This article was originally published by Annie Blay on legalpad.
Suppose you have the freedom to work from anywhere. Why not sign in to your morning meeting after an early morning surf somewhere in Latin America, or negotiate with clients from an Airbnb overlooking ancient ruins on a Mediterranean island?
Whether you are looking to travel from place to place while working remotely or want to try a longer stay in a new country, working remotely while exploring the world just keeps getting easier!
In this article, we’ll cover some of the countries offering a digital nomad visa and highlight some of our top picks as of July 2022. Plus, we’ll link you directly to government websites so you can learn more directly from the source.
First, what is a digital nomad?
“Digital nomad” is a term used to describe people who travel while working remotely. Around 53% of digital nomads are full-time employees, around 16% are startup founders, around 16% are freelancers, and the remaining digital nomads include part-time employees, contractors, and others.
Do you need a digital nomad visa to travel while working remotely?
Many countries allow visitors to work remotely for a foreign company while traveling on a tourist visa. For example, you can work from Mexico for a foreign company for up to 180 days on a tourist visa.
Other countries allow you to work on tourist visas. However, tourist visas may only be valid for a short time. In these circumstances, extended digital nomad visas are a good option for remote workers traveling slowly from country to country.
Meanwhile, it is illegal to work in some countries without valid work authorization. One particularly strict country is the United States. Many people assume they can work for their foreign employer while traveling in the U.S. on a B-1 visa or ESTA. However, working in the U.S. without work authorization—such as a work visa or green card—could negatively impact future visa or green card applications.
With a rise in remote work policies and a decrease in international travel, the COVID-19 pandemic has led many nations to introduce new visa and residency paths for digital nomads.
This is good news because remote workers experience the physical and mental benefits of traveling abroad while supporting local economies. Remote workers’ employers also benefit as research suggests remote employees are more productive than those who go into a physical office. In general, taking vacations increases productivity as well.
The best digital nomad visas
Depending on how you define the term, there are around 46 digital nomad visas. As mentioned above, many countries allow visitors to work remotely on a tourist visa, so be sure to research all your options ahead of time! We go into detail on 11 of those visas below.
Keep in mind that some regions—such as Europe and the Caribbean—have numerous digital nomad visa options, while others—such as Asia, South America, mainland Africa, and Oceania—have minimal digital nomad visas. Expect more digital nomad visa options to be introduced in the coming years, especially as COVID-19 travel restrictions decrease.
The Americas
- Bahamas Extended Travel Stay (BEATS): 12-month visa with the option to renew for up to three years
Why the Bahamas? Imagine logging on each morning with a view of the Bahama’s crystal clear Caribbean water, and spending your weekends exploring the Bahama’s 700 pristine islands and cayes. If you want to explore more of the Caribbean, you can also hop over to some of the other Caribbean nations that offer generous digital nomad visas (listed below).
You likely qualify if: You can provide proof of employment (including self-employment) and pay the application and permit fees, which comes to a total of $1025 USD for individuals. University students can also qualify and must pay $525 USD in application and permit fees.
Fees: $1,025 USD visa application fee.
