23 Best Digital Nomad VISAs or Residencies in 2021 – [Countries List]
Being a digital nomad means that you have decided to become location independent rather than spending your life tied to an office desk. You certainly don’t need to buy courses to learn how to do it simply because this is not a job but a different lifestyle.
But not everything is beaches, mojitos, and tropical weather. Unnecessary bureaucracy and visa issues come with traveling.
Countries Offering Digital Nomad Visa in 2021
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- Cayman Islands
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Curacao
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Dubai
- Estonia
- Germany
- Mexico
- Australia
- Portugal
- Spain
- Montserrat
- Mauritius
- Romania – Coming soon
- Greece – Coming soon
- Thailand – Coming soon
- Indonesia – Coming soon
- Cape Town – Coming soon
Countries Offering Digital Nomad Visa or Residency
Malta
This island nation has introduced a new Digital Nomad Residency for digital nomads and remote workers willing to live by the Mediterranean Sea.
The initiative offers a six-month visa program with an option of getting a one-year “Nomad Residence Permit.”
Applicants must either own an overseas company or be remote workers or freelancers with clientele based abroad.
You will need to:
- Pass a standard background check
- Purchase health insurance
- Have a valid passport
- Demonstrate a minimum monthly income of EUR 2,700
- Rent or buy a property
- Write a letter of intent clearly stating your motivations for moving to the country
Last but not least, the Maltese government has expanded this opportunity to third-party non-EU nationals!
Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua & Barbuda is offering a new visa called the Nomad Digital Residence (NDR). It is intended for digital nomads that can support themselves and any family members.
This visa lasts 2 years and beneficiaries will need to get a health insurance plan.
What to expect
- You need to own a location independent business
- If you do not, you should work remotely for a company based outside of Antigua & Barbuda
- You must make at least USD $50,000 per year
How to get it
- Fill out the online application form
- Submit proof of employment and a police background check
- Pay $1,500 for one person, $2,000 for a couple, $3000 for a family of 3 or more
Barbados
Barbados has also decided to follow the digital nomad boom. The country is now offering The “Barbados Welcome Stamp”, a 1 year working holiday visa for digital nomads. The visa costs $2,000 for individuals, and $3,000 for families.
What to expect
- You need to own a location independent business
- If you do not, you should work remotely for a company based outside of Barbados
You must make at least $50,000 per year
And you must undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test and a 48-hour quarantine upon arrival.
How to get it
- Fill out the online application form
- Pay the $2000 for the visa
Bermuda
“Work From Bermuda” is a new visa program for remote workers and digital nomads Bermuda has launched. This initiative aims to attract “executives and students to work and study remotely from the island in a stunning and worry-free environment.”
The country states to be ready to receive these workers given they already have multiple co-working spaces, vacation and electric car rentals, and other venues that will allow applicants to enjoy life and work on this beautiful island for up to a year.
The best part of this offer is that there is no minimum income requirement!
Conditions
- You own a location independent business or
- You work remotely for a company based outside of Bermuda
- Show proof of travel insurance
How to get it
- Fill out the online application form
- Submit any required paperwork and pay the $263 visa fee
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has just launched a special visa for digital nomads called the Global Citizen Concierge Program (GCCP) that will allow nomads to live and work in the country for up to 2 years.
The minimum income requirement is a bit more expensive than other countries. If you are not there yet, this visa may be the motivation you need to make the leap to a six-figure earner. Digital nomads need to present proof of an annual salary of at least USD $100,000, or USD $150,000 for couples.
Since this is a whole new program, the full list of requirements has not been released yet. But we have gathered some conditions here.
- You must be employed by a company outside of the Islands
- You will need a notarized bank reference letter
- All applicants are subjected to background checks
- You will need to get a health insurance policy
How to get it
- Fill out the online application form
- Pay the application fee of USD $1,469
For further info click here.
Croatia
This visa for digital nomads in Croatia is now a reality. As of now, the country is offering visas for digital nomads for up to 12 months with no extension. The applicant has to be a third-country national and work for a non-Croatian company.
You will need to:
- 1. Fill in this form.
- 2. Submit a copy of your passport
- 3. Buy health insurance that covers Croatia.
- 4. Prove that you work on communication technology for a foreign employer.
- 5. Having a bank account with a minimum of HRK 28,800 (USD $4,544.81)
- To find more information about Croatian visas for digital nomads click here.
Czech Republic
Spend your weekends exploring the historical towns and mountains of one Prague, one of the best cities for digital nomads with the new freelancer visa called the Zivno.
This visa allows digital nomads to live and work in the country for 1 year and offers the possibility of one extension. The catch is that this one is a bit more difficult to get, but still not impossible.
