Are you a remote worker or digital nomad getting ready to research your next remote work destination or workation?

Whoever you are, check out our comprehensive article detailing all the countries that are offering digital nomad visas, working holiday visas, and/or remote work visas in 2022.

🌏

Countries and Visas

In alphabetical order, from Anguilla to Vietnam.(We can't wait for Zimbabwe to jump in the ring, so we can go from A to Z.)

Anguilla

A seagull and boats in the seas around one of Anguilla's small forested islands

"Work. Life. Bliss." This is the tagline for Anguilla's 'Lose the Crowd' remote work visa, which launched in August 2020. The program promises you the opportunity to enjoy the turquoise waves of this Caribbean island's shores as you explore a different pace of life.

Anguilla is 91 km2/35 sq miles—a rather tiny island territory that is a British Overseas Territory. The island is affiliated with the UK while maintaining its self-governance. It is at the northern end of what is called the Lesser Antilles — a little east of the Virgin Islands and north of Saint Martin.

🇦🇮
TLDR: A tiny Caribbean territory with a long-stay program for the beach-going traveler.

Conditions

Stay period:
91 Days - 12 Months

This visa applies to remote workers—with income earned abroad.

  • You have to prove that have enough income to support your family (oddly, no threshold is provided)
  • You need to be fully vaccinated
  • You will need to go to through the traveler application process to obtain a pre-travel authorization—you should not travel without this.
  • A travel health insurance policy is required, and it must cover COVID-19, medical costs, full hospitalization, prescriptions, physician visits, and air ambulance

How To Apply

Visit the official application form webpage: https://ivisit.gov.ai

Be ready with the following information:

  • A copy of your birth certificate and the birth certificates of any other applicant
  • Your passport biography page
  • Proof of either employment (employment offer letter and last paystub) and/or business incorporation (articles of incorporation)
  • A police record with a validity date of not more than 6 months in the past
  • Proof of Relationship to dependents
  • Short Description of Work, as well as for all applicants (and school enrollment for students in school)
  • Proof of Health Insurance that lasts the entirety of your trip

Cost

Individual: $2,000 USD

Student: $2,000 USD

Family: $3,000 USD
per family up to 4 persons (applicant + spouse and dependents (a child or step-child under age 26 or any other relative who, because of age or infirmity of body, is wholly dependent on the applicant for sustenance))

Additional Dependents: $250 USD for each additional dependent

Check out our dedicated article on the Anguilla remote work visa.

Antigua and Barbuda

A bay in Antigua at sunset, with a mountain over a bay

Antigua and Barbuda is another Caribbean island nation with two main islands — you guessed it — "Barbuda" and "Antigua". There are hundreds of sandy beaches in a relatively small area (440 km2/170 sq mi), and most of the action is on Antigua, where 97% of residents live. English is the official language of the islands, which are former British territories.

The Antigua and Barbuda Nomad Digital Residence visa is a long-stay visa designed for people who can work remotely. This long-stay visa has some advantages in its length of time: two years on the first approval is longer than many competing digital nomad visas in the Caribbean.

🇦🇬
TLDR: Caribbean island nation with a two-year long stay program for professionals with income over $50k

Conditions

  • Proof of employment, including self-employment. (Job letter, salary payments, and work permit. This is also required by any dependents if any) (PDF).
  • Proof of funds by the main applicant (not required for dependents) only, certifying:
  • Expected income of no less than $50,000 USD or its equivalent in other currencies, for each year of the 2 years in Antigua and Barbuda. (PDF).
  • Show that you have the means to support yourself and any accompanying dependent(s) during the two-year stay in Antigua and Barbuda. (PDF).

How To Apply

You can apply at the official application website.

You will need:

  • A full-color passport-sized photo (JPG) for each applicant (and any dependents) Dimensions are as follows: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Your head must be positioned between 1 to 1 and 3/8 inches (25 x 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
  • A full-color copy of your passport bio-page (JPG). (Passport must be valid for two years.)
  • A full-color copy of your spouse's and/or dependents' passport bio-page, if applicable. (Passports must be valid for more than 2 years.) (JPG)
  • Birth certificate of the applicant and/or any dependents. (If applicable.)
  • Marriage certificate. (If applicable.)
  • A certificate of medical insurance coverage of applicant (and dependents for the period of intended stay in Antigua and Barbuda. (JPG or PDF)
  • Police clearance for each applicant (and dependents if any) over the age of 16.
  • A Notarized Letter of relationship (if not married) for partner or proof of guardianship of dependent, of whom the application is made, by the main applicant. (JPG or PDF)
  • Proof of employment, including self-employment. A job letter, salary payments, and work permit. This is also required by any dependents) (PDF)
  • Proof of funds for the main applicant (not required for dependents) only, certifying:
  • (a) Expected income of no less than US$50,000 (Fifty thousand US dollars) or the equivalent in other currencies, for each year of the 2 years in Antigua and Barbuda. (PDF)
  • (b) Proof that you have the means to support yourself and any accompanying dependents during the two years of your stay in Antigua and Barbuda. (PDF)
  • Proof of payment once the application has been completed. (All payments are non-refundable.) (JPG or PDF)

Cost

Single Applicant: $1,500 USD
Couple/Double Applicant: $2,000 USD
With Dependents (Family of at least 3 people): $3,000 USD

Argentina

The Argentine flag flies on a dock by a lake, with mountains in the background

Argentina has announced plans to launch a digital nomad visa in 2022 and attract tens of thousands of workers by 2023. As more details emerge, we will update this section to provide the specific requirements of Argentina's upcoming digital nomad visa.

Aruba

A tramway line in Aruba passes through a retail shopping district with patio seating

Aruba is a Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. It's known for its white sandy beaches and blue water. The culture is diverse, with Dutch, African, Spanish, and Venezuelan influences. Aruba has been ruled by Spain, Portugal, and The Netherlands over the years, but gained independence in 1986.

The digital nomad program in Aruba is not full-fledged, and, unfortunately, only US Citizens are invited to apply. Additionally, it is not a long-stay program (more like a medium-stay) with a 90-day limit. We will be watching for any changes to this program and will update this post if it becomes more widely available to other nationalities or for longer periods.

🇦🇼
TLDR: A targeted short-stay program on this Caribbean island is currently only available to US Citizens.

Conditions

  • Be a US Citizen
  • Hold a passport valid for the duration of the trip
  • Have an approved Embarkation and Disembarkation card

How To Apply

This is not a program that requires extensive government documentation. Book a package deal here.

We will update this entry if this particular program grows in its scope.

Cost

The cost of this program is generally inclusive of the cost of your package deal with One Happy Workstation.

Check out our dedicated article on the Aruba digital nomad program.

Australia

A river winds through downtown Brisbane, partly cloudy sky and steel buildings overlook beachgoers

The Australian working holiday visa is designed for youths between the age of 18 to 30. The primary purpose of these visas is to allow the traveler to experience Australia and its culture, build social ties with local communities and encourage long-term stays in the country for young workers. This is especially relevant to nomads who want to sustain themselves while exploring or relocating to Australia.

