17 countries offering remote work visas for digital nomads

A pitfall of remote work is that staring at your four old walls can become claustrophobic. To combat restlessness, consider spicing up your working sitch by moving abroad for an extended stay on a remote work visa. You'll get a change of scenery for your 9-to-5 with time to explore another culture and mingle with locals, not to mention eat your way through new-to-you foods.

Countries offering remote work visas or digital nomad programs

We round up countries that offer special visas for remote workers or incentives to attract digital nomads like yourself. In these destinations, you can work legally, depend on access to high-speed Wi-Fi and live for months at a time — without worry about overstaying your welcome.

Why are countries courting US workers?

Countries have multiple reasons for inviting US workers to come stay during the pandemic:

• Make up for lost tourism dollars. The economies of countries like Barbados and Bermuda rely heavily on tourism and have suffered due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Inviting remote workers to come for the long haul may kick-start sluggish economies.
• Promote slow travel. The antithesis of tourism, slow travel is a mindset that encourages travelers to spend enough time in a place to soak up the culture, get to know neighbors, eat regional foods and live as a local. Ideally, a remote worker visa allows you to do exactly that.
• Bring in new ideas. Diversity benefits visitors and locals. Countries issuing these visas may be hoping to attract top tech talent — like web designers and computer programmers — as well as entrepreneurial minds to fuel a culture of idea-sharing and innovation.

Several US states are offering incentives for remote workers as well

How are remote worker visas different from tourist visas?

Since the legal ramifications of working full-time on a tourist visa can get dicey — immigration law hasn't exactly kept up with the remote workforce — a benefit of these remote worker visas is peace of mind that you're not violating international tax laws. Basically, you're free and clear to conduct business on a remote worker visa, while tourist visas generally don't allow that.

Also, most remote worker visas allow you to stay for a longer period of time than tourist visas. For example, in Antigua you can stay for up to 30 days with the tourist visa and up to two years through its Nomad Digital Residence program.

Do I qualify for a remote worker visa?

Each country has its own criteria, but you generally need to show proof of a stable income, have a clean criminal history and be at least 18 years old. As an example, here's the application criteria for the Bermuda Remote Work visa:

• 18 years or older
• No criminal history
• Proof of travel health insurance
• Proof of employment
  • Self-employed workers can provider a letter outlining the details of their work situation
• Application form
• Application fee

Find information about the visas and eligibility requirements on each embassy’s website. 

Do I still need to file taxes in the US?

Yes. Digital nomad visas are not get-out-of-taxes-free cards. You must file your taxes in the US, with self-employed workers liable for a 15.3% self-employment tax on up to $137,700 and 2.9% on any more than that. That said, you may be able to claim an exemption with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion if you meet the requirements.

Our advice? Partner up with an accountant or tax specialist if you've got questions about how to calculate your taxes when living and working overseas, because it can get complicated.

Tips for deciding on a city or town in your destination nation

After you choose a country to adopt as your temporary home, you'll need to decide where to land.

"It's a good idea to know what you definitely want and don't want from the start, so you can build some expectations to more easily carve out a unique experience that meets your needs and standards," says Melanie Huddart, a Canadian who has spent the past seven months living and working remotely in sunny Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.

To decide on a city or town, consider your budget, your personal needs and any conveniences you’d like:

• Cost of living. Look for places where rent and the cost of food fit your budget. And consider opening a checking account with a bank that has ATMs located in your target destination to avoid pricey international transaction fees.
• Quality of life. You'll need a place that has dependable Wi-Fi and quality amenities, like a table and desk chair. Huddart advises looking for places with a high walkability score or easy access to public transit if you don’t plan to drive.
• Access to quality health care. Research the medical facilities in the area to make sure there's a hospital nearby if you need it. If you take prescription medication, also look for a capable pharmacy.
• Crime rate. The US Overseas Security Advisory Council publishes information about crime rates in cities worldwide. Learn about the local police, the risk level for US citizens and other pertinent personal safety details.
• Proximity to an international airport. You may need to return in a hurry if there's a stateside emergency.
• Availability of outdoor activities and adventures. Think you might pick up a morning surfing habit? Find a rental on the beach. Likewise, avid hikers may want access to nature reserves.
• Kid-friendly amenities. Families may need to line up education and activities. Huddart moved to the DR with her 9-year-old son. But first, "I looked at where international schools were located, their educational philosophy/mission statement and their tuition fees."

You can do most of this research online, leaning on sites like TripAdvisor and forums like Reddit to suss out the personality of different places. "Expat Exchange has an expat chat forum for any location you decide on, to get a clearer idea of what you'll need, what to expect and the nuances of relocating from people who have already done it," adds Huddart.

Also be aware that many countries do not have legal protections in place for marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ community. For your safety and well-being, look into whether the local government has a history of allowing or committing human rights violations. Visit the State Department’s travel advisory page to learn about local laws affecting the LGBTQ community wherever you want to go. You can also review this LGBTQ+ Travel Index to compare the progressive policies of 150 countries, including whether there is a history of hate crimes. 

Start planning with our travel guides

How do I find housing?

It may sound intimidating to book accommodations so far from home, especially if you don’t want to stay in a hotel for a year. Start with online mainstays to get a feel for neighborhoods and rent ranges or branch out for local real estate help:

• Airbnb. Long-term Airbnb rentals come with major discounts of up to 60%. Right now, you can book a private one-bedroom cottage in St. Michael, Barbados, from January to December 2021 for as low as $776 monthly — including Wi-Fi. With service and cleaning fees, that's just $10,268 for the year!
• Vrbo. Vrbo specializes in entire property rentals. We suggest Vrbo for families to avoid filtering through single rooms or shared spaces to find your dream vacation rental.
• Local realty company. If the details of your location are important to you — proximity to the beach, grocery store or nightlife — think about establishing a connection with a team of people on the ground in your destination.

You don't necessarily need to book one place for the whole year. Instead, you could get a better idea of your surroundings by building flexible short-term stints into your stay before settling down.

"I started off in a lovely Airbnb owned by expats who have been here for 20 years and eventually graduated to a little two-bedroom house located among Dominicans, surrounded by the jungle and a five-minute walk from the beach," says Huddart, who enjoys daily ocean plunges and seaside walks — far away from blustery Canadian winters.

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