Live and work abroad in 2022 with these 22 digital nomad visas
If your career is portable and you harbor fantasies of warmer climates, delectable cuisine and new cultural experiences, you’re in luck. The dream of seeing the world while working on your laptop is now a reality thanks to a stream of “digital nomad visas”, “freelancer visas”, “remote work visas” and e-residency programs.
From the Caribbean to Europe, you can live and work online for anywhere from three months to three years with these programs, and many are remarkably easy to apply for without the need for immigration lawyers or endless paperwork.
Here are 22 digital nomad visas you can apply for right now to see the world in 2022.
From the Caribbean to Europe, you can live and work online for anywhere from three months to three years with these remote work visa programs. Here is how to apply.
1. Anguilla
And the award for best remote worker visa program name goes to… the Caribbean island of Anguilla. Launching in August 2020, Anguilla’s Lose The Crowd Find Yourself. Work. Life. Bliss program lets individuals and families stay for between three and 12 months. Applicants are advised to “trade sidewalks for beach walks” and apply providing proof of employment or a business incorporation certificate, police record and proof of relationship to any dependents.
2. Antigua and Barbuda
For up to two blissful years, you can call Antigua and Barbuda home thanks to its Nomad Digital Residence (NDR) program. The “land of 365 beaches” can be your office if you meet the income requirement of at least $50,000 for each year you’ll be resident on the islands. The non-refundable application fee costs $1,500 for individuals or $2,000 for couples and $3,000 for families of three or more.
3. Aruba
“Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take ya”. If you’ve always wanted to sing The Beach Boys’ ‘80s hit “Kokomo” with a cocktail in hand in paradise, Aruba’s One Happy Workation is for you. U.S. nationals can stay for up to 90 days without filling out any forms. There is no application fee as all you have to do is book one of the accommodation package deals listed on the site, all of which come with complimentary Wi-Fi. You will need to be self-employed or have an employer in your country, a valid passport, and you can’t work for any Aruban businesses during your stay.
4. Barbados
Rihanna’s home country will welcome you for up to 12 months if you meet the $50,000 per year income requirement. Apply for the Barbados Welcome Stamp for rum, fun and remote work in the cafes, coworking spaces and beautiful beaches of Barbados.
5. Bermuda
It takes just 15 minutes to complete the online form for the Work From Bermuda Certificate. The application fee is $264 and once granted, you’ll be able to eat, play and stay in Bermuda for up to 12 months.
6. Brazil
With its biodiversity, bustling megacities and legendary landscapes, Brazil’s good looks are almost unfair to all other countries. As of this month, digital nomads can live the good life in Brazil for up to one year if they provide services outside of Brazil and won’t be seeking local employment. Applicants will need health insurance covering Brazil, a minimum monthly income of $1,500 or a bank balance of $18,000 earned outside Brazil. Applications can be made from any Brazilian consulate.
Brazil’s good looks are almost unfair to all other countries.
7. Cape Verde
Practice your Portuguese in Cape Verde (Cabo Verde), the tempting ten-island archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. With a capital city called Praia (“beach” in Portuguese), you can expect sun, sea, sand and a laidback pace of life. The Cabo Verde Remote Working Program is a six-month temporary visa for foreign nationals with an application fee of just 20 euros per applicant and visa processing takes about two weeks. You will, of course, need a valid passport.
8. Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands wants professionals and digital nomads to come and experience “Caymankindness” (the warm and friendly nature of its islanders) for as much as two years. Applying for its Global Citizen Concierge Program requires notarized bank references, police clearance, proof of health insurance, a valid passport, and a minimum income of $100,000 annually. The application fee is $1,460 per annum for a party of two.
9. Croatia
Croatia’s digital nomad or temporary stay visa is for individuals without a criminal record that wish to stay for up to a year. You must have a valid passport, provide proof of means, proof of an address in Croatia (this can be a temporary address like an Airbnb or hotel), and proof of health insurance. You can apply online or in person at any Croatian consulate.
10. Curaçao
Colorful, arid, multicultural and a diver’s paradise; there’s plenty to love about Curaçao. This Dutch Caribbean island wants you to feel @Home there and you can apply for the visa before you arrive or while already on the island. Remote worker visas cost $294 per applicant for a six-month stay which can be extended for another six months. The three target groups that are eligible for the @Home program (all nationalities are welcome but there are special conditions for Dutch and U.S. nationals) are remote workers or digital nomads, snowbirds or hibernators, and investors.