How to get it
- You will need a trade license for one of the trades listed here
- Show proof of accommodation for at least a year in order to qualify
- Submit proof of at least €5,587 in your bank account (per person)
- And pay about USD $80 USD) per month in local taxes
For more info about this visa click here.
Curacao
The paradise island of Curacao is now offering a new initiative for digital nomads and remote workers named @Home in Curacao program. For those who haven’t visited it, Curacao gathers one of the most interesting mixes of cultures in the Caribbean, from Spanish, to British to Dutch people and much more.
How to get it
- You need proof of a contract with a foreign company
- Or you need to be a partner or shareholder of a foreign company
- Or you are a remote worker, digital nomad or freelancer whose clients are foreign citizens living outside Curacao
Documents and others
- Of course, you need to submit your passport identification page.
- Purchase travel insurance that covers COVID-19 related expenses.
The application fee is only USD $300
As they say, why not change your cold weather for a tropical island where you can work from?
Costa Rica
Over the last decade, Costa Rica has been known as the Switzerland of Latin America. A stable democratic country with lots of investment on social programs and natural resources plus a tax system that benefits expats.
This amazing country is now offering “Rentista”, a new type of residency visa for digital nomads and remote workers. To qualify, applicants need to show proof of a non-locally earned income of at least $2,500 per month which must be corroborated by a banking institution (for the last two years.)
Conditions
- Applicants must make, at least, USD 2,500 per month or make a deposit of $60,000 in a Costa Rican bank.
How to get it
- Hire an immigration lawyer who knows how to navigate the Costa Rican system or do the registration process by yourself at their official website.
- Translate all of your documents to Spanish and authenticate them in your home country.
- Pay the visa fee of USD $250
Dominica
Dominica (not to be confused with Dominican Republic) is another Caribbean nation launching its own “Work in Nature” visa that will allow remote workers, digital nomads and freelancers to live and work “in the nature” of the island for up to 18 months.
How to get it
In order to be eligible you must,
- Have clean criminal records
- Be able to work remotely
- Make USD $50.000 per year or more
- Pay USD $800 for the visa fee and USD $1,200 for families. Additionally, you should pay a non-refundable $100 fee.
This $50.000 also includes other eligible family members such as
- Wife or partner
- Underage children
- Other family members (conditions apply)
This initiative looks to also create a remote working village for digital workers specifically, with special services and venues.
Dubai
Just this year, Dubai launched their remote work and travel visa. For only USD $287.
How to get it
- You will need to submit proof of medical insurance with UAE validity
- Proof of employment from your employer
- One year contract and monthly salary statements (This one may be tough because most of us work freelance jobs and may not have these documents)
Estonia
Estonia became the first European country to launch an e-residency program that allows digital nomads to register an EU-based online business.
This year, they also started a new digital nomad and freelancer visa that allows foreigners to live in the country for 1 year.
What to expect
- You will need to own a location independent business or be hired by a company based outside of Estonia
- You will need to make at least €3504 per month for the last 6-months to be considered
How to get it
- Fill out the online application form
- Make an appointment at your nearest Estonian Embassy/Consulate to submit it
- Pay €80 per a short-stay visa or €100 per a long-stay one
Germany
This is a perfect visa for digital nomads. The “Freiberufler” can be extended for up to 3 years.
What to expect
- To be granted this visa the local tax office must deem your freelance job “liberal” versus a commercial profession. Only then, they will determine whether you qualify or not.
- You will be asked to pay taxes to the German government.
Germany also has another special freelance visa called the Aufenthaltserlaubnis für selbständige Tätigkeit. This one allows digital nomads and self-employed people to live in the country for 6 months to 3 years.
How to get it
- You will need to get a local address in Germany
- Submit proof of health insurance
- Proof of financial self-sustainability
- This one is tough – You have to work with clients based in Germany. The government needs to see that you are helping the local economy
- Pay €100 for the visa fee
Mexico
Mexico is one of the digital nomad hot-spots plus it is offering a temporary resident visa that allows us to live and work in the country from 1 to 3 years in a row!
What to expect
- You need to own a location independent business
- If you do not, you should work remotely for a company based outside of Mexico
- You must make at least USD $1,620 per month or have a bank balance of USD $27,000
How to get it
- Fill out this application form
- Make an appointment at a Mexican consulate to hand in your documents in person
Australia
An Australian Working Holiday Visa is a long term visa that allows digital nomads to work and live in the country for 1 year.
The catch is that you must be between 18 and 35 years old to qualify for this visa. If you are, you will have the possibility to extend it for 1 more year -this is important- if you do some sort of farm work in rural Australia.