Australia went through a prolonged period of sustained isolation, with strict border controls during the first years of the coronavirus pandemic. Be sure to check in with the latest restrictions on border controls.

🇦🇺
TLDR: A large developed country, down under in the Southern Hemisphere, with major cities on the coasts. This is a long-established working holiday visa for young people (30 and under).

Conditions

  • hold a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction
  • be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian, French and Irish citizens who can be 18 to 35 (inclusive)
  • apply online from outside Australia
  • not be accompanied by dependent children
  • not have previously entered Australia on subclass 417 or 462 visa. If you have previously been in Australia on a subclass 417 visa, see the second Working Holiday visa.

How To Apply

You can apply at the official Australian Government Immigration and Citizenship website.

Cost

It costs $495 AUD to apply for an Australian Working Holiday visa. Double-check the price for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) before applying.

Bahamas

A boat leaving a wake speeds around a tiny island in The Bahamas with a house on it

The Bahamas is one of many Caribbean destinations offering a remote work visa, but it does additionally provide something that not every Caribbean nation and territory can claim — 800 kilometers of islands in its archipelago. The sheer breadth and variety of its many cays and islands offer the remote worker different locales, working spaces, beaches, and adventures to explore.

The program The Bahamas offers is called the Bahama Extended Access Travel Stay program and it is a 12-month long-stay program.

🇧🇸
TLDR: The 800-kilometer-long chain of islands in the Caribbean is one of the world's most unique nations. The Bahama Extended Access Travel Stay program — 'BEATS' allows workers and students to stay for up to a year.

Conditions

While the Bahamas can be an expensive country, there are no specific income requirements stated for the program. You will need to meet some traditional basics, including:

  • Have a valid passport
  • Purchase health insurance for The Bahamas that runs for the duration of your stay
  • Show proof of employment for remote workers. This can be proof of self-employment at your own business or employment with a company
  • Students should have their student ID

How To Apply

Interested applicants can apply at the Bahamas BEATS official application page.

You will want to have your passport photo and proof of medical insurance before you apply.

Cost

  • The application fee is $25 USD per applicant (and $25 per dependent).
  • The actual permit fee once approved is an additional $1,000 USD per applicant (and $500 for each dependent). Students pay $500 USD individually.

Barbados

A beachside boat dock in Barbados next to a sandy beach and a house

The official program website for the Barbados Welcome Stamp long stay program advertises that the island has the "fastest fiber internet and mobile services in the Caribbean". A steep application fee may make this less attractive than other Caribbean destinations for the casual digital nomad traveler — but for those who are looking for a safe, warm Caribbean location to work at for up to a year, Barbados might be the place for you.

🇧🇧
TLDR: A Caribbean country offers a one-year digital nomad stay with a steep price tag and higher-than-typical income requirement.

How To Apply

You can apply at the official Barbados Welcome Stamp application page.

Cost

Fees are $2,000 USD for an individual applicant and $3,000 for a family application.

Belize

A dock in Belize

Belize is on the east coast of mainland Central America with 240 miles of Caribbean coastline as well as over 400 islands in the Belize Barrier reef (which is the second biggest reef in the world after The Great One in Australia). English is the first language of this nation that occupies the same peninsula as the Mexican state of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo.

This is another Caribbean destination with beaches galore, but like its neighbor Mexico to the north and west, it is also the home of Mayan culture, heritage, and history. It has been called "the Other Mayan Riviera" for its proximity to the famous region of Mexico.

🇧🇿
TLDR: An English-speaking Central American Caribbean destination with an initial, limited short-stay visa digital nomad program for up to 90 days with renewals.

Conditions

  • This program, in its current incarnation, is very specific and centers around a specific accommodation package with the Noma Collective community.
  • There is a short application form that simply asked you your name, phone number email, and whether you would like to come to Belize.
  • As we learn more about what constitutes acceptance or non-acceptance to the program/community, we will update this article.

How To Apply

Hit the Apply to Join button on the Noma Collective website. The application process is short and sweet, at this point, without any major requirements besides basic contact information.

Be aware — you are initially joining for a generalized 30-day stay and must renew in person once you are there to extend your stay to 60 or 90 days.

Cost

There is no apparent cost to apply, but be aware you will likely need to pay for your accommodation at what was formerly Umaya Village, which advertised rooms from $80-200 USD per night.

Bermuda

A town on the ocean in Bermuda

Bermuda, the famous Atlantic British Overseas Territory, is a pleasant warm-weather destination most of the year. Not a Caribbean island, as some may think, but rather an archipelago all of its own, roughly on the same latitude as South Carolina — far north of the Caribbean island chains of Central America.

Its location in the western Atlantic — one of the very few inhabited places in the area — does provide it with unique direct flights to major cities on the east coast of North America.

The Work From Bermuda Certificate was introduced to allow people to take advantage of the pink-sand beaches for up to twelve months away from their home country. This long-stay visa may provide some remote workers the right solution to get away from it all while sticking close to the East Coast of North America.

🇧🇲
TLDR: An island in the North Atlantic, a British territory, and the home of famous pink-sand beaches.

Conditions

  • be an adult above 18 years old and have paid the visa application fee
  • not convicted of a crime in Bermuda or internationally
  • have valid health insurance coverage for the duration of the stay
  • demonstrate your employment or self-employment with a legit foreign country (or business you own)
  • provide evidence of enrollment in higher education, for students
  • prove your ability to subsist on your annual income

How To Apply

You can apply for the Work From Bermuda Certificate at the official government website here.

You should have your evidence of employment, income, police record, and bank statements ready when you apply.

Cost

The visa application costs $263.

Brazil

Christ the Redeemer statue looms above Rio de Janeiro and ocean
Christ the Redeemer statue above Rio de Janeiro

Brazil is a massive nation, close to USA and Australia in size — so the possibilities for digital nomads are wide across a diverse nation. With famous cities along the east coast, an equatorial northern region, and beaches galore, the possibilities for being a digital nomad in Brazil are vast. This Portuguese-speaking nation is relatively new to digital nomads, having only introduced a digital nomad visa in 2022.

🇧🇷
TLDR: Brazil is a massive, Portuguese-speaking nation in South America with famous cities and beaches, as well as a continent's worth of hidden gems and less-well-known areas. The currency is also generally in your favor.

Conditions and How To Apply

So far, we know that you need to make $1500 USD per month, check out our dedicated Brazil digital nomad visa page for the latest updates.

Cabo Verde

A boy and a mural in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde or Cape Verde is an island country in the central Atlantic with a background as a Portuguese colony. Warm weather, peace, and tranquility are all offered by the program's official website as attributes of a laid-back, relaxing lifestyle.

But not too laid back! If you like diving, surfing, kitesurfing, and hiking, there are lots of opportunities to be active are available in Cabo Verde.

🇨🇻
TLDR: An archipelago nation off the West Coast of Africa provides a six-month remote worker/digital nomad visa for those who wish to visit its equatorial paradise.

Conditions

The visa is open to a select group of nationalities which includes people from Europe, North America, CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries), and CEDEAO (Economic Community of West African States)

You need to provide proof of income as an individual or as a family, with a threshold of minimum average bank balance of €1,500 for the last 6 months for the individual and a minimum average bank balance of €2,700 for the last 6 months for families.

