One of the main perks of being a freelancer or remote worker is the ability to work from wherever you want in the world.
A new breed of traveller has emerged – the digital nomad, who is able to fund adventures and world travel, without having to sacrifice money or their career. They simply work wherever they are, using the internet.
This state of perpetual travel can become a little tiring after a while though. So it’s good to have the option to stay somewhere long enough to experience the country like a ‘new home’.
This slower kind of travelling gives you the freedom to worry less about making travel arrangements, and make deeper connections with the countries you visit. You can make more friends and immerse yourself in what makes that destination special.
Also, depending where you are coming from, it can be a big relief to forget about the Schengen 90/180 rule – visa expirations, renewals, and other energy-sapping entry requirements.
And of course, the spread of Covid-19 and the lockdowns that have followed, have shown the value of having more of a settled base, rather than constantly moving around.
Increasingly, countries are looking to capitalise on this new breed of traveller, by offering attractive visas designed to attract them. In this article, we will walk you through current Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) programs that are available.
Disclaimer:
Please bear in mind that these are just overviews of each programs, and the information is subject to change. If you are serious about applying to some DNV, we will provide links to official websites where you can get more in-depth information and contact respective departments for any specific questions. Make sure you do your own research though.
Also, there are countries like Germany, Portugal, Spain, where it’s possible to get residence permits and visas that can allow you to stay longer while working remotely. However, these are not official DNV programs which is why we are not covering them here.
If you would like us to do so, please let us know in the comments and if there is an interest, we’ll be happy to write an article about those options as well!
Digital Nomad Visa for Estonia
Estonia, often referred to as Baltic Silicon Valley, has earned its reputation as the first e-country in the world.
They successfully pioneered the innovative e-Residency program – which allows anyone to apply for citizenship and start a company in Estonia. So it’s no wonder they became the first country in Europe to launch a digital nomad visa program.
Application Requirements
To be able to successfully apply for the DNV, you must meet the following requirements:
- You are able to work independently of location
- You can work remotely using telecommunications technology
- An active employment contract with a company registered outside of Estonia, you conduct business through your own company registered abroad, or you work as a freelancer for clients mostly outside of Estonia.
- Evidence that your income met the minimum threshold during the six months preceding the application – at the moment, the monthly income threshold is €3504 (gross of tax).
If you tick off everything from the list above, then you can proceed with the application. The process is designed to be simple and straightforward:
- Prepare all supporting documents that prove you meet all requirements – this will include bank accounts, documents that certify you can work location independent, that you will continue to work for mostly foreign clients/companies, description of your professional life course,
- Fill in the application form online,
- Print the form and sign it,
- Make an appointment at your nearest Estonian Embassy or Consulate that handles visa applications – not all of them do that, so make sure you check the list here
Once you get the appointment scheduled, you have to go to the Embassy in person and submit the application and supporting documents. The application fee is €100 for a long-term visa (which allows you to stay in Estonia for up to a year) and €80 for a short-stay visa.
Because they have to do thorough checks on your background, the application process takes at least 15 days, but on average up to 30 days. If your application is approved, you will receive a notification when to come to the Embassy to collect your DNV.
Again, this has to be done by you, in person. So have that in mind in case you don’t have an Embassy in the country where you are located that you will potentially have to travel twice.
Why choose Estonia
One of the main benefits of choosing Estonia is that the country is a part of the Schengen zone. This means you will be able to easily visit other neighbouring European countries.
It has a really good location, so you can visit other interesting countries while you’re there, like Scandinavia, the Baltic countries and Russia.
People are friendly, welcoming, and there is a big digital nomad community there already, so you won’t have a hard time meeting new people.
Out of all Baltic countries, Estonia has the highest cost of living, but still much lower than Scandinavia and Western European countries, so your money is likely to go a long way.
You can find nice accommodation at an affordable price, and there are some great co-living options.
Things to consider
Before you get too excited about spending a year in Europe, there are some things to take into consideration.
The first and the most serious one, is that if you stay in Estonia over 183 consecutive days, by law you become a tax resident of Estonia. Therefore, will have to start paying taxes here until you leave.
That can potentially bring some unnecessary hustle to the entire experience, so do some thorough research about it. You can find more information about the Estonian tax system here or reach out to Estonian Tax and Customs Board (email for non-residents).
