• Health insurance and proof of temporary accommodation e.g. AirBnB.
• Proof of income of over $2,956.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa that allows remote workers to live and work in the country for up to a year. Whilst working for foreign contracts in Costa Rica, you will be exempt from tax. Nomad visas in Costa Rica cost $100.

Requirements:

Health insurance for the duration of your stay.

Proof of income of $3,000 for solo travellers and $5,000 for families per month.

Flex Your Freedom

The prospect of embracing a truly nomadic lifestyle can be both exhilarating and daunting. The prospect of packing up all your things and hiking off for an extended period is no small feat and, from lost luggage to culture shock, there are a myriad of obstacles you’re likely to encounter along the way. Nevertheless, with a bit of time, you’ll soon find yourself forging memories that will last a lifetime. Digital nomad visas are the ultimate way of blending work and travel. With more and more countries hopping on board, there has never been a better time to start checking out destinations and preparing your application!