How To Apply

You can apply for the Cabo Verde Remote Working Program at the official visa website.

Be sure to have the following documents ready when you apply online:

  • Passport-sized photo
  • Passport bio page
  • Proof of income and ability to support yourself (bank account statement of the last 6 months or last 3 months of pay stubs
  • Proof of health and travel insurance
  • Proof of accommodation (booking receipt or statement)

Remember, you will also need to pre-register and take a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test before being able to enter the country.

Cost

The visa is €20 for the visa fee and €34 for the airport fee upon arrival.

Cayman Islands

Ships in the harbor in the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands is a Caribbean destination nestled in between Cuba, Jamaica, the Yucatán peninsula, and other Caribbean islands. Long known as an offshore financial services destination, Cayman has had an ex-pat financial community here for quite some time.

More recently, the Cayman Islands (comprised of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman) has introduced a Global Citizen Concierge program — essentially a remote work program that acts like a digital nomad visa for high-income earners.

Eligibility for the program, from the perspective of annual income, is some of the steepest in the world.

🇰🇾
TLDR: The trio of Caribbean islands that make up the Cayman Islands territory provides high-income professionals the ability to work remotely for foreign employers and clients.

Conditions

The annual income requirement starts at $100,000 USD per year and goes up from there. Adding one dependent raises the threshold to $150,000 USD per year. More information is available here.

You will need to have health insurance and prove the legal existence of the company abroad with a Certificate of Good Standing from the government body in your country

How To Apply

You can apply at the Cayman Islands Global Citizen Concierge website.

Be ready with:

  • Proof of employment and income
  • Proof of the legal existence of your employer or company
  • A notarized bank reference
  • 6 months of bank statements
  • Proof of identity (passport suggested)
  • A clean criminal record check

Proof of health insurance that covers your stay in the Cayman Islands (you can get this within 30 days of arriving)

Cost

The program starts at $1,469 per year with $500 added for each dependent.

Colombia

A skyline in Colombia

Colombia is one of the major population centers of South America and is known for its digital nomad hub destinations like Medellín. It's a country with very diverse landscapes and beaches — located on the northwestern end of South America and boasting an expansive and lush interior territory — in addition to the metropolises like Bogotá and Cali and towns across the country.

With the omicron variant, Colombia has suspended visa applications that are not originating from Colombian nationals within the country.

🇨🇴
TLDR: Colombia has a legacy freelancer visa called the M visa, presently, but is working on a specific digital nomad visa in 2022. Right now, visa-based travel to Colombia from outside the country is difficult or impossible.

Cost

The M freelance visa costs $282.

Costa Rica

Surfing in Costa Rica

Is Costa Rica the most sought-after destination for digital nomads globally? It's possible. Almost year-round amazing weather — sun, surf, yoga, relaxation — it really is a safe, tropical paradise and by far the most popular remote work destination in the Americas.

It seems like the government is catching up to how popular Costa Rica is and how much of a boon to the economy a formal digital nomad visa program could be for everyone involved.

We do know the requirements will look something like this:

  • $3,000 USD in monthly income that is earned outside of Costa Rica ($4,000 for families)
  • Submission of marriage and birth certificates if applying as a family
  • One-year residency, renewable for another year if you spent at least 180 days in Costa Rica during the first year
  • Medical insurance that covers you for the entire length of your stay
  • Application fees, possible translation of documents, and notarization of documents (details forthcoming)
🇨🇷
TLDR: An undisputed sunny digital nomad capital in Central America is preparing to launch its formal digital nomad visa program in 2022.There are still no formal steps to apply yet but you can check out our dedicated Costa Rica digital nomad visa page for further updates.

Croatia

The walled city of Dubrovnik at sunset in Croatia

With knockout beaches and crystal clear water, a rich cultural life, and a fantastic climate – there is no doubt that visiting Croatia would be an adventure and a comfortable place to work, for a short or long stay. You can get things done by day and explore the famed Game of Thrones sets in Dubrovnik by night, explore beautiful Adriatic islands and gorgeous waterfalls and—of course—treat yourself to Croatia's yummy cuisine.

Recently, the Croatian Digital Nomad Visa has received a lot of attention since it offers a low-cost option for those who wish to enjoy the European way of life while working remotely. In the last few months, the country has worked out the legislation, and now, those interested can apply for a visa in Croatia or through Croatian consulates and embassies.

Practically, the digital nomad visa is more like a residence permit that allows remote workers and freelancers to live in the beautiful country for up to 12 months.

🇭🇷
TLDR: This Adriatic Balkan state has historic cities, beautiful beaches, and stunning islands. The new Digital Nomad Visa gives you an opportunity to explore them for up to 12 months.

Conditions

  • Show that you are a third-country national.
  • Work at a company that is registered abroad.
  • Not work directly with employers in Croatia (with this visa, it is permitted to provide contract services for employers in the country).
  • Have a monthly income of at least 16,907.50 krona (which is about €2,250).
  • If you are staying with a family member, your income must be 676.30 kuna more. Those who don't have a regular monthly income can also show proof of their funds. Then you should have at least 202,89o kuna in your account (around €27,000).
  • Have health insurance for the entire term of your stay in Croatia
  • Showcase a number of documents, including proof of funds, a marriage certificate (if you are married), a background check from your home country, etc.

How To Apply

Head to the Croatian embassy in Croatia or abroad or apply online.

Be ready with:

  • Completed application form
  • Proof of purpose, i.e. statement of intent
  • Copy of a valid passport
  • Government-issued background check from your home country
  • Marriage certificate, if married — translated and apostilled/notarized
  • Proof of valid travel health insurance policy that covers your entire stay in Croatia
  • Proof of funds or income to support yourself
  • Evidence of Croatian address

Cost

The permit is €107 from within Croatia and €157 if you apply from an embassy abroad.

Curaçao

A picnic area in Curaçao

With a population of 160 thousand, Curaçao is a small island in the south Caribbean Sea near the coast of Venezuela. It's a sunny and relaxed country with a stunning landscape and beautiful beaches. Getting to Curaçao is very easy. There are direct flights from the US, Venezuela, and Colombia.

Curaçao is part of a group of territories in and near the Netherlands Antilles that is much closer to the coast of South America than Caribbean countries from further North.

The @HOME in Curaçao program is only 6 months, so those looking for a longer stay may want to check out other Caribbean islands. But to get a

🇨🇼
TLDR:@HOME in Curaçao is a 6-month-stay program for this island territory of the Netherlands off the northern coast of South America.

Conditions

The @HOME in Curaçao program accepts applications for both remote workers and digital nomads.

To be eligible, you must prove that you can work location-independently using telecommunications technologies.

In addition, you will need to prove that you fit under any one of the three following categories:

  • You work for an employer registered in a foreign country and you have a contract with that employer;
  • You conduct business activity for a company that is registered in a foreign country and of which you are a partner/shareholder;
  • You offer freelance or consulting services to clients, whose permanent establishments are in a foreign country, and with whom you have contracts.