Many people visit Australia just to experience first hand its rich fauna. If you are interested in volunteering or working with animals in Australia find out what programs will also qualify you for a visa extension.The extension of this visa may not be advisable for digital nomads since most of us have little to nothing about farm work.
We recommend you to consult with your embassy about these types of visas in Australia so you know first hand about the special conditions.
Portugal
Portugal offers not only a temporary resident visa but also a residence permit for digital nomads and entrepreneurs.
These types of visas have the possibility to be extended from 1 to 5 years. And for one year, with the ability to renew for up to 5 years. The best part about this visa is that after five years you can apply for permanent residency.
You will need:
- Proof of income coming from property, business or other financial means
- Make at least €600 per month
- Get private travel/health insurance
- Agree to a criminal background check
Spain
Spain offers a Self Employment Visa that allows digital nomads to live in the country for 1 year.
What to expect
- You must prove that you have sufficient funds to “establish and maintain employment indefinitely”
- Pass a background check
For more info about this visa click here.
Spain also offers a Non-Lucrative Visa that allows foreigners to live in Spain for 1 year and a possible extension. The catch is that you are not allowed to work on this visa. The Spanish government aims to take in “retired” and self-sufficient folks.
Montserrat
Digital nomads are now welcome to join a new remote work program called Montserrat Remote Work Stamp. This program allows foreign digital nomads to work and live in the caribbean island for 12 months, and if you are happy enough, you can be eligible for an extension.
You will need to:
- Pay $500 per applicant.
- Show proof that you work for a foreign employer or have a company overseas.
- Show proof of an annual income of minimum $70,000.
- Buy health insurance.
And finally you only need to wait for 7 business days to get approved!
For further information click here.
Mauritius
Mauritius is another island country that has recently joined the club of places offering visas for digital nomads and remote workers. Beneficiaries can work and live in the country for 1 year (Renewable). So far, the application is for free!
You will need to:
- Make sure that your source of income is out of the island country so you don’t compete against local workers.
- Meet the cost of staying in the country (USD 1500 monthly) per person and additional USD 500 per dependents below 24 years old.
- Buy travel insurance.
- Have a valid passport.
- Buy a return ticket.
- And be a foreign national from one of these countries:
Romania – Coming soon
Romanian authorities such as the MPs and the Ministry of Research, recently introduced a draft law looking to regulate the implementation of a new visa which would allow digital nomads and their families to live and work in Romania for longer than a tourist visa normally permits them.
The main conditions would be:
- Proof of being an employee or the owner of a company registered outside of Romania
- Proof of health insurance
- proof of no criminal record
- Visa fees have yet to be announced
Greece – Coming soon
Greece’s government is working on creating a new visa for digital nomads, remote workers and investors that allow foreign nationals to live, work and pay (potentially reduced) taxes in the country.
According to Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi, the government is looking to create “an organized, attractive environment for people that choose this advanced way of working.”
The launching date is yet to be confirmed.
Thailand – Coming soon
The Board of Investment (BOI) has included digital nomads and remote workers on their Smart Visa program. So far, the Smart Visa only includes investors, executives and startup entrepreneurs who want to work in and live in the country for up to 4 years.
The changes on the Smart Visa program have already been approved and the application details should be released over the weeks to come.
Applicants need to take into account that even if this visa is intended to target freelancers or digital nomads, those will have to show proof of qualification and professional experience (to be screened by BOI partners).
For more information, click here.
Indonesia – Coming soon
Indonesia, the home to the resort Island Bali, is planning to offer visas for digital nomads and remote workers to live and work in the country for up to 5 years. Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno, the same minister who is currently going above and beyond to reopen Bali, made the announcement a few weeks ago.
This one is one the most expensive visas of our list. Applicants have to make a deposit of USD $142,300 per person or USD $178,000 per family. Let’s see if the government changes their mind and makes it more affordable for the digital nomads waiting for this dream to come true.
For further information, click here.
Cape Town – Coming soon
Chosen multiple times as “The best city in the world” by the Telegraph Travel Awards due to its infrastructure, fast internet connection, and international atmosphere, Cape Town is ready and working to become the next digital nomad hot spot.
The Western Cape provincial government looks to convince the Department of Home Affairs to allow them to develop a new “remote working visa” so they can target this demographic.
Companies such as the Western Cape tourism company Wesgro and Airbnb have already taken the lead in the process by signing an agreement to promote the region as the best place for digital nomads to work and live.
“Digital nomads will now be able to take advantage of the Western Cape’s tech- and entrepreneur-friendly economy at an affordable price,” said the DA’s provincial spokesperson for Finance, Economic Development, and Tourism, Deidré Baartman.
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