Other things to bear in mind is that winters in Estonia are very cold. The country is located in the north, which also means hours of daylight are very limited. Depending on your preferences, this may or may not be your dream cosy winter!
And if you are not available to travel to Estonia at the moment due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, you will have to wait with the application.
To summarise:
Pros:
- Community
- Location (close to Scandinavia)
- Affordable accommodation
- Easy and fast application procedure
- You can stay up to a year
Cons:
- you have to pay tax in Estonia if you stay 183 consecutive days
- if you currently can’t travel to Estonia you can’t apply for it
- cold weather and short days during winter
- you have to apply in person to the embassy that handles visa applications, which, depending on your current location and travel restrictions, can be a challenge
For more information, you can visit the following websites:
Republic of Estonia: Digital Nomad Visa – Official Website
FAQs about Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa – Medium Blog
Digital Nomad Visa for Dubai
Dubai is one of the most recent countries to launch a DNV programme, adding this very unique destination to the list of options for digital nomads.
The programme allows remote workers and digital nomads to come to work from Dubai for a year. If you have a family, they can come too. Don’t worry if you have kids, you will be able to enrol them into Dubai’s education facilities. The programme is designed in a way to allow you access to all services for residents.
Even though Dubai is a city within UAE, the program is for the Dubai region only.
Application Requirements
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- Proof of employment from a current employer with a one-year contract validity
- A minimum of $5,000 per month salary, last months’ payslip and 3 preceding months’ bank statements
If you are a company owner, then you need to provide:
- Proof of ownership of the company for one year or more, with an average monthly income of $5,000 per month and 3 preceding months’ bank statements
On top of that, you will also need:
- Passport with a minimum 6 months validity
- Health insurance with valid UAE coverage
- To pay the application fee which is $287
To apply for it, you need to fill in this contact form and then you will receive further instructions.
The good thing about this program is that you won’t become Dubai’s tax resident, so you don’t have to worry about that. If you want to set up a base in Dubai for a year and keep travelling from time to time, have in mind that you cannot be out of Dubai for longer than six consecutive months, as that will automatically cancel your DNV.
For more information, please visit:
Work Remotely from Dubai – Visit Dubai Official Website
Digital Nomad Visa for Georgia
The global pandemic and it’s negative effects on the global economy was one of the reasons why Georgia decided to launch their own DNV program called “Remotely from Georgia”.
The programme allows citizens from 95 countries – who own a location independent business and/or work remotely for a company based outside Georgia – to come to the country and stay for up to a year.
Application Requirements
The requirements for this visa are also reasonable:
- Proof that you own and/or work for a location independent company based outside Georgia
- Minimum monthly income $2,000
- Travel insurance
There is no visa application fee, which is another bonus.
To apply, you will need to fill out this online application form. Wait for up to ten working days to see if your visa is approved – if yes, you can fly immediately.
Please note, however, that due to the current situation with the pandemic, once you arrive to Georgia you will have to quarantine at one of the hotels officially approved for quarantine at your own expense.
At the end of the quarantine period, you will have to do PCR test. If the result is negative, you are free to move around Georgia.
Georgia has a very low cost of living compared to the rest of Europe. It’s well connected with other countries so you will be able to visit other cool places while having a base here.
It’s also a fascinating, unique country to explore.
Digital Nomad Visa for Caribbean Islands
If your vision of freelance success is lounging by the turquoise sea, working from a hammock, then you’ll be happy to know that the Caribbean Islands are also open for digital nomads.
Four beautiful Carribean islands have opened their doors for digital nomads with DNV programs – Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Antigua and Barbuda.
Barbados
“Barbados Welcome Stamp” is the name of the island’s programme that will allow you and your family to come and live on this island for a maximum 12 months. During that time, no matter how many consecutive months you stay here, you won’t become a tax payer.
Application Requirements
There are two application types – individual and family bundle. To successfully apply, you will need the following:
- Bio data page of passport
- Passport photo
- Proof of relationship of dependents (if you are applying for family bundle)
- Proof of income – you need to earn at least $50,000 to be eligible
When you have gathered all of your documents, you can apply for a visa here. The processing time is very short, and you should get a reply from them within five working days.