For the first category, the legislation does not distinguish between public or private sector employers. Therefore, you would be eligible whether your employer is a private company, a public sector agency (e.g., government or regulatory body), or a non-profit organization. It is important that you have a contract of employment with the employer, and you can work remotely using telecommunications technologies.

How To Apply

Visitors can apply at the official program application website.

  • A copy of your passport identification page
  • Proof of international travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage
  • Proof of foreign employment or foreign business ownership
  • Proof of payment of application fee, approximately $300 USD
  • Other declarations

Cost

The visa program costs approximately $300 USD.

Czechia

A bridge to town in Czechia

Czechia, formerly known as the Czech Republic, is a central European nation with a rich history and wonderful, historic cities like the capital, Prague. Czechia has been a tourist destination for backpackers and travelers for several decades and is establishing itself as a startup hub.

Czechia does not have a digital nomad visa that allows people with foreign income from any source to simply enter the country and work remotely. Czechia does have what is called a Zivno visa that allows specific trades to enter the country and work in a specific licensed trade. It is a lengthy process that requires an in-person visit to an embassy and several months of waiting. If you really want to go to the Czech Republic — you may want to look into this, otherwise, it is not competitive with the ease and burden of application of other visas available to remote workers.

🇨🇿
TLDR: The Czech visa for freelancers is not a digital nomad visa per se. It is called the Zivnostenske opravneni or Zivno.

Conditions

  • This is not a digital nomad visa for employees of foreign corporations. This is a more limited freelancer visa for people whose income is generated from international clients.
  • Unlike other freelancer visas which carve out and exclude domestic clients, this visa does allow you to have Czech clients. 

How To Apply

You will need to do this in two separate steps, which both include translating documents into Czech.

First, the Czech trade license is available here, in Czech. Nová živnost fyzické osoby means new trade license applications for an individual person.

You may want to work with a firm or translator to continue with the application, but a few things to know are that you will need to ultimately have:

  • Your completed Application
  • A valid passport
  • An address in Czechia
  • A criminal background check

Once you have that you can actually apply for the visa in person at a Czech embassy, which requires:

  • A valid passport with two pages available
  • 2 standard-sized passport photos
  • Proof of 124,500 CAK in your account and a notarized copy of a debit or credit card
  • Temporary Trade License
  • Evidence of accommodation
  • Health insurance for the duration of your stay in Czechia
  • A criminal background check

Once you have concluded this appointment in person, you will still have to attend an Immigration Interview, wait 3-4 months, register with foreign police once you enter the country, and register your trade license.

Frankly, this is not a digital nomad visa and is one of the more difficult and cumbersome visas to obtain.

Cost

The Trade License Fee is 1,000 CZK, or about $45 USD)
The zivno visa application fee is $227 USD

Dominica

Tranquility at sea in Dominica

"Work in Nature" — that's the promise of the WIN Extended Stay Visa from Dominica which offers travelers the ability to work and play from Dominica for up to 18 months — a residency period that is slightly longer than some other Caribbean programs.

Dominica is one of many Caribbean island nations and territories offering up digital nomad visas.

🇩🇲
TLDR: A small Caribbean island nation in the Windward Islands provides an 18-month long-stay digital nomad visa opportunity.

Conditions

You may apply for a WIN visa if:

  • You are at least 18 years old
  • You are of good character, without a criminal record
  • You are able and willing to make the required financial contribution
  • You can work remotely
  • You can expect to earn an income of US$50,000 or more over the next 12 months and/or have the means to support yourself, your spouse/partner, and their other family members accompanying you during your extended stay in Dominica

As the main applicant, you may apply for your family members via the same application.

Eligible family members include:

  • your spouse or partner
  • your children or stepchildren under the age of 18 years
  • any other relative who is, by reason of age or any infirmity of body or mind, wholly dependent on you for his/her subsistence

How To Apply

You can head to the official Dominica WIN Visa application page.

Cost

The individual application fee and the visa fee together are $900 USD.

Ecuador

A signpost shows distances to other locations in Ecuador

Ecuador is famous as the home to the Galápagos Islands but also has a rich history as one of South America's great destination countries for culture, heritage, wildlife, and distinctly local cuisine.

Quito, Ecuador's capital, is the world's highest capital city at 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level. And like much of high elevation Ecuador, it can get mighty chilly in Quito, sometimes. Ecuadorian cuisine reflects this, with hearty soups and stews often the meal of choice for lunch.

Quito's most famous soup is called sopa parihuanha. It's made from goat meat, cilantro (coriander) leaves, avocado, and potato dumplings.

🇪🇨
TLDR: This South American country does not have a specific digital nomad visa yet, but the new Minister of Tourism is in talks to bring a Nomad Visa to Ecuador in 2022.

Estonia

The city at night in Estonia

Estonia was one of the very first countries to embrace a digital-native approach to national governance, tourists, company formations, and remote workers. Famous for its e-residency visa, Estonia has taken steps to make it easy to form a company in Estonia from abroad — and has now introduced a remote worker visa.

🇪🇪
TLDR: A Baltic nation in Eastern Europe is a pioneer in digital services, and now offers a one-year digital nomad visa.

Conditions

  • You work remotely using digital, remote IT tools to earn your income.

You fit into one of the following categories:

  • You possess a work contract with a foreign employer/company
  • You are a partner or shareholder in a company incorporated outside of Estonia
  • You offer consulting or freelance services to and contract with clients established abroad
  • You meet the minimum salary requirements for Estonia in the prior six months. This is presently €3504 (before tax).

How To Apply

You can apply for the Estonian digital nomad visa by heading to the official Estonia application website.

  • When you go to apply, be ready to supply documents that can prove the following aspects of your situation:
  • You are a “digital nomad” – i.e. that can do your job remotely (“independent of location”) and that you use telecommunications technology. For example, a letter from your employer or a confirmation written by you, stating your ability to work remotely.
  • You have an active work status as an employee or as a business owner.
  • You have documents looking back at six months of income and proving your continued ability to support yourself
  • A memorandum of your academic and professional history.

Cost

The Estonian remote worker fee is 80€ for what's called a Type C (short stay) visa and 100€ for w Type D (long stay/one-year) visa. We assume if you are coming in as a digital nomad, you may choose the long-stay. Many nationalities are exempt from requiring any visa for shorter travel.

Note that after you pay the fee and apply online, you still need to print copies of the application and make an appointment at the local Estonian embassy or consulate in your area.

Georgia

An orange sky over a city in Georgia

Georgia may identify as European, but it is nestled up on the eastern end of the Black Sea — so far east it is practically Asian. The capital, Tbilisi is roughly on the same longitude as Riyadh and Kuwait City, but up north.

This city, in a unique and underrated part of the world between Russia and the Middle East, opened its borders to digital nomads during the coronavirus pandemic and has had thousands of remote workers visit since 2020.

Remotely From Georgia is the name of an apparently free program that allows visitors to stay for up to 360 days and live and work in Georgia.

🇬🇪
TLDR: A European gem so far east that it's practically Asian. Georgia welcomed visitors to the country who wish to stay and work remotely for 360 days.

