Digital Nomad Visas: 15+ Destinations That Let You Work Remotely

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If one good thing came out of this whole pandorama mess, it’s the digital nomad revolution.

More people than ever before are working remotely, and countries are taking notice by launching digital nomad visas.

When I first started travelling the world and working from my laptop way back in 2016, my visa options were limited.

If I wanted to stay in a destination longer than 30 or 60 days, I had to schedule visa runs into my budget.

That’s only if visa runs would work.

Some countries have strict regulations that prevent you from bouncing in and out of their borders.

Fast forward to 2022, and DOZENS of countries offering remote work visas. All you need to do is apply, pay the fees, prove you have enough money in your bank account, and you can stay in destinations like Croatia, Greece, and Seychelles for up to a year or longer.

Ready to ditch your desk in your home country and experience life abroad WITHOUT immigrating or visa runs?

Here’s the complete list of countries with digital nomad visas!

Psst…Want more digital nomad tips and inspiration? Check out these other posts?

Table of Contents

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?
Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads
The Best Digital Nomad Visas for South Africans & Everyone Else
Digital Nomad FAQ

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

A digital nomad visa lets you live and work in a country as long as you have a remote job outside of that country.

Each destination has a set of requirements you need to meet (just like a normal tourist visa). You’ll need to prove you’re a remote worker and that you earn enough money not to become a burden on the state.

You CANNOT apply for a job or work in that country. You would need a normal work visa to do that, which is a different ball ache altogether.

Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads

Before you jump off this blog, start researching flight prices and planning your next six months in the Bahamas, you need nomad travel insurance.

But travel insurance for a digital nomad works differently. You’re staying in a destination for a longer period, and you need to make sure you’re covered.

Plus, a stock-standard travel insurance policy for 6+ months is going to blow your budget out of the water.

The solution? Safetywing.

It’s travel insurance for digital nomads.

There are two options you can choose from:

Remote Health Policy: Fully-equipped travel medical insurance for digital nomads. It works worldwide, covers your home country, and comes with COVID-19 coverage. Prices from $205 per month.

Global Travel Medical Insurance: This is perfect if you’re not travelling for an extended period. It covers any accidents you may have while on the road. Prices from $42 per month.

The Best Digital Nomad Visas for South Africans & Everyone Else

Okay, we have the basics out of the way. Let’s dive into the incredible destinations making it easier for you to live and work remotely – wherever you want.

Digital Nomad Visas in Europe

Georgia

The Remotely From Georgia program lets you work remotely in the country for one year.

Not only is Georgia the birthplace of wine, but it has one of the cheapest digital nomad visas. You qualify for the Georgia digital nomad visa program if you’re earning $2,000 a month or have a bank statement showing $24,000.

Base yourself out of the capital city, Tbilisi, and spend your weekends hiking in the Caucasus mountains, swimming in the Black Sea, wine tasting in Telavi, and wandering the streets of Sighnaghi (the City of Love).

Cost of Visa: Free
Length: One year
Income Requirements: $2,000 per month
Internet Speed: 28.68 Mbps

How To Apply

Fill out the online application form.
Prove you work remotely for a company outside Georgia, or you have a location independent business.
Prove you have the financial ability to pay taxes while staying in Georgia.
Obtain travel insurance that’s valid for six months.
Cover the costs of your mandatory quarantine and PCR testing.

Estonia

Estonia led the way for countries offering remote work visas. At the height of the pandemic in June 2020, it rolled out a one-year visa for remote workers – the first of its kind in the world.

If you’re looking for a change of pace and a not-so-typical European destination, bump Estonia higher up on your bucket list. It has a low cost of living, fast internet, and the country is safe for women and the LGBTQ+ community.

You’ll need an income of €3,504 to get your Estonia digital nomad visa application approved. Steep, I know, but if you can afford it, you can discover Tallin’s UNESCO Old Town, the immersive AHHAA Science Centre, and Matsalu National Park, one of Europe’s best bird-watching destinations.

Cost of Visa: €80 short stay, €100 long stay
Length: One year
Income Requirements: €3,504 per month
Internet Speed: 86.56 Mbp

How To Apply

Fill out the online application form.
Prove you work remotely for a company outside Estonia, or you have a location independent business.
Make an appointment at your nearest Estonian Consulate to submit your application in person.

