Nations With out Digital Nomad Visas (+ Greatest Alternate options) 

Digital Nomad visas have taken the world by storm. Effectively, most of it. Whereas 50 international locations now have visa programmes particularly for tech and freelance staff, others lag behind.

Dreamy locations resembling Japan, Italy, and Thailand have all rolled out their very own Digital Nomad-specific schemes this yr. Their governments are catching onto the advantages that nomadic staff carry, resembling a lift to tourism and the creation of data clusters.

However distant staff are nonetheless ready for big-names resembling the US and Australia, and ten international locations within the EU, to announce their very own schemes.

Under, we’ve listed essentially the most sought-after distant work international locations that don’t but provide a Digital Nomad visa, and the choice work permits that nomadic workers can apply for.

1. UK

Regardless of appreciable demand from Brits to work overseas, the UK nonetheless doesn’t have its personal Digital Nomad visa. We’re additionally unlikely to announce it anytime quickly. Our visa course of is very complicated, and the federal government faces mounting strain to curb migration numbers.

In December, Whitehall raised the minimal earnings requirement for a talented abroad employee to £38,000, making it way more troublesome for corporations to rent overseas expertise.

The foundations should not significantly better for short-term stays. As of December 2023, guests to the UK can now have interaction in distant work duties (resembling answering emails or taking enterprise calls) on their journey visas, however it can’t be the first purpose for his or her go to.

Examine eight international locations which are beating the UK within the race for international tech expertise.

2. Austria

Situated on the Jap Alps, Austria could be a dream deskspace for ski lovers. There’s no Digital Nomad visa obtainable within the nation but. Nonetheless, there are a selection of visa schemes that staff and enterprise homeowners can apply for.

They embody the Crimson-White-Crimson Card for these desirous to launch a enterprise in Austria, and the Schengen Visa, a joined-up scheme that permits you to keep and work in as much as 27 EU international locations. You’ll have the ability to spend as much as 90 days in every nation for a complete of 180 days.

3. Belgium

It gave the world french fries, however groups might want to anticipate an official Belgian Digital Nomad visa. It’s at the moment unlawful to work within the nation as a vacationer, and no phrase has been given but as to when, and if, a distant working visa is on the playing cards for the Belgium authorities.

Fortunately, there are nonetheless methods you’ll be able to work within the nation of chocolate, waffles, and beer should you’re a sole dealer. The Belgium Skilled Card, also referred to as the Freelance Visa or D-Visa, permits freelancers to pursue self-employed work whereas visiting Belgium.

4. Denmark

Denmark got here out on high within the 2023 World Distant Work Index by community supplier Nordlayer. Judges praised the nation for its low crime charge and digital infrastructure. However what they didn’t point out is that Denmark doesn’t even have a Digital Nomad visa.

As a substitute, as with Austria, tech-enabled workers and freelancers who wish to dwell and work in Denmark can apply for a 90-day Schengen Visa to entry the land of Lego. Working in Denmark with no work allow is illegitimate, so this programme is your most secure route.

5. France

France obtained essentially the most visa requests within the final decade, and it’s constantly voted as one of many favorite locations for visa candidates. However the nation nonetheless doesn’t provide a Digital Nomad visa, and the federal government has additionally made no provisions for one.

Francophiles can as an alternative apply for the visa de lengthy séjour (“long-stay visa”) to work within the nation. It’s legitimate for a interval of three months to at least one yr. In line with the French authorities, round 130,000 Brits utilized for the scheme in 2023.

6. Netherlands

The Netherlands is much more than its postcard picture suggests. In addition to windmills and tulip fields, the nation can be a hub of motion for distant staff, a lot of whom flock to the nation for the Netherlands Startup Visa, which is a good various for digital nomads.

Just like Austria’s Crimson-White-Crimson card, the scheme permits overseas entrepreneurs to use for a one-year non permanent residence allow, throughout which they will launch an “progressive” services or products from their new, Dutch base.

7. Australia

You’ll probably already know an expat who had made the nice transfer down beneath. Hundreds of Brits are being drawn to Australia’s heat local weather, fashionable cities, and beachside life-style. As of now, Aussies don’t provide an official Digital Nomad visa for distant workers.

One outback-route into the nation, although, is the Customer Visa. That is for vacationers who want to dwell and work in Australia, however don’t sing to the sound of six months of farm work. This visa may be legitimate for as much as one yr, and prices an estimated £99 to use for.

8. USA

As house of the tech capital, Silicon Valley, the US must be a shoe-in for the Digital Nomad scheme. However the nation is extra used to exporting expertise than importing it, and there may be at the moment no visa obtainable for distant staff to dwell out their American dream.

The US isn’t essentially the most welcoming. It’s a problem to discover a long-term work allow, as most of the programmes solely cater to particular roles and degree-holders. Nonetheless, most distant staff will qualify to work within the nation for as much as six months with the B-1 Enterprise Visa.

9. Canada

Snowy Canada is commonly included on lists of the ‘greatest international locations for digital nomads’, so that you could be stunned to see it featured right here. However regardless that the so-called Nice White North nonetheless doesn’t have an official Digital Nomad visa, it’s actually talking to them.

Final yr, Canada unveiled its Tech Expertise Technique, a brand new immigration initiative to permit non permanent tech staff to work remotely within the nation for as much as six months. And the very best half? Throughout this time, workers solely want customer standing, so that you gained’t even want to use.

10. Vietnam

Considerable pure wonders, distinctive delicacies, and tens of historic cities and cities has made Vietnam one of many best-known vacationer locations. It’s additionally more and more referred to as house by hundreds of distant staff throughout the globe, regardless of not having any Digital Nomad visa.

Many go by means of Vietnam on their solution to different locations in southeast Asia, resembling Bali and Thailand, which is why they apply for the Enterprise Visa. It permits holders to work for a complete of 90 days, and is legitimate for as much as one yr with limitless entry into Vietnam.

11. New Zealand

You possibly can’t get a lot additional away from the UK than New Zealand; the house of Hobbiton and Russell Crowe is the perfect vacation spot for individuals who love travelling. And, whereas it doesn’t but have a Digital Nomad visa, there are indicators it might plan to announce one quickly.

New Zealand’s ruling social gathering, the Nationwide Occasion, has begun outlining early plans to introduce a one-year lengthy visa scheme, admitting 250 candidates to start with.

No official launch date for the scheme has but been introduced. Within the meantime, Brits ought to content material themselves with New Zealand’s Working Vacation Visa. The scheme permits visa holders from the UK to dwell and work in NZ for 3 years.

Be taught concerning the potential New Zealand Digital Nomad visa and what we all know to date.