Conditions

  • Be a citizen of one of 95 countries listed in this document here.
  • Prove minimum income of $2000 USD/month for the last year
  • Prove travel health insurance covering at least 6 months
  • ***Conduct an 8-day quarantine and take a COVID-19 PCR test on the 8th day to test out

How To Apply

You can apply with the official online government application form here.

You will need to share a series of basic data points on your contact info, arrival and departure info, and purpose of travel.

Cost

This program is apparently free!

Greece

Lights on the islands in Greece as people sit by the ocean.

Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization and the home of ancient ruins, Mediterranean islands, Aegean shores, world-famous cuisine, and sunny beaches. This popular tourist destination for Europeans and global travelers formally approved a digital nomad visa program in 2021.

This is a visa for non-EU remote workers — EU workers simply use their right to travel and work in the Schengen zone to work in Greece. It is a 12-month long-stay visa and renewable for an extra year.

🇬🇷
TLDR: Enjoy the Hellenistic lifestyle in the Mediterranean for up to 12 months with the new Greece digital nomad visa program.

Conditions

You must work for or have business income of €3,500 a month from a source that is based outside of Greece, plus 20% extra for any spouse, and 15% extra for any child.

You must show you are a digital remote worker who can conduct their work through telecommunications technology

How To Apply

You can apply at any Greek consulate or embassy.

Cost

The cost is €75 per applicant.

Iceland

A street corner in Iceland

Iceland is a beautiful and remote island nation, situated in the North Atlantic—Scandinavian in character but wholly unique. It is a nation of startling contrasts: between the endless winter and the midnight sun; its rugged, lava-strewn moonscape in the interior and the verdant farmlands on its shores; its traditional Nordic customs and those of an island culture all its own.

Iceland's digital nomad visa program is great for entrepreneurs, athletes, digital nomads, and location-independent workers. In October 2020, Iceland launched its long-term remote work visa for those workers and travelers who have flexibility and location independence with how they earn their income. The program is a 6-month stay program.

🇮🇸
TLDR: The island nation in the North Atlantic famous for glaciers, spas, waterfalls, and volcanoes has a 6-month long-stay digital nomad visa.

Conditions

  • You are from a country outside the EU/EEA/EFTA
  • You are not from a country that needs a visa to travel to Iceland.
  • You have not been issued a long-term visa in the last 12 months by Icelandic authorities.
  • The purpose of your stay is to work remotely from Iceland.
  • You do not intend to reside in Iceland for the long term.
  • The applicant can show that his monthly income is equivalent to ISK 1,000,000 or ISK 1,300,000 if also applying for an accompanying spouse or cohabiting partner.

How To Apply

You can apply at the Iceland Directorate of Immigration website.

What documents must be submitted with an application?

An applicant for a long-term visa must submit the following documents required by the Directorate of Immigration for the processing of applications.

Failure to submit satisfactory documents with the application may result in delayed processing of the application or rejection of the application. The Directorate of Immigration may request additional documents when deemed necessary.

  1. Payment receipt. Information about the applicant's name and date of birth (dd.mm.yyyy) must be included in the subject line with the payment.
  2. Application for a long-term visa for remote workers and their family members. Download it and save it on your computer before filling it out.
  3. Passport photo (35mmX45mm), not older than six months.
  4. Copies of passport. The validity of the passport shall be at least three months beyond the intended stay. Copies shall be of 1) the personal information page, 2) the page showing the applicant’s signature, 3) all visas and 4) all stamps showing the applicant’s travel to/from the Schengen area for the past 12 months.
  5. Health insurance. If the applicant does not have insurance from an Icelandic insurance provider, they must submit detailed information about their insurance coverage while in Iceland/Schengen. The insurance policy must include information on where and for how long the insurance is valid.
  6. Purpose of stay in Iceland. Confirmation from an employer that the applicant is allowed to perform their work remotely in Iceland if the applicant is an employee. Self-employed applicants must confirm that they are verifiably self-employed in the country in which they have permanent residence or work typically.
  7. Income. Confirmation that income from remote working will correspond to ISK 1.000.000 per month. For example, an employee can present an employment contract with information on the monthly salary. A self-employed person can, for example, show a contract for the project(s) they intend to work on remotely and the agreed payment(s). Note, if also applying for a spouse or cohabiting partner the income for the remote work must correspond to ISK 1.300.000 per month.
  8. Criminal record check. If necessary, the Directorate of Immigration may request a criminal record check.

Cost

The Iceland long-term remote visa fee is about $60 USD or 7800 ISK.

Indonesia

Two travelers look at a pyramid in Indonesia

Although there are many islands, cities, and regions across the diverse and fourth-most populated country in the world, Indonesia, when people talk about working remotely and being a digital nomad in this country, they often single out Bali. Bali is both a province in Indonesia and also one of the westernmost islands in the Lesser Sunda chain near the big island of Java.

There have been announcements that relevant ministerial workers in the Bali regional government are contemplating a 5-year visa for digital nomads. We'll be keeping an eye on that!

🇮🇩
TLDR: We're not sure about all of Indonesia, but the province of Bali is contemplating a 5-year digital nomad visa that could launch in 2022.

Italy

Boats in the harbor on the Italian Riviera
🇮🇹
TLDR: Italy has what's called a visto di ingresso per lavoro autonomo, which is essentially a self-employment visa. We will be expanding on that soon.

UPDATE JUNE 2022: Italy has voted into law a digital nomad visa in the spring of 2022, but the law is yet to go into effect. We will update this page when Italy provides details, criteria, and procedures for obtaining an Italian digital nomad visa.

Jamaica

Cerulean-blue waters in Jamaica by the ocean
🇯🇲
TLDR: For now, most digital nomads head to Jamaica on a tourist visa and then extend their stay, which is NOT a formal digital nomad visa program. We'll be watching closely to see what digital nomad visas Jamaica may or may not adopt in 2022.

Latvia

June 2022 Update: Latvia has announced plans to deliver a remote work visa, but it is not an active visa program yet.

  • Will allow foreign nationals to live and work remotely in Latvia for up to one year. Renewable for another year.
  • Income requirement of at least €2.857.50 per month.
  • Ability to work remotely through telco technology (genuinely remote)
  • Latvia will require proof that you have been employed by a company outside of Latvia for at least six months prior to applying.

Malaysia

The skyline of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
🇲🇾
TLDR: Malaysia is known for its fee-free 90-day visa — which is a temporary tourist visa and NOT a formal digital nomad or remote work program. We'll be watching in 2022 for any movement on the remote work front as Malaysia recovers from COVID-19 shutdowns.

Malta

Colorful boats in the harbor in Malaysia

This Mediterranean island nation and EU member opened up a nomad residence program in 2021 to attract remote workers to the country. Multicultural island life and 5G connectivity already made this island a magnet for remote workers before the pandemic. A long history of ancient, medieval, and modern culture is available at historical sites and towns across Malta, which has been the crossroads of empires for many years.

🇲🇹
TLDR: A Mediterranean nation and EU member which is also a self-contained island in the Mediterranean. Like Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, this island is located in warm weather and in a unique location between Europe and Africa.