Norway

Norway is one of those fairytale destinations in Europe. It offers an incredible mix of cultural and natural wonders, which will give you an endless list of things to do.

Stay in Oslo, visit the Viking museum, hike to the famous Pulpit Rock, and wake up to snowcapped mountains and spectacular fjords.

You can spend two years ticking off items from your bucket list with the Independent Contractor Visa.

But a fair warning, the cost of living in Norway is high. It’s one of the most expensive countries with remote work visas, and you’ll need deep pockets to get your application approved.

Cost of Visa: €600
Length: Six months to 3 years
Income Requirements: €35,719 per month & proof of accommodation
Internet Speed: 173.88 Mbps

How To Apply

You must be self-employed with a contract to work on a project for a company in Norway.
Submit the required documents on Norway’s Directorate of Immigration website.
Proof of accommodation in Norway.
Proof of relevant qualifications.
Fill out the application form and apply at your nearest Norwegian Embassy.

Czech Republic

While the Czech Republic is one of the best countries for digital nomads, its freelancer Zivno visa is one of the hardest to get in Europe.

If you want to work remotely here for a year, you’ll need a trade license for one of the listed trades.

But if you qualify and don’t mind the extra admin, you can live in Prague – a super affordable European city. Explore castles in your free time, visit ancient cathedrals, libraries and catacombs, and see the UNESCO geopark Bohemian Paradise.

Cost of Visa: €100
Length: One year
Income Requirements: €5,587 per month
Tax Requirements: 1,800 Kč (€70) per month
Internet Speed: 95.23 Mbps

How To Apply

Obtain a trade license.
Proof of accommodation for one year.
Gather all the required documents and translate them into Czech.
Make an appointment at your nearest Czech embassy.
You can hire a visa agency to guide you through the process.

Greece

Greece has one of the newest remote worker visas for non-EU/EEA citizens. If you meet the requirements, you can work remotely from Greece for one year or up to three years in total.

Spend your year abroad living in Santorini or Mykonos. Wake up to azure waters and beautiful white-sand beaches.

Or if you prefer something with more pace and history, base yourself out of Athens and use your weekends to explore the top attractions in Greece.

Need another reason to submit your application?

With a low cost of living, the Greece digital nomad visa is unusually affordable for Europe.

Cost of Visa: €75
Length: One year
Income Requirements: €3,500 per month
Internet Speed: 39.46 Mbps

How To Apply

Prove you are self-employed or work remotely for a company outside of Greece.
Gather all the required documents.
Make an appointment at your nearest Greek embassy.

Croatia

brunette standing on old city walls in dubrovnik

Ahhh, Croatia. The homeland of my grandfather.

It’s one of my favourite places in the world, and as of January 2021 is issuing remote work visas. The Croatia digital nomad visa program is available for different lengths of time but does have a small twist.

If you require a visa to enter Croatia, you’ll need to apply for that on top of the temporary stay visa. Upon arrival, you’ll need to register your address at the local police station within three days, or your visa will be revoked.

But once that bit of admin is out of the way, you can wake up inside a Game of Thrones set, go to outrageous yacht parties, island hop, and explore Zagreb, Croatia’s underrated capital city.

Cost of Visa: HRK 420 for granting a temporary stay, HRK 460 for the visa, and HRK 310 for the biometric residence card.
Length: Up to one year
Income Requirements: HRK 16,907.50 per month
Internet Speed: 46.76 Mbps

How To Apply

Fill out the application form.
Prove you are self-employed or work remotely for a company outside of Croatia.
Pass a criminal background check in your home country.
Provide proof of travel insurance.
Proof of accommodation/rental agreement in Croatia.

Portugal

Okay, technically, there isn’t an official Portugal digital nomad visa.

However, there is a loophole.

Digital nomads can apply for a temporary resident visa.

It’s only valid for one year and lets you travel outside of Portugal. This means you can explore the rest of Europe while basing yourself in one of the top digital nomad destinations in the world.

And the good news doesn’t stop there.

