If you want to travel the world while working remotely, then you should apply for the best digital nomad visas. Here are the countries with the top ones.
December 20, 2024
By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP
There are currently 40 million digital nomads worldwide, and they’re constantly looking for new places to explore. Their freedom and flexibility allow them to pack up and jet off at a moment’s notice, which keeps the lifestyle appealing.
Many countries have noticed that digital nomadism is growing in popularity, and they’re taking full advantage of it. To attract more talent to their lands, they’ve created visas to make it easier for foreigners to live temporarily in these nations.
Are you interested in exploring new places as a remote worker? Then keep reading. Here are the best digital nomad visas to consider.
9 of the Best Digital Nomad Visa Countries
1. Portugal
Portugal is popular with expats since there’s an affordable cost of living and a high quality of life. It also has one of the best digital nomad visas available. This is the D8 visa and has only come into existence in late 2022.
To be eligible, you’ll have to provide proof of remote work or freelance status. You must also meet a minimum income requirement of four times the minimum wage (€820 a month as of January 1st, 2024), which means you have to earn at least €3,280 per month.
This visa lasts one year and is renewable for up to five years. It’s a fantastic way to get access to the Schengen area, as well as permanent residency in Portugal.
2. Estonia
Estonia is actually the first country to create an official digital nomad visa, so it’s definitely a groundbreaker you should consider. This visa came out in 2020 and lets applicants live in the country for up to a year.
If you’ve always wanted to explore the Baltic region, then this visa is the ideal way to do so. To qualify, you’ll need proof of employment or freelance income from outside of the nation. You must also have a minimum net monthly income of €4,500 per month.
3. Spain
Spain’s digital nomad visa came out in early 2023 and is great for remote workers who want warm weather and a slower pace of life. This country has one of the lowest costs of living in Western Europe, yet still offers access to world-class healthcare. Even better is that you’ll get tax benefits for the first four years of residence, thanks to the Beckham Law.
This digital nomad visa is valid for a year, but you can extend it up to five years. To be eligible, you’ll need either an undergraduate or postgraduate degree or at least three years of experience in your current work field. In addition, you have to earn at least two times the minimum wage (around €1,300 per month as of 2024), or around €2,600 per month, and provide proof of employment or freelancing for companies outside of Spain.
Typically, digital nomad visas don’t allow you to have local employment. However, Spain’s does, as long as your employment income doesn’t exceed 20% of your total income.
4. Croatia
Croatia’s digital nomad visa isn’t technically a visa; instead, it’s a temporary residence permit. It’s been around since 2021 and lets applicants stay in the nation for up to a year. Once the year’s over, you can’t extend the visa, but you can reapply after waiting six months. While this is convenient for some, it does eliminate the pathway to permanent residency.
One of the best things about this visa is that you can apply for it when you’re already in Croatia, which eliminates wait times. Plus, there’s no income tax for visa holders, so you can keep a bit more of your income.
If you’re ready to live somewhere with excellent access to beautiful coastal cities and islands, then know that you must prove you do remote work for a company outside Croatia. You’ll also need a monthly income of at least €2,870 a month or a minimum balance of €34,440 in your bank account. These requirements quite possibly make it the easiest digital nomad visa in Europe.
5. Germany
Germany doesn’t have a specific digital nomad visa, but it does have a freelancer visa called the Freiberufler Visa. It’s geared towards self-employed professionals, especially those in creative and academic fields. Do note that with this visa, you’ll have to get the entry visa first, and then apply for a residence permit once you’re in Germany.
This nation’s freelancer visa gives you up to three years in the country. To get the visa, you have to demonstrate that you have potential clients in Germany and that you have sufficient funds for living expenses (at least €9,000 per year). If you’re over 45, you also need an adequate pension plan (monthly pension of €1,332.36 for a minimum of 12 years or assets worth at least €194,631).
There’s also the self-employment visa, or Selbständiger. However, most digital nomads use the Freiberufler since it’s easier to meet the requirements.
6. Costa Rica
Costa Rica brought out its digital nomad visa at the end of 2021, but didn’t start actually processing applications until July 2022. It’s a relatively new visa, but it’s a quick and easy process, which makes it one of the best digital nomad visa countries. Wait times for processing can be as short as 15 days!
Costa Rica’s digital nomad visa lets you stay in the country for up to one year, and you can extend it another year for a maximum stay of two years. Also, you can apply while in the country, which is really convenient.
Other benefits include being exempt from income tax and the ability to keep your original driver’s license while staying in Costa Rica.
You’re eligible for this visa if you provide services to clients outside of Costa Rica and earn at least $3,000 a month; this income must be stable too. On top of that, you’ll need to have proof of health insurance.
7. Mauritius
The digital nomad visa in Mauritius is called the Premium Visa. What makes this visa so incredible is that there’s no application fee and there’s no minimum income requirement. The visa is good for up to one year, and you can renew it afterward.
All you need to get to stay in one of the safest countries in Africa is proof of your long-stay plans and enough travel and health insurance to cover your stay. You just need to prove that your income comes from outside of Mauritius and you’ll get to enjoy its tropical paradise. You won’t have to pay income tax either.
8. Dubai (UAE)
Those seeking a high-tech lifestyle and modern amenities will love it in Dubai. This is a no income tax country too, so you’ll keep more money in your pocket.
Dubai’s virtual work visa allows applicants to live in the city for a year, and you won’t need a UAE sponsor either. If you want to stay longer, you can renew your visa by reapplying.
All you have to do to get the visa is show that you have a contract with a non-UAE company for at least a year and have a salary of at least $3,500 per month. You must also prove that you can do your work remotely.
9. Barbados
You can whisk yourself away to Caribbean paradise by applying for the Barbados Welcome Stamp. This digital nomad visa is on the cheaper side compared to other Caribbean countries, but it’s still a bit pricey, and the cost of living can be quite high. However, you can’t beat the views and the weather.
Created in June 2020, the Barbados Welcome Stamp allows you to work remotely in the country for up to 12 months. You can reapply after the year’s up if you wish.
The requirements are quite easy. You have to prove you have remote work or a freelance business, and you must make at least $50,000 for the 12 months you’re there. Applications are usually processed within seven business days, so you’ll be in Barbados before you know it.
Apply for the Best Digital Nomad Visas
These are only some of the best digital nomad visas in the world. There are so many other ones waiting for you out there; with some research, you’ll be able to find one that puts you in a dream destination.
With remote work becoming so popular, don’t be surprised if you see other digital nomad visas popping up. Keep an eye out, and you’ll be able to hop around the globe while working simultaneously.
Contact us to find out more about protecting your assets while living overseas. We at Global Wealth Protection have helped other entrepreneurs cut their taxes by 50-100%!