Conditions

  • You need to be able to prove you can work remotely as a digital nomad.
  • You must be a third-country national, which in this context means a non-EU citizen or resident.
  • You need to prove you work for a foreign employer and have an active contract or that you are an owner/shareholder of a foreign business/or offer freelancing and consulting services to clients with establishments outside of Malta
  • You need to have a gross monthly income of over €2,700 + 20% of €2,700 or the prevailing median wage for extra family members.

How To Apply

  • You can apply for the Malta Residency here.

Cost

The Malta residency visa costs €300 for each individual on the application.

Mauritius

A tranquil oasis in Mauritius

Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius is a small island country located in the Indian Ocean, about 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of the African continent. The country has a total land area of 1,865 square kilometers and a population density of around 503 per square kilometer. Mauritius is also known as the 'Jewel of Africa' and its economy is one of the strongest in Africa.

Mauritius is the only African country to be in the “very high” category on the Human Development Index. According to the World Bank, the country is classified as a high-income economy. Mauritius is also ranked as the most competitive, and one of the most developed economies in the African region.

The Premium Visa program is free and allows visitors to work remotely.

🇲🇺
TLDR: An island country in a unique, tropical location off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean offers a free Premium Visa for remote workers.

Conditions

  • Provide evidence of your long-stay plans
  • Have adequate travel and health insurance for the initial period of stay
  • Your main place of business and source of income should be outside Mauritius
  • You will not be allowed to enter the Mauritius Labour Market
  • All other entry requirements for Mauritius will also apply

How To Apply

  1. A valid passport
  2. Copy of your flight ticket (including return) – that's right, you need to have booked your travel!
  3. A passport photo
  4. A valid email address
  5. Pre-booking for accommodation after the quarantine period
  6. Travel and health insurance for the period of stay
  7. Copy of marriage certificate (for a dependent spouse, if applicable)
  8. Letter certifying parental consent for a dependent child where the child is accompanied by only one parent
  9. Proof of funds to meet the cost of the stay in Mauritius (minimum amount of $1500 USD/€1300 per month for each applicant and minimum amount of $500 USD/€400 per month for each dependent below 24 years old)
    Proof of funds can be in the form of a bank statement/bank attestation or an employment contract for a professional working remotely.

Important Note:

  1. Ensure that pre-booking for Quarantine accommodation is also made prior to the date of travel.
  2. Any document of a foreign language shall be accompanied by a certified translation in either English or French language

Cost

The Mauritius Premium Visa is free of charge.

Mexico

A historic building in Mexico
🇲🇽
TLDR: Mexico doesn't have a formal digital nomad visa but many nomads look into the 4-year temporary residence permit — which is not a work permit to work for an employer in Mexico.We'll watch closely to see if Mexico launches any digital nomad programs in 2022.

Montenegro

The Bay of Kotor in Montenegro
A cruise ship enters the Bay of Kotor, flanked by Montenegrin towns.

Montenegro is a country with rumored plans to offer a digital nomad program. Nearby Croatia has already offered a digital nomad program. When and if Montenegro announces a formal program this year, remote workers could welcome to opportunity to spend time working from stunning locations like the Bay of Kotor— a rare "Mediterranean fjord" which provides opportunities for mountain hikes, historical old towns, Balkan culture and food, and amazing seaside locales.

🇲🇪
TLDR: This small and mountainous Balkan state, neighbor to Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Albania, has plans for a digital nomad visa in 2022, but no formal program is approved yet.

Montserrat

A mountainous cliffside and an old building in Montserrat

Montserrat is a British Overseas territory in the Caribbean that has rugged mountainous terrain, a unique feature of the island. This island is small! 11 miles long and 7 miles wide. Narrow valleys and gorges, known locally as ghautes, criss-cross the landscape.

"The Stamp" or the Montserrat Remote Worker Stamp program is a remote worker visa that allows the visitor to stay for up to 1 year.

🇲🇸
TLDR: A very small mountainous Caribbean island territory for the warm-weather traveler.

Conditions

  • An annual income of $70,000 USD
  • Health insurance that covers the time in Montenegro
  • Proof that you are either an employee of a foreign company, a business owner/partner or shareholder of a foreign company, or a freelancer.

How To Apply

You can apply by going to the official Montserrat Remote Worker Stamp page here.

You will want to have the following items ready when you apply:

  • Proof of valid health insurance
  • Passport size photograph
  • Proof of employment or business incorporation certificate
  • Proof of an annual income
  • Copy of Passport Biographical Data
  • Police Record

Cost

  • Individual applicants pay $250 USD
  • Family applicants (up to 3 dependents) pay $750 USD
  • Additional family members in the family, beyond three (3), are $250 USD each

New Zealand

An urban market thoroughfare in New Zealand

New Zealand has been in the spotlight during the 2020s for its handling of the pandemic — it was able to do something unique as an isolated island nation in the South Pacific and close off its air borders.

Many people are attracted to the Southern Hemisphere charm of New Zealand, a neighbor of much larger Australia. Its relative isolation is seen as a boon for many travelers and residents who can live a lifestyle that is relatively cozy and far away from the major population centers and continents on Earth. Maybe that's why there are rumors that billionaires continue to buy backup residences at secretive locations.

New Zealand does have a Working Holiday program available to people up to age 30 (and 35 in some cases) but no formal digital nomad program yet.

Because of COVID-19, applications for working holiday visas are mostly currently suspended.

🇳🇿
TLDR: We're looking forward to seeing if New Zealand can resume its Working Holiday visa program application approvals soon, and possibly introduce a digital nomad visa in 2022.

North Macedonia

A city skyline backed by mountains in North Macedonia

North Macedonia may pass a digital nomad visa in 2022, but for now, we have this article on Medium from January 2021, which we haven't verified against any primary sources or government websites, which talks about a panel that was organized by the Deputy Prime Minister and seems to cover (without endorsing or sharing any specific plans) the prospect of North Macedonia expanding to tackle digital nomad visas, in order to remain competitive in 2022.

🇲🇰
TLDR: The European nation at the intersection of the Balkans, Bulgaria, and Greece may roll out more information about its digital nomad program in early 2022, but there is no concrete information yet.

Norway

A row of houses on a fjord in Norway

Norway is a high-GDP country in Scandinavia with lots of amenities and is the namesake of the Nordic way of life. Skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and other winter sports are all available in one of the world's great winter destinations (also not so bad in the summer as well!)

In general, Norway has not introduced a digital nomad visa yet but does have a limited program for specific situations where an independent contractor is working for a Norwegian client. So in some ways, this is the opposite of a digital nomad situation, where the income comes from outside of the country.

In any event, there are certain requirements, and someone who is a non-Norwegian independent contractor can live and work in the country.

🇳🇴
TLDR: Norway provides an Independent Contractor Visa program which is not a formal digital nomad or remote work program, per se.

Conditions

You must be a self-employed independent contractor with a contract to work on a project for a business in Norway.
You must prove relevant qualifications to work in your profession.
Evidence of place to stay (accommodation) within Norway
Prove a gross income of at least €35,719 per year

How To Apply


Applying for this visa involves physically printing out the following information, filling it out, and then heading to the nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate.