Not only can you sip on delicious Port wine while worshipping the sun in the Algrave, but the Portugal remote work visa is the cheapest you’ll find in Europe…

…and that is why it’s one of the best countries to be a digital nomad!

Cost of Visa: €83 visa fee and €72 resident permit fee.
Length: One year
Income Requirements: €600 per month
Internet Speed: 34.5 Mbps

How To Apply

Gather the required documents, print out and complete the application form.
Make an appointment at your nearest Portuguese Consulate.
Provide proof of income.
Provide proof of travel insurance.
Submit a criminal background check.

Malta

Malta is a fascinating country. The Meditteranean Sea surrounds the tiny European island nation, and it has a distinct North African influence.

Humans have flocked here since 5900 BC, making it an excellent choice for digital nomads who want to live in a breathing history book.

And your gateway to Malta’s palm-tree fringed landscape?

The Nomad Residency Permit. It’s a program for NON-EU remote workers and is valid for one year. With English widely spoken, and 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s one of the best places in Europe for digital nomads.

Cost of Visa: €300
Length: One year
Income Requirements: €2700 per month plus rental contract or property purchase.
Internet Speed: 150.52 Mbps

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Prove you can work remotely via the internet for a foreign company or freelance to clients with businesses outside of Malta.
Proof of travel insurance.
Property rental or purchase agreement in Malta.
Pass a background check.

Iceland

Want to work remotely from the land of ice and fire? You’ll need a sizable paycheck.

Iceland is one of the most expensive places to live, making their long-term visa for digital nomads only open to a select few.

You’ll need to prove an income of ISK 1,000,000 (roughly $7,777).

Yikes.

But if you’re making it rain in your professional life, you can explore Iceland to your heart’s content for up to six months.

Cost of Visa: 7800 ISK
Length: Six months
Income Requirements: 1,000,000 ISK
Internet Speed: 180 Mbps

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Prove you can work remotely for a foreign company or own a location independent business outside of Iceland.
Proof of travel insurance.
Confirmation from your employer you can work remotely from Iceland.
Pass a criminal record check.

Digital Nomad Visas in Central & South America

Costa Rica

Do lush rain forests lining deserted beaches, volcanos, and hidden waterfalls sound like your idea of a good time?

Then put in your application for Costa Rica’s Rentista program. The digital nomad work visa allows you to stay in the country for two years.

Retirees or entrepreneurs often use it because you can’t work for another company on the Renista.

Luckily, another freelancer visa is in the works, which will open up Costa Rica to all types of digital nomads.

Cost of Visa: $250
Length: 2 years
Income Requirements: $3,000 per month
Internet Speed: 60.70 Mbps

How To Apply

Apply for the Renista visa on the Migracion website.
Translate all your documents into Spanish.
Authenticate your documents in your home country.
Pay the visa fee.

Mexico

Mexico is a digital nomad rite of passage. It seems like everyone who can work remotely has found themselves on the beaches of Tulum at some point.

…and it’s not hard to see the allure.

There’s delicious Mexican food, incredible landscapes, Mayan culture, aquamarine cenotes, and a low cost of living.

If you want to spend longer than two weeks exploring the country, apply for the Temporary Resident Visa. This Mexico digital nomad visa lets you stay for one year and up to three years in total.

Cost of Visa: $44
Length: 1 year
Income Requirements: $1,620 per month or a bank balance of $27,000
Internet Speed: 56.82 Mbps

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Prove you own a location independent business or work remotely for a company outside of Mexico.
Gather all the required documents.
Apply in person at your nearest Mexican Consulate.

Digital Nomad Visas in the Caribbean

Bermuda

Got cash to burn?

Work remotely from one of the most expensive countries in the world – Bermuda.

With a high cost of living, you’ll need to prove you have enough coin to get the Work From Bermuda remote work visa and afford $10 apples.

But if you have the moola, you can live in paradise. After work, unwind on the pale pink sand with a mojito, play golf, and explore the island’s delicious food scene.

Cost of Visa: $263
Length: 1 year
Income Requirements: No minimum income requirement
Internet Speed: 73.6 Mbps

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Prove you own a location independent business or work remotely for a company outside of Bermuda.
Take a mandatory COVID test
Show proof of travel insurance.
All documents must be in English.

