With over sixty countries now offering some sort of extended stay visa for digital nomads, all that’s left if figuring out what you are looking for.
July 17, 2023
By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP
Plenty of reasons exist to become a digital nomad, and there are just as many considerations in deciding where and why to do so.
It could be that you’re looking to test out a few countries to see what suits you best. Perhaps you’re looking to expatriate from your current country and need a way into another one. Maybe you’re just seeking a more affordable life on what you’re making.
Whatever your preferences or motives, there are enough countries wooing digital nomads that all have something to offer.
Top Destinations for Budget-Conscious Nomads
If you’re looking to live on a shoestring while having an awesome life experience, consider getting out of the major cities and exploring beach and rural areas in countries like the Philippines, Mexico, Romania, Argentina, or Grenada.
Even countries like Switzerland and Lithuania are offering off-the-beaten-path opportunities to digital nomads.
Switzerland’s Alpine Retreat for Nomads
Switzerland doesn’t have a digital nomad visa, per se. It’s more like a small Alps town called Lenk, which is highly dependent on tourism, is looking to offer itself up to digital nomads as a place to rest their heads for a bit.
If you have a Type-C Schengen visa or are an EU citizen then you can have longer term access to this town. The former allows you to circulate in the area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The latter allows for three months within a 180-day period, and the option to apply for residency.
Lithuania’s Digital Nomad Offer
Lithuania, on the other hand, is trying to lure people in with particularly unique experiences, such as:
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Staying in a hotel which happens to be in a monastery Monte Pacis is a hotel operating in the Pažaislis Monastery near the city of Kaunas.
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Staying in a tree house The Varena Tree House is a minimalist tree house complex in southern Lithuania along the Merkiai River.
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Staying and working from a Tech-Spa Located in the historic wellness resort of Druskininkai, or a remote farm in the village of Radiškis.
Canada: A Pathway to Citizenship for Digital Nomads
Canada has recently announced its Digital Nomad Visa program. And the interesting part is that it offers a path to citizenship.
Canada is actually very straight forward in the strategy behind their program:
“We’re enthusiastic about the ambitious goals we have set in immigration, because they aren’t just about numbers — they are strategic,” Sean Fraser, the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, said in a statement. “With Canada’s first-ever immigration Tech Talent Strategy, we’re targeting newcomers that can help enshrine Canada as a world leader in a variety of emerging technologies…”
Canada will also look to promote itself as a destination for skilled workers by improving existing programs that cater to workers in high-skill tech occupations like the Start-up Visa (SUV) Program, which “provides a path to permanent residence for foreign entrepreneurs who gain the support of a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor organization or business incubator for their start-up.”
While this sounds difficult to qualify for, it really isn’t. If you have a current employer and can work remotely, you could qualify for a 6-month visa. If you find an employer who is willing to hire and sponsor you, you could be eligible for up to 3 years on that visa. And if that works out and you’re still happy to live in Canada, then you could be looking at an opportunity to lock in citizenship.
Sean Fraser went on to tell CNBC:
“It’s an incredible opportunity for people who want to test-drive Canada and if they decide they want to commit once their time is up, we’re quite happy to have them.“
There aren’t many places that allow their digital nomad schemes pave a path for citizenship, so this is a rather aggressive offer in contrast to the others.
Countries Offering Digital Nomad Visas Leading to Permanent Residency
Sixty-six countries offer a digital nomad visa, but only six countries other than Canada offer visas that can lead to permanent residency (which could ultimately get your foot in the door for citizenship):
Armenia Entrepreneur Visa
This isn’t quite a “digital nomad visa”, but rather an entrepreneur visa. You could register your LLC or S-Corp in Armenia in exchange for residency. You would be subject to a nominal corporate tax, however, after three years you can apply for citizenship and a passport. With no minimum stay requirement, it’s not a bad deal.
Greece 1 Year Digital Nomad Visa
They have a more gradual program that starts with the one-year digital nomad visa, which requires you work remotely and have a minimum of 3,500 Euro/month income. If you still want to stay, you can apply for a two-year residency visa, which is renewable.
If after five years, you still want to stay, you can get permanent residency.
And after seven years, if you can speak Greek and pass their test, you can indeed get citizenship.
Mexico Residency
In Mexico they have something that looks like Greece in that you start with a one-year residency visa that can be renewed up to four times. After five years, you’re eligible for citizenship.
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Bank balance of $43,000 for 12 months
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Earn $2,595 per month for last six months
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Own property in Mexico valued over $346,000
Portugal Visa for Digital Nomads
They have one of the most affordable digital nomad visas in Europe. Proof of 3,040 Euro/month income can get you a 4-month visa.
That visa can buy you enough time to either get a long term lease or buy a property, whereby making you eligible for a two-year residency visa. If you meet the requirements during that time, you’re eligible for a three-year residency visa. After which point, you can apply for permanent residency!
If citizenship interests you, that is also possible after five years, but you would be subject to a language and naturalization test.
Spain 1 Year Digital Nomad Visa
They offer a one-year digital nomad visa, during which time you can apply for a renewable three-year residency visa. After five years of living in Spain legally, you can apply for a permanent residency visa.
Norway Self Employment Visa
This one is very particular. But if you can pull it off, then it’s worth considering. It’s more of a self-employment visa in that it requires you to have at least one client in Norway willing to pay you a minimum of 35,719 Euros/year. It’s a renewable two-year visa, but after three years you are eligible to apply for permanent residency.
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