Updated on 30 November 2023

Best Digital Nomad Visa

Learn everything you need to know before applying for a digital nomad visa – a government program that allows you to work abroad for a longer period!

The Logician

Trademark of a Living Legend

Updated on 30 November 2023

Navigating the World of Digital Nomad Visas: A Remote Worker's Handbook

In 2020, Estonia came up with the idea to create a digital nomad visa, and since then, many countries’ governments seem to adopt this innovation. So, what exactly does a digital nomad visa do? In the last few years, working remotely for a company in another country has become very popular, but what if you combine work with traveling?

A digital nomad visa is a program created by governments of particular countries that allows you to travel and work for longer than just 90 days. More precisely, digital nomad visas are valid between 1 and 5 years.

So, if this sounds intriguing and you are considering applying for a digital nomad visa, stay with me!

Digital Nomad Visas Explained

Have you ever imagined working while drinking your coffee and sitting in the sun instead of your monotonous office? Well, this is now possible! All you have to do is to get a digital nomad visa.

A digital nomad visa is a travel document that allows passionate travelers to live away from their home country for a prolonged period. At the same time, it enables working and receiving payment for a company that is not located within the country where you are staying. Therefore, digital nomad visas are also referred to as remote work visas.

Important

Digital nomad visas last for 1-5 years, which means you can be away from home much longer than just 90 days.

More so, such visas give freelancers, e-traders, marketers, artists, and many other location-independent professionals the freedom to live in a foreign country and be sure that they will keep their full-time or part-time job position.

Best Freelance Platforms

Freelancing has become very popular, and as more people get into it, work becomes scarce. So, use some of the best freelance platforms on my list!
READ THE FULL GUIDE

2.

Toptal

Toptal

1.

Freelancer

Freelancer

3.

Fiverr

Fiverr

READ THE FULL GUIDE

Due to this, 17.3 million American workers nowadays describe themselves as digital nomads, which shows a growth of 2% from last year. As a result, the number of traditional American employees decreased by 4%.

Note

Keep in mind that you don’t always need a digital nomad visa in order to become a digital nomad. What’s more common is how many people start such a journey by simply getting a tourist visa.

These visas are a great solution for people who like to travel part-time while keeping their house and belongings in their country or full-time by selling off everything they own. Digital nomad visas also suit people who are slow-mads – individuals who travel at a slower pace and visit 1-2 countries in a year.

Now that the trend for digital nomad visas is rapidly expanding, I decided to show you the countries that offer digital nomad visas. So, let’s have a look:

Warning

Below, you will find a list of countries offering digital nomad visas divided by continent.

Portugal
Italy
Croatia
Germany
Greece
Estonia
Malta
Norway
France
Iceland
Ireland
Romania
Netherlands
Georgia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Montenegro
Latvia
Albania
Cyprus
Serbia
North Macedonia

Note

These are all European countries with digital nomad visas.

Costa Rica
Mexico
Panama
Belize
El Salvador

Note

These are countries offering remote work visas in North and Central America.

Bali (Indonesia)
Thailand
Japan
Dubai (United Arab Emirates, UAE)
Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates, UAE)
South Korea
Malaysia

Note

These are all countries that have digital nomad visas in the Middle East and Asia.

Do You Need a Digital Nomad Visa to Become a Digital Nomad?

I briefly scratched the topic of digital nomads without digital nomad visas, but let me try to create a clearer image in your head.

While it may sound a little bit strange, you don’t need a remote work visa to be recognized as a digital nomad. But have a look at it in this way. There are many more digital nomads than there are issued digital nomad visas. So, you must be wondering how this is possible and why the situation is like this.

Well, it’s very simple. Getting a digital nomad visa requires a lengthier and more complex process with a lot of paperwork and declarations. That’s why some people risk a lot and get only a travel visa. However, you must first do research about the country you are considering.

Important

By being aware of the country’s infrastructure, culture, internet quality, and cost of living, mixed with a little bit of luck, you can easily become a digital nomad.

Digital Nomad Visa vs. Freelance Visa

While both digital nomad and freelance visas refer to people working remotely, there are some slight differences. Due to this, I decided to help you, so I established a list of all the factors you need to consider in order to choose whether a digital nomad or a freelance visa suits you more. Now, let’s get better insights:

Style of Work: A digital nomad visa is best for those who enjoy the freedom of working from any country without committing to a local business. On the other hand, freelance visas are a better choice for individuals who are trying to establish their own (local) business or become entrepreneurs.

Note

Freelancing refers to working for more companies or business owners, usually from your home country.