Barbados

The birthplace of our queen Rihanna could be your new home for the next year.

Barbados hopped onto the Caribbean digital nomad visa program trend with the Barbados Welcome Stamp. It’s one of the cheaper Caribbean islands and has some of the fastest internet speeds in the world.

Like other destinations in the region, it’s easy on the eyes, and you’re only a short flight away from exploring Central America.

Cost of Visa: $2000
Length: 1 year
Income Requirements: $50,000 annual income
Internet Speed: 111.99 Mbps

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Prove you own a location independent business or work remotely for a company outside of Bermuda.
Submit the required paperwork.
Take a mandatory COVID test and 48-hour quarantine
Show proof of travel insurance.

Antigua & Barbuda

Calling all beach bums!

Your mecca awaits.

Antigua and Barbuda is home to some of the best beaches in the world. Oh, and its tourism department proudly claims there is a beach for each day of the year.

Ready to take up the challenge of visiting them all? Apply for the Nomad Digital Residence permit.

It’s valid for two years, which is more than enough time to live your best sun worshiper life.

Cost of Visa: $1,500
Length: 1 year
Income Requirements: $50,000 annual income

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Prove you own a location independent business or work remotely for a company outside of Antigua & Barbuda.
Submit the required paperwork.
Show a police background check from your home country.
Show proof of travel insurance.
All documents must be in English.

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory boasting some of the best diving in the world.

With blue a$$ water, pristine coral reefs, and shipwrecks dotted around the shores, it’s the ultimate destination for wannabe mermaids searching for digital nomad friendly countries.

Apply for the Global Citizen Certificate, and you can take your time exploring all the dive sites.

But be warned, the Caymen Islands are not cheap. If you want the visa, you’ll need an annual salary of at least $100,000.

Cost of Visa: $1,469.
Length: 1 year
Income Requirements: $100,00 annual income

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Proof of income.
Proof of legal existence of your company or employer.
Notarised bank reference letter.
Police clearance certificate.
Proof of travel insurance.

Digital Nomad Visas in Africa

Mauritius

The Mauritius Premium Visa for digital nomads is a dream come true for people (like me) who hate paperwork.

Not only is there no visa fee, but there is no proof of income requirement.

With few boundaries, it opens up the island nation to a wide variety of remote workers and cements its spot as one of the best countries with digital nomad visas.

Plus, Mauritius is only a short flight away from South Africa, making it an excellent choice for those who don’t want to stay too far from home.

Cost of Visa: Free
Length: 1 year
Income Requirements: Proof you work remotely
Internet Speed: 38.68 Mbps

How To Apply

Complete the application form.
Prove you work remotely for yourself or a company outside of Mauritius.
Proof of travel insurance.
Proof you intend to stay in Mauritius.

Seychelles

A workcation in Seychelles?

Shut up and take my money!

With white-sand beaches, giant tortoises, UNESCO nature reserves, thriving coral reefs, and mouthwatering Creole cuisine – what more could you want?

A super-easy digital nomad visa program.

And Seychelles delivers with its Workcation Program. With a low remote visa cost and no minimum income requirement, you can be living in paradise in no time.

Cost of Visa: €45
Length: 1 year
Income Requirements: Proof of sufficient funds (Seychelles is not a cheap place to live)
Internet Speed: 34.46 Mbps

How To Apply

Complete the application form
Submit proof you are self-employed or work remotely for a company outside of Seychelles
Demonstrate you have sufficient funds for your stay
Proof of travel insurance

Digital Nomad FAQ

How do you become a digital nomad with no skills? Learn a skill or monetise what you’re already good at. Some of the most common digital nomad jobs are virtual assistants, writers or online teachers.

Do you need a college degree to be a digital nomad? Nope, you don’t. All you need is a skill people are willing to pay for.

What skills can I learn to become a digital nomad? Some of the skills you can learn to become a digital nomad are content writing, coding, teaching English, graphic design, Facebook Ads, email marketing, and more!

How long does it take to become a digital nomad? You can start travelling full-time as a digital nomad as soon as you have enough money from freelancing or when you land a full-time remote job.

Whew! You made it to the end of this mega-post on digital nomad visas. Congrats! Which country are you going to visit first? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below.