  • Passport with copies of all used pages
  • Signed cover letter from the Application web portal
  • Two new passport-sized photos with white background
  • Documentation on accommodation in Norway
  • The contract between you and the Norwegian client
  • Documentation that you are a self-employed contractor with a foreign business established and in good standing
  • Proof of relevant education
  • Resume/CV
  • UDI Checklist from the website

Cost

The cost of this visa application is NOK 6003 or just under $700 USD.

Panama

A historical old building in central Panama City

Panama, home of the canal. An isthmus that connects North America to South America through the notorious Darién Gap (We don't think there is good Wi-Fi in there :). And now, with new legislation, Panama has made available a Short Term Stay digital nomad visa.

Like its neighbor Costa Rica, Panama is in an equatorial location, with a hot year-round climate and both a Pacific and Caribbean/Atlantic coast on each side of its ocean borders.

🇵🇦
TLDR: Panama, the Central American hub, has a long-stay visa for 9 months for remote workers which can be extended another 9 months.

Conditions

You will need to prove your connection to your foreign employer or business and demonstrate a minimum monthly income.

How To Apply


This process is not done easily online and requires a local lawyer to assist you in the process. If you are preparing to meet a lawyer, you can prepare the following information which you will need:

  • Completed application form including a commitment to cover your costs to get home
  • Three passport photos
  • Certified passport copies
  • Criminal record certification
  • Certificate of good health
  • Health insurance policy which covers the duration of stay in PanamaAffidavit of personal background
  • Affidavit of non-acceptance of working for clients within Panama
  • Certification of proof of registration of the employing company or foreign-owned business
  • Letter of employment confirming the position and tasks performed, monthly recurring income, and commitment to assume the costs of return
  • Business owners must prove ownership of your company outside of Panama with a sworn statement outlining the business activity, services, clients, and revenue.
  • All documents issued abroad must be apostilled/notarized.

Cost

The visa costs $300, a $250 fee plus a specific $50 fee for the Visa Card.

Portugal

A corner of Lisbon abuts the ocean

Portugal is truly emerging as a top digital nomad hub, with Lisbon having received immense accolades and buzz as a top digital nomad destination. Portugal has great weather and a safe, Mediterranean climate as well as the all-important digital nomad "scene" in several of its major cities.

The current visa that is used is actually not a formal digital nomad visa (at present) but what is called a Temporary Stay visa that allows for legal independent work for outside clients while in the country.

🇵🇹
TLDR: Portugal is definitely heating up as a digital nomad destination with Lisbon, Madeira, Ericeira, and Porto all ranking as top digital nomad destinations. We'll be watching for a specific digital nomad visa.

Conditions

While there is a lengthy application process, the main requirement is that you are a non-EU citizen who can prove an income of €635 per month.

How To Apply

You will have to apply at the actual Portuguese embassy or consulate:

  • Fill out the official form
  • Bring your passport (3 months beyond the official stay)
  • 2 identical passport photos in good condition
  • Proof of return ticket or transportation out of the country
  • Valid travel insurance covering your time in Portugal
  • Form authorizing access to a criminal record check
  • Criminal record from the country of origin or country of residency
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Proof of means of subsistence

Cost

The fee for the visa application is €75.

Romania

An Eastern European chateau in Romania

Romania brought its digital nomad visa online in late 2021/early 2022. Of course, EU residents are essentially able to move and work throughout the EU anyway, so any digital nomad visas within the EU are implicitly targeted at non-EU residents who would like to come to stay in Romania.

🇷🇴
TLDR: This Eastern European country introduces a digital nomad visa in 2022 in hopes of bringing applicants to Romania.

Conditions

  • Unusually (relative to other online applications) Romania does require you to go to an actual embassy or consulate.
  • Show the typical proof of employment or of business ownership and income with companies that are based outside of Romania
  • Get proof of health insurance outside of Romania
  • Be ready to demonstrate your last 6 months of income via bank statements and paystubs, with a minimum income of €1150 per month.

How To Apply

You will need to bring your physical copies of the required documents and head to a Romanian embassy or consulate.

Make sure you bring the following documents (and keep a duplicate copy for your own records):

  • Proof of employment or self-employment with an employer or business outside of Romania
  • Proof of your income for the past 6 months
  • Health insurance that covers the duration of your stay in Romania

There are a few more things that are not as common with most digital nomad visas, so please pay attention to the following:

  • Rental agreement or proof of accommodation for your stay
  • Your criminal record
  • A written letter of intent that covers your reason for coming to Romania and what you intend to do while there
  • Proof that you have a flight ticket or driver's license and car (license plate #) to enter the country

Cost

The cost of a Long Stay visa appears to be €120.

Serbia

A snowy city landscape in Serbia

Serbia, the Balkan country with a growing digital nomad presence, has not officially launched a digital nomad visa but may make plans to do so in 2022. This would be a boon to the thriving startup, freelancer, and digital nomad community that has unofficially sprung up in Belgrade and around the country. The Balkans and Serbia are attractive options for remote workers who are looking for historic European locations without some of the cost of living headaches of Western European locales.

🇷🇸
TLDR: In 2020, the Serbian government made some noise about regulating digital nomads. We will be watching in 2022 to see what official moves the government makes to allow for remote workers in Serbia.

Seychelles

A palm tree-filled getaway in Seychelles

Seychelles is an archipelago nation of over a hundred islands off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It has a high GDP among African nations and is a warm-weather tropical island destination — that is not in the Caribbean or Southeast Asia. Adventurous travelers may want to check out this African country as it opens itself up even further to remote workers and tourists.

Scuba diving, rock climbing, snorkeling, shopping, island hopping, boating, and beach walks are all at your fingertips if you decide to work in Seychelles.

🇸🇨
TLDR: In the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa, a warm-weather archipelago nation offers a 12-month remote worker long-stay visa.

Conditions

  • Hold a valid passport.
  • Provide documents as proof of being an employee or business owner.
  • Provide proof of income or wealth
  • Hold a valid medical and travel insurance policy, which needs to conform to Public Health Authority guidelines.

How To Apply

To apply, you can go to the official Seychelles Workcation application page.

A letter of employment or proof of ownership of a business (stating nature of occupation as well)

  • Valid passport (with six months validity)
  • A provisional onward ticket for the duration of the visit
  • Provisional proof of confirmed accommodation
  • Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of the stay
  • Valid passport (typically one which has six months validity)

    After you receive your work permit, you will be also asked to get a travel authorization form (including a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving0.

Cost

€45 per person

South Africa

A colorful street corner in South Africa

South Africa, as you would expect, is emerging as one of the — if not the top digital nomad hubs on the African continent, with Cape Town leading the way.

The government of west Cape Town is pushing for a digital nomad visa locally because the national government does not yet have a digital nomad visa despite the growth of remote workers that was accelerating into the pandemic years and is resuming in 2022.

🇿🇦
TLDR: South Africa doesn't have a national digital nomad visa yet, but we are watching closely to see what happens in Western Cape Town in 2022.

South Korea

A woman walks through a nighttime urban street in Korea
🇰🇷
TLDR: South Korea doesn't have a formal digital nomad program but we will be watching closely to see when the announced digital nomad visa comes into effect in 2022.