Tax Implications: If you want to get around various tax obligations, then you may want to check out the process of getting a digital nomad visa. These visas usually come with fewer tax obligations. In comparison, freelance visas often impose more tax obligations, such as paying local taxes, regardless of whether they are personal or corporate.

Tip

With a digital nomad visa, you usually receive the amount of tax you have paid while working abroad.

Business Registration: As mentioned, freelance visas are usually the best for business enthusiasts who want to establish their own businesses. That’s why they may include startup and administrative expenses. Luckily, digital nomad visas don’t come with such costs, as they are usually for people who already work in an organization.
Work Flexibility: The main reason why people become freelancers or digital nomads is the work freedom they get. However, digital nomad visas provide you with a lot more flexibility in terms of your work location and working hours. Although freelancing also comes with high flexibility, the freelance visa may still restrict your working time and place, as you have a number of hours you must spend working within your home country.

Warning

These are the most significant differences between a digital nomad visa and a freelance one. Keep in mind that there are some additional differences between the two visa types.

Why Were Digital Nomad Visas Created?

The first country that created a digital nomad visa was Estonia in 2020. But the story and the wish for remote work goes far earlier than this. Over the last few years, a lot of businesses and experts have become intrigued by the perks of remote jobs, such as flexible working hours, more comfort while working, and being able to organize your own time.

Note

Between 2019 and 2020, the digital nomad movement grew by 49%.

Due to this, many traditional working positions were substituted by the remote work opportunities that emerged from the demand for remote work. Therefore, governments worldwide decided that they need to establish a more or less universal solution that will attract remote work enthusiasts.

This results in around $780+ billion to the global economy each year, with most digital nomads coming from the US, the UK, Russia, Germany, and Canada. More precisely, digital nomads boost different countries’ economies as they bring their local salaries and spend them within the country where they are residing.

The COVID-19 Pandemic As One of the Main Factors for the Development of Digital Nomad Visas

Although the digital nomad movement was present before 2020, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the creation of digital nomad visas. While not directly, the pandemic definitely changed the way people prefer to work.

Note

The way of work has changed because of the safety measures governments imposed.

Before COVID-19, people were used to their physical work locations, such as offices, stores, markets, etc. But, once the pandemic emerged, and we were all “locked” at home, all of this has changed. Most of the businesses and organizations have transferred to online work, and it seems that people enjoy it.

Tip

Online work allows you to organize your own time, as you usually don’t have fixed working hours, leaving you with more free time.

Besides changing the way in which we work, COVID-19 also helped us realize we shouldn’t take anything for granted. What I’m talking about is traveling. With the strict safety measures during the pandemic, people were unable to travel. Once the restrictions were loosened up a bit, the need for negative tests and different kinds of documentation was a must.

Important

After the pandemic, people started traveling more frequently, visiting all of their favorite countries.

So, governments decided to provide individuals with digital nomad visas, which basically combine work with traveling. As a result, people can now find a country that fits their needs the best, apply for a digital nomad visa, and enjoy their work even more.

Who Can Apply for a Digital Nomad Visa?

One of the best things in terms of digital nomad visas is that the program doesn’t restrict particular age groups. In other words, this program isn’t only for students or people who want to move abroad permanently. Basically, you can apply for a digital nomad visa in most countries that offer it if you already have a decent income.

Note

Anyone who can legally work can apply for a digital nomad visa.

But are you particularly interested in whether your type of work allows you to get a remote work visa? Don’t worry. I didn’t forget to put together a list that will help you easily understand if you can apply for a digital nomad visa. So, let’s not waste more time and see who can apply:

Traditional 9-5 workers who want to adopt the remote work type
Self-employed individuals or freelancers
Already established online entrepreneurs
Digital nomads looking for a temporary working and living base

However, all of these groups need to fulfill a few requirements. The main ones are to:

Work for a foreign organization or enterprise (not one in the country where you want to go)
Be a freelancer who is collaborating with clients from abroad
Own your own business outside of the country where you’re considering applying

Important

Anyone with a foreign passport can apply for a digital nomad visa only if they fulfill the country’s requirements.

Things to Consider Before You Start the Digital Nomad Visa Process

Before I reach the general requirements for a digital nomad visa, there are some things you must take into account before you apply for it. More precisely, you must consider the country where you want to apply, decide whether you really need a digital nomad visa, and understand the application procedure.

Now, let’s go into more detail and get a clearer image of each of these factors.

Thoroughly Research the Country Where You Want to Become a Digital Nomad

Choosing the right country for working as a digital nomad may seem easy, but in reality, it is much more complex than you can imagine. Although the best insights about one country can be gained by living in it, when it comes to work, it is a bit different.

