10 Things You Need To Know About Digital Nomad Visa

Creating a special visa just for digital nomads was too absurd for countries to understand its long-term benefits. Little did they know that attracting the growing population of 4.8-million digital nomads is a win for everyone involved. 

This is why multiple top destinations in the world offer Digital Nomad Visas to lure more digital nomads into their countries. 

Many digital nomads rejoiced once they heard the news. Finally, they are recognized as an important entity, and they get a special visa at that. 

If you are a digital nomad and want to find out more about the new digital nomad visa, look no further. Here are the 10 essential things you must know before deciding whether a digital nomad visa is for you.

Everything You Need To Know About Digital Nomad Visa

1. What is a digital nomad visa?

A digital nomad visa is a permit that allows you to work legally in a country longer than what a tourist visa offers and less troublesome than a work visa. 

With digital nomad visa, traveling freelancers and digital nomads can stay in their favorite base camp anywhere in between 6 months to 2 years. And renewal is easy. 

2. Why get it?

Any digital nomads will tell you two of their biggest challenges: visa restrictions and immigration. 

Before digital nomad visas existed, digital nomads’ only choice of visa was a travel visa. Unfortunately, a travel visa bans tourists from working in the country and often allows up to 90 days of stay only. Digital nomads and traveling freelancers, in a way, had to sneak in work while pretending to be sight-seeing. 

When their travel visa expires, they have to go to the immigration office, wait for hours, and pay some fees to renew their travel visa. Some countries don’t allow renewal, so digital nomads resort to a glitch called “visa run” where they go to neighboring countries for a few days, and go back to the country to get a new travel visa stamp (some countries don’t even allow this).

If you have been a digital nomad for decades, doing these will eventually tire you out—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

This is why you should apply for a digital nomad visa if you’re eligible. It eliminates travel visa restrictions, long waiting hours in the immigration office, and visa runs. What’s better, you can work in a new scene that refreshes your productivity and creativity.

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3. How to get it?

Each country has different processes and requirements but here’s a general idea of how you can get a digital nomad visa:

1. Find out whether you are eligible by going to the country's immigration website or embassy office in your or a nearby country. 
2. Prepare all the necessary documents such as bank statements, passport, and proof of being a digital nomad or freelancer.
3. Submit all documents either by applying online or at the embassy office.
4. Wait for approval and processing while planning the long-anticipated travel. 
5. Collect your digital nomad visa, book your flight tickets, and begin your long-term nomadic lifestyle!

To find out the requirements and eligibility for each participating country, click on the links at the end of this article.

4. Who is eligible for a digital nomad visa?

Again, each country has different eligibility requirements, but generally, the following are the things you need to apply for a digital nomad visa:

• You are location-independent.
• You can work digitally and remotely.
• You have a stable flow of income and earn more than the minimum requirement.
• You are from one of the eligible countries (e.g, Europe allows people from certain countries to apply).
• You have proof of employment or ownership of a company.
• You have travel or health insurance.

5. How long does the process take?

The process of applying for a digital nomad visa can take up to 3-4 months and it is greatly dependent on the country you’re applying for. 

6. What’s the difference between a travel visa, a work visa and a digital nomad visa?

7. Can I bring my family members with me?

Some countries’ digital nomad visas allow you to bring your family members at an additional fee. Countries such as Anguilla (UK), Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean), Dubai (UAE), and Estonia (EU) accept family members tagging along. 

8. What are the typical restrictions I need to be aware of?

Digital nomad visa is a formal visa recognized by participating countries. There shouldn’t be any problems walking around the streets with it. 

Well, unless you’re looking for trouble, no amount of visa can bail you out. 

9. How do I renew my digital nomad visa?

Renewing digital nomad visas would usually require a renewal fee and it is fairly easy to do. When the visa is expiring soon, drop by at the immigration office and apply for renewal. 

Bear in mind that some countries do have a maximum period of stay even after renewal. Estonia, for instance, allows periods up to 1.5 years consecutively. If you renew after a year, you can only stay for another 6 months. Then, you’re required to leave Estonia. 

10. What are the most popular countries that offer digital nomad visas and why?

#1. Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean island are well-known for friendly and welcoming people, pink and white-sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and the world’s most satisfying climate.

#2. Barbados, also in the Caribbean region, is known for its tropical beaches, fantastic surfing, the land of flying fish, tropical weather, and the birthplace of rum.

#3. Bermuda, an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, is known for its pink-sand beaches, historical towns and hotels, warm turquoise waters, and stunning landscapes. 

#4. Cayman Islands is located in the Caribbean sea, proximate to Cuba. It is famous for world-class foods, intoxicatingly beautiful beaches, and diving with stingrays. 

#5. Costa Rica is a haven for thrill-seekers and adventurers because it is known for its zip-lining tours, whitewater rafting, kayaking, scuba, cliff diving, and many other adrenaline-pumping activities. 

#6. Czech Republic is home to enchanting countrysides, fairytale-like castles, sweet gingerbreads, and Prague, one of the world’s most beautiful cities. 

#7. The capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is the best preserved medieval city in Europe. The country itself is 50% forest and has over 2000 islands. Who’s up for nature indulgence?

#8. Mexico, a country with low cost of living yet packed with diverse nature: gray whales, butterflies, and thousands of whale sharks migrate to the crystal-clear waters of Mexico’s Caribbean Coast. 

#9. Spain, the home country of Tapas, has an infinite variety of food, wine, landscapes, towns, and customs. Every single town is unique. 

#10. Thailand, especially Chiang Mai, known to be the second best city for digital nomads, houses many enchanting temples, cheap great foods, majestic mountains and has low living costs.

Conclusion

The digital nomad visa was a nomad’s dream years ago. Today, they can travel and work freely in a country they love. It is only a matter of time this population grows bigger and more countries offer digital nomad visas.

If you’re location-independent, wish to work by the beach or in the mountains, and earn a fair stable income, a digital nomad visa is the way to go.