Spain

Beach town of Sitges in Catalonia.
Beach town of Sitges in Catalonia.

Spain, the Iberian country, the birthplace of the Spanish language and home to many different regional cultures and architectural styles is in a transition period as it relates to its digital nomad strategy. Although there is a path for non-EU citizens to become an autónomo right now — that is a self-employed freelancer legally working within the country, Spain is also looking at releasing a separate digital nomad visa in 2022.

🇪🇸
TLDR: Spain has a self-employment visa for freelance or entrepreneurial travelers. Actual 'digital nomad' visas for all travelers are expected in 2022.

Conditions

Conditions for the Spain Self-Employment Visa are as follows:

  • Not be a citizen of the EU
  • Be over 18
  • Show evidence of having sufficient financial resources to conduct your business
  • Not already be in Spain with irregular immigration (grey area status)
  • Have no criminal record
  • Prove your qualifications to conduct your business

In the event Spain finalizes its digital nomad visa information, we will update the article accordingly.

You have to apply for this visa in person at the embassy with the following documents:

  • A copy of your passport
  • Completed and signed form EX-07
  • Professional and academic certificates
  • Bank statements that prove income
  • A medical note from a physician saying you have no issues
  • Proof of medical insurance that covers your trip to Spain
  • A full business plan pre-approved by a Spanish organization

If you are waiting to go to Spain and, like many, are employed by an employer or run a business without a formal business plan, you may want to stay tuned to see whether the upcoming digital nomad visa is less cumbersome to apply for.

Sri Lanka

A temple in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is in the midst of a political crisis. We do not advise travelling to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, a mix of modern and ancient civilizations and home to some of the world's oldest continuous religious traditions has announced they will extend tourist visas to 270 days, but it is a stretch to call this a full-fledged digital nomad program yet. This tourist extension program is available online

The first extension to 90 days is free for citizens of the USA, Czechia, Maldives, Singapore, and Seychelles. For citizens of other countries, this extension costs $60.

A further extension from 90 to 180 days will be available free of charge to US citizens, $150 to other citizens, and a maximum 180 to 270-day visa will be granted for $200 to everyone.

🇱🇰
TLDR: Sri Lanka is allowing tourists to extend their stay with online applications, but is yet to offer an actual digital nomad program, despite some public acknowledgment of possible intent to do so from the government.

Taiwan

A colorful Chinese archway marks the entrance to a street in Taipei
Raohe Night Market in Taipei
🇹🇼
TLDR: This is a short entry, for now. We wanted to highlight the existence of the Taiwan Gold Card as something digital nomads are saying might be helpful in helping digital nomads reside in Taiwan. This source is not yet thoroughly researched by our team. Seek professional advice for any strategy you take in Taiwan.

Thailand

Temple and village road in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Temple and village road in Chiang Mai.

Thailand is famously world-famous as a destination for travelers, digital nomads, and backpackers. Even before Leonardo DiCaprio headed to The Beach in the early 2000s, people have become increasingly aware of places like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Samui, and Bangkok as destinations where like-minded travelers could find each other, find wonderful long-lasting local national culture, and find adventure.

It is perhaps a bit surprising that Thailand doesn't have an official digital nomad visa, given the volume of travelers it attracts, despite the devastating shutdown it faced in the pandemic years.

Thailand does have a Smart Visa program that allows workers from specific industries to apply for the traditional work visa. We will monitor

🇹🇭
TLDR: The famous Southeast Asian nation, with a deep history of accepting and welcoming travelers, does not yet have a formal digital nomad program — but remote workers can explore the industry-specific visa options available.

United Arab Emirates

The Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah on the ocean in Dubai, UAE

Dubai is the second largest city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates, and this visa program only applies to the city and emirate of Dubai — not the other emirates in the kingdom like Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or Ras al Khaimah.

Running along the coast of the Arabian Gulf, Dubai is a metropolis and the busiest entrepôt in the Middle East. Towering skyscrapers, glistening oceans, fashion, culture, and sports all merge in a busy network of roads, highways, villas, beaches, and beaches. This is the desert, so it is hot most of the year, and really hot in the summer.

Dubai's digital nomad lasts for one-year (and technically, it appears you can re-apply indefinitely).

🇦🇪
TLDR: The Gulf city of Dubai has opened up a one-year long-stay digital nomad program to visitors who can prove income.

Conditions

To apply for the program, you need to have a passport with a validity of minimum of six months and valid health insurance covering your residency in the UAE.

If you are an employee, you need to:

  • provide proof of employment with a contract valid for one year from your current employer
  • earn a salary of a minimum of $5,000 USD per month
  • provide the salary slip for the last month and bank statements for the preceding three months.

If you are a company owner, you need to:

  • provide proof of ownership of the company for one year or more
  • have an average monthly income of $5,000 USD per month
  • provide bank statements of the company’s account for the preceding three months.

How To Apply

You can apply at the official Visit Dubai program website.

Things that you should have handy before you apply:

  • Employment Contract with one-year validity, if you will be employed by a non-Dubai employer abroad
  • Proof of Ownership of Business for one year or more, if you're a business owner
  • Minimum monthly salary or income of USD 5,000
  • Bank Statement for the last 3 months with proof of inbound income into the account
  • Health insurance with UAE coverage validity
  • A digital passport photo with a white background, size 45mm or 35mm

For employees:

  • A one-year contract validity, a minimum of US$5,000 per month salary.
  • Last month's paystub
  • Three preceding months’ bank statements.

For company owners:

  • Proof of ownership of the company for over a year
  • An average monthly income of US$5,000
  • Three preceding months’ bank statements.

Cost

Processing fee 1251 AED / $340 USD
Medical Examination fee 1140 AED / $294 USD

Total: 2391 AED / $634

Vietnam

A seawall filled with people somewhere in Vietnam

Vietnam, like nearby Thailand, is part of the overall Southeast Asian region that had been a magnet for backpackers in the 1990s and 2000s and we assume will continue to be from 2022 onwards. The break in the middle is a result of a complete lockdown of the borders of the entire country to all outsiders as a result of the pandemic.

Travelers, backpackers, and nomads really loved going to Vietnam prior to 2020, and we expect that to cautiously resume through 2022 and into 2023. The effect of the very strict lockdown may mean we don't see travel bouncing back to Vietnam until 2024, but we expect that there would be some movement to accommodate remote workers, given the boon they can provide the tourism sector.

🇻🇳
TLDR: Vietnam only recently opened up its borders to visitors in early January 2022. We will watch closely to see what strategy the country has for possibly welcoming digital nomads in 2022.

Just one more thing...

If you made it this far, congratulations on the long read!Here's some bonus "remote work programs" for you to read about!


In that case... pssst.... here are 3 places in the USA that are paying people to move there:

Tulsa, Oklahoma

West Layfayette, Indiana

Southwest Michigan

This is really only of use to our USA-based readers who are authorized to work in the US, but it is part of the overall trend towards regions competing to attract the workers they need.

Curtis Duggan
Curtis Duggan
Curtis is a serial tech entrepreneur, content creator and the host of the Remotely Serious podcast on the future of remote work and digital nomadism.
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