That’s why you must conduct detailed research about the country where you want to go. However, this includes considering a few critical aspects.

Warning

The aspects below are more general ones. If you are interested in a particular business, you may need to consider a few different elements.

The first aspect is to check the country’s infrastructure. This refers to everything that will contribute to your productivity and business success. But what do I mean by this?

In order to be productive and finish an amazing job, you must know whether the country has a decent road infrastructure and well-organized and timely public transport and whether their healthcare system covers necessary medical checks.

As this may seem unnecessary, it is of great importance for your work. The better the living standard, the more productive you’ll be. Besides this, if everything is organized in the best way possible, you will save a lot of additional costs. For example, you won’t need to pay for a taxi or private visits to the doctor.

The next important aspect is in terms of Internet connectivity. Of course, this is one of the main criteria when choosing a country for remote work because otherwise, how could you work online? That’s why you must check out the state of the Internet. In other words, find out as much as you can about the Internet speed, coverage, and stability.

Note

Besides having uninterrupted Internet connections for a smooth working experience, this also guarantees that you will be able to deliver all of your work to your boss on time and without any issues.

What’s more, you should also discover what kind of communities are in your chosen country. With this, I think of the local community, as well as the digital nomad community.

Note

These factors are crucial regarding the sustainability of your digital nomad experience.

Suppose you are located in a local community that isn’t very friendly and doesn’t accept foreigners in their area. As a result, you won’t have the most memorable experience. The same goes for the digital nomad community. If the digital nomads aren’t very friendly-oriented, you may encounter trouble fitting in.

Tip

The best way to discover this is to get a tourist visa, visit the country, and see for yourself what the communities are like.

Furthermore, you should be aware of the safety of the country where you want to go, shouldn’t you? Unfortunately, some of the countries that have accepted the digital nomad visa program still suffer from poverty and high levels of inequality. Due to this, foreigners are often tempting targets for the residents of those countries.

Another essential thing you must consider is the country’s bureaucracy. This is because the biggest challenges in foreign countries for digital nomads come from the bureaucracy. For example, some countries may come with tax incentives while others may imply taxes on foreign earnings.

Warning

Some countries go to extremes, where you can lose up to 25% of your monthly earnings.

Luckily, there is an easy way to figure out the bureaucracy of your preferred country. Simply join online forums and ask or just read the experiences of other digital nomads who have been through the challenging process themselves.

You may also want to look at the costs of becoming a digital nomad. The first step should be to find out how much a day will cost you. To do this, you must research how much you will need to spend on food, accommodation, and transport. Also, open your eyes to hidden costs, such as working in a coffee shop or sharing an office with other employees.

Additional costs are also expenses you may have for repairing or replacing your electronics, which are the only tools you need for working remotely.

Determine Whether You Really Need a Digital Nomad Visa

Getting a digital nomad visa requires a lengthy and complex application process. That’s why you must be 100% sure whether you really need it to achieve your dreams. As I already mentioned, there are a few cases where you can work abroad without a digital nomad visa.

For example, if you are a US resident who pays taxes to the US, you can still go and work from another country.

Warning

This is only if your job allows remote work or if you’re already working online.

The two most common ways that US citizens use to work abroad are by applying for a Schengen tourist visa or the Portuguese D7 visa. Let me provide some more details about both of these visas.

If you decide to go to work in Spain, for example, with a Schengen tourist visa, you will be able to reside in the country and work from there as long as you’re not working for a Spanish client or company. However, you are able to stay there for only 90 days, then return to the US, wait another 90 days to pass, and then get another tourist visa.

The second option is to apply for Portugal’s D7 visa. Compared to traveling and working with a Schengen visa, this process is a lot easier. By getting this visa, you won’t pay any taxes on your cryptocurrency income (if you are paid so). What’s even better is that the Portuguese D7 visa has all the benefits of the Schengen tourist visa.

Important

That’s why it is very crucial to consider the first aspect – researching the country where you’re planning to go.

Understand the Application Process for a Digital Nomad Visa

If you’re determined to get a digital nomad visa, you must be prepared for the complex process that awaits you. This includes creating a budget and being prepared to lose energy and face several uncertainties. In order to help you, I decided to break down these elements. Let’s have a look!

If you have applied for a visa so far, you must be aware that the application is a lengthy process. Unfortunately, the digital nomad visa application is even longer. This is because you will need to gather all of the required documents, submit the application, and spend a lot of time waiting for your application.

Note

For reference, a Schengen tourist visa takes around 13 hours of your time in total, whereas a digital nomad visa can cost you 50 hours.