11. Dominica
Its nickname is “the nature island”, so it makes sense that Dominica’s remote worker program is the Work in Nature visa. With this, location independent professionals can live and work on the English-speaking Caribbean island for a generous 18-month period. To apply, you must be of good character without a criminal record, be at least 18 years of age, and expect to have a minimum income of at least $50,000 over the next year.
12. Dubai
Everything is bigger and better in Dubai. To apply to stay in the glittery Middle Eastern city for one year, you’ll need an average monthly income of $5,000, health insurance with UAE coverage and employees will need proof of employment with a contract that’s valid for a year. Business owners must provide proof that they own a company. Applying for the visa costs $611 and holders will receive all the same benefits as Dubai residents.
13. Estonia
Estonia was one of the first countries to attract remote workers and digital nomads. In 2014 it launched an e-Residency scheme that attracted thousands of foreign entrepreneurs from hundreds of countries, many of whom had never set foot in Estonia. For those wanting to live and work in Estonia for up to a year now, you can fill out an online form for the Digital Nomad Visa and take it to your nearest Estonian consulate. You can also apply for it at the Police and Border Guard Board office if you are already in Estonia.
14. Greece
A law introduced in September 2021 means that remote workers can now stay in Greece for up to 12 sunshine-filled months. Third country (non-EU) citizens are welcome to apply for the digital nomad residence permit at the Greek consular authority of their home country or main place of residence, and they must prove that they have at least 3,500 euros per month to support themselves.
15. Iceland
The land of fire and ice has a Long-Term Visa For Remote Workers which provides a stay of up to 180 days. To apply for Iceland’s digital nomad-friendly visa, you must be a citizen of a country outside the EU or EEA and while you are on this visa, you will be able to travel freely within the Schengen area.
16. Malta
Malta’s Nomad Residence Permit targets non-EU passport holders wanting to experience the joys of telecommuting on the Mediterranean island for 12 months. After a year, you can apply for a renewal which may be granted at the government’s discretion if you still meet all the eligibility criteria, which includes a clean background check, valid health insurance, a property rental or purchase agreement, and a gross monthly income of 2,700 euros.
17. Mauritius
You can now do a bit of remote working on the very remote island of Mauritius which is around 600 miles off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Delightfully, the Mauritius Premium Visa costs nothing and it’s valid for up to a year. To qualify you’ll need proof of your long stay plans including a return flight, health insurance and proof of funds (a minimum income of $1,500 per month) and you must not have plans to enter the Mauritius job market. At the end of your working days, there will be scope for epic hikes, waterfall dips, botanical garden visits, admiring multicolored dunes and, of course, beaching.
18. Montserrat
The pear-shaped island of Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean can be your office for 12 months when you apply for the Montserrat Remote Worker Stamp. To do so, you’ll need to pay a fee of $500 and have a minimum annual income of $70,000. You can reapply for the visa when it runs out and you won’t be liable to pay local taxes.
19. Portugal
Portugal takes work-life balance seriously. In fact, as of November 2021, it is illegal for bosses to contact employees outside of work hours. Portugal also has a thriving remote worker community and even a digital nomad village in Madeira. To join the fun, look into the Mediterranean hotspot’s permit for independent workers and migrant entrepreneurs which lasts for one year and can be renewed for five. The D7 Visa is also available for those that can support themselves with passive or recurring income.
20. Seychelles
With accolades like “most photographed beach in the world“ and “Indian Ocean’s leading sustainable tourism destination”, Seychelles is certainly worth a look. Escape to the 115-island nation with the Seychelles Workation program which is open to the self-employed and anyone with their own business for a minimum of one month and a maximum of one year. You’ll need to pay a 45-euro fee and apply at least 60 days before your intended arrival.
Seychelles has one of the most photographed beaches in the world.
21. Taiwan
Taiwan’s Gold Card is not specifically for digital nomads. It is a four-in-one card combining a resident visa, Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), re-entry permit, and an open-ended work permit. Digital nomads can stay in Taiwan with this card for one to three years and can expect to pay between $100 and $310 to apply depending on their nationality and the duration of the card.
22. The Bahamas
From swimming with pigs to diving in the world’s third-largest barrier reef, a tropical “workation” in The Bahamas will be hard to beat. BEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay) grants up to one year of beach living for professionals with a remote job as well as students. Applications for renewals thereafter will be considered for a maximum of three years—ample time to explore the 16 islands that are welcoming visitors. To apply, you’ll need a valid passport and proof of valid health insurance and your application will be processed within five days; the ultimate fast track to paradise.
* Last updated 14 July 2022.
