Digital nomads are individuals who lead a nomadic lifestyle. But, while also having an opportunity to work from remote locations by using technology. For digital nomads, remote work is about more than just working from home or a coffee shop. It’s about optimizing your productivity in any location. There are many ways to achieve this, but the most important factor is ease of travel. Digital nomadism has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Because of that, there are now many different visa programs available for those interested in becoming digital nomads. Some countries have made it easier than others to become a digital nomad. The following list details the Top 9 Countries that Have Digital Nomad Visas:
So, what countries with digital nomad visa?
There are so many countries that have digital nomad visas. Out of the many, we’ve listed the top 9 that you can choose to go to on your travels. So, let’s get right to it!
Singapore
Singapore is one of the most popular countries for digital nomads. This is especially true among those who are interested in building a career in entrepreneurship. Singapore has made entrepreneurship a national priority. It also has a reputation as one of the easiest places to start a company. In order to receive a work visa, you must first have a job offer from a Singapore-based company. While the visa process is not particularly straightforward, it is applicable to both short and long-term positions and has no restrictions on the type of work that can be done remotely. Despite the high living costs in Singapore, the income tax is only 20 percent for residents.
Ecuador
Ecuador’s visa policies make it one of the most popular countries for digital nomads who want to travel to South America. In order to live in Ecuador, you must obtain a pensionado visa, which is a special visa that is reserved for retirees. The pensionado visa requires you to prove that you have a monthly pension income of at least $800. In addition to the visa, you must also purchase health insurance. You can extend the pensionado visa for up to five years. However, after five years, citizens must return to their home country for at least two years before they can return to Ecuador with a new visa. The climate in Ecuador is excellent for year-round travel. Aside from that, the cost of living is lower than many other South American countries.
Thailand
Thailand has long been a popular destination for digital nomads, especially among those who travel to Asia. You can extend a tourist visa to a work visa. But this is very difficult to achieve and is only available to those who have exceptional skills and experience. The better option for most people is to apply for a long-term non-immigrant visa, known as an ED Visa. Unfortunately, the Thai government has not published details of this visa, so it is difficult to determine which requirements must be met. It is also difficult to find reliable information about visa extensions, so it is advised that you start the visa application process as soon as possible and keep track of the dates.
Malaysia
Malaysia has a reputation for being a great place to work remotely and many people travel there to work with the intention of staying for a short period. A working visa can be applied for online and requires an invitation letter from a Malaysian company. There are a few different types of working visas, but the easiest one to obtain is the “S” visa. The “S” visa is granted for one year and can be extended for another year. It is possible to apply for a long-term “P” visa once you have been working in Malaysia for three consecutive years.
Indonesia
Many digital nomads travel to South East Asia and make Indonesia one of their first destinations. Indonesia has a special visa program for digital nomads and remote workers called the Remote Worker Visa (W-IRW). The W-IRW visa is valid for one year. If you plan to stay longer, you can can be extend the visa for a second year. It is possible to apply for a long-term visa once you have been working in Indonesia for three consecutive years. The W-IRW visa does not require investors to be in Indonesia, but it does require that the investment be made from Indonesia.
Taiwan
Taiwan has long been a popular destination for digital nomads, especially those interested in working remotely in Asia. In order to receive a working visa, you must have a job offer from a Taiwanese company and provide proof of a health insurance policy. Taiwanese visas are valid for one year, but you can extend it if your health insurance policy is still valid. There are two types of working visas available for digital nomads: the Foreign Expert Certificate (FEC) visa and the Alien Employment permit (AEP) visa. The FEC visa is easier to obtain, but the AEP visa has a longer validity.
Finland
Are you interested in the technology sector? Well then Finland is an excellent place to work remotely. Finland has a special visa program called the “Remote Work Visas” (RTW) designed for expert knowledge workers. The RTW visa requires that an entrepreneur first be granted approval for a new business incorporated in Finland. Applications for a RTW visa can be made once the business has been registered for six months. The RTW visa is valid for one year. Want to stay longer? Well, you can extend the visa for another year.
Germany
Germany is one of the best countries for digital nomads. Especially for those who have skills in demand in the engineering and programming sectors. Germany has a special visa program called the “Entrepreneur Visa” that allows entrepreneurs with a business plan to travel to Germany and start their business remotely. Once the business has been operating for a minimum of six months, it is possible to apply for a long-term residence visa. The entrepreneur visa is valid for one year, but you can extend it if you meet the requirements for a long-term residence visa.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is increasingly a popular destination for digital nomads. However, anybody traveling there without a visa must leave the country every six months to avoid violating immigration laws. The UK has a special visa program for remote workers called the “Creative Worker Visa” (CW). You can apply for the CW visa online. It requires a letter of invitation from a UK-based company, and a contract of employment from a UK-based company. Aside from that, it also requires proof of a health insurance policy.
Conclusion
The digital nomad visa process can be long and frustrating, but it is worth it to be able to work remotely and travel the world while earning an income. Digital nomads are able to fully immerse themselves in new cultures and learn more about other people and places. It is important to choose the right country for your needs, and some of the best countries for digital nomads are listed above.
