Even before the pandemic, the digital nomad culture was already starting to get more popular. Who wouldn’t want to travel to see the world while working remotely? All you need is some savings, plans, backup plans, your passport, and your Dell products, and you could be earning money while sipping a Piña coladawhile on a beachside hotel in Puerto Rico. When the heat gets too much, you could take a flight and be in France during autumn and have some French music as your background for your Zoom meetings.
It is a dream life for many people to travel as much as possible without worrying about the financial part. However, some countries wouldn’t allow you to legally work in their territories even if your job is online for a company in another location. Some digital nomads get away with it, especially as some places are more lenient. But some countries would consider it illegal.
Another problem that some digital nomads face when living their dream lives of remote working and traveling is that they would usually only be on tourist visas. These visas typically expire after 30 days. The ones that last up to 90 days are more expensive. Of course, renewing these visas can sometimes be a headache, especially if the country’s immigration laws are too complex. Then the digital nomad visa or the remote worker visa happened, which was like a gift from the heavens.
Digital Nomad Or Remote Worker Visa
Even if remote working isn’t a new concept, many countries don’t recognize that they are in a position that is between being a traveler and an expat. This situation is tricky for people who want to travel while working – or the other way around. The solution is either leaving a country once your visa has expired or apply for a work permit. The latter would cost a lot of money and wouldn’t be a smooth process in most countries.
Fortunately, the tides are changing as more countries are becoming more open to the digital nomad culture, especially as remote working became more popular when the pandemic started. The not-so-fortunate part is that not many countries are now offering this visa, and sometimes the requirements can be a little tough to meet. Still, it is a good start that will hopefully make other countries embrace this culture and welcome digital nomads with a proper visa.
Best Countries With The Remote Worker Visa That You Should Consider
Currently, around 30 countries are offering digital nomad visas. The ones listed here have conditions and income requirements that are considerably easier to meet. Here are those countries:
- Mexico
While Mexico isn’t exactly known as the safest destination out there, many travelers would still risk it and head there as the country has some of the world’s best beaches and food. Every city also has its character and is filled with vibrant colors that make anyone want to stay for an extended time. Fortunately, their recent residency visa for digital nomads made this option available as long as you have a minimum of $1,620 as your monthly salary. Alternatively, your bank savings should be at a minimum of $27,000 to qualify for their visa.
- Costa Rica
Another Central American country is a perfect destination for any remote worker as Costa Rica’s temporary residency visa offers an opportunity for you to stay in the country and work online for two years. Your monthly income should be at least $2500, or you can also choose to deposit $60,000 to a Costa Rican bank so that they can be sure you can afford to live in their country. The requirements may be a bit steeper compared to Mexico, but the biodiverse beauty of Costa Rica should be worth the trouble.
- Germany
Germany offers a residency permit that can be granted to self-employed individuals or freelancers. This type of visa allows you to stay in the country for three months, but the option to renew it for a maximum of three years is available, of course. Besides your passports, proof of previous freelance jobs you held, and other documents, you wouldn’t need to worry much about the fees and other requirements as there isn’t a lot. Just make sure you have a place where you will reside, health insurance, and any bank statement showing you are financially stable.
The Digital Nomad Lifestyle Is Growing
Of course, there are more countries you should be checking out as this list only included the best countries based on the monetary requirements and other prerequisites. While other countries you may consider going to have stricter requirements, that might soon change as attitudes about the digital nomad culture are slowly changing.
