Digital Nomad Visa Countries and How to find Accommodation with People Like Us (Home Exchange)
With fantastic new options for alternative accommodation and travel, there’s never been a better time to tick off your bucket-list than now.
Why are Digital Nomad Visas gaining popularity?
There’s no denying that over the past several years, the incidence of remote work has skyrocketed. With an increasingly interconnected world, and with attitudes towards work shifting, so too have the number of folk seeking greener pastures for a breath of fresh air in the interim of online meetings. The fantastic news is that this sort of lifestyle is being embraced by corporate culture, and if you’re lucky enough to have a job with such flexibility, international travel while staying productive is very much in the cards.
With this newfound sense of adventure, remote workers’ remit has been to manage their work-life balance and finally catch up on immersing themselves in other cultures. With the cost of living compared to some nations being much lower, and there being fantastic new options for alternative accommodation and travel, there’s never been a better time to tick off your bucket-list than now.
Why are countries issuing more Digital Nomad visas?
It’s worth touching on for a moment that there isn’t just a demand for these visas from this emerging group of remote workers and professionals, but from countries themselves.
Digital nomads, with their relatively high purchasing power and disposable income, inject cash into local economies through their expenditures, such as housing, food, activities, and services. They’re essentially well-qualified tourists, and many governments won’t say no to hosting them. In fact, it’s sometimes in their best interest to facilitate their passage, and thus, digital nomad visas are on the rise, essentially having countries compete for the market.
Other secondary reasons that countries have implemented such a visa include attracting innovation, and entrepreneurship—local start-up ecosystems and technological development has shown upticks in areas with digital nomads. This, additionally, helps mitigate brain drain, in that if skilled professionals are present in the economy, the workforce and knowledgebase for locals can grow as a result.
Finally, to answer both of the questions above, an overarching theme that is influencing the world of travel is the newfound sense of community that has developed over the years. Growing awareness in digital nomadism has boosted visibility and appeal, at least partially through social media, and with these communities in place, more individuals are attracted to explore the digital nomad way of life.
What are the things to look out for when picking a country to visit?
We’ve mentioned elsewhere that safety, comfort, and legal implications are worth considering, and that’s a good starting point for discussion. Additionally, we’ve collated a list of the most affordable countries for digital nomads (spoiler: Southeast Asia is a strong theme), as well as popular visa countries with introductory information, to get your creative juices flowing to see what might work for you.
Overall, though, the themes are similar: we want to consider the quality of life, a sense of community, proximity to other countries of interest, and the accessibility of activities of relevant interest. If you’re particularly outdoorsy, for instance, that sort of thing should definitely be factored into your choice.
Examples of some other things to think about include access to healthcare facilities. Would your insurance cover medical expenses abroad, or do you have to consider subscribing to international insurance? These considerations have to be taken into account in equal measure when considering a country to visit and stay in for an extended period of time.
Usually, we also want to factor in the safety and political stability of a country, and whether it aligns with our values. Not to mention time zones—we still want to remain somewhat reachable, after all. Oh, and let’s not forget the weather and food!
Digital Nomad Visas themselves
While we can identify some of the countries with noteworthy digital nomad visas, the nitty gritty of taxes and durations of stay is information that is best left to local governments to disburse. At People Like Us, we can only encourage you to do thorough research on your ideal country to visit for the particulars. That being said, please see the countries with digital nomad visas below, categorized by continent, or check out a closer look at some of our picks for the best countries for remote work.
Digital Nomad Visas Countries in Europe
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Iceland
Germany
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Greece
Romania
Hungary
Cyprus
If you are a citizen of a European Union country, you have the right to reside in any EU country in which you work as an employee, self-employed or seconded worker. Some EU countries require you to report your presence to the relevant authorities within a reasonable time of your arrival. The first 90 days usually do not require a visa, but check with the local authorities before you make any travel arrangements.
Digital Nomad Visas Countries in Central & South America
Costa Rica
Mexico
Panama
Brazil
Digital Nomad Visas Countries in the Middle East & Asia
Dubai (UAE)
Thailand
Malaysia
Find the Ideal Digital Nomad Accommodation with People Like Us
It’s no secret that Digital Nomadism has been on the rise—the question is, do you intend on embracing the lifestyle? People Like Us for home exchanges can offer a convenient and genuine way to connect with your exchange partner and their host country, adding a unique dimension to your overseas travel experience.
Sky’s the limit with where you go to next. Get started today.
Premium Moderator
Alexandra
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.
Locations
People Like Us Home Exchange
