Top 7 Countries with Digital Nomad Visa That Are Most Affordable
Digital nomads work remotely and are location independent. The best thing about being a digital nomad is undoubtedly genuine freedom – the freedom to live where you want and the freedom to work how you want.
Living as a digital nomad, you are able to see incredible places, learn about different cultures, and work where you want to — true freedom. If this sounds interesting to you then you should start exploring the digital nomad lifestyle right away.
That being said, if you want to become a digital nomad and want to live and work remotely from a foreign country then you need a special type of visa called “the digital nomad visa”. Although you can travel on a travel visa, working in another country while on a travel visa can be technically illegal.
In this article we will discuss what a digital nomad visa is, why a digital nomad visa is needed and the list of countries with digital nomad visa programs that are affordable.
What is a Digital Nomad Visa & Why do you need it?
The “digital nomad visa”, also known as “remote work visa”, is a travel permit that allows the holder the legal right to work remotely while residing away from their country of permanent residence.
A Tourist or Travel visa only gives you permission to enter a country for touristic or leisure purposes and stay for a short period of time. Technically it is illegal to work while on a travel visa.
Also, remote workers cannot apply for a work visa, the digital nomad visa comes in as a handy solution. The digital nomad visa officially states that its bearer can work independently and remotely while in the country.
It is essentially a temporary residence permit which allows you to stay and work remotely.
The Benefits of a Digital Nomad Visa?
- You get to live and work in a beautiful destination.
- You can stay longer than a tourist visa (usually up to one year or more).
- Most countries don’t levy income tax.
- Gives you legal permit to work abroad
Top 7 countries with digital nomad visa that are most affordable
Currently there are about 49 countries offering temporary visa programs for remote workers. Each country has its own terms when issuing such a visa, like the length of stay, proof of income, health insurance, etc.
The following is a list of countries with digital nomad visas that have been chosen because the cost of living in these countries are affordable and do not require high monthly income.
1) Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa
This Central American country with its rainforests, waterfalls, and beaches, among other natural wonders is a popular tourist destination.
Costa Rica offers a temporary residency visa, also known as Rentista, for remote work opportunities. The visa is valid for one year and it can be extended for an additional year.
The average monthly cost of living in Costa Rica is about $1000 to $2000. Apart for the beach lifestyle, natural wonders and low cost of living, Costa Rica offers tax-free living to digital nomads.
For these reasons, Costa Rica is a wonderful choice for digital nomads who are biophilic.
2) Malta Digital Nomad Visa
Malta is a beautiful Mediterranean island in the European union. Malta offers a special visa called ‘Nomad Residency Permit” that allows you to stay on the island for up to one year and can be renewed.
Malta with its stunning beaches, a nationwide 5G network and English as one of the official languages, offers a great deal to digital nomads.
The average monthly cost of living in Malta is around $1500. Malta with its fast wi-fi, coworking spaces, and historical sites offer the digital nomad community lots of fun things to see and do. It is best for up-and-coming travel destinations for digital nomads.
3) Greece Digital Nomad Visa
Greece is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The natural beauty of Greece with mountains, lakes, heavenly island beaches, sunny summer, and not to mention the historic sites attracts visitors from all over the world.
Greece has launched the “Greek Digital Nomad Visa” in September, specifically for the people outside the European Union to live and work in the country for one year with the option to extend for a period of up to three years.
The average monthly cost of living in Greece falls between $1000 to $1300. Greece is the best for low cost of living in Europe.
4) Mexico Digital Nomad Visa
Mexico is a favourite among digital nomads, it has beautiful beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, energetic culture, and offers an excellent variety of foods.
The cost of living in Mexico is much lower than most other countries, the average monthly cost of living is under $1000.
Mexico offers a Temporary Resident Visa that is valid for one year and can be renewed yearly for another three years.
With its beaches, low cost of living, great food, and diverse landscapes, Mexico has recently become one of the most popular places to live as a digital nomad.
5) Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
Estonia is a small nation, known for its rich cultural heritage, located in northern Europe on the Baltic Sea shore. It has beautiful mediaeval architecture and it is a must-see country for nature lovers.
Estonia launched its official Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers in August 2020. Their digital nomad visa allows you to live and work in the country for up to a year.
The average monthly cost of living in Estonia is under $1500. The country offers free public wi-fi and coworking spots.
With its low cost of living, free Wi-Fi, fairytale castles, historic towns dating back to 1265, what better place to stay and work than Estonia?
6) Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Croatia is a Mediterranean country, has one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines, with friendly people and the cuisine is awesome.
Croatia gives you a temporary residency permit that allows you to live and work remotely for a year with no possibility of extension. Croatia offers a dedicated village for digital nomads outside the waterfront city of Zadar.
The average monthly cost of living in Croatia falls between $1000 to $1200. With affordable housing and the chance to meet other digital nomads, Croatia is an excellent country for nomadic lifestyle.
7) Mauritius Digital Nomad Visa
Mauritius is a tiny African nation located in the Indian Ocean, It is a tiny country, and has about 16 islands that are mostly uninhabited and is widely recognized to be an island paradise with some of the world’s best beaches, and pristine waters.
This island was colonized by the English, Dutch and French before its independence in 1968, and the influence of these countries can be seen in the architecture and language.
The average monthly cost of living in Mauritius ranged from $700 to $1100. Mauritius with its beautiful beaches offers a simple and beautiful lifestyle and hence it is more likely to be admired by digital nomads.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the digital nomad lifestyle has become increasingly popular in recent years, and more and more countries are offering visa for digital nomads.
Digital nomad visas are a great option for remote professionals looking to work and travel around the world. These visas allow you to live and work in a specific country for an extended period of time, often with fewer restrictions than traditional visas.
If you are a digital nomad looking to work and travel, be sure to research the various countries with digital nomad visa program and choose a country that meets your needs and requirements.