Because you will go through such a complex and long process, you better be filled with energy. Although it may not seem like that, the effects such a long process has on a person’s mental and physical health can be quite significant. That’s why I recommend spending energy only during the period of your application process.

Tip

Doing your favorite hobby in your free time and finding time to relax can drastically help you go through the digital nomad visa application.

Finding out what calms you down and refills you with energy is crucial for reducing the stress and frustration this process may cause. Also, effectively dealing with the pressure is the best way to ensure your application will be successful.

But the tension doesn’t just go away once you submit the application. Instead, it may even increase because this is the point where the entire process turns into waiting. As someone who has waited for important responses, I can assure you that this causes a lot of uncertainty.

That’s why you will need to be very disciplined. By this, I mean putting the application out of your mind and focusing on other crucial aspects of your life. As a result, you won’t allow the application to invade your life and impact your daily mood.

Now that you are aware of what you must consider before diving into the complex process, I think that it’s time to find out the requirements for a digital nomad visa!

General Requirements for Getting a Digital Nomad Visa

The application for a digital nomad visa is more or less the same among the different countries that provide it. However, there are still some differences, depending on the government’s policy. Are you willing to discover the requirements for applying for a digital nomad visa? Okay, I won’t waste more time.

Here are the general requirements to apply for a remote work visa:

You must be older than 18
You must pay the application fee
You must already have a minimum monthly income

Warning

The amount varies depending on the country you’re applying to.

You must have a job or be employed in a company where you can work from anywhere
You must not work in the local economy and the local workforce sector
You need to present proof of health insurance

Warning

These are the general requirements that every country usually asks for. However, there may be some additional ones, depending on the country you consider moving to.

Required Documents for Applying for a Digital Nomad Visa

As you need to submit a bunch of documents when applying for a digital nomad visa, I decided to help you have them all. Here are the required documents:

Digital nomad visa application form
Your passport
Identity pictures
Proof of health insurance
Proof of financial income (its source, the amount, etc.)
Evidence of remote work (business license work contract, clients)
Civil documents (birth certificate, CV, qualifications, etc.)

Document Guidelines

As you need to fulfill different requirements when applying for a remote work visa, your documents should, too. So, let’s have a look at the provided document guidelines:

Your passport must be valid for not less than six months at the time of application
You must take your identification pictures on a plain, white background and with a neutral facial expression without any edits
You must translate your civil documents (if required by the country you’re considering) and be certified with an apostille stamp

Reasons for Being Denied for Digital Nomad Visas

The chance of not getting a digital nomad visa is as high as getting it – 50/50. So, in case you’re denied, here are the reasons for it that you should be aware of:

You have a crime history
Your job doesn’t support remote work
You put false information in the application form
You have a lower income than the required minimum monthly wage

Most Popular Jobs with a Digital Nomad Visa

Although there are numerous jobs that you can work remotely from any country in the world, there are still some countries that are the most popular. Here is a short list of the most popular jobs with a digital nomad visa:

Freelancers
Content creators
Website developers
Social media marketers
Email marketers

Best Email Marketing Tools

Email marketing can be very effective if done right. To do it right, you can use one of the email marketing tools mentioned in this article!
READ THE FULL GUIDE

2.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact

1.

Ongage

Ongage

3.

MailerLite

MailerLite

READ THE FULL GUIDE

Digital entrepreneurs
Website designer
SEO specialists

Digital Nomad Visas Pros & Cons

Best for

Staying in a foreign country more than 90 days
Contributing to the global economy
Flexible working hours and location
Visiting your favorite country
Doesn’t restrict any age group over 18 years old
No taxation on your income
Getting to learn more about cultural differences

Not good for

Complex procedure
A lot of waiting time
Requires many documentation
The process drains your energy
Paying a lot of fees
You need to do good research about your preferred country

Conclusion – Is Getting a Digital Nomad Visa Worth It?

Digital nomad visas are something that has shaken the whole world. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been talking about working remotely and abroad, and governments are imposing this program in different countries.

The digital nomad visa allows you to work abroad if you already have your own business or if you’re employed in a company that accepts the remote work model. Due to this, you are able to work while at the same time traveling. Also, this program is suitable for full-time or part-time digital nomads.

However, the question of whether getting a digital nomad visa is worth it raises different opinions. If you’re looking on the positive side, digital nomad visas allow you to travel and work at the same time, give you flexibility regarding the working environment and hours, and you don’t pay foreign countries’ taxes.

Unfortunately, getting a digital nomad visa is a lengthy and exhausting process that may influence every aspect of your life. Due to this, you must carefully decide whether you really need a digital nomad visa and do detailed research on the country where you would like to move.

I hope this guide helped you!