Once you get your visa approved, you will need to pay the visa fee – the individual visa fee is $2,000 and family bundle visa fee is $3,000.
Even though the application fees are quite high, Barbados is the cheapest island to live on out of four. You can find affordable accommodation and cheaper services.
For more information, please visit:
Barbados Welcome Stamp Official Website
Bermuda
The “Work from Bermuda” DNV allows you to set up a year-long base on this island, to work and enjoy some of the most spectacular beaches in the world.
Application Requirements
The rules are relatively welcoming, and the application is quite easy and simple. You are eligible if you meet the following requirements:
- You own a location independent business and/or you work remotely for a company that is based outside Bermuda
- Travel insurance
- You’ve had a negative COVID-19 test
Importantly for those who do not have a huge income from their business at the moment, Bermuda does not have minimum income requirements, and you will not become a taxpayer during your time spent on the island.
Once you have gathered the required documents, you can apply here.
The visa fee for Bermuda is $263. The processing time of the application is short – you should hear back from them within five working days.
The only catch is that Bermuda is the most expensive Caribbean island – so the costs of living are extremely high.
To give you an idea, living in Bermuda is four times more expensive than in the USA and three times more expensive than in the UK and Canada.
But if your bank account allows you, go for it!
For more information, please visit:
Work from Bermuda Official Website
Cayman Islands
“Global Citizen Concierge” is the DNV programme that allows you to stay on the Cayman Islands for up to two years.
Application Requirements
To be able to apply, you must meet one of the following income requirements and have proof that you are working remotely for a company that is located outside of the Cayman Islands:
- individuals – a proof of minimum income of $100,000 annually
- applicants with an accompanying spouse/civil partner – a proof minimum income of $150,000 annually,
- applicants with an accompanying spouse/civil partner and/or dependent(s) – a proof of minimum income of $180,000 annually,
If you are eligible to apply, you can see a detailed list of all supporting documents you will need for the application here. On the same page at the bottom, you will find an application form to fill in.
The visa fee is $1,469 per annum. If you are planning to come here with your family, then you need to pay $500 per dependent, per annum. On top of that, there is a credit card processing fee which is 7% of the total application fee.
For more information, please visit:
Global Citizen Concierge Official Website
Antigua and Barbuda
“Nomad Digital Residence” is, together with Global Citizen Concierge, the longest DNV program. It allows digital nomads to stay on these islands for up to two years. During that time, you will not become a tax resident of the islands and you can hop around to your heart’s content.
Application Requirements
To be able to apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- You own and/or work for a company that is based outside Antigua and Barbuda
- A minimum of $50,000 yearly income
- You have travel insurance that is valid for Antigua and Barbuda
For the detailed list of documents you need for the application, please take a look here.
Once you have gathered all the supporting documents, the application process is fairly simple:
- Fill in this online application form
- Submit all of the required documents
- Pay one of the following visa application fees:
- $1,500 for one person
- $2,000 for a couple
- $3,000 for family of three and above
For more information, please visit:
Nomad Digital Residence Official Website
Croatia
Croatia has launched a digital nomad visa last year, however, it took some time for them to finalise all processes, forms and legislation around it, so now it’s very easy to apply for it.
This digital nomad visa is aimed at Non-EU citizens who wish to spend up to a year in this beautiful country. You can apply for it when you arrive in Croatia, or in Croatian embassies and consulates. The best thing about this DNV is that it doesn’t have unrealistic income requirements, and application fees are on the lower end.
Application Requirements
To be able to apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- You are a Non-EU citizen
- You work for a foreign company – this can be your own company, but it has to be foreign (you cannot apply for a visa if you are unemployed)
- A minimum of HRK 17,822.50 (which is approximately around €2,368.78) monthly income
To submit your application, you need to have the following documents:
- Filled Form 1a (bilingual form), or this application form
- Copy of a travel document
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of purpose i.e a document that proves that you are performing work through communication technology for a foreign employer or your own company which is not registered in the Republic of Croatia
- Bank statements -proof of sufficient income
- Physical address in Croatia
For information about the documents and the entire process, please visit:
Ministry of Interior – Temporary stay of digital nomads
If you like this article, we have a feeling you might like these as well:
