12 Best Countries for Digital Nomads

Have you ever heard of Digital Nomads? If No, then stick right by me as I take you on a rollercoaster to find out everything you need to know in this article about the best countries for Digital Nomads!

First off, I want to start by saying that, I have heard about Nomads, which is defined as a member of a community without a fixed habitation. They regularly move between particular areas. . Nomads are known for their migration. Another synonym for Nomads is Gypsies, Wanderers, and Roamers.

Digging deep into research, I found out that nomads exist in the Digital world as Digital Nomads. Now the question is who and what is a Digital Nomad?

Before I answer that question, it would interest you to know that there are countries in the world where Digital Nomads exists and this article is here to talk about these Countries and what made them the best for Digital Nomads.

When you hear the word “Digital,” the first thing that comes to mind is “The internet or Online” Now,  having the idea that a Nomad is someone that moves from place to place for work, bringing these two words together, you would have a clue of what and who a Digital Nomad is.

 To satisfy your curiosity, let’s find out the answer to the question about Digital Nomads. Stay with me as I break it down.

You can read this article on digital marketing if you are interested in obtaining a digital skill

Digital Nomad Meaning

Simply put, a Digital Nomad is a person who earns a living working online in various locations of their choosing (rather than a fixed business location). The person who works remotely, either full-time or part-time, while traveling to new places. It is also known as the ability to work online from anywhere.

A Digital Nomad often works in coffee shops, co-working spaces, or public libraries, relying on devices with wireless internet capabilities like smartphones and mobile hotspots to do their work wherever they want.

As a digital nomad, you have the flexibility to create your work schedule, free of the standard nine-to-five timetable. This lifestyle also allows you to see the world: Lisbon, New York City, Playa del Carmen, and Medellín are popular locations for digital nomads.

There are remote work opportunities across industries and skill sets; however, the following remote jobs are location-independent and suitable for the digital nomad lifestyle. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can work the following jobs remotely across the globe: Blogger,  Writer, Graphics Designer, Software developer, Virtual Assistant, Digital Marketer,  Entrepreneur, Customer Service, Consulting, Bookkeeping, Freelance Writer, SEO Agency Work, Website Designers, Selling On Amazon, Creating Online Courses, Language Education and lots more!

A good digital nomad destination will have access to high-quality and consistent internet, a great working environment, solid travel infrastructure, a reasonable cost of living, and will work within your timing schedule.

How do I Become a Digital Nomad?

To become a digital nomad, there are some relevant things to do and consider before you decide to become one.  Here’s a guide you can follow:

1. Create a budget: Outlining travel and living expenses before embarking on your pursuit will help you stay organized and avoid unnecessary expenses. When creating a budget, consider how much you spend on transportation, housing, food, and experiences.

2. Map out your travels: While you can move to different cities and countries regularly, it will be a good idea to map out your first few destinations. This map will make it easier to determine other necessary admin and practical aspects of your journey, such as visas and residency permit applications. When researching places to live, consider your job and the time difference.

3. Set up health insurance: Research and select a health insurance plan that will provide coverage in all the places you plan to travel. It may also be worthwhile to purchase travel insurance if you want to spend most of your time abroad.

4. Select a phone plan: If you plan on traveling internationally, consider unlocking your phone. When you unlock your phone, you can use it to move from one country to the next. You can also purchase a prepaid SIM card with a set amount of data through an international phone carrier. Once you set up your phone plan, you can purchase a mobile Wi-Fi device, so you don’t have to rely on cafés and Wi-Fi spots for work.

5. Organize your finances: It’s a good idea to check whether the country you’re moving to accepts your debit and credit cards before embarking on your journey. . Also, if you’re traveling abroad, consider buying foreign currency from your bank or credit union before you depart.

6. Store your belongings: Digital nomads tend to travel light, making it easier to move from one city to the next. You can pay for a storage unit to hold your belongings or ask friends and family to store some of your things at their place.

How to Get a Digital Nomad Visa

Digital nomad visas are permits that allow you to work remotely in a foreign country.

Here are some eligibility criteria you have to meet for the digital nomad visa:

  • You must be over 18 years of age.
  • You must have a specific monthly income (the amount varies from country to country).
  • You must have a job you can do from anywhere in the world.

You can apply for a digital nomad visa by following the instructions below:

  • Fill out the application form.
  • Make an appointment with an embassy or consulate.
  • Prepare your documents.
  • Submit your application.

You need the following documents for your digital visa application:

  • Digital nomad visa application form.
  • Your passport.
  • Identity pictures.
  • Proof of health insurance.
  • Proof of financial income (its source, the amount, etc.).
  • Evidence of remote work (clients, work contract, business license).
  • Civil documents (birth certificate, CV, qualifications, etc.)

The documents required for your digital nomad visa must follow the guidelines listed below:

  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of application.
  • You must take your identification pictures with a plain, white background, neutral facial expressions, and no editing.
  • Your civil documents must be translated (if required) and certified with an apostille stamp.

It usually takes around one month to process your digital nomad visa. But, you have to keep in mind that the processing time for a visa application changes from country to country.

How Many Countries Offer Digital Nomad Visas?

Here is a list of 42 countries that currently offer a digital nomad visa :

  • Andorra
  • Dominica
  • Mexico
  • Anguilla
  •  Dubai  
  •  Montenegro
  • Antigua and Barbuda     
  • Ecuador
  •  Montserrat
  • Argentina
  • Estonia
  • North Macedonia
  • Aruba
  • Georgia
  •  Norway
  • Bahamas
  •  Germany
  • Panama
  • Barbados
  • Greece
  •  Romania
  • Belize   
  • Hungary
  •  Saint Lucia
  • Bermuda
  •  Iceland Seychelles
  • Cabo Verde
  •  Indonesia
  •  South Africa
  • Cayman Islands
  • Italy      
  • Spain
  • Croatia 
  • Latvia   
  • Sri Lanka
  • Curaçao
  •  Malta
  •  Taiwan
  • Cyprus 
  • Mauritius
  • Czech Republic

Best Countries for Digital Nomads

  • Germany
  • Estonia
  • Costa Rica
  • Mexico
  • Croatia
  • Thailand
  • South Korea
  • Vietnam
  • Taiwan
  • Spain
  • Australia
  • France

1.       Germany

Germany is a fantastic place for digital nomads, as it is rich in culture, has a fantastic nomad community, and now offers an excellent visa for freelancers and digital nomads. Germany has three main telephone providers: Telekom, Vodafone, and O2. Telekom is the most widely used, which means they have the best coverage.

Even if the Internet isn’t the best you can find, you can work in co-working and co-living spaces, living a new adventure in Germany as a digital nomad.

2.       Estonia

Estonia is the digital hub of the world; an ideal base for any digital nomad. The few elements that may affect the living cost of a digital nomad in Estonia include accommodation type, quality, and location. The average monthly expenditure on an Estonian stay is between €300-€500.

Big cities like Tallinn and Tartu have co-working spaces, To work at these shared workstations, you need to acquire a monthly membership. Digital banking is available, transportation is cost-effective, and food and groceries are affordable too.

3.       Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country with high degrees of connectivity, allowing digital nomads to keep in touch with their companies anywhere in the world. The country’s geographic location, climate, time zone, air connectivity, and tourism experience make Costa Rica an attractive destination for digital nomads.

4.       Mexico

As an international destination, Mexico City attracts ex-pats and digital nomads from all over the world. Mexico City is a very friendly place, so you’ll have no trouble meeting interesting people, especially others in one of the numerous co-working spaces.

Since it’s such a large city, there are endless things to eat, see, do and experience in Mexico City. Plus, numerous tours, day trips, nearby ruins, and destinations to explore.

5.       Croatia

This amazing country checks all of the boxes for being digital nomad-friendly and is home to some of the best digital nomad cities in Europe.

There is a rich culture, history, and food scene that means you will want to take time out to explore, making Croatia worth so much more than a quick city break or a short beach holiday destination. Croatia is a fantastic place to set up and stay for a while.

6.       Thailand

Thailand has been a long-time favorite with digital nomads flocking to Bangkok or the smaller Northern city of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai has for a long time been known as the Digital Nomad capital of the world. Digital nomads were attracted by the low cost of living, fast internet, the old town, a great food scene, a nearby airport with great connections, and plenty of cafes and co-working spaces

7.       South Korea

South Korea is a great country to consider for digital nomads looking to move to Asia. Despite being a modern and advanced country, it still embraces its historical past, with many cultural and historical attractions scattered around the country.

As a digital nomad in South Korea, you will find many good reasons to stay in the country. Internet speed in the country is excellent. Seoul is one of those cities with the fastest internet speeds in the world, which is what most digital nomad wants. As a highly developed country, South Korea has good infrastructure, making it easier for westerners to adjust. It also has many western restaurants and supermarket chains for when you crave home comforts.

8.       Vietnam

Vietnam might just be the perfect choice for Digital Nomads. It’s affordable, and there’s plenty to do, no matter where you choose to locate yourself. You have the opportunity to live the big city life in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh or enjoy the laid-back beach vibe in the bigger cities like Da Nang and Nha Trang or smaller spots like Mui Ne and Phu Quoc Island.

9.       Taiwan

Taiwan has a lot to offer digital nomads. The internet is fast, the locals are friendly, there’s access to healthcare, and the cities are vibrant and full of culture. Taipei, in particular, is a dream for anyone looking for a big city to live in.

Taipei has long been generating a buzz in the digital nomad world as a great place to live for a digital nomad in Taiwan. It has excellent Internet speed, decent public transportation, great café culture, and a relatively low cost of living.

10.   Spain

The number of digital nomads in Spain is increasing rapidly. And that’s because many digital nomads love what Spain has to offer. The country has a good internet connection, and affordable transport and  Spain is also generally very safe, the people are friendly and relaxed, and the quality of life is great

Valencia, a city in Spain has a quickly growing digital nomad scene which makes it an easy place to meet other digital nomads.

11.   Australia

For many digital nomads, Australia’s three largest cities namely; Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane offer everything they need. Fast, reliable internet, cafes with power outlets and internet, dedicated co-working spaces, heaps to see and do, and access to transportation (including airports) to see other parts of the country.

12.   France

France is one of the most welcoming destinations for nomads and is famous for its flexible work-life balance. The locale offers a modern setup and some of the world’s finest wine and food to keep you going. You can’t have all work and no play, after all. The French tend to be more civically involved and have a strong sense of community, environmental, and cultural heritage.

The country’s beautiful landscapes, unique architecture, and famous cuisine attract almost everyone. This fascinating and enchanting destination should be on every digital nomad’s “must-visit” list.

Conclusion

Having seen these countries that I have listed and talked about as the best countries for Digital Nomads, why not start your adventure in one of them and start living the life you want as a Digital Nomad?

Let me call it a wrap here and answer a frequently asked question on the Best Countries for Digital Nomads.

Best Countries for Digital Nomads – FAQs

How much do digital nomads make?

According to FlexJobs studies, one in five digital nomads makes between $50,000 and $99,000 a year.

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