Frequently Asked Questions

A digital nomad visa is a document or a government program that allows you to work remotely in an entirely legal way while residing away from your home country. The initiative for digital nomad visas emerged during COVID-19, with Estonia being the first country to impose such visas.

Yes, a digital nomad visa is worth it. You will be able to work away from home longer than 90 days, travel in some of your favorite countries, not pay taxes to the country where you’re residing (you only pay income tax in your home country), get flexible working hours, and experience a different life pace. However, a digital nomad visa may not be worth it because of the duration and the complexity of its process, the stress that comes with it, and the uncertainty of whether you’ll get it.

The general requirements for getting a digital nomad visa are to be older than 18 years, to pay an application fee, to have a minimum monthly income, to work a job that can be done from anywhere in the world, not to be in the local economy or workforce, to have health insurance.

Yes, there are some business requirements. In order to apply for a digital nomad visa, you must work for a foreign organization or enterprise outside of the country where you would like to apply, be self-employed and collaborate with clients from abroad, or own a business that is not located within the country where you would like to go.

Although digital nomad visas are pretty popular, not all countries offer them. However, among the countries that have digital nomad visas are Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Estonia, Malta, Norway, France, Iceland, Ireland, Romania, the Netherlands, Georgia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Latvia, Albania, Cyprus, Serbia, North Macedonia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Belize, El Salvador, Bali, Thailand, Japan, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Korea, and Malaysia.

Digital nomad visas work in a way that allows you to work abroad legally. The best part is that they don’t limit your stay in a foreign country to only 90 days as travel visas.

A digital nomad visa lasts between 1 and 5 years. However, the duration of the digital nomad visa depends on the policy of the country’s government.

The best countries for getting digital nomad visas are Germany, Malta, Estonia, Croatia, Portugal, Costa Rica, and Norway.

Yes, you can be a digital nomad without a digital nomad visa. Although this is a bit riskier option, it’s not illegal if you’re working online. More precisely, to be a digital nomad, you can apply for a tourist visa and work for 90 days from any country abroad.

The biggest risk when applying for a digital nomad visa is not getting it. This is the worst-case scenario, as you need to pay an application fee, gather and submit all of the required documents, and go through the long waiting process. This requires not only money but also a lot of energy.

No, you don’t need to pay foreign countries’ taxes with the digital nomad visa. This is because you are legally working for another company, and you’re paying a tax on your income but only in your home country. This is one of the perks of getting a digital nomad visa.

No, no age group is excluded from applying for a digital nomad visa. The only age requirement when applying for a remote work visa is to be older than 18. Also, digital nomad visas are not only for students. Anyone who fulfills all of the requirements can apply for such a visa.

Digital nomad visas boost the global economy because you are getting income from a company outside the country where you’re currently residing, but you’re spending the money in that country.

If you have been denied for getting a digital nomad visa, you may have been criminally convicted, put false information in your application form, your minimum wage may be lower than the required one, and you may have a job that cannot be done remotely.

There are many jobs that nowadays you can work with a digital nomad visa. However, among the most popular are freelancing, content creators, web designers, email marketers, website developers, social media marketers, SEO specialists, and digital entrepreneurs.

The Logician

Trademark of a Living Legend

Find Your Fellow Associates

Support means everything, especially in the digital world. Expand your network and extend your knowledge - make sure to join the association!

Discover My Association

Best Digital Nomad Visa

The Logician

$85/fee

$85/fee

$85/fee

$79/fee

$79/fee

$79/fee

$327.5/fee

$327.5/fee

$327.5/fee

Frequently Asked Questions

The Logician

Find Your Fellow Associates

Best Digital Nomad Visa

The Logician

$85/fee

$85/fee

$85/fee

$79/fee

$79/fee

$79/fee

$327.5/fee

$327.5/fee

$327.5/fee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

Is a Digital Nomad Visa Worth It?

What are the General Requirements for Getting a Digital Nomad Visa?

Are There Any Business Requirements?

What Countries Have Digital Nomad Visas?

How do Digital Nomad Visas Work?

How Long Does a Digital Nomad Visa Last?

What are the Best Countries for Getting Digital Nomad Visas?

Can I be a Digital Nomad Without a Digital Nomad Visa?

What is the Biggest Risk When Applying for a Digital Nomad Visa?

Do I Need to Pay Foreign Countries’ Taxes with the Digital Nomad Visa?

Are Some Age Groups Excluded from Applying for a Digital Nomad Visa?

How Digital Nomad Visas Boost the Global Economy?

Why Did I Not Receive a Digital Nomad Visa?

What Jobs Can I Work with a Digital Nomad Visa?

The Logician

Find Your